USS Moosbrugger (DD 980)

• Namesake: USS Moosbrugger (DD-980) was named after Rear Admiral Frederick Moosbrugger, a decorated World War II destroyer commander best known for his victory at the Battle of Vella Gulf. • Spruance Class: She was a Spruance-class destroyer, which were the first large U.S. Navy destroyers built after World War II and were designed primarily for anti-submarine warfare. • Commissioned Date: USS Moosbrugger was commissioned on 16 December 1978 at Pascagoula, Mississippi. • Nickname: Her crew affectionately called her "Moose," and her ship’s patch featured a moose in her honor. • First Homeport: The ship’s first homeport was Charleston, South Carolina, where she joined the Atlantic Fleet. • Operation Desert Storm: Moosbrugger participated in Operation Desert Storm in 1991, conducting escort and patrol duties in the Persian Gulf. • Advanced Weaponry: The ship was equipped with the latest anti-submarine warfare systems of its day, including the ASROC launcher and two SH-60 Seahawk helicopters later in her career. • Multinational Exercises: Moosbrugger took part in numerous NATO and multinational exercises, including UNITAS, in which she visited ports across South America. • Decommissioning: After more than 21 years of service, USS Moosbrugger was decommissioned on 15 December 1998. • Final Fate: The ship was sunk as a target during a fleet training exercise off the coast of Puerto Rico in 2001, providing valuable live-fire training for U.S. and allied forces.