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USS Reeves (CG 24)

USS REEVES was the last ship in the LEAHY-class of guided missile cruisers. She was the second ship in the Navy to bear the name, but the first ship named after Vice Admiral Joseph Mason Reeves. Commissioned as a guided missile frigate, REEVES was reclassified as guided missile cruiser on June 30, 1975.

REEVES was decommissioned and stricken from the Navy Register on November 12, 1993, at Pearl Harbor. The ship was then berthed at the Naval Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility (NISMF), Pearl Harbor, HI. On May 31, 2001, the REEVES was finally sunk as a target.

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Crew List:

This section contains the names of sailors who served aboard USS REEVES. It is no official listing but contains the names of sailors who submitted their information.

• Click here to view the list.

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• Click here to see which USS REEVES memorabilia are currently for sale on ebay.

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USS REEVES Cruise Books:

• WestPac Cruise Book 1966-68

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Accidents aboard USS REEVES:

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About the Ship's Name:

Joseph Mason Reeves, born in Tampico, III., on 20 November 1872, graduated from the Naval Academy in 1894. Initially assigned to SAN FRANCISCO (Cruiser No. 5), he served in OREGON (BB 3) during the Spanish-American War, participating in the action against Admiral Cervera's fleet at Santiago in June and July 1898.

After the turn of the century, he served in SAN FRANCISCO, WISCONSIN (BB 9), and OHIO (BB 12) in addition to tours ashore at Newport and the Naval Academy, where he was an instructor in the Department of Physics and Chemistry (1906-08). Following duties as ordnance officer on board NEW HAMPSHIRE (BB 25), he served as ordnance officer in the staff of the Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet. Assignment to the Board of Inspection and Survey and a tour as Commanding Officer, Naval Coal Depot, Tiburon, Calif., followed.

In April 1913 he assumed command of JUPITER (Collier No. 3), the Navy's first electrically propelled vessel. Detached in April 1914, he commanded ST. LOUIS (Cruiser No. 20) and various other ships until assigned to OREGON, June 1915, as Commanding Officer. Detached for shore duty at the Mare Island Navy Yard, in June 1916, he commanded MAINE (BB 10) during World War I, earning the Navy Cross for "exceptionally meritorious service" during that tour.

After the war, he served as Naval Attache at Rome and in April 1921 assumed command of the armored cruiser PITTSBURGH (CA 4). Captain of the Mare Island Navy Yard at the end of that year, he commanded NORTH DAKOTA (BB 29), 1922-23, then attended and afterward served on the staff of the War College at Newport. After October 1925, he twice served as Commander, Aircraft Squadrons, Battle Fleet, interspersed with duty on the General Board, June 1929-June 1930. Fifteen months later he became Senior Member of the Board of Inspection and Survey, Pacific Coast Section. Another tour at Mare Island followed and in June 1933 he became Commander, Battleships, Battle Force, with the rank of vice admiral. Assigned Commander, Battle Force, U.S. Fleet, with the rank of admiral, the following month, he was designated Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Fleet, on 26 February 1934. In June 1936 he was ordered to Washington, D.C., where he served on the General Board until 23 November. Retired seven days later he was recalled to active duty on 13 May 1940. Advanced to vice admiral on the retired list, he served in the Office of the Secretary of the Navy from 21 May 1940 until 23 December 1946. He died at Bethesda, Md., on 25 March 1948.

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USS REEVES History:

Built at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, Washington, USS REEVES' keel was laid on July 1, 1960. She was launched on May 12, 1962, sponsored by Mrs. Joseph M. Reeves Jr., and commissioned on May 15, 1964, with Captain Wynne A. Stevens Jr. in command. REEVES was assigned to the Pacific Fleet, with Long Beach, California, as her initial homeport.

Following commissioning, REEVES underwent an extended period of trials, inspections, and shakedown training along the Pacific coast. These activities included evaluations of her propulsion machinery, missile systems, radar equipment, and communications facilities, together with gunnery qualifications and exercises intended to prepare the crew for operations with aircraft carrier task groups. After completing her initial training, she underwent a period of maintenance and additional preparations for overseas service.

On April 10, 1965, REEVES departed California for her first deployment to the Western Pacific with the U.S. Seventh Fleet. The deployment coincided with the expansion of American military operations in Vietnam, where carrier-based aircraft were increasingly conducting strikes against targets in North and South Vietnam. During the deployment, REEVES initially operated with Task Group 77.3, centered on the aircraft carrier USS ORISKANY (CVA 34). She subsequently joined Task Group 77.6, centered on USS MIDWAY (CVA 41). Her principal responsibilities included air-defense picket duties, radar surveillance, aircraft identification, and the protection of carrier formations operating in the Gulf of Tonkin.

REEVES also served as a plane-guard and search and rescue ship during carrier flight operations. These assignments required her to maintain a position from which she could respond to aircraft accidents or assist aviators forced to abandon damaged aircraft. During periods of independent picket duty, she monitored aircraft movements over the Gulf of Tonkin and transmitted radar and identification information to other naval units. The deployment was interrupted by replenishment, maintenance, and port visits in the Western Pacific. After more than six months of Seventh Fleet service, REEVES departed the operating area and returned to Long Beach on November 3, 1965.

During the remainder of 1965 and the opening months of 1966, REEVES conducted local operations, maintenance, and training along the California coast. Her activities included missile-system evaluations, engineering inspections, and preparations for a new assignment that would considerably increase the time she spent in the Western Pacific.

On May 26, 1966, REEVES departed Long Beach for Japan to begin a two-year non-rotational assignment with the Seventh Fleet. She arrived at her new homeport, Yokosuka, Japan, on June 16. Unlike the normal deployment cycle, under which ships returned to the United States after several months overseas, REEVES would remain based in Japan while making repeated voyages to waters off Vietnam.

In early July 1966, REEVES departed Yokosuka for the coast of South Vietnam. She anchored off Da Nang on July 7 and subsequently began a series of operational assignments in the Gulf of Tonkin. During these assignments, the ship alternated between carrier screening, antiair warfare surveillance, search and rescue stations, and periods of maintenance or replenishment at ports in Japan, the Philippines, and other parts of East Asia.

A major part of her Vietnam service involved supporting aircraft operating from American carriers on Yankee Station in the Gulf of Tonkin. REEVES maintained radar surveillance of air activity and assisted in the identification and tracking of aircraft returning from missions over North Vietnam. She also remained prepared to respond when American aviators were shot down or experienced mechanical emergencies.

On July 23, 1966, REEVES participated in the rescue of a pilot from USS ORISKANY whose A-4 Skyhawk had been damaged by enemy fire during an attack near Vinh, North Vietnam. Although the aircraft was damaged and the pilot was wounded, he managed to reach the vicinity of REEVES before ejecting. The ship launched its helicopter, but the pilot was ultimately recovered by a motor whaleboat because of his injuries. A helicopter carrying a physician subsequently evacuated him from REEVES to USS ORISKANY.

Throughout the remainder of 1966, REEVES continued operating between Yokosuka, Subic Bay, and waters off Vietnam. Her assignments included combat search and rescue support, radar picket operations, and the screening of carrier formations. During periods away from the Gulf of Tonkin, the crew conducted maintenance, replenishment, training, and inspections.

REEVES maintained this operating pattern during 1967. Her repeated deployments from Japan to Vietnam placed substantial demands on the crew and machinery, as periods at sea were frequently followed by comparatively short maintenance intervals before the next assignment. In addition to operations with American carrier groups, the ship participated in exercises intended to maintain air-defense and antisubmarine warfare readiness.

During her Japanese homeport assignment, REEVES also visited ports including Subic Bay, Hong Kong, Sasebo, and Kaohsiung, Taiwan. These visits provided opportunities for maintenance, replenishment, and crew recreation between operational periods.

The final months of the two-year assignment followed a similar pattern. By the summer of 1968, REEVES had accumulated 493 days underway during her forward-deployed service, including 312 days in the Gulf of Tonkin. Much of this time had been spent on air-defense and air-sea rescue assignments connected with American carrier operations.

In August 1968, REEVES completed her non-rotational assignment and returned to the United States. She resumed operations from Long Beach during the remainder of the year, conducting local exercises and participating in radar evaluations and technical testing. Preparations also began for an extensive modernization intended to improve her capabilities as an air-defense ship.

In early 1969, REEVES received orders to proceed to Bath Iron Works in Bath, Maine, for a major overhaul and modernization. She arrived on March 31, 1969, and was placed in an Out of Commission (Special) status on April 10. The modernization involved extensive work on the ship's missile systems, sensors, combat information facilities, communications equipment, and engineering machinery. Improvements were made to the integration of radar information and missile fire-control functions, while structural modifications and maintenance were carried out throughout the ship. The work continued through the remainder of 1969 and into 1970. Following completion of the overhaul and the necessary inspections, REEVES was recommissioned at Bath on August 29, 1970, with Captain William S. Mayer in command.

On September 10, 1970, REEVES departed Bath for her new homeport at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The transfer voyage included several stops for additional technical work and equipment adjustments. She also spent approximately three weeks conducting refresher training in the vicinity of Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, where the crew completed operational exercises following the lengthy shipyard period.

REEVES continued westward and arrived at Pearl Harbor on November 19, 1970. During the following months, she conducted engineering trials, missile-system evaluations, antisubmarine warfare exercises, and other training in Hawaiian waters.

In June 1971, REEVES departed Pearl Harbor for another Western Pacific deployment. Following her arrival in the Seventh Fleet area, she resumed operations in the Gulf of Tonkin during the continuing Vietnam War. Her responsibilities included antiair warfare surveillance, carrier screening, and search and rescue support for aircraft conducting operations over Vietnam. The ship also participated in training and exercises with other Seventh Fleet units between operational periods.

During the deployment, REEVES operated in the Western Pacific and South China Sea and made use of naval facilities in Japan and the Philippines for maintenance and replenishment. She continued her assignments off Vietnam during the second half of the year before departing for Hawaii. REEVES returned to Pearl Harbor on December 20, 1971. Following post-deployment maintenance and inspections, she resumed local operations and training during the opening months of 1972.

Throughout the spring and summer of 1972, REEVES participated in exercises in Hawaiian and eastern Pacific waters. These included missile and gunnery training, antisubmarine warfare exercises, and operations intended to maintain her readiness for another deployment. In July, she conducted a midshipman training cruise.

On September 18, 1972, REEVES departed Pearl Harbor for another Western Pacific deployment. She arrived at Subic Bay, Philippines, approximately two weeks later and proceeded to operational assignments off Vietnam. The deployment coincided with the final major phase of American air operations against North Vietnam. REEVES operated with Seventh Fleet forces in the Gulf of Tonkin, performing air-defense, surveillance, and carrier support duties as American aircraft continued striking military and transportation targets.

Following the signing of the Paris Peace Accords on January 27, 1973, American naval operations in the region began to change. The agreements provided for a ceasefire and the withdrawal of American combat forces, although naval activities continued in connection with the implementation of the agreements and the protection of remaining American personnel and equipment.

REEVES completed her final operational assignments in the Western Pacific and departed for Hawaii. She arrived at Pearl Harbor on March 17, 1973, ending her second deployment following the 1970 recommissioning. During the remainder of 1973, REEVES conducted training, maintenance, and operational readiness activities in Hawaiian waters. She also participated in Pacific Fleet exercises, including operations designed to evaluate air-defense procedures and antisubmarine warfare coordination.

The ship continued operating from Pearl Harbor during 1974. Her activities consisted of training exercises, equipment inspections, weapons-system maintenance, and periodic operations with other Pacific Fleet units. The emphasis on continued technical readiness reflected the increasing complexity of the combat systems installed during her earlier modernization.

On June 30, 1975, REEVES was redesignated from guided missile frigate DLG 24 to guided missile cruiser CG 24 as part of the Navy-wide reclassification of major surface combatants. The change reflected the Navy's revised classification of large missile-armed surface combatants.

During 1975 and 1976, REEVES continued operating with the Pacific Fleet from Pearl Harbor. Her schedule included exercises in Hawaiian waters, weapons-system qualifications, engineering inspections, and deployments for training and operations in the Western Pacific. These activities maintained her ability to participate in carrier battle group air-defense and antisubmarine warfare operations.

During 1977, REEVES underwent additional operational training and readiness evaluations before beginning preparations for an extensive shipyard overhaul. On November 15, she entered drydock at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard for a major modernization and maintenance period. The overhaul included modifications to the ship's weapons and combat systems. Her two original 3-inch/50-caliber gun mounts were removed, and the Harpoon antiship missile system was installed, giving REEVES a capability to engage surface targets beyond the range of conventional naval guns. Improvements were also made to missile fire-control equipment, radar and sonar systems, communications facilities, and engineering machinery.

Throughout much of 1978, REEVES remained at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard while modernization work continued. The ship's machinery and supporting systems underwent extensive maintenance, and the crew conducted training and technical checks in preparation for returning to sea.

On August 20, 1978, steam was raised in the engineering plant for the first time in approximately eleven months. Subsequent testing revealed problems with the high-pressure turbines, delaying the planned return to operational service while repairs and additional inspections were completed. The overhaul was completed on December 14, 1978. During the following weeks, REEVES resumed post-overhaul testing and training in Hawaiian waters. The work included evaluations of propulsion equipment, radar and communications systems, missile launchers, and combat-direction facilities.

During January and February 1979, REEVES completed further qualification exercises and weapons testing. These included multiple surface-to-air missile firings against airborne targets and evaluations of the modified missile fire-control systems. The newly installed Harpoon system also underwent qualification testing. Following completion of the post-overhaul training program, REEVES resumed Pacific Fleet operations. The ship participated in exercises near Hawaii and prepared for another deployment to the Western Pacific and Indian Ocean.

During the latter part of 1979, developments in the Middle East increasingly influenced American naval deployments. The Iranian Revolution and, in November, the seizure of the United States Embassy in Tehran led to the expansion of American naval operations in the northern Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea.

On January 22, 1980, REEVES departed Pearl Harbor for a deployment to the Western Pacific and Indian Ocean. She proceeded westward via Guam and Subic Bay, Philippines, before continuing toward the Arabian Sea. The deployment formed part of the American naval response to the continuing hostage crisis in Iran. During this period, U.S. Navy carrier battle groups maintained a presence in the northern Indian Ocean, with surface combatants providing air-defense protection, surveillance, and coordination of aircraft operations.

REEVES operated in the Gulf of Oman and Arabian Sea with forces associated with the aircraft carrier USS NIMITZ (CVN 68). She performed Positive Identification Radar Advisory Zone (PIRAZ) and antiair warfare coordination duties, maintaining radar surveillance and contributing to the recognized air picture for the battle group. Her responsibilities included the identification and tracking of aircraft, monitoring regional air and naval activity, and coordinating defensive responses with other ships. The extended assignment required continuous readiness while the carrier group operated far from its normal support bases.

During this deployment, REEVES spent approximately 86 consecutive days at sea without entering a port. The operating period included extended assignments in the Gulf of Oman and northern Arabian Sea, where American naval forces continued monitoring developments in Iran and the surrounding region. At the conclusion of this operational period in late April 1980, REEVES was relieved from her station and proceeded toward Southeast Asia. A visit to Singapore provided the first extended port period following the prolonged operations in the Indian Ocean.

After returning to the Western Pacific, REEVES underwent additional maintenance and training while preparations were made for another change of homeport. The Navy selected the cruiser to replace USS WORDEN (CG 18) as a permanently forward-deployed surface combatant at Yokosuka, Japan.

On August 14, 1980, REEVES arrived at Yokosuka. On August 19, personnel transfers between REEVES and USS WORDEN were conducted to support the change of assignment. USS WORDEN subsequently returned to the United States, while REEVES remained in Japan as part of the Seventh Fleet's permanently forward-deployed naval force.

During the following years, REEVES operated extensively with Battle Group ALFA, frequently centered on the aircraft carrier USS MIDWAY. Her responsibilities included antiair warfare command and coordination, radar surveillance, escort duties, and the protection of carrier operations throughout the Western Pacific and Indian Ocean. In addition to operations with USS MIDWAY, REEVES participated in independent patrols and multinational exercises. Her forward deployment enabled her to operate regularly in waters near Japan, Korea, Taiwan, the Philippines, and Southeast Asia without undertaking a transpacific voyage before each assignment.

On February 24, 1981, REEVES began an extended operational period that included exercises in the Western Pacific and Indian Ocean. During this period, she conducted training with American and allied naval forces and visited ports in the region. The deployment included exercises with the Royal Australian Navy and a visit to the Perth-Fremantle area of Western Australia from May 6-11, 1981. The port visit provided an opportunity for replenishment and maintenance as well as contacts between American and Australian naval personnel.

REEVES returned from this operational period in June 1981 and resumed her normal schedule from Yokosuka. During the remainder of the year, she participated in exercises, weapons qualifications, inspections, and maintenance intended to preserve the ship's readiness for further Seventh Fleet operations.

During 1982 and 1983, REEVES continued operating as a major air-defense unit within the permanently forward-deployed naval force in Japan. Her activities included regular deployments with carrier battle groups, antisubmarine warfare exercises, missile and gunnery training, and multinational operations with allied naval forces. The ship's schedule involved repeated movements between Yokosuka, Subic Bay, and operating areas in the Philippine Sea, South China Sea, and waters surrounding Japan and Korea. Maintenance and replenishment periods were conducted between exercises and deployments.

During these years, REEVES participated in operations designed to monitor Soviet naval activity in the northwestern Pacific. American and Soviet warships frequently operated in proximity during the Cold War, and the cruiser used her surveillance systems to track naval and air movements while participating in Seventh Fleet exercises.

In January 1984, REEVES completed readiness evaluations and preparations for comprehensive combat-system testing. She departed Yokosuka on January 23 and arrived at Pearl Harbor on February 5 for Combat Systems Ship Qualification Trials. During February and early March 1984, the cruiser conducted radar, missile, and fire-control evaluations in Hawaiian waters. These included multiple missile firings, weapons-system accuracy tests, and coordinated operations with other naval units.

After completing the Hawaiian testing period, REEVES departed on March 10 and returned to Yokosuka on March 21. In April, she completed an Operational Propulsion Plant Examination and subsequently proceeded to Subic Bay for additional training. From April 23 to May 11, 1984, REEVES underwent refresher training in Philippine waters. The training included engineering, navigation, communications, combat-system, and damage-control exercises. After completing this period, she visited Hong Kong from May 18-21, where the ship received a visit from the Under Secretary of the Navy.

REEVES then proceeded through the Taiwan Strait to Kagoshima, Japan. From May 25-27, she served as flagship for the Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet, during ceremonies associated with the Admiral Togo Festival. Following the visit to Kagoshima, the cruiser proceeded to Chinhae, South Korea, where she remained from May 29 to June 2. She subsequently operated with the USS MIDWAY battle group and visited Sasebo from June 8-11 before returning to Yokosuka.

During July 1984, REEVES participated in Readiex 84-2 in the South China Sea and Philippine Sea. The exercise involved two carrier battle groups and included coordinated air-defense and surface warfare operations. After completing the exercise, she visited Manila from July 21-24. During August and September, REEVES operated in waters near northern Japan and in the East China Sea and Sea of Japan. Her assignments included antisubmarine warfare exercises, air-defense training, and operations with Task Group 70.1. She also visited Sasebo from August 21-23.

In September, REEVES participated in the exercises Annualex 59G, ASWEX 84-3JA, and Beach Crest 84-2. These operations involved American and Japanese naval forces conducting combined maritime warfare training.

Following maintenance at Yokosuka, REEVES returned to sea in October for operations in the Philippine Sea and South China Sea. She participated in Missilex 85-1 and subsequently visited Subic Bay. During November 1984, REEVES operated with Task Group 70.1 in waters of the South China Sea, Philippine Sea, and near northern Japan. Her activities included Fleetex 85-1 with the carrier battle groups centered on USS CARL VINSON (CVN 70) and USS MIDWAY. After completing the exercise, REEVES visited Pusan, South Korea, from December 5-9 and returned to Yokosuka on December 13, 1984.

During 1985, REEVES continued her permanently forward-deployed assignment. She participated in carrier battle group exercises, operational readiness evaluations, and surveillance activities in the Western Pacific. The ship also conducted maintenance and training at Yokosuka and at naval facilities in the Philippines.

In March 1986, REEVES participated in Exercise Team Spirit, the annual combined military exercise conducted by the United States and South Korea. The naval component included air-defense, antisubmarine warfare, surface warfare, and fleet coordination training in waters near the Korean Peninsula.

Later in 1986, REEVES conducted special surveillance operations in the northwestern Pacific, including waters off the Soviet Far Eastern coast near Vladivostok. These activities took place during a period of regular American monitoring of Soviet Pacific Fleet operations.

In October 1986, REEVES prepared for a diplomatic port visit that would become one of the most widely reported events in the ship's history. The United States and the People's Republic of China had gradually expanded military contacts during the early 1980s, and arrangements were completed for the first visit of American Navy warships to mainland China since 1949.

REEVES visited Sasebo from October 30 to November 2, 1986. During the visit, Admiral James A. Lyons Jr., Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet, embarked aboard the cruiser. On November 3, REEVES departed Sasebo in company with the destroyer USS OLDENDORF (DD 972) and the guided missile frigate USS RENTZ (FFG 46), proceeding toward Qingdao, China. On November 5, 1986, the three ships entered Qingdao, homeport of the People's Liberation Army Navy's North Sea Fleet. The visit marked the first port call by American warships to the People's Republic of China in approximately 37 years. During the six-day visit, American and Chinese naval personnel conducted reciprocal ship visits, briefings, and professional exchanges. Discussions covered naval operations, logistics, engineering, and other aspects of shipboard organization. The crews also participated in shore visits and social activities arranged by the Chinese authorities.

Admiral Lyons met senior Chinese naval officials during the visit, while representatives of the United States Embassy and Chinese government participated in official receptions and discussions. The port call was widely reported in both countries as an event in the development of American-Chinese military relations. REEVES departed Qingdao on November 11, 1986. Following the visit, she continued to Hong Kong, arriving on November 15. After completing additional activities in the Western Pacific, she returned to Yokosuka on November 23.

During 1987, REEVES continued her normal Seventh Fleet assignment, participating in exercises and training in waters surrounding Japan and Korea. In the spring, she took part in further combined operations associated with Exercise Team Spirit.

The increasing danger to commercial shipping during the Iran-Iraq War subsequently led to additional American naval deployments to the Persian Gulf. Both Iran and Iraq had attacked merchant shipping, oil installations, and tankers during the conflict, prompting the United States to provide protection for selected vessels.

In July 1987, the United States began Operation Earnest Will, under which Kuwaiti tankers registered under the American flag received naval protection while passing through the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz. REEVES was subsequently assigned to the American naval presence in the region and participated in tanker escort and maritime security operations during the latter part of 1987. The duties involved maintaining surveillance of nearby surface and air activity, monitoring potential threats, and operating with other American naval vessels in the Strait of Hormuz and surrounding waters. The narrow shipping routes and the possibility of attacks by aircraft, small boats, and mines required continuous attention to maritime traffic and defensive readiness.

REEVES continued operations in the region into the autumn before returning to the Western Pacific. Her Gulf service formed part of the broader American naval response to attacks on international shipping during the Iran-Iraq War.

During 1988, REEVES resumed regular operations from Yokosuka. Her activities included exercises in the Philippine Sea, South China Sea, and waters surrounding Japan and South Korea. In March, she participated in another Exercise Team Spirit, conducting combined training with American and South Korean forces. The ship continued operating with USS MIDWAY and other Seventh Fleet units during the year. These operations included coordinated air-defense training, surveillance, antisubmarine warfare exercises, replenishment procedures, and missile-system evaluations.

Periods at sea were interrupted by maintenance and inspection visits to Yokosuka and Subic Bay. REEVES also conducted exercises involving other allied navies in the Western Pacific and participated in preparations for further Indian Ocean operations.

During January 1989, REEVES operated with Battle Group ALFA in the Western Pacific before proceeding to Subic Bay, where she remained from January 31 to February 16 for training, maintenance, and inspections.

The ship returned briefly to Yokosuka later in February and subsequently proceeded toward South Korea. She visited Pusan from March 6-8, then participated in Exercise Team Spirit 89 from March 8-28. The exercise involved American and South Korean naval and air forces operating near the Korean Peninsula. After completing Team Spirit, REEVES visited Hong Kong from March 28 to April 3. She subsequently returned to Yokosuka, arriving on April 8, and completed an Operational Propulsion Plant Examination during the middle of April.

On May 11, 1989, REEVES celebrated the 25th anniversary of her commissioning. Four days later, she departed Yokosuka with USS COCHRANE (DDG 21) for Shimoda, Japan. Both ships participated in the 50th annual Black Ship Festival, which commemorated Commodore Matthew C. Perry's arrival in Japan and the opening of Japanese ports to American ships during the nineteenth century. REEVES remained at Shimoda from May 15-19 and returned to Yokosuka afterward. During June, she resumed operations with Battle Group ALFA and proceeded toward the South China Sea.

On June 26, 1989, while sailing toward Thailand, REEVES encountered a small vessel carrying 41 Vietnamese refugees. The boat was in poor condition and was considered unsafe for the occupants to continue their voyage. The refugees were brought aboard REEVES, where the crew established temporary accommodations near the forward missile magazine. The ship's personnel provided food, clothing, medical assistance, and other necessities while arrangements were made for their transfer ashore.

REEVES subsequently arrived off Pattaya Beach, Thailand, on June 30. During the port visit, which lasted until July 5, the refugees were transferred to Thai and United Nations authorities. The rescue was one of several such operations conducted by American naval vessels in Southeast Asian waters during the continuing exodus of refugees from Vietnam.

Following the visit to Thailand, REEVES resumed operations with Battle Group ALFA and proceeded to Subic Bay, where she remained from July 12-20. She then returned to Yokosuka on July 25 for maintenance and training. During August, the ship underwent further preparations for an extended deployment. She visited Sasebo from August 25-28 during ceremonies associated with the city's annual port festival, then returned to Yokosuka before departing for the Indian Ocean in early September.

REEVES departed Japan on September 2, 1989, and joined Battle Group ALFA for the passage through the South China Sea and the Strait of Malacca. The group included USS MIDWAY and accompanying surface combatants conducting operations in the Indian Ocean. On September 15, REEVES detached from Battle Group ALFA and came under the operational control of Commander, Joint Task Force Middle East. She proceeded toward the Strait of Hormuz, entering the Persian Gulf region during the final week of September.

From September 26 to October 1, REEVES remained anchored near Sitrah, Bahrain. She subsequently conducted patrols in the eastern Strait of Hormuz and participated in escort and maritime surveillance operations from October 3-11. During these assignments, REEVES monitored merchant traffic and maintained readiness to respond to threats involving naval vessels, aircraft, or small boats. Her operations took place during a period when the United States continued maintaining naval forces in the Persian Gulf following the end of the Iran-Iraq War.

On October 11, 1989, REEVES departed the Gulf area and proceeded toward Mombasa, Kenya. She arrived on October 17 and remained until October 21. During the visit, Captain David H. McKinley relieved Captain William D. Center as commanding officer of REEVES. After leaving Mombasa, the cruiser proceeded to Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean for exercises and further operations with Battle Group ALFA.

On October 30, 1989, REEVES was involved in a serious accident during a nighttime weapons exercise approximately 32 miles south of Diego Garcia. An F/A-18 Hornet from USS MIDWAY mistakenly released a 500-pound bomb onto the forward deck of REEVES after the cruiser was misidentified as a target during a flare-bombing exercise. The bomb struck approximately 15 feet aft of the bow, producing a hole about five feet in diameter in the forward deck. The explosion damaged the centerline anchor and caused additional topside damage from fragments and blast effects. Five crew members sustained minor injuries.

Although the forward deck and associated equipment were damaged, the explosion did not penetrate the ship's hull. Damage-control personnel responded immediately and secured the affected areas. REEVES returned to Diego Garcia on October 31 for an initial assessment and repairs. During the following three days, the crew restored nearly all affected systems to operational condition without outside repair assistance. For these efforts, REEVES was recognized as Commander Naval Surface Force Pacific's Self-Sufficiency Ship of the Week.

On November 3, 1989, REEVES departed Diego Garcia in company with the combat stores ship USS SAN JOSE (AFS 7) to rejoin Battle Group ALFA. The formation subsequently proceeded toward Western Australia. REEVES arrived at HMAS Stirling, near Perth, on November 10 and remained there until November 17. During the visit, technical personnel examined the damage sustained in the bombing accident and inspected the temporary repairs made by the ship's crew.

After departing Australia, REEVES continued toward the Philippines with Battle Group ALFA. The ships visited Subic Bay from November 26-30 before conducting further contingency operations in the South China Sea. These operations were influenced by political instability in the Philippines, including an attempted coup against President Corazon Aquino in early December. REEVES participated in naval contingency operations while American authorities monitored developments.

After the situation stabilized, REEVES was released from the contingency assignment and returned to Yokosuka on December 11, 1989. She remained there for holiday leave, maintenance, and inspections during the remainder of the year.

During January and February 1990, REEVES underwent maintenance and inspections at Yokosuka. She departed on February 25 for operations associated with Exercise Team Spirit 90 near the Korean Peninsula. Following completion of the initial exercise period, REEVES visited Pusan, South Korea, from March 4-5. She subsequently departed for surveillance operations near the Soviet Far Eastern coast. From March 5 to April 4, 1990, REEVES conducted special operations in waters off the Soviet Union, including areas near Vladivostok. These activities involved monitoring naval movements and collecting information on Soviet Pacific Fleet operations. REEVES returned to Yokosuka on April 6 and resumed local maintenance, inspections, and training. Additional exercises and operational periods followed during the spring and summer.

On July 1, 1990, the Navy administratively changed REEVES' homeport from Yokosuka to Pearl Harbor. The ship nevertheless remained in Japan for several more weeks while completing preparations for her final departure from the forward-deployed force. On August 17, 1990, REEVES departed Yokosuka, ending slightly more than ten years of continuous assignment as a permanently forward-deployed cruiser in Japan. Rather than proceeding directly to Hawaii, she undertook an extended voyage through Southeast Asia and the Western Pacific.

REEVES visited Subic Bay from August 23-27 and continued to Singapore, arriving on August 31. After departing Singapore on September 3, she participated in the multinational maritime exercise MERCUB 90 through September 7. The cruiser subsequently operated with USS OLDENDORF during Exercise INDUSA 16 from September 9-14. The exercise involved combined maritime warfare training with Indonesian naval forces.

Following INDUSA 16, REEVES visited Lumut, Malaysia, from September 14-16 and participated in Exercise MEKAR 90 in the South China Sea from September 16-24. She subsequently visited Jakarta, Indonesia, from September 24-27. The voyage also included a visit to Hong Kong from October 3-8. After completing her final Western Pacific commitments, REEVES began the passage to her new homeport.

On October 23, 1990, REEVES arrived at Pearl Harbor. The following day, she began unloading ammunition, followed by removal of fuel and other preparations for a major overhaul. From October 26 to November 25, REEVES underwent a pre-overhaul restricted availability. On November 26, 1990, she commenced a combined regular overhaul and New Threat Upgrade (NTU) modernization at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard. The NTU program was intended to improve the ability of older guided missile cruisers to detect, track, and engage modern aircraft and missile threats. The modernization included improvements to the ship's air-search radars, fire-control equipment, combat-direction systems, and electronic warfare capabilities.

The work included upgrades associated with the AN/SPS-48E three-dimensional and AN/SPS-49 two-dimensional air-search radars, improvements to the SPG-55 missile fire-control system, and changes to the combat information and weapons-control systems. These modifications were designed to improve the employment of Standard surface-to-air missiles against more demanding air targets. Additional work included overhaul of propulsion machinery, electrical equipment, auxiliary systems, communications facilities, and shipboard support equipment. Structural maintenance and habitability improvements were also carried out.

REEVES remained at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard throughout 1991. The overhaul occupied the entire year, with the crew conducting maintenance support, equipment installation, technical inspections, and preparations for eventual recommencement of operational training. During this period, the ship received the Golden Anchor Award on March 1, 1991, and the Chief of Naval Operations Safety Award on April 1. These awards recognized personnel retention and safety performance during the preceding evaluation periods.

On October 24, 1991, REEVES completed an important engineering examination as part of her return-to-service preparations. On November 26, Captain Peter A. C. Long relieved Captain David H. McKinley as commanding officer.

During the opening months of 1992, work continued to return REEVES to operational service following the NTU modernization. The crew completed equipment checks, engineering tests, inspections, and training associated with the newly installed combat systems. As the ship resumed operations, she conducted training in Hawaiian waters to restore proficiency in navigation, engineering, communications, air defense, and weapons employment. Particular attention was given to testing the modernized radar and missile-control systems and integrating the equipment into the ship's operational procedures.

During the summer of 1992, REEVES participated in activities associated with the annual Seafair celebrations in Seattle, Washington. On August 1, she was photographed underway in Elliott Bay during the event, providing a documented record of her return to operational activity following the lengthy modernization. During the remainder of 1992, REEVES continued training, inspections, and operational evaluations in the Pacific. Her exercises included air-defense and surface warfare training intended to maintain the ship's effectiveness as a guided missile cruiser.

In 1993, REEVES remained homeported at Pearl Harbor and continued operating with Pacific Fleet units. Her schedule included training and readiness activities while the Navy prepared to retire a number of older steam-powered guided missile cruisers. Despite the modernization completed during the preceding years, REEVES was selected for decommissioning as part of the continuing reduction and reorganization of the fleet following the end of the Cold War. During her final months in commission, the crew carried out preparations for inactivation, including the removal of ammunition and equipment and the securing of shipboard systems.

On November 12, 1993, USS REEVES was decommissioned at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, and stricken from the Naval Vessel Register on the same date. The ship was subsequently placed in inactive status at the Naval Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility at Pearl Harbor. REEVES remained in reserve for several years before being selected for use as a target during a combined American-Australian military exercise. After preparations for disposal, the former cruiser was towed from Hawaii to waters off the eastern coast of Australia.

On May 31, 2001, the former USS REEVES was sunk as a target during Exercise Tandem Thrust 2001, a major combined exercise involving the United States and Australian armed forces. The sinking exercise took place in the Coral Sea approximately 170 nautical miles east of Fraser Island, Queensland. During the exercise, the decommissioned cruiser was attacked by Royal Australian Air Force F-111 aircraft dropping bombs, American warships firing guided missiles, and Royal Australian Navy vessels using naval gunfire. These attacks formed part of a coordinated weapons exercise intended to evaluate the effectiveness of different weapons against a large surface target. REEVES sank at approximately 12:30 p.m. Australian Eastern Standard Time at position 26° 26' 53" South, 155° 24' 27" East. The wreck came to rest at a depth of approximately 2,541 fathoms, or 4,647 meters.

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USS REEVES Image Gallery:

The photo below was taken by Scott R. Fansler and shows the REEVES at anchor at Shimoda, Japan, on May 17, 1989.

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