Search the Site with

General Characteristics

Crew List

Memorabilia

Cruise Books

About the Ship's Name

Accidents aboard the Ship

History

Patch Gallery

Image Gallery

to end of page

USS Vandegrift (FFG 48)

USS VANDEGRIFT was the 38^th PERRY class guided missile frigate and the first ship in the Navy named after Marine Corps General Alexander A. Vandegrift. In March 1998, the VANDEGRIFT shifted homeport from San Diego, Calif., to Yokosuka, Japan, becoming a forward deployed naval unit of the US Seventh Fleet. VANDEGRIFT served in this role for more than 8 years and on August 14, 2006, she left Yokosuka en-route to her new old homeport of San Diego, Calif. USS VANDEGRIFT was deactivated during a decommissioning ceremony at her homeport of San Diego, Calif., on February 19, 2015, and was officially decommissioned on March 31, 2015. The ship spent the following years laid up at Pearl Harbor, Hi., until sunk as a target in June 2022 during exercise Valiant Shield 2022 in the Marianas.

back to top

go to the end of the page

back to top

go to the end of the page

Crew List:

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

• Click here to view the list.

back to top

go to the end of the page

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

back to top

go to the end of the page

USS VANDEGRIFT Cruise Books:

• World Cruise Book 1987
• WestPac Cruise Book 2005
• Final Cruise Book 2014

back to top

go to the end of the page

About the Ship's Name, about Marine Corps General Alexander A. Vandegrift:

Marine Corps General Alexander A. Vandegrift was born on 13 March 1887, in Charlottesville, Virginia. He attended the University of Virginia and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Marine Corps in 1909. In 1912, Vandegrift participated in the capture of Coyotepe, Nicaragua, and two years later in the occupation of Veracruz, Mexico. He also served aboard the USS MINNESOTA, USS VIRGINIA, USS DELAWARE and USS CHESTER until ordered to Haiti in 1915 for action against the Cacos Bandits. For service in Haiti, where he continued to serve in various capacities until 1923, the President of the Republic of Haiti awarded him their Distinguished Service Medal and the Haitian Medaille Militaire with one Silver Star. The following 18 years were spent in various posts and stations in the United States, with the exception of two tours in China.

In 1942, Vandegrift sailed to the South Pacific as Commanding General of the 1st Marine Division and led his men in the initial landing of the U.S. forces against the Japanese at Guadalcanal. For his actions, he was awarded the Navy Cross and the Medal of Honor.

With the successful conclusion of the Solomon Islands campaign, Vandegrift assumed command of the 1st Marine Amphibious Corps in July, 1943, and directed the initial landing at Empress Augusta Bay, Bougainville.

On 1 January 1945, Vandegrift was appointed to the rank of General, the first active-duty Marine officer to reach four-star rank. He then served as Commandant of the Marine Corps, and in this position guided the Corps' post-war reorganization and demobilization.

General Vandegrift retired from active duty in April 1949.

back to top

go to the end of the page

Accidents aboard USS VANDEGRIFT:

back to top

go to the end of the page

back to top

go to the end of the page

USS VANDEGRIFT History:

USS VANDEGRIFT, named for Gen. Alexander A. Vandegrift, U.S. Marine Corps, was built at Todd Pacific Shipyards in Seattle, Washington, and was commissioned on 24 November 1984. The ship's inaugural cruise began on 5 January 1987. During the course of this around-the-world cruise, it sailed three oceans, seven seas and visited four continents. The plankowners also crossed the international dateline, equator, Greenwich meridian, and sailed through the straits of Gibraltar, and the Suez and Panama canals. VANDEGRIFT conducted operations with USS KITTY HAWK (CV 63) in the Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean. These operations were highlighted by an air and sea power demonstration for the President of Pakistan. Port visits included Pearl Harbor; Subic Bay in the Republic of the Philippines; Karachi, Pakistan; Mombasa, Kenya; Maxime, France; Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico; and St. Croix and St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. VANDEGRIFT returned home to Long Beach in June, 1987.

The ship's second deployment began in June, 1988, returning it to operations in the Arabian Gulf shortly after the cease-fire between Iran and Iraq. VANDEGRIFT's mission while on patrol in the northern Arabian Gulf focused on providing protection and logistic support for joint forces in the area. VANDEGRIFT also participated in numerous Earnest Will missions, escorting U.S. and reflagged Kuwaiti tankers. Port visits included Pearl Harbor; Subic Bay, Republic of the Philippines; Bahrain; Pattaya Beach, Thailand and Hong Kong. VANDEGRIFT returned home in December, 1988.

The ship's third deployment to the Arabian Gulf began in March, 1990. VANDEGRIFT patrolled the Northern Arabian Gulf and conducted Earnest Will escort missions. As the senior ship on station in the Arabian Gulf during the invasion of Kuwait, VANDEGRIFT served as the Anti-Air Warfare Commander and Electronic Warfare Coordinator. VANDEGRIFT participated in Operation Desert Shield's Maritime Interception Operations with units from United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and France. Ports of call included Pearl Harbor; Subic Bay; Phuket, Thailand; Singapore and Hong Kong. VANDEGRIFT returned home after an extended deployment in October, 1990.

On April 22, 1992, VANDEGRIFT began its fourth deployment to the Arabian Gulf. VANDEGRIFT participated in exercises with India, Qatar and Pakistan, helping to strenghten U.S. relations in that area. Ports of call included Doha, Qatar; Dubai, Jebel Ali and Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates; Karachi, Pakistan; Phuket, Thailand; Goa, India; Bahrain; Hong Kong; Singapore and Guam, and earned the Chief of Naval Operations LAMPS Helicopter Safety Award. VANDEGRIFT returned home on 22 October 1992.

VANDEGRIFT changed homeport to San Diego in February, 1993, and earned the COMNAVSURFPAC Food Service Award in March, 1994.

The fifth deployment to the Arabian Gulf began on 25 October 1994. VANDEGRIFT's mission was the enforcement of U.N. sanctions against Iraq in the Northern Arabian Gulf. The most memorable event was conducting a non-permissive boarding of a sanctions violator on Christmas Day. During the return transit, VANDEGRIFT played host to a major diplomatic reception in Muscat, Oman, to better diplomatic relations. Ports of call included Sasebo, Japan; Manila, Republic of the Philippines; Jebel Ali, United Arab Emirates; Bahrain; Singapore and Hong Kong. VANDEGRIFT returned home on 25 April 1995.

As early as January, VANDEGRIFT had been preparing for an INSURV inspection. The actual INSURV went from 5 to 9 June and included a brief underway period to demonstrate those operational areas for the INSURV inspectors. The necessary preparations had taken place and the desired result of a very successful INSUEPV was achieved.

VANDEGRIFT embarked midshipman in mid June for training. Somewhat unexpectedly VANDEGRIFT was selected to make a port visit to Kodiak, Alaska, in early August to commemorate the 50th anniversary of World War II with local veterans. VANDEGRIFT rose to the occasion and hosted the people of Kodiak to tours onboard for the five days of the port visit. The trip to Kodiak included a week of transiting each way.

VANDEGRIFT returned from Alaska to resume her workups, this time in the first part of the Tailored Ship Training Availability (TSTA I). The rigors of TSTA I included one week inport and three weeks of underway demonstrating proficiency in all required areas of engineering, operations, and combat systems. TSTA I was completed successfully with high marks from the Afloat Training Group inspectors.

VANDEGRIFT spent most of the month of September preparing for the Operational Propulsion Plant Examination (OPPE). The OPPE was originally scheduled from 03-05 October but VANDEGRIFT experienced problems with the Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS) system. Because of the immaculate material condition of the engineering spaces, the senior OPPE inspector decided to give VANDEGRIFT time to correct the problem with UPS and complete the examination on the 11th of October. After satisfying the rigorous requirements of the OPPE, VANDEGRIFT completed the exam with an overall grade of satisfactory.

In preparation for entering the yards on 15 October, VANDEGRIFT had to conduct an offload of all her weapons at the Seal Beach, CA, Naval weapons station. VANDEGRIFT returned to San Diego to offload fuel and be moved to the NASSCO pier for the two month Selected Restricted Availability.

From 13-15 December VANDEGRIFT put to sea in order to verify the proper operation of the ship after two months in the yards. The ship performed satisfactorily and returned to Naval Station San Diego. From 18-22 December VANDEGRIFT proved she was capable of safely conducting flight operations with the successful completion of the Aviation Readiness Evaluation and the Aviation Certification Inspection.

On the morning of Monday, 13 May 1996, VANDEGRIFT took in all lines and began her sixth six-month deployment to the Arabian Gulf. On the first legs of this trip, the crew was constantly training. On the way to Hawaii, USS ANTIETAM (CG 54) and USS REID (FFG 30) were in company and the schedule of events was full. In Pearl Harbor, VANDEGRIFT met with another ship of her SAG, USS RUSSELL (DDG 59), and continued on after a brief stop for fuel, stores, and a barrel far the 76 mm gun.

The first week of June VANDEGRIFT and RUSSELL pulled in to Hong Kong. The crews were given a few days of rest at their first liberty port. Following this brief stop the ships headed toward the Straits of Malacca where they split up with; VANDEGRIFT visiting Lumut, Malaysia and RUSSELL pulling in to Phuket, Thailand. While in Lumut the crew experienced the hospitality of the Malaysians while the ship received some minor voyage repairs from the local shipyard. On the morning VANDEGRIFT got underway and once underway the mood started getting a bit more serious as, prior to pulling in to Karachi, VANDEGRIFT crossed in to the Fifth Fleet area and an increased defense posture. This did not, however, adversely affect the highly successful exercise Inspired Siren.

Upon entering the Arabian Gulf VANDEGRIFT continually proved her ability to get the job done. Starting with getting underway early to relieve another ship that was non-mission capable, and continuing until exiting the Gulf in September. On several occasions the crew was given as little as thirty minutes notice of tasking changes to conduct Maritime Interception Operations in the North Arabian Gulf, MPS protection in the Southern Arabian Gulf, Amphibious Readiness Group Escort, or plane guard with USS CARL VINSON. VANDEGRIFT also participated in exercises Red Reef and Neon Falcon with the Saudi Arabian and Bahraini navies, respectively.

After port visits to Australia, Fiji, and Pearl Harbor, Hi, the VANDEGRIFT returned home to San Diego, Calif., on 13 November 1996.

The year 1997 was mainly spend with local operations off the US west coast and on 23 February 1998, the VANDEGRIFT left San Diego, Calif., en route to her new homeport of Yokosuka, Japan, arriving there 13 March.

In June, VANDEGRIFT deployed to Pearl Harbor to participate in RIMPAC 1998. For the exercise VANDEGRIFT was assigned to a Maritime Action Group with ships of the Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF). VANDEGRIFT conducted torpedo firings, MK 15 Close-in-weapons-firings and MK-75 76mm firings. VANDEGRIFT also conducted Maritime Interception Operations and provided the first ever VBSS training to JMSDF units. For engaging and destroying more simulated hostile air (2), surface (3), and subsurface (1) units than any other ship of the Bilateral Force, VANDEGRIFT was called the 'Number One Killing Machine" by COMCORTFLOT ONE. VANDEGRIFT also completed Weapons System Accuracy Test (WSAT) in July 1998. Upon USS KITTY HAWK's (CV 63) turnover with USS INDEPENDENCE (CV 62), VANDEGRIFT sailed back to Yokosuka with the USS KITTY HAWK.

The ship was scheduled to be inport in Hong Kong in October but was turned back by two typhoons. Instead VANDEGRIFT participated in FOAL EAGLE 98, a joint naval exercise with the Republic of Korea. As part of exercise FOAL EAGLE 98, VANDEGRIFT successfully launched and inserted a platoon of SEALS from SEAL TEAM FIVE. VANDEGRIFT then participated in ANNUALEX 10G, a joint exercise with the Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force. In December 1999, VANDEGRIFT visited the port of Shanghai, China, becoming one of a handful of ships to visit Mainland China in the 1990s. A number of the crew went to see the Great Wall, Tianamen Square and other sites in Beijing on a trip sponsored by the People's Liberation Army.

As the year 2000 began, USS VANDEGRIFT was operating in the steady, high-tempo pattern typical of a forward-deployed Seventh Fleet frigate based at Yokosuka: short-notice underways, focused regional patrols, and recurring training periods in politically sensitive waters. A documented shipboard helicopter detachment timeline places an embarked HSL-51 detachment with the ship in the Yellow Sea from 15 January 2000 to 11 February 2000, followed by a longer Western Pacific operating period from 9 May 2000 to 9 August 2000.

While at sea on 7 February 2002, USS VANDEGRIFT conducted a Standard Missile firing during MISSILEX 02-1, an anti-ship missile defense training evolution conducted as part of a Commander Task Force 75 multi-sail interoperability exercise. On 29 January 2003, USS VANDEGRIFT departed Yokosuka for a scheduled deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom at a time when U.S. naval forces were sustaining counterterrorism maritime security operations while simultaneously meeting the expanding demands associated with Operation Iraqi Freedom. By early June, she was operating in the Red Sea approaches. On 4 June 2003, she was in the Gulf of Aqaba providing maritime support tied to the U.S. President's travel to regional summits at Sharm el-Sheikh and Aqaba. The deployment also included Indian Ocean engagement: on 19 June 2003 she arrived at Cochin, India, for a port visit. After roughly six months underway, USS VANDEGRIFT returned to Yokosuka on 26 July 2003, closing a deployment framed publicly as supporting both Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom.

The remainder of 2003 featured unusually high-visibility naval diplomacy and professional engagement in East and Southeast Asia. USS VANDEGRIFT completed a port visit to Zhanjiang, China - headquarters of the PLA Navy South Sea Fleet - departing on 26 September 2003 after five days alongside. Back at sea, she conducted a passing exercise on 9 November 2003 with the Russian Navy ships PECHENGA and MARSHAL SHAPOSHNIKOV, a controlled format designed to demonstrate basic seamanship and communication procedures without implying deeper operational integration. Soon after, USS VANDEGRIFT arrived in Ho Chi Minh City on 19 November 2003 for a four-day port visit that was widely described at the time as the first U.S. Navy ship visit to Vietnam since 1973, an event closely watched for its diplomatic significance during the ongoing normalization of relations.

In 2004, VANDEGRIFT continued in the forward-deployed mode, with operations punctuated by alliance activity and targeted engagement. She anchored off Dili, Timor-Leste, on 19 May 2004 for two days in support of U.S. participation in Independence Day commemorations. A month later, on 25 June 2004, she departed Yokosuka for Tokyo in connection with a friends-and-family cruise. Command also changed that year: on 17 September 2004, Cmdr. David Chase relieved Cmdr. Richard Rogers. In the autumn exercise season, USS VANDEGRIFT participated in AnnualEx with Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force units, one of the recurring bilateral events that maintained operational integration and readiness signaling in the Western Pacific.

The ship's 2005 schedule blended port engagement with a steady run of major combined exercises. USS VANDEGRIFT called at Hong Kong on 22 February 2005, then returned to Yokosuka on 29 March 2005 after spring patrol operations that included participation in Foal Eagle with the USS KITTY HAWK carrier strike group, part of the broader annual U.S.-Republic of Korea exercise cycle. In May she trained closely with the Royal Australian Navy: on 19 May 2005, VANDEGRIFT and HMAS CANBERRA completed a week of combined operations while transiting the Philippine Sea and Pacific, working through anti-submarine, anti-air, and anti-surface scenarios alongside basic shiphandling evolutions. That cooperation continued into the Australia-focused exercise period. After operating in Talisman Saber 2005 near the Shoalwater Bay Training Area, USS VANDEGRIFT departed Brisbane on 5 July 2005 following a four-day port visit and ultimately returned to Yokosuka on 20 August 2005, concluding a nearly three-month Seventh Fleet deployment that also included JASEx 2005 activity.

In 2006, VANDEGRIFT transitioned from the forward-deployed Yokosuka model back to a U.S.-based cycle. After departing homeport on 19 April 2006 for routine operations, she participated off Guam in Valiant Shield 2006 from 19 June 2006 to 23 June 2006, a large-scale joint exercise that concentrated multiple carrier strike groups and supporting forces to rehearse high-end command-and-control and integrated maritime operations. Later that summer, she completed her trans-Pacific homeport shift, arriving at Naval Base San Diego on 1 September 2006 after an 18-day transit from Japan.

With San Diego as her base, USS VANDEGRIFT's publicly visible schedule in 2007 included regional presence and outreach alongside coastal underways. She visited Portland, Oregon, on 7 June 2007 for a three-day call tied to Fleet Week and the Portland Rose Festival, then later called at San Francisco in October 2007 for Fleet Week events there. The ship returned to a more deployment-focused profile in 2008.

On 3 July 2008, USS VANDEGRIFT returned to San Diego from a six-month Seventh Fleet deployment linked to support for Joint Special Operations Task Force-Philippines. During that mission she became the first U.S. Navy ship to make port visits to Cagayan de Oro, General Santos City, and Cotabato on Mindanao, and in the final phase she shifted into carrier escort duties in support of the USS KITTY HAWK carrier strike group before crossing back to the United States. Later in the year, on 7 October 2008, the ship hosted business and government leaders at sea during the Naval Surface Forces "Leaders to Sea" program.

USS VANDEGRIFT re-entered an extended Western Pacific deployment rhythm in 2010, shaped by multinational training and maritime-security cooperation. Commanded at departure by Cmdr. Steven A. Prescott, she left San Diego on 12 April 2010 for a deployment built around Carat 2010. Early port and exercise phases took her to Muara, Brunei, on 3 May 2010, then to Laem Chabang, Thailand, on 13 May 2010, and onward to Lumut, Malaysia, on 6 June 2010. On 17 June 2010, Carat activities connected with regional maritime-security training at Changi Naval Base, Singapore, including participation in Seacat, which emphasized information sharing, coordinated interdiction procedures, and counterterrorism-focused seamanship and communications. From there, the deployment broadened into port diplomacy and partnership work: on 23 July 2010, USS VANDEGRIFT and USS PATRIOT (MCM 7) arrived in Vladivostok, Russia, for a Navy Day–related port visit. On 2 August 2010, she arrived at Aomori, Japan, in company with JS AMAGIRI as part of U.S.-Japan alliance-commemoration visits, followed by a call at Sasebo from 10 August 2010 to 12 August 2010. The partnership theme culminated when she anchored off Rabaul, Papua New Guinea, on 3 September 2010 alongside HMAS TOBRUK, HMAS LABUAN, and HMAS TARAKAN for Pacific Partnership engagement. USS VANDEGRIFT returned to San Diego on 12 October 2010, completing a six-month deployment that blended Carat phases, Seacat maritime-security training, port diplomacy, and humanitarian-assistance partnership activity.

A major maintenance period followed in 2011. On 29 April 2011, USS VANDEGRIFT and USS CURTS entered dry dock at General Dynamics NASSCO in San Diego for repairs and upgrades, a significant late-service-life investment intended to sustain material readiness. In 2012, the ship returned to the Pacific exercise circuit. After departing Pearl Harbor on 30 March 2012 for Koa Kai 12-2 off Hawaii, she left San Diego on 1 May 2012 for a long deployment supporting Carat 2012 across multiple partner nations. The Indonesia phase included a call at Surabaya on 29 May 2012 and again on 6 June 2012. The Malaysia phase included operations based from Lumut after anchoring off Pulau Pangkor on 14 June 2012. She departed Changi Naval Base on 25 June 2012 after a logistics stop, then arrived at General Santos City on 1 July 2012 for Carat Philippines from 2 July 2012 to 10 July 2012, an evolution that also included USNS SAFEGUARD (T-ARS 50) and USCGC WAESCHE. Returning to Singapore on 15 July 2012, she participated in Carat Singapore, getting underway for the at-sea phase on 22 July 2012. A change of command occurred during this period: on 27 July 2012, Cmdr. Joseph R. Darlak relieved Cmdr. Brandon S. Bryan at Changi. The deployment then continued as a sequence of regional engagements and carrier strike group operations, including a port call at Sasebo on 27 August 2012, Vladivostok on 20 September 2012, and Busan on 24 September 2012. On 7 October 2012, USS VANDEGRIFT visited Port Klang, Malaysia, while operating with the USS GEORGE WASHINGTON (CVN 73) carrier strike group. She then proceeded to Cambodia, arriving at Sihanoukville on 21 October 2012 for Carat-related activity with an at-sea phase on 24 October 2012 to 25 October 2012 and a brief return period immediately afterward. Late in the deployment, leadership and conduct issues led to an abrupt command change: on 2 November 2012, Capt. John L. Schultz, commander of Destroyer Squadron 15, relieved Cmdr. Darlak for loss of confidence, and Capt. H. Thomas Workman assumed temporary command. USS VANDEGRIFT returned to San Diego on 28 November 2012, closing a seven-month deployment that combined extensive partner-nation engagement with a high-profile leadership reset.

On 31 May 2013, Cmdr. Luis Alva relieved Cmdr. Kristin L. Stengel as commanding officer. The ship's final active-service year opened with a documented rescue in the eastern Pacific: on 6 April 2014, USS VANDEGRIFT assisted in a joint U.S. Navy, Coast Guard, and California Air National Guard effort to aid an American family with a sick infant from a disabled sailboat roughly 900 miles southwest of Cabo San Lucas, transferring the family via the ship's rigid-hull inflatable boat once the situation was stabilized. On 9 April 2014, she briefly moored at Naval Air Station North Island for an ammunition onload, then on 9 May 2014 departed San Diego for a counter-transnational organized crime deployment with an embarked HSL-49 detachment and U.S. Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment 402.

Early in the patrol she conducted a port call at Manzanillo, Mexico, from 13 May 2014 to 16 May 2014, and used Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala, for logistics on 21 May 2014 and again on 20 June 2014. The deployment quickly became interdiction-intensive: on 25 June 2014, VANDEGRIFT and the embarked Coast Guard team intercepted approximately two tons of cocaine being smuggled aboard two fishing vessels in the eastern Pacific. Further logistics stops included another Puerto Quetzal visit on 11 July 2014 and an extended period in Balboa, Panama, from 1 August 2014 to 17 August 2014 as recorded. She returned to the Balboa area for a liberty visit on 9 September 2014. Additional interdiction actions followed, including recoveries of approximately 750 pounds of cocaine on 14 September 2014, more than 875 pounds on 27 September 2014, and more than 1,000 pounds on 27 October 2014 after interdicting a go-fast vessel. By that point, the recorded deployment tally emphasized 9,800 pounds of cocaine shipments disrupted in the Central American operating area. Command changed again during the patrol: on 8 October 2014, Capt. Paul H. Hogue Jr., commodore of Destroyer Squadron 23, relieved Cmdr. Alva for loss of confidence, and Capt. Thomas R. Williams assumed temporary command. The interdiction tempo continued through late autumn, including disruptions of nearly 2,000 pounds on 14 November 2014 and nearly 2,000 pounds more on 20 November 2014, followed by the recovery of approximately 1,700 pounds found adrift on 2 December 2014. USS VANDEGRIFT returned to San Diego on 12 December 2014 under Cmdr. Kevin W. Ralston after seven months deployed.

The ship's administrative closeout followed soon after. A decommissioning ceremony was held at Naval Base San Diego on 19 February 2015, and USS VANDEGRIFT was formally decommissioned and stricken from the Naval Vessel Register on 31 March 2015. On 21 April 2015, the ex-VANDEGRIFT departed San Diego under tow by the tug DAVID BRUSCO for transit to the Naval Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Her final disposition occurred years later during high-end fleet training: the ex-USS VANDEGRIFT was sunk during a sinking exercise associated with Valiant Shield 2022 on 17 June 2022 northeast of Guam.

VANDEGRIFT's decorations include the Meritorious Unit Citation, National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Southwest Asia Service Medal, and five Sea Service Ribbons.

back to top

go to the end of the page

USS VANDEGRIFT Patch Gallery:

back to top

go to the end of the page

USS VANDEGRIFT Image Gallery:

The photo below was taken by me and shows the VANDEGRIFT at Naval Base San Diego, Calif., on March 23, 2010. On April 12, 2010, the VANDEGRIFT left San Diego for an independent WestPac deployment.

The photos below were taken by me and show the VANDEGRIFT at Naval Base San Diego, Calif., on September 29, 2011.

The photos below were taken by me and show the VANDEGRIFT at Naval Base San Diego, Calif., on March 15, 2012.

The photos below were taken by Michael Jenning and show the VANDEGRIFT at Naval Base San Diego, Calif., on December 27, 2014. The ship is still wearing its homecoming garland on the bow. The VANDEGRIFT returned from her final deployment on December 12, 2014.

The photos below were taken by Sebastian Thoma and show the ex-VANDEGRIFT laid up in Middle Loch at Pearl Harbor, Hi., on March 18, 2022.

back to top

Back to Frigates list.

Back to ships list.

Back to selection page.

Back to 1^st page.