USS Briscoe (DD-977)

File:330-CFD-DN-SC-87-05369 (21923847408).jpg on 1 October 1983]]

Briscoe conducted firing trials in 1981–1982 in support of the [http://www.aes.itt.com/RCP/rcp_experience.htm SALGP] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928115923/http://www.aes.itt.com/RCP/rcp_experience.htm |date=2007-09-28 }} (Semi-Active Laser Guided Projectile) off the coast of Vieques, Puerto Rico. These projectiles were fired from the 5 inch (127 mm) gun at a range in excess of {{convert|11|mi|km}}. While in flight, an optical sensor would detect the signature of a laser-painted target on shore and convert the shell to an actively homing rocket for pinpoint destruction of moving and stationary targets on shore.

Participated in Operation Urgent Fury, the liberation of Grenada, and in the Multi-National Peacekeeping Forces off the coast of Lebanon, and in Baltic Operations 1990. Briscoe also participated as a member of Middle East Forces deploying twice to the North Red Sea conducting Maritime Interception Operations in support of U.N. sanctions against Iraq. Briscoe established a U.S. record of 275 merchant vessel boardings in the North Red Sea during the first of her two deployments to the area.

In her second North Red Sea deployment in March 1994, Briscoe responded to a distress call on 19 May 1994 from an Egyptian passenger ferry, the Al-Qamar Al-Saudi Al-Misri. Briscoe acted as the On-Scene Commander for the ensuing rescue efforts for the over 500 passengers, coordinating the actions of the numerous vessels in the area.{{cite web|last1=Hines|first1=Heather|title=Briscoe Decommissioned After 25 Years|url=http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=9822|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150210194038/http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=9822|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 10, 2015|website=www.navy.mil|publisher=United States Navy|access-date=10 February 2015}}

In 1996, Briscoe deployed to the Mediterranean and Black Sea for a six-month period. Deployed with Helicopter Antisubmarine Squadron Light 44 (Detachment 5), Briscoe in Exercise Atlas Hinge with the Tunisian navy and Exercise Shark Hunt and Jaws, an undersea warfare exercise against U.S. submarines in the Central and Eastern Mediterranean Sea.

Briscoe took part in Exercise Classica 96, from 31 August through 9 September, in the spirit of Partnership for Peace. Ships from the U.S. 6th Fleet, Black Sea and Mediterranean littoral nations (including Italy, Ukraine, Greece.

In 1999, at President Bill Clinton's orders, warships of the U.S. Navy assisted in the search for the crashed plane of John F. Kennedy Jr. With the permission of Secretary of Defense William Cohen, a public memorial service for Kennedy was held aboard the Briscoe. Kennedy's body was cremated and his ashes were scattered into the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Martha's Vineyard.[https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/national/longterm/jfkjr/stories/kennedy072399.htm Kennedy, Bessettes Given Shipboard Rites], WashingtonPost.com, 23 July 1999, retrieved 23 September 2010

File:US Navy 030321-N-6141B-006 The Spruance class destroyer USS Briscoe (DD 977) underway.jpg

Routine deployment workups were interrupted in 2001, as Briscoe responded to help provide aerial defense of the U.S. East Coast after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. In 2002, Briscoe deployed as part of the Harry S. Truman Battle Group in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Briscoe was one of the first ships to fire Tomahawk cruise missiles on targets in Iraq, firing in total 25 missiles.

Briscoe was decommissioned 2 October 2003. She was disposed of as a target in support of a fleet training exercise on 25 August 2005. She lies at {{coord|34|49|N|072|31|W|name=USS Briscoe}} at a depth of {{convert|2,252|fathom|0}}.{{cite web|title=SINKEX Conducted - LANTFLT|url=https://powerpoint.office.live.com/p/PowerPointView.aspx?FBsrc=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fattachments%2Ffile_preview.php%3Fid%3D1455209821417702%26time%3D1423588727%26metadata&access_token=1119799773%3AAVLSqFdMQu8OIgZAG1Q280Q9AjRgn7SC-sH9C_YSSsxcww&title=SINKEX+Location+Map++JAN+13.ppt|publisher=SEA 21|access-date=10 February 2015}}

• Navy Unit Commendation - (Oct 1997-Apr 1998, Jan-May 2003)
• Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation - (1 Aug 1998)
• Battle "E" - (1980, 1992, 1995)
• Navy Expeditionary Medal - (Jul-Sep 1980)
• Southwest Asia Service Medal - (Aug-Oct 1992)
• Humanitarian Service Medal - (18-20 May 1994)

The ship's coat of arms is a reflection of the naval career of Admiral Robert Pearce Briscoe.

Standing boldly at the base of the shield is the Lion of St. Mark, which refers to the Admiral's leadership as Commander in Chief of Allied Southern Forces Europe. The fess and wavy bar, immediately above the Lion of St. Mark, suggest flowing water passing warships and small land areas. This is reminiscent of the Northern Solomon Islands where Admiral Briscoe commanded the {{USS|Denver|CL-58|6}} in World War II several important engagements. The shield is completed by four stars, symbolic of Admiral Briscoe's leadership achievement and rank.

Atop the shield is a crest symbolic of further achievement in a long and successful career. The trident, symbol of Triton, ruler of the seas, refers to the United States Naval Academy where the Admiral served as a student, instructor and department head. The flash represents Prometheus' gift of science to mankind and alludes to Admiral Briscoe as one of the pioneers of modern electronics development in the Navy. The cross refers to the Navy Cross Admiral Briscoe received for his actions in the North Solomon Campaign. The crest is completed by the Taegeuk which denotes the Admiral's Far East Naval Command.

The coat of arms is summed up by the ship's motto "Efficiency and Valor", given to the ship by former chief of naval operations, Admiral Robert Carney, as a tribute to his close friend.

File:USS Briscoe (DD-977) aerial port bow view underway.jpg|USS Briscoe on 1 April 1982

File:USS Briscoe (DD-977) underway, circa in 1987.jpg|USS Briscoe in 1987

File:USS Briscoe (DD-977) underway in 1996.jpg|USS Briscoe in 1996

File:US Navy 030423-N-3235P-513 The nuclear powered aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) and Spruance class destroyer USS Briscoe (DD 977) underway in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea.jpg|USS Briscoe and USS Harry S. Truman on 23 April 2003

{{reflist}}

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• {{Naval Vessel Register URL|id=DD977|title=Naval Vessel Register entry for Briscoe}}
• [http://www.navsource.org/archives/05/977.htm navsource.org: USS Briscoe]
• [http://www.united-states-navy.com/dd/dd977.htm united-states-navy.com: USS Briscoe]

{{Spruance class destroyer}}

{{2005 shipwrecks}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Briscoe (DD-977)}}

Category:Spruance-class destroyers

Category:Cold War destroyers of the United States

Category:1976 ships

Category:Ships built in Pascagoula, Mississippi

Category:Ships sunk as targets