Autographed by the last CO of the Count, CDR Archer MacyCOMTE DE GRASSE was the twelfth SPRUANCE Class destroyer to be commissioned, and the third ship to proudly bear the name of the famous Admiral DeGrasse. In 1987 we met up with (..photos coming soon!) her sister-ship De Grasse from the French Navy to perform operations in the Mediterranean Sea.
The ship's keel was laid on 4 April 1975, and she was commissioned on 5 August 1978 at Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, Mississippi. The sponsor of COMTE DE GRASSE is Madam Valery Giscard D'Estang, wife of the former, and then President of France.
COMTE DE GRASSE sailed on his maiden Mediterranean deployment in April of 1980. Since that time he made approximately nine major journeys across the pond, the most recent being in July of 1997, UNITAS (38-97). In 1994 she once again sailed with the USS SARATOGA (CV 60) Battle Group (the "Sara's" last one) to the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea. In 1995 he deployed on UNITAS 36-95. 
In preparation for his deployment, COMTE DE GRASSE completed Refresher Training in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, (known as "Gitmo" to the lucky ones who've been there) they conducted various Battle Group exercises in the Caribbean Sea, such as FLEETEX 2-92, and successfully passed a myriad of pre- deployment inspections and exercises, including a Combat Systems Assessment (CSA), in which COMTE DE GRASSE received the highest grade of any unit in the entire Atlantic Fleet during 1991. During the deployment, she took part in intense Battle Group operations, developed and integrated new tactics for small combatants, conducted Maritime Interdiction Operations in the Red Sea, took part in major exercises, such as NATO DISPLAY DETERMINATION, and supported United Nations humanitarian efforts in the Adriatic Sea near the troubled lands of the former Yugoslavian Republic.

One of the highlights of COMTE DE GRASSE's deployment, was his participation in Grasse Day on 19 October 1992. On the occasion, which honors the French Admiral Francois Joseph Paul De Grasse, the officers and crew of the ship took part in ceremonies in Grasse and Bar sur Loup, France.

     In commemorating the day, which is built on and symbolized by Franco-American friendship, the town of Grasse adopted the warship COMTE DE GRASSE, and proclaimed the town's populace as sponsors of COMTE DE GRASSE.  His superior performance was again recognized in March of 1992 when she was awarded a second consecutive Battle Efficiency Award, representative of the best destroyer in Cruiser-Destroyer Group Eight. This prestigious award encompassed Mission Area Excellence Awards in Navigation and Deck Seamanship, Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW), Anti-Surface Warfare (ASUW), Electronic Warfare (EW), Anti-Air Warfare (AAW), Engineering, Damage Control, Surface Ship Safety, and Command Control and Communications.

 

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Quik Linx
Memorial to Rick

Click to EnlargeDuring routine patrol in the Persian Gulf on May 17, 1987 an Iraqi F-1 fighter jet fired two ExcoceWayne Richard "Rick" Weavert missiles into the U.S.S. Stark, ripping through it's port bow and destroying 37 lives in it's wake. Rick Weaver was a friend, shipmate & one of those who died.  Read More.

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