USS Gridley (DLG-21) - 1970s

1970s

In 1972, Gridley was the first ship of the class to be fitted with digital missile fire control systems providing her with the capability to fire Standard Missile Type 2. In a later overhaul, the 3 in/50s were replaced by 8 AGM-84 Harpoon missiles and 2 Phalanx CIWS were added.

Gridley was reclassified as a guided missile cruiser with hull classification symbol CG-21 on 30 June 1975. That year, she provided air traffic control and on-station support during "Operation Frequent Wind", the evacuation during the collapse of South Vietnam. Gridley was also on-station air traffic controller during the Mayagüez incident. Gridley was based in Subic Bay, Philippines, during the 1975 Westpac. During the 1975 year, Gridley appears to have been part of Cruiser-Destroyer Group 3.

In 1976, Gridley made a Westpac tour. During her trip across the Pacific, Gridley transited the 180th parallel (the International Date Line) at midight July 3. Gridley went directly from July 3 to July 5, resulting in her crew being the few Americans to miss the 200th anniversary of Independence Day. (The Gridley celebrated the missing July 4 upon crossing the dateline in December, when an extra day is gained.)

During the 1976 Westpac, the Gridley was based in Yokosuka, Japan.

There was one event that Gridley was involved with during 1976 that is not well known, but is probably the nearest we have come to re-starting the Korean War. This event is the Axe Murder Incident that took place on August 21, 1976: the murder of two U.S. Army officers by North Korean soldiers. Gridley was in-port in Yokosuka, Japan when this event happened; by the next morning the entire USS Midway (CV-41) battle group was underway and stood off the coast of Korea for nearly a month. Fortunately, events did not escalate.