USS McClusky (FFG-41) was a of the United States Navy. She was named for Rear Admiral C. Wade McClusky (1902–1976) who as a lieutenant commander led the air group of, which sank the Japanese carriers and during the Battle of Midway. McClusky later served as part of Destroyer Squadron 1, and after 31 years of service, was decommissioned on 14 January 2015.[1]
McClusky was laid down on 21 October 1981 by the Todd Pacific Shipyards, Los Angeles Division, San Pedro, California; launched on 18 September 1982; sponsored by Mrs. Ruth Mundy McClusky; and commissioned on 10 December 1983 in Long Beach, California.
In 1986 McClusky was part of Destroyer Squadron 23 under Captain Todd Barthold.[2] McClusky embarked on her first deployment on 15 January 1986. She was a part of Battle Group Foxtrot, headed by the aircraft carrier, and included the cruisers and, the destroyers and and the frigates and . The battle group sailed directly for the Indian Ocean, with stops in Hawaii, Naval Station Subic Bay, and Singapore.
In 1988 McClusky began the year as part of Joint Task Force Middle East carrying out Operation Earnest Will missions. She participated in Exercise RIMPAC that year as part of the Orange Force.
In 1990 McClusky was part of Destroyer Squadron 13. She began the year at Mina Sulman, Bahrain, on a Middle East Force deployment. On 3 January, she was underway for a Northern Persian Gulf patrol, which included a refueling stop at anchorage in Kuwait on 10 January. Upon returning to Mina Sulman on 13 January for the final time, the mast-mounted sight was removed. After a short patrol of Northern Persian Gulf, McClusky headed south towards the Straits of Hormuz, completing a successful three-month assignment to the Middle East Force. On 30 January, McClusky anchored alongside the frigate in Fujayrah for a Middle East Force turnover before meeting up with the frigate and transiting to the Western Pacific.
From 31 August to 4 September 1990, McClusky had the privilege of hosting the Soviet oiler Argun, visiting San Diego with two Soviet combatants. The arrival of the destroyers,, and Argun at San Diego on 31 July 1990 was followed by a ceremony with Admiral Charles R. Larson (Commander-in-Chief, Pacific Fleet) Mayor Maureen O'Connor, and Admiral, the Commander of the Soviet Pacific Fleet, as speakers.
In 1991 McClusky shifted homeports to Yokosuka, Japan and joined Destroyer Squadron 15. She assisted in Operation Fiery Vigil, the evacuation of civilians from the Philippines during the eruption of Mount Pinatubo.
McClusky was to be sold to the Mexican Navy under the Foreign Military Sales program as of 2014.[3] However, as of September 2016, the ship was in reserve at Pearl Harbor and was slated to be disposed of as a target. In January 2018 it was announced that McClusky would be used as a target during RIMPAC 2018.[4] On 19 July 2018 she was sunk in waters north of Kauai, Hawaii.