USS Richmond K. Turner

USS Richmond K. Turner (DLG 20 / CG 20) was a destroyer leader in the United States Navy. The ship was named for Admiral Richmond K. Turner, who served during World War II. The keel of Richmond K. Turner was laid on 9 January 1961 by New York Shipbuilding Corporation in Camden, New Jersey. She was one of nine Leahy class "double ended" guided missile destroyers. Launched 6 April 1963; sponsored by Mrs. Claude V. Ricketts; and commissioned 13 June 1964.

The ship departed Philadelphia Naval Shipyard 10 August 1964 for her homeport of San Diego, California, stopping briefly at Yorktown and Norfolk, Virginia, and then Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. She crossed through the Panama Canal, and after a port call in Acapulco, Mexico, arrived in San Diego on 11 September 1964. Embarking REFTRA instructors, Richmond K. Turner completed all her training requirements while deployed in an operational status. The ship received the Meritorious Unit Commendation for these operations in March 1979. From March to September 1979, conducted fleet and independent operations with the Sixth Fleet, Richmond K. Turner made port visits to Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca, and Valencia, Spain; Civitavecchia (Rome) and Alassio, Italy; Athens, Greece; and Constanta, Romania on the Black Sea. "Turner" was selected to represent the United States in St. Tropez at the 35th Anniversary of the Allied landings in southern France. In July 1979, "Turner" successfully launched a Harpoon missile in the Gulf of Sidra, destroying the target ship at a range of 78 mile (126 km). This was the first firing of a Harpoon missile from a deployed US Navy ship. In May 1980 Richmond K. Turner participated in Boston's OPSAIL 80 and may have been awarded a Meritorious Unit Citation for conducting two special operations, but this award is not listed in the US Navy Unit award website. Richmond K. Turner completed four highly successful Mediterranean deployments as part of the U. S. Sixth Fleet, prior to an extensive baseline overhaul at Charleston Naval Shipyard, Charleston, South Carolina from January to December 1982. During this overhaul Richmond K. Turner received numerous updates to modernize her combat systems suite. She was also fitted with the Vulcan Phalanx Close in Weapons System (CIWS) for self defense against cruise missiles. After this overhaul Richmond K. Turner completed two more Mediterranean deployments. The ship received both Navy Expeditionary Medal and Meritorious Unit Commendation during this employment. During the Action in the Gulf of Sidra against the Libyan navy, the Turner disabled a Libyan patrol boat with a Harpoon missile.

Richmond K. Turner also completed a 1988 deployment to the Persian Gulf and was a participant of Operation Earnest Will. Upon her return to the United States, Richmond K. Turner was overhauled in Ingalls Shipyard at Pascagoula, Mississippi, where she received the New Threat Upgrade (NTU) to her Combat Direction System as well as many engineering improvements. In response to the crisis in the Persian Gulf caused by Iraq's invasion of Kuwait, Richmond K. Turner deployed early as a primary AAW unit in the Theodore Roosevelt battle group, which arrived in the theater just before hostilities broke out. During 60 days in the Persian Gulf, Richmond K. Turner provided protection to four carriers and served as an advance picket ship in the mine infested waters off Kuwait. Following the cease fire, Richmond K. Turner relocated to the Red Sea where she participated in the continuing maritime interception operations in support of United Nations sanctions against Iraq. Escorting the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt through the Suez Canal in late April 1991, Richmond K. Turner participated in Operation Provide Comfort, a massive relief effort to help tens of thousands of Kurdish refugees who fled the turmoil of Iraq following that country's defeat in the war. During this time Richmond K. Turner became the Anti Air Warfare Commander for the Aircraft Carrier Striking Force, U. S. Sixth Fleet. For her operations during Desert Storm and Operation Provide Comfort, the Secretary of the Navy awarded Richmond K. Turner the Joint Meritorious Unit Award, the Navy Unit Commendation, the National Defense Medal and the Southwest Asia Service Medal and the Combat Action Ribbon. He was eventually placed on the FBI's 10 most wanted list and was arrested in Philadelphia, October 1994. He was convicted of the 30 December 1993 gang rape and murder of Melissa McLaughlan and was sentenced to death. He was executed in 2008.

Richmond K. Turner made a final deployment to the Mediterranean as a part of the Theodore Roosevelt battle group and served as an anti air warfare command during Operation Deny Flight over Bosnia Herzegovina. Richmond K. Turner received the Armed Forces Service Medal for service relating to Bosnia. firing the first LEAP shot ever and launching the Navy into the future of missile technology.

Richmond K. Turner was decommissioned on 13 April 1995 and struck from the Navy list that same day. On 9 August 1998, ex Richmond K. Turner was sunk as a target near Puerto Rico.