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USS JOHN YOUNG (DD-973)


Flag Hoist/Radio Call Sign - NJYG

CLASS - SPRUANCE As Built.
Displacement 7800 Tons (Full), Dimensions, 563' (oa) x 55' x 20' 6" (Max)
Armament 2 x 5"/54 RF (2x1), 1 Sea Sparrow SAM (1x8) ASROC ASW (1x8),
6 x 12.75" Mk 32 ASW TT (2x3). 1 Helicopter.
Machinery, 80,000 SHP; 4 LM 2500 Gas Turbines, 2 screws
Speed, 30 Knots, Range 6000 NM@ 20 Knots, Crew 296.
Operational and Building Data
Laid down by Litton Ingalls, Pascagoula Miss. February 17 1975.
Launched on February 7 1976 and commissioned May 20 1978.
Decommissioned September 19 2002.
Stricken November 6, 2002.
Fate Sunk as a target April 13 2004 in Sinkex 2004.

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John Young ( 1740-1781) was a captain in the Continental Navy during the American Revolutionary War, commander of the Saratoga which was lost at sea. He began his seafaring career at an early age in the colonial merchant marine and, at the start of the American Revolution, was commissioned 23rd on the list of captains in the Continental Navy. On 20 September 1776, the Continental Congress directed Young to take the sloop-of-war Independence to Martinique to protect American mercantile shipping in the West Indies. Collaterally, Independence was to raid British shipping whenever the opportunity arose. On 5 July 1777, Young was ordered to Nantes, France, and subsequently arrived at Lorient with two prizes. On 17 February 1778, while in French waters, he sailed through the French Fleet, saluting that nation's government with a 13-gun salute. In return he received a nine-gun salute, one of the earliest salutes rendered by the French government to the fledgling American government. At the time, John Paul Jones was on board Independence. Young returned to America in the spring of 1778 and successively commanded two Pennsylvania privateers, Buckskin and Impertinent, before he was given command of the sloop-of-war Saratoga - then fitting out at Philadelphia--in May 1780. Young took her to sea on 13 August 1780 and, in the course of the ship's first cruise, captured one prize before she returned to port for repairs and alterations. Subsequent cruises were more successful, as Young commanded Saratoga on three more sweeps at sea in which he took a total of eight more prizes. Young proved himself a daring and resourceful commander. On one occasion, he took Saratoga between two British ships and captured both. Largely as a result of his dedication and emphasis on training, Saratoga compiled a distinguished, but altogether brief, record before her untimely and unexplained loss. Saratoga set sail from Cap Francais, in what is now the Dominican Republic, on 15 March 1781. After taking a prize three days later, the sloop-of-war became separated from her later that day when a strong gale swept through the area, the high winds nearly swamping the prize commanded by Midshipman Penfield. After the storm passed by, Saratoga was nowhere to be seen, having vanished without a trace. The United States Navy named two ships, USS Young (DD-312), and USS John Young (DD-973) in his honor.Bill Gonyo
Young 41kUndated, location unknown.-
Young 78kUndated, location unknown.Jerry Hays
Young 100kUndated, location unknown.Richard Miller BMCS USNR RET.
Young 130kCirca 1978, location unknown. Photo © Litton Ingalls.Robert M. Cieri
Young 101kUSS John Young (DD-973) she passes by downtown San Diego heading for docking, circa mid to late 1978.Richard Stiles
Young 122kUSS John Young moored at Broadway Street Pier in San Diego circa mid to late 1978.Richard Stiles
Young 56kSingapore April 1981.Marc Piché
Young 71kUSS John Young (DD-973) in the Pacific on Ocean, 1 May 1981 immediately after firing its two 5-inch/54-caliber guns during a gunnery exercise.Fred Weiss
Young 83kPacific Ocean, May 1 1981: The Spruance class destroyer USS John Young (DD-973) immediately after firing its two 5-inch/54-caliber guns during a gunnery exercise.Fred Weiss
Young 121kPacific Ocean, May 1981.Bill Gonyo
Young 63kSeattle July 1981.Marc Piché
Young 69kSeattle July 1981.Marc Piché
Young 93kDN-SC-86-00522. FTM2 Timothy J. Fisher tests logistics and support equipment for John Young (DD 973)'s Mk-23 target acquisition system radar, January 1 1983. Fisher retired as a FCC(SW) in 1997.Bill Gonyo
Young 70kUSS John Young (DD-973) screens a Soviet Kara class guided missile cruiser from Carl Vinson (CVN-70), on 6 December 1984. PHAN David L. Miller, Department of Defense (Navy) Photo No. DN-SC-85-12177.Robert Hurst
Young 75kSydney, Australia March 1985.Marc Piché
Young 200kThe Young as viewed from the USS David R. Ray (DD-971) in San Diego, July 1985.Ed Zajkowski
Young 209kAs above.Ed Zajkowski
Young 149kAs above.Ed Zajkowski
Young 68kVancouver, BC August 7 1986.Marc Piché
Young 73kSydney, Australia March 1988.Marc Piché
Young 71kNavSta San Diego during November 1991.Richard Miller BMCS USNR RET.
Young 81kSydney, Australia March 1994.Marc Piché
Young 76kSydney, Australia April 1994.Marc Piché
Young 32kSydney, Australia April 1994.Marc Piché
Young 83kLoading 5"/54 ammunition into storage racks aboard USS John Young (DD-973) in February 1998. U.S. Navy Photograph No. 980209-N-4142G-003.Robert Hurst
Young 83k980209-N-4142G-004. US Navy Chief Gunners Mate M (Missiles) (GMMC) Jackie Staton inspects Tomahawk missile launch tubes aboard the destroyer USS JOHN YOUNG (DD 973). The JOHN YOUNG is deployed to the Persian Gulf in support of Operation Southern Watch, 9 February 1998. Photo by PH2 Felix Garza.Bill Gonyo
Young 122kDN-SD-00-03356, 980209-N-4142G-001. Gunners Mate 3rd Class Walter Vanderhorst loads projectiles into the 5-inch gun aboard the Spruance-class destroyer USS JOHN YOUNG (DD 973). The John Young is deployed to the Persian Gulf in support of Operation Southern Watch. Photo by PH2 Felix Garza, February 1 1998.Bill Gonyo
Young 223kDN-SD-01-05097. 28 March 28 1998, the Spruance-class destroyer, USS John Young (DD 973), underway in the Persian Gulf in support of the Southwest Asia build-up. U.S. Navy photo by: PH2 (AW) Gloria J. Barry.Robert M. Cieri
Young 67kFremantle, Australia April 14 1998.Marc Piché
Young 72kLongview, WA June 14 1999.Marc Piché
Young 98kLongview, WA June 14 1999.Marc Piché
Young 59kPortland, Oregon, June 11 2001.Marc Piché
Young 75kNaval Station, San Diego Calif., October 16 2001, The Secretary speaks with the crew of USS John Young (DD 973), giving them encouragement and praise for their commitment to helping in the fight against terrorism. The ship is scheduled for deployment in the near future. U.S. Navy photograph by Photographer's Mate 1st Class (SCW) Chuck Cavanaugh. [011016-N-1144C-017].Marc Piché
Young 66kDecommissioning day, October 10 2002.Tom Armstrong
Young 38kDecommissioning day, October 10 2002.Tom Armstrong
Young 71kDecommissioning day, October 10 2002.Tom Armstrong
Young 59kDecommissioning day, October 10 2002.Tom Armstrong
Young 71kDecommissioning day, October 10 2002.Tom Armstrong
Young 69kDecommissioning day, October 10 2002.Tom Armstrong
Young 70kDecommissioning day, October 10 2002.Tom Armstrong
Young 63kDecommissioning day, October 10 2002.Tom Armstrong
Young 69kUSS Salvor (ARS-52) working photo while in transit from San Francisco to Pearl Harbor towing ex-USS John Young (DD-973), 3 September, 2003. Contributed by Salvor's Divers via MM3(D/SW) Paul Trakimas.Robert Hurst
Young 66kAs above.Robert Hurst
Young 61kUSS Salvor in transit from San Francisco to Pearl Harbor towing ex-USS John Young (DD-973), 3 September, 2003. Contributed by Salvor's Divers via MM3(D/SW) Paul Trakimas.Robert Hurst
Young 13kThis photo and the next 5 show the sinking of the John Young by a Mk-48 torpedo fired from the USS Pasadena (SSN 752) during SINKEX. The exercise took place in Hawaiian waters April 13 2004.Tony Cowart
Young 10kAs above.Tony Cowart
Young 9kAs above.Tony Cowart
Young 6kAs above.Tony Cowart
Young 12kAs above.Tony Cowart
Young 7kAs above.Tony Cowart
Young 78kA series of 5 photos of the USS John Young (DD-973) being sunk during SINKEX as viewed through the periscope of the USS Pasadena (SSN-752).Tom Bateman
Young 91kAs above.Tom Bateman
Young 64kAs above.Tom Bateman
Young 74kAs above.Tom Bateman
Young 72kAs above.Tom Bateman
Young 77kShip's patchMike Smolinski

USS JOHN YOUNG DD-973 History
Note: History is unavailable at this time
This ship was built too late to be covered by the DANFS project

Commanding Officers
Thanks to Wolfgang Hechler & Ron Reeves


CDR Douglas Karl Menikheim    May 20 1978 - May 16 1980

CDR Henry Allen Levien    May 16 1980 - Jun 7 1982

CDR Kenneth Michael Viafore    Jun 7 1982 - Jan 14 1984

CDR Gerald James Lyall    Jan 14 1984 - Apr 12 1986

CDR Sherman E. Wright Jr.    Apr 12 1986 - Apr 10 1988

CDR Robert Leland Hattan    Apr 10 1988 - Jun 2 1988

CDR Stephen Francis Resser    Jun 2 1988 - JUn 8 1990

CDR Paul Stewart Schultz    Jun 8 1990 - Apr 17 1992 (Later RADM)

CDR Robert Thomas Conway Jr.    Apr 17 1992 - Jan 10 1994 (Later RADM)

CDR Carl Glynn Carlson    Jan 10 1994 - Aug 20 1995

CDR Thomas Joe Gregory    Aug 20 1995 - Dec 8 1995

CDR James Francis McIsaac    Dec 8 1995 - Jan 17 1997

CDR Douglas William Harris    Jan 17 1997 - Sep 30 1998

CDR Derek Brian Kemp    Sep 30 1998 - May 5 2000

CDR Geoffrey Thomas Pack    May 5 2000 - Jul 24 2001

IC3 Gary Faustin    Jul 24 2001 - Jul 24 2001

CDR Geoffrey Thomas Pack    Jul 24 2001 - Dec 13 2001

CDR Timothy Thompson Smith    Dec 13 2001 - Sep 19 2002


Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
Tin Can Sailors Website
Destroyer History Foundation
Destroyers Online Website
Official U.S.Navy Destroyer Website

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