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USS William H. Standley (CG 32)

USS WILLIAM H. STANDLEY was the seventh BELKNAP - class guided missile cruiser and the first U.S. Navy ship named in honor of Admiral William Harrison Standley, who served as Chief of Naval Operations from 1933 to 1937 and as United States Ambassador to the Soviet Union during World War II. Both decommissioned and stricken from the Navy list on February 11, 1994, the WILLIAM H. STANDLEY spent the following years at the Suisun Bay Reserve Fleet, Benicia, Ca. In early 2004, the STANDLEY was brought to the Naval Inactive Ships Maintenance Facility Pearl Harbor, Hi., in preparation for a SINKEX that was finally conducted on June 23, 2005.

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Crew List:

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

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USS WILLIAM H. STANDLEY Cruise Books:

• Mediterranean Cruise Book 1972
• CentAm Cruise Book 1984-85

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Accidents aboard USS WILLIAM H. STANDLEY:

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USS WILLIAM H. STANDLEY's Commanding Officers:

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History of USS WILLIAM H. STANDLEY:

The contract for USS WILLIAM H. STANDLEY's construction was awarded to Bath Iron Works in Bath, Maine, on January 16, 1962. Her keel was laid on July 29, 1963, and she was launched on December 19, 1964, sponsored by Mrs. Charles B. Wincote, daughter of Admiral Standley. Following completion of construction, fitting-out, and acceptance preparations, the ship was commissioned on July 9, 1966, with Captain Cornelius F. Moul III in command.

Following commissioning, WILLIAM H. STANDLEY underwent fitting-out activities, equipment testing, and initial training. Her primary mission was to provide air defense for aircraft carrier task groups, using the Terrier guided-missile system, long-range surveillance radar, and associated fire-control equipment. The ship also possessed antisubmarine warfare capabilities, including ASROC weapons and sonar, and could operate an embarked helicopter to support surveillance, communications, and search-and-rescue missions.

During the latter part of 1966, WILLIAM H. STANDLEY completed ship qualification trials and additional preparations for operational service. She spent the Christmas holiday period at Boston, Massachusetts, before departing for Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, in January 1967. The ship subsequently completed approximately two and a half months of shakedown training in Caribbean waters. During the training period, she became flagship for Rear Admiral E. R. Bonner, Commander, Cruiser-Destroyer Flotilla Six, while participating in Exercise Springboard. The exercise involved American naval units operating in the Caribbean and included fleet-defense, gunnery, navigation, and tactical training. Port visits during the cruise included San Salvador in the Bahamas and San Juan, Puerto Rico.

WILLIAM H. STANDLEY returned to Boston in April 1967 for a post-shakedown availability. Repairs and modifications were carried out to correct deficiencies discovered during the initial operational trials. Following completion of this work, she resumed underway testing and training. On June 12, 1967, WILLIAM H. STANDLEY departed Boston for approximately five weeks of operations with the Navy's Operational Test and Evaluation Force. During this voyage, she visited Santa Cruz de Tenerife in the Canary Islands before crossing the Atlantic again.

On July 14, 1967, WILLIAM H. STANDLEY arrived at her first assigned homeport, Naval Station Mayport, Florida. During the following week, she became flagship for Commander, Destroyer Squadron Eight. Her subsequent operations included exercises on the Atlantic Fleet Weapons Range and a visit to Frederiksted, St. Croix, in the U.S. Virgin Islands. During August and September 1967, the guided-missile frigate conducted additional training and preparations for her first Mediterranean deployment. These activities included weapons-system evaluations, tactical exercises, and training associated with the coordination of naval air-defense operations.

On October 6, 1967, WILLIAM H. STANDLEY departed Mayport for her first deployment with the U.S. Sixth Fleet. She crossed the Atlantic in company with the radar picket destroyers USS GOODRICH (DDR 831) and USS TURNER (DDR 834). After entering the Mediterranean, WILLIAM H. STANDLEY joined Task Group 60.2 as flagship for Commander, Destroyer Squadron Eight. Her principal assignments included carrier screening, air-defense coordination, surveillance, and exercises with American and allied naval forces.

The deployment took place during a period of increasing Soviet naval activity in the Mediterranean. Following the Arab-Israeli Six-Day War in June 1967, both the United States and the Soviet Union maintained substantial naval forces in the region. WILLIAM H. STANDLEY participated in surveillance and fleet-defense operations while the Sixth Fleet monitored Soviet maritime movements and regional developments. During the deployment, WILLIAM H. STANDLEY visited Palma de Mallorca, Spain; Valletta, Malta; Naples, Italy; and Souda Bay, Crete. These visits provided opportunities for maintenance, replenishment, and crew rest between periods of fleet operations.

During the opening months of 1968, WILLIAM H. STANDLEY participated in Exercise Phiblex 10-68 with French naval forces and conducted additional picket and surveillance duties in the eastern Mediterranean. The guided-missile frigate completed her Mediterranean deployment and returned to Mayport on March 28, 1968. Following a month of post-deployment maintenance, she resumed local training and operated as plane guard for the antisubmarine aircraft carrier USS INTREPID (CVS 11) during May.

Later that month, WILLIAM H. STANDLEY received an emergency recall in connection with the disappearance of the nuclear-powered attack submarine USS SCORPION (SSN 589), which had failed to return from a Mediterranean deployment. WILLIAM H. STANDLEY departed for the Atlantic search area with Commander, Destroyer Squadron Eight, embarked. She participated in the search alongside five submarines and four destroyers. The operation involved extensive surveillance and search efforts in the Atlantic south of the Azores, where the missing submarine was believed to have been lost. On June 5, 1968, the Navy officially declared USS SCORPION lost. WILLIAM H. STANDLEY returned to Mayport the following day.

Later in June, WILLIAM H. STANDLEY embarked approximately forty midshipmen for a summer training cruise. The midshipmen participated in shipboard training during operations off the eastern United States before disembarking at Norfolk, Virginia, late in July. In early August 1968, WILLIAM H. STANDLEY entered Charleston Naval Shipyard, South Carolina, for a restricted availability. During the shipyard period, modifications were made to her combat systems and communications equipment to prepare her for Positive Identification Radar Advisory Zone (PIRAZ) duties in Southeast Asia. The PIRAZ mission required ships equipped with long-range radar and tactical data-processing systems to maintain surveillance of aircraft operating near North Vietnam. These ships assisted with aircraft identification, the direction of friendly fighters, warning of hostile aircraft, and coordination of air operations and search-and-rescue activities.

After completing the modifications, WILLIAM H. STANDLEY conducted sea trials and additional training before returning to Mayport for final deployment preparations. On December 2, 1968, WILLIAM H. STANDLEY departed Mayport for her first Western Pacific deployment. After a brief stop in Puerto Rican waters, she continued toward the Panama Canal, which she transited for the first time on December 9. The ship proceeded across the Pacific and arrived at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, shortly before Christmas. Following the holiday period, she continued westward and reached Subic Bay, Philippines, in early January 1969.

At Subic Bay, WILLIAM H. STANDLEY received additional equipment and completed tests in preparation for operations with the U.S. Seventh Fleet off Vietnam. On January 23, 1969, WILLIAM H. STANDLEY departed Subic Bay for the Gulf of Tonkin. Upon reaching her assigned operating area, she relieved the guided-missile frigate USS MAHAN (DLG 11) as PIRAZ ship. During the following month, WILLIAM H. STANDLEY maintained radar surveillance of aircraft operating over the Gulf of Tonkin and the coastal regions of North Vietnam. Her combat information center monitored aircraft movements, provided identification information, and coordinated with American carrier and shore-based air units.

The PIRAZ mission required continuous radar and communications watchkeeping. The ship's tactical data systems were used to compile and distribute information on the location and identity of aircraft operating in the area, allowing American commanders to coordinate air missions and respond to potential hostile activity. On February 25, 1969, USS MAHAN relieved WILLIAM H. STANDLEY, which then proceeded to Sasebo, Japan, arriving five days later. The ship remained there until March 14 for maintenance and crew rest.

After departing Sasebo, WILLIAM H. STANDLEY returned to Subic Bay on March 17 and spent three days conducting training and logistical preparations. On March 22, 1969, WILLIAM H. STANDLEY resumed operations off Vietnam. During the following fifty days, she spent approximately half her time on the PIRAZ station and the remainder on the southern search-and-rescue station in the Gulf of Tonkin. The assignment took place during a period of heightened tensions on the Korean Peninsula. On March 11, North Korean and American forces had exchanged fire near the demilitarized zone. On April 15, North Korean fighter aircraft shot down an American EC-121 reconnaissance aircraft over international waters in the Sea of Japan, killing all 31 crew members.

American naval forces in the western Pacific were placed on increased alert during these developments. WILLIAM H. STANDLEY continued her assigned duties in the Gulf of Tonkin while the Seventh Fleet adjusted its operations in response to the regional situation. The search-and-rescue assignment required WILLIAM H. STANDLEY to maintain readiness to recover American aircrews forced down at sea. Operational requirements also led the ship to accommodate two helicopters simultaneously, increasing the aviation activity associated with her mission.

Following completion of this operational period, WILLIAM H. STANDLEY received a commendatory message from Rear Admiral E. J. Rudd recognizing the ship's performance during its demanding assignment. The guided-missile frigate was subsequently relieved by USS KING (DLG 10) and departed for Hong Kong, arriving on May 18, 1969. She remained there until May 24 before proceeding to Yokosuka, Japan, where she arrived on May 28. Following eight days of maintenance at Yokosuka, WILLIAM H. STANDLEY returned to the Gulf of Tonkin and relieved USS STERETT (DLG 31) as southern search-and-rescue ship on June 9.

For the following nine days, WILLIAM H. STANDLEY performed search-and-rescue and strike-support duties for American aircraft carriers operating off Vietnam. She remained available to assist aircraft and aircrews in emergencies while maintaining radar surveillance and communications with other Seventh Fleet units. On June 18, 1969, WILLIAM H. STANDLEY was relieved by the guided-missile cruiser USS CHICAGO (CG 11), ending her final operational period of the deployment. The ship began her return voyage across the Pacific and reached Pearl Harbor on July 4, 1969. She subsequently proceeded toward the Galapagos Islands and the Panama Canal, which she transited on July 16. WILLIAM H. STANDLEY returned to Mayport on July 20, 1969, completing her first Western Pacific deployment and Vietnam assignment.

Following post-deployment leave and maintenance, the ship resumed local training and inspections. During the autumn, she operated as flagship for Commander, Cruiser-Destroyer Flotilla Six, conducting exercises in the Caribbean that included missile and gunfire training against drone targets under simulated combat conditions. During these operations, WILLIAM H. STANDLEY visited San Juan, Puerto Rico, and participated in exercises intended to maintain the readiness of her weapons and tactical systems. On November 20, 1969, WILLIAM H. STANDLEY entered Charleston Naval Shipyard for her first major overhaul since commissioning. The ship remained in the yard during the closing weeks of 1969 and the first half of 1970.

The overhaul included repairs, equipment modifications, and maintenance to the ship's machinery, propulsion systems, weapons, sensors, and auxiliary installations. Following completion of the principal work, WILLIAM H. STANDLEY underwent sea trials and operational evaluations before returning to regular fleet duties. During the summer of 1970, WILLIAM H. STANDLEY conducted missile firings on the Atlantic Fleet Weapons Range and completed approximately six weeks of refresher training at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The training periods were interrupted by visits to San Juan, Puerto Rico, and Port-au-Prince, Haiti.

On August 5, 1970, WILLIAM H. STANDLEY was diverted from training to assist a Panamanian merchant vessel in distress off the northeastern coast of Hispaniola. The guided-missile frigate proceeded to the scene and provided assistance to the disabled merchantman before resuming her scheduled activities. During the remainder of 1970, WILLIAM H. STANDLEY continued operations from Mayport, completing maintenance, training, and preparations for another Western Pacific deployment.

On January 5, 1971, WILLIAM H. STANDLEY departed Mayport for her second Western Pacific deployment. She transited the Panama Canal four days later and proceeded across the Pacific, arriving at Pearl Harbor on January 23. Following four days in Hawaiian waters, the ship continued westward. She made a six-hour fuel stop at Guam on February 5 and subsequently proceeded toward Subic Bay. During the passage from Guam to the Philippines, WILLIAM H. STANDLEY provided assistance to the Philippine merchant vessel SANTA ANNA, which was experiencing difficulties at sea.

The guided-missile frigate arrived at Subic Bay on February 10, 1971, and departed two days later for operations in the Gulf of Tonkin. During the following twenty-five days, WILLIAM H. STANDLEY operated with the aircraft carrier USS RANGER (CVA 61) on the northern search-and-rescue station. Her duties included radar surveillance, aircraft identification, and maintaining readiness to assist downed aircrews. After completing this assignment, WILLIAM H. STANDLEY visited Sasebo, Japan, for maintenance and crew rest. She subsequently conducted a brief patrol in the Sea of Japan before returning to Vietnamese waters.

During the following months, WILLIAM H. STANDLEY alternated between PIRAZ assignments and periods of maintenance and replenishment. She also visited Hong Kong and Subic Bay. At Subic Bay, the ship underwent repairs to her rudder before completing another PIRAZ assignment in the Gulf of Tonkin. Following completion of her Vietnam operations, WILLIAM H. STANDLEY began an extended return voyage that would take her around the world rather than directly back across the Pacific. She sailed westward through Southeast Asian waters, visiting Sattahip, Thailand, and Singapore before proceeding across the Indian Ocean. The ship subsequently called at Port Victoria in the Seychelles and Lourenco Marques, Mozambique, now known as Maputo. Continuing around the Cape of Good Hope, she crossed the South Atlantic and visited Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. WILLIAM H. STANDLEY continued northward through the Atlantic and Caribbean, visiting Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico, before returning to Mayport on August 18, 1971.

The deployment had covered approximately 51,000 miles and completed the ship's first circumnavigation of the globe. The remainder of 1971 was devoted to post-deployment maintenance, refresher training, and local operations off Florida and in the Caribbean. On January 19, 1972, WILLIAM H. STANDLEY departed Mayport to participate in Operation Snowy Beach. She was detached from the exercise on January 25 and proceeded to Yorktown, Virginia, to load weapons before returning to Mayport on January 28. On February 17, 1972, the guided-missile frigate departed Mayport for further Atlantic Fleet exercises. During the cruise, she visited Nassau, Bahamas, and Port Everglades, Florida, before returning to Mayport on March 9.

On March 20, WILLIAM H. STANDLEY embarked twenty-five naval reservists and conducted a nine-day training period along the southeastern United States coast. The exercise included antisubmarine warfare training with USS TRUTTA (SS 421) and preparations involving the ship's LAMPS helicopter detachment. Following further training and maintenance, WILLIAM H. STANDLEY began preparations for her second Mediterranean deployment.

In June 1972, the guided-missile frigate departed Mayport in company with Task Group 27.4 for the Atlantic crossing. During the passage, a helicopter from the ship's embarked Light Airborne Multi-Purpose System detachment crashed into the sea. Three of the four occupants were rescued, but the fourth was lost with the aircraft. The accident occurred during the transit to the Mediterranean and resulted in the loss of a member of the embarked aviation detachment.

WILLIAM H. STANDLEY reached Rota, Spain, on June 22, 1972, where she completed turnover procedures with the guided-missile frigate USS HARRY E. YARNELL (DLG 17). Following the turnover, WILLIAM H. STANDLEY joined Task Force 60 and began her second assignment with the U.S. Sixth Fleet. During the deployment, WILLIAM H. STANDLEY participated in Exercises Good Friendship, Quick Draw, two National Week exercises, and Bystander. These operations involved American and allied naval forces conducting air-defense, surface warfare, antisubmarine warfare, and coordinated fleet training in Mediterranean waters.

The deployment took place during continued Cold War naval competition in the Mediterranean, where both NATO and Soviet forces maintained substantial maritime presences. Between exercises and operational periods, WILLIAM H. STANDLEY visited Livorno, Italy; Cannes and Golfe-Juan, France; Palma de Mallorca, Spain; Athens and Corfu, Greece; Mersin and Izmir, Turkey; and Barcelona, Malaga, and Rota, Spain. These visits provided maintenance and replenishment opportunities while also supporting contacts with allied naval authorities and civilian communities. On December 9, 1972, WILLIAM H. STANDLEY departed Rota for the Atlantic crossing. She arrived at her new homeport of Charleston, South Carolina, on December 18.

Following her return, WILLIAM H. STANDLEY remained in Charleston until January 17, 1973, when she entered an extensive overhaul lasting approximately seven and a half months. The overhaul included repairs, machinery maintenance, and equipment modifications required for continued service. Following completion of the shipyard period, WILLIAM H. STANDLEY underwent sea trials, training, and operational evaluations. During the remainder of 1973 and the opening months of 1974, the guided-missile frigate conducted local operations and preparations for another Mediterranean deployment.

On June 14, 1974, WILLIAM H. STANDLEY departed Charleston for her third Mediterranean deployment. She arrived at Rota on June 27 and subsequently joined Sixth Fleet units operating in the western and central Mediterranean. During the early part of the deployment, the ship visited Saint-Tropez and Theoule, France, where she participated in commemorative activities marking the thirtieth anniversary of the Allied landings in southern France during World War II. The deployment also included a visit to Civitavecchia, Italy, providing access to Rome.

During July 1974, the political situation on Cyprus deteriorated following a coup against the government of President Makarios and the subsequent Turkish military intervention, which began on July 20. The crisis resulted in heightened military readiness among American naval forces in the eastern Mediterranean. WILLIAM H. STANDLEY spent extended periods at sea between July and September while the Sixth Fleet monitored developments involving Greece, Turkey, and Cyprus.

During this period, the ship conducted surveillance, air-defense, and other fleet assignments in the eastern Mediterranean. She also underwent a brief tender availability at Augusta Bay, Sicily, before returning to operational duties. On October 4, 1974, WILLIAM H. STANDLEY assisted the destroyer escort USS VREELAND (DE 1068), which had suffered serious boiler trouble and was unable to continue under her own power. WILLIAM H. STANDLEY took the disabled ship in tow and provided assistance until further arrangements could be made.

During the same deployment, WILLIAM H. STANDLEY conducted surveillance of Soviet naval forces operating in the eastern Mediterranean. In one operation, the ship detected a Soviet submarine and maintained sonar contact for more than forty-nine hours. The submarine, identified as a ZULU-class vessel, eventually surfaced after the prolonged period of tracking. The encounter was part of the continuing surveillance activities conducted by American and Soviet naval forces in the Mediterranean during the Cold War. Following completion of these operations, WILLIAM H. STANDLEY continued her Sixth Fleet assignment, alternating underway periods with visits to Genoa and San Remo, Italy, and Rota, Spain. She departed Rota on November 24, 1974, and returned to Charleston on December 9.

After the Christmas leave period, WILLIAM H. STANDLEY proceeded to Norfolk Naval Shipyard in Portsmouth, Virginia, for repairs and maintenance. The ship completed the availability in late February 1975 and resumed training and operations from Charleston. On July 1, 1975, WILLIAM H. STANDLEY was redesignated CG 32 as part of the Navy's fleetwide reclassification of major surface combatants. The administrative change reflected her classification as a guided-missile cruiser rather than a guided-missile frigate.

During the summer of 1975, WILLIAM H. STANDLEY operated from Guantanamo Bay, Cuba; Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico; and San Juan. Her activities included refresher training, weapons evaluations, engineering inspections, and preparations for another Mediterranean deployment.

On October 2, 1975, WILLIAM H. STANDLEY departed Charleston for her fourth Mediterranean deployment. Following the Atlantic crossing, she arrived at Rota and subsequently relieved the guided-missile destroyer USS LUCE (DDG 38). Throughout the deployment, WILLIAM H. STANDLEY operated with the U.S. Sixth Fleet, conducting carrier escort duties, air-defense exercises, surveillance, and training with allied naval forces. She spent Christmas 1975 at Naples, Italy, and continued her Sixth Fleet assignments during the opening months of 1976. The deployment involved a series of underway periods and port visits throughout the Mediterranean, including operations intended to maintain American naval readiness during a period of continued political and military tensions in the region. On April 25, 1976, WILLIAM H. STANDLEY completed turnover procedures with USS HARRY E. YARNELL at Gibraltar and departed for the United States.

Following her return to Charleston, WILLIAM H. STANDLEY underwent post-deployment maintenance and resumed Atlantic Fleet training. During the latter half of 1976 and the early weeks of 1977, she participated in exercises, inspections, and preparations for another overseas deployment.

In mid-February 1977, WILLIAM H. STANDLEY departed Charleston for her fifth Mediterranean deployment. She operated with the U.S. Sixth Fleet during the spring and summer, conducting air-defense, surveillance, carrier screening, and multinational training assignments. After completing the deployment, WILLIAM H. STANDLEY returned to Charleston on August 1, 1977.

During the following weeks, the ship prepared for a permanent transfer from the Atlantic Fleet to the Pacific Fleet. The change would shift her principal operating areas from the Atlantic and Mediterranean to the Pacific, Indian Ocean, and other regions within the Pacific Fleet's responsibilities. On August 31, 1977, WILLIAM H. STANDLEY departed Charleston for her new homeport of Bremerton, Washington. She transited the Panama Canal on September 5 and 6 before proceeding northward along the Pacific coast of the United States. During the passage, WILLIAM H. STANDLEY visited San Diego and San Francisco, California. She also assisted a fishing boat that had become disabled and was drifting off Santa Barbara. The cruiser reached Bremerton on September 29, 1977, completing the transfer to the Pacific Fleet.

In the autumn of 1977, WILLIAM H. STANDLEY entered an extensive overhaul at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard. The availability continued through much of 1978 and included maintenance, repairs, and equipment modifications necessary for continued operations. Following completion of the overhaul in late summer 1978, the cruiser resumed sea trials and training, operating primarily from San Diego and nearby Pacific Fleet exercise areas.

The remainder of 1978 was devoted to combat systems qualifications, engineering inspections, and local training. WILLIAM H. STANDLEY spent the Christmas holiday period in port. During 1979, WILLIAM H. STANDLEY continued Pacific Fleet operations and prepared for further assignments in the western Pacific and Indian Ocean.

The strategic situation in Southwest Asia changed substantially during the year. The Iranian Revolution led to the overthrow of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, while the seizure of the United States Embassy in Tehran on November 4 created a prolonged international crisis. The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in December 1979 further increased American military concern about developments in the Indian Ocean and Persian Gulf regions.

During the 1979-1980 period, WILLIAM H. STANDLEY operated in the western Pacific and Indian Ocean, where American naval forces were reinforcing their presence in response to the regional situation. Her assignments included air-defense surveillance, maritime monitoring, tactical exercises, and operations associated with deployed American naval forces in the Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean. On March 3, 1980, WILLIAM H. STANDLEY experienced a rupture of a boiler tube in her No. 1 boiler while operating in waters near the Strait of Hormuz. The engineering casualty required attention to the propulsion plant, and the cruiser proceeded toward the U.S. Navy support facilities at Diego Garcia for repairs.

Following the engineering casualty and subsequent maintenance, WILLIAM H. STANDLEY continued her overseas assignment. During April 1980, the United States attempted to rescue the American hostages held in Tehran through Operation Eagle Claw. American naval forces in the Indian Ocean supported the broader military presence associated with the crisis. WILLIAM H. STANDLEY was among the American surface combatants operating in the region during this period. Following completion of her Indian Ocean operations, WILLIAM H. STANDLEY returned across the Pacific and resumed duties with the Pacific Fleet.

During 1981, the cruiser continued training, exercises, and maintenance activities associated with operations in the Pacific and Indian Ocean regions. These included air-defense training, engineering inspections, tactical evaluations, and operations with other U.S. Navy units. The early 1980s also saw continuing instability in the Persian Gulf following the outbreak of the Iran-Iraq War in September 1980. American naval forces maintained an increased presence in the region to monitor military developments and protect U.S. interests and maritime access.

During 1982 and 1983, WILLIAM H. STANDLEY continued Pacific Fleet operations. Her activities included local training and maintenance, weapons qualifications, operational inspections, and preparation for overseas assignments. The ship's operational schedule during these years was influenced by the changing requirements of the Pacific Fleet, including exercises with aircraft carrier groups, surface warfare training, antisubmarine operations, and extended periods of readiness. In 1984, WILLIAM H. STANDLEY was assigned to operations off Central America rather than undertaking a previously anticipated Western Pacific deployment.

On August 13, 1984, the cruiser departed San Diego for a deployment planned to last approximately four months. Her principal assignment was to support American naval surveillance and presence operations in waters off Central America. The deployment took place during a period of considerable political and military tension in the region. Civil conflicts in Nicaragua, El Salvador, and neighboring countries had led the United States to maintain naval and other military forces in nearby waters. WILLIAM H. STANDLEY conducted surveillance and maritime presence operations, monitoring activity in designated operating areas and remaining available for additional tasks assigned by the naval command structure. During the deployment, Naval Station Rodman in the Panama Canal Zone served as an important logistical support facility. The cruiser repeatedly used Rodman for maintenance, supplies, and crew support between operational periods. The ship's 1984-1985 cruise book describes Rodman as a principal operating base during the Central America deployment. Personnel used the facilities there while the cruiser prepared for further underway assignments.

The deployment also included operations in the Caribbean. WILLIAM H. STANDLEY visited Willemstad, Curacao, during the cruise, providing an opportunity for crew rest and maintenance after extended periods at sea. Another documented port visit took the cruiser to Cartagena, Colombia. During the visit, ship personnel participated in contacts with local authorities and naval representatives before resuming their scheduled duties. Throughout the Central America assignment, WILLIAM H. STANDLEY continued surveillance and training activities, maintaining her readiness to respond to instructions from the American naval command.

Following the deployment, WILLIAM H. STANDLEY returned to Pacific Fleet duties, conducting maintenance and preparations for further operations. During 1985, the cruiser continued operating in the eastern Pacific and Caribbean regions. The cruise book covering 1984-1985 documents additional movements associated with her operations in and around Central America. On September 22, 1985, WILLIAM H. STANDLEY transited the Panama Canal from the Pacific into the Caribbean. A contemporary Navy photograph records the cruiser passing through the canal during the transit.

Following completion of her operational activities, WILLIAM H. STANDLEY resumed training and maintenance preparations in the Pacific Fleet. During the opening months of 1986, WILLIAM H. STANDLEY conducted exercises and readiness evaluations, including preparations for participation in Readiness Exercise 86-3. On April 4, 1986, a fire occurred in the ship's No. 1 engine room while she was participating in the exercise in Pacific waters. The fire caused minor damage but no reported injuries. The crew brought the fire under control, and WILLIAM H. STANDLEY continued participating in the exercise.

During the remainder of 1986, the cruiser continued Pacific Fleet training, maintenance, inspections, and operational preparations. On January 14, 1987, WILLIAM H. STANDLEY was at anchor in San Francisco Bay when strong winds and rough conditions caused several ammunition barges secured alongside the cruiser to break loose from their moorings. The barges struck the ship's side before personnel succeeded in securing them again. The incident caused relatively minor damage, and the barges were prevented from drifting into the surrounding harbor.

Later in 1987, WILLIAM H. STANDLEY deployed to the Persian Gulf region during the Iran-Iraq War. The war had increasingly affected commercial shipping in the Persian Gulf, with Iranian and Iraqi forces attacking merchant vessels and oil tankers associated with their opponents. In response to requests from Kuwait and concerns about the security of maritime trade, the United States began Operation Earnest Will, providing naval escorts for Kuwaiti oil tankers that had been placed under the American flag.

WILLIAM H. STANDLEY participated in this operation as one of the guided-missile surface combatants assigned to the American naval forces in the Persian Gulf. Her duties included maintaining air surveillance, monitoring the movements of aircraft and surface vessels, coordinating tactical information, and supporting the protection of escorted merchant ships. During October 1987, WILLIAM H. STANDLEY participated in a convoy operation involving the reflagged tanker GAS KING. The convoy, designated Earnest Will Convoy No. 12, also included the guided-missile frigate USS HAWES (FFG 53) and the amphibious assault ship USS GUADALCANAL (LPH 7). Contemporary photographs document the formation underway in the Persian Gulf during October 1987. WILLIAM H. STANDLEY operated as part of the convoy's protective force, maintaining surveillance and contributing to the coordinated defense of the merchant vessel.

On October 19, 1987, American naval forces conducted Operation Nimble Archer, attacking Iranian offshore oil platforms after the missile attack against the reflagged tanker SEA ISLE CITY near Kuwait. WILLIAM H. STANDLEY was among the American naval forces deployed in the Persian Gulf region during this period. Her direct participation in the attacks against the Iranian installations is not established. Throughout the deployment, the cruiser continued maritime surveillance and escort-related assignments in waters where naval mines, aircraft, missiles, and small combatants posed potential threats to shipping. Following completion of her overseas duties, WILLIAM H. STANDLEY returned to the United States and resumed Pacific Fleet operations.

During 1988 and 1989, the cruiser continued training, inspections, and maintenance while remaining assigned to the Pacific Fleet. Her activities included air-defense exercises, surface warfare training, and preparations for further operational assignments. The conclusion of the Iran-Iraq War in August 1988 reduced some of the immediate threats to shipping in the Persian Gulf, although American naval forces continued maintaining a presence in the region. During this period, the Navy was also introducing significant improvements to the combat systems of older guided-missile cruisers under the New Threat Upgrade program.

In June 1990, WILLIAM H. STANDLEY began an extensive modernization at Northwest Marine Iron Works in Portland, Oregon. The shipyard received a contract valued at approximately $29 million for overhaul and modernization work associated with the cruiser. The availability included maintenance of machinery and engineering systems, structural repairs, equipment modifications, and major improvements to the ship's air-defense combat systems. The New Threat Upgrade program was intended to improve the ability of older guided-missile cruisers to detect, track, and engage modern aircraft and antiship missiles. WILLIAM H. STANDLEY received improvements involving the AN/SPS-48E three-dimensional air-search radar, AN/SPS-49 long-range air-search radar, and AN/SPG-55B missile fire-control equipment.

The modernization also involved improvements to the ship's tactical data-processing and combat direction systems, supporting more effective employment of Standard Missile 2 Extended Range weapons. The availability continued into 1991. Following completion of the modernization during the summer, WILLIAM H. STANDLEY resumed sea trials, combat systems evaluations, and operational training. The trials included inspections and tests intended to verify the performance of the modified radars, missile fire-control equipment, communications systems, and propulsion plant. During the latter part of 1991 and throughout 1992, WILLIAM H. STANDLEY continued Pacific Fleet training and operational preparations.

The end of the Cold War brought substantial changes to American naval strategy and force structure. The dissolution of the Soviet Union in December 1991 and the conclusion of the 1990-1991 Gulf War led the Navy to reassess its fleet size and the future of older surface combatants. WILLIAM H. STANDLEY nevertheless remained in active service and continued operating with Pacific Fleet forces during the transition period.

In December 1992, the United States began Operation Restore Hope in Somalia, a multinational humanitarian intervention intended to improve security conditions and facilitate the distribution of relief supplies during the country's civil conflict and famine. American and allied naval forces deployed to waters off Somalia to support the international operation, provide transportation and logistical assistance, and maintain maritime security in the region.

In early 1993, WILLIAM H. STANDLEY operated off the coast of Somalia as part of the international naval presence associated with the humanitarian mission. During March 1993, the cruiser was photographed operating in the same area as the Australian heavy landing ship HMAS TOBRUK and the Canadian replenishment ship HMCS PRESERVER. The Australian deployment formed part of Operation Solace, Australia's military contribution to the multinational intervention in Somalia. WILLIAM H. STANDLEY's presence in the operating area placed her among the American and allied naval units supporting the international mission during this period. The cruiser continued her assigned operations in the western Indian Ocean before returning toward the Pacific and completing her overseas duties.

During the remainder of 1993, WILLIAM H. STANDLEY continued operational and maintenance activities as the Navy proceeded with plans to retire older guided-missile cruisers. The introduction of newer Aegis-equipped TICONDEROGA-class cruisers and ARLEIGH BURKE-class destroyers was changing the composition of the surface fleet. These vessels offered modern integrated air-defense capabilities and were assuming an increasing share of carrier battle group escort duties.

WILLIAM H. STANDLEY entered the final phase of her active career during this period. Equipment was removed or transferred, personnel were reassigned, and the ship underwent the administrative and technical preparations required for withdrawal from commissioned service. USS WILLIAM H. STANDLEY was decommissioned at San Diego, California, on February 11, 1994, and was stricken from the Naval Vessel Register on the same date. Following decommissioning, the former cruiser was transferred to the National Defense Reserve Fleet at Suisun Bay, near Benicia, California, where she remained in inactive storage.

During the following years, the Navy considered the disposition of the decommissioned vessel. WILLIAM H. STANDLEY remained in the reserve fleet until she was selected for use as a target ship during naval exercises. In early 2004, the former cruiser was transferred to the Naval Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, where preparations were made for her eventual use in a sinking exercise. The work included removing or securing equipment and materials and preparing the vessel for towing and subsequent live-fire training.

During June 2005, the former WILLIAM H. STANDLEY was towed from Hawaii toward waters off eastern Australia for Exercise Talisman Sabre 2005, a major combined military exercise involving American and Australian forces. The exercise included naval operations, amphibious training, air operations, and live-fire events intended to test the coordination and readiness of the participating forces. Ex-USS WILLIAM H. STANDLEY was used as a target during the exercise and was sunk in the Coral Sea on June 23, 2005, according to U.S. Navy ship-disposal records. The recorded sinking position was approximately 24 degrees 46 minutes 50 seconds South, 155 degrees 48 minutes 26 seconds East.

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USS WILLIAM H. STANDLEY Image Gallery:

The photo below shows the WILLIAM H. STANDLEY at anchor in the Coral Sea on June 23, 2005, shortly before she was sunk during Exercise Talisman Sabre 2005.

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