USS Hayler (DD-997)

9100 standard tons

171.6 meters

16.8 meters

9.8 meters

30 officers, 350 sailors

Two propellers, each driven over 4 gas turbines; 80,000 shaft horsepower

33 knots

2 guns, 2 Harpoon starter, 1 Luftabwehraketen starter, 1 ASROC launcher, later replaced by 61 -cell VLS

The USS Hayler (DD -997 ) was a destroyer in the United States Navy and was a member of the Spruance class. It was named after Vice Admiral Robert W. Hayler ( 1891-1980 ).

History

In financial year 1978, the U.S. Congress approved the construction of two additional destroyers of the Spruance class, but presented only the financial resources for the construction of the two ships. These two ships were originally built as DDH ( helicopter destroyer ). The original plan was therefore to postpone the flight deck aft and to enlarge the hangar. Here, the Sea Sparrow launcher would have been transferred to the hangar roof. The ships would then be able to carry instead of two SH-2 helicopter SeaSprite either two SH-3 SeaKing or up to four SH -2 or SH-60 Seahawk. Since the cost of the necessary construction work had exceeded the available budget, Hayler was placed after the end of the default configuration of the Spruance - class on 20 October 1980 at Kiel.

Went into service on March 5, 1983, the Hayler was assigned to the Atlantic Fleet. She was among other things 1988 - used 89 as the flagship of Standing Naval Force Atlantic ( STANAVFORLANT ) of NATO. During this mission they collided on 23 October 1988 with the German naval tanker Rhon, both ships were badly damaged, but no personal injury arose.

1991 Hayler has undergone extensive modernization, where the ASROC launcher was replaced on the bow by a Mk- 41 VLS (Vertical Launch System) with 61 cells so that they now BGM -109 Tomahawk cruise missiles, and the range- enhanced RUM -139 VL- ASROC could carry with you.

On 25 August 2003, Hayler was decommissioned. As part of an exercise she was sunk on 13 November 2004 as a target ship.