28 February 1985

1. As required by reference (a), the following report is submitted.

2. Significant events during the period January-December 1984 are as follows:

a. The year was started inport in San Diego, California, as the ship was making preparations for an upcoming Ship Repair Availability (SRA) period. During early January, ELLIOT was at sea conducting several training exercises in the southern California operating areas. ELLIOT's busy January operations ended with a safe weapons offload on 27 January at the Seal Beach Naval Weapons Station. As ELLIOT was leaving Seal Beach following the weapons offload she struck a subsurface obstruction in the Seal Beach channel, causing some limited damage to the underwater hull and the starboard propeller.

b. On 2 February, ELLIOT commenced a three month Selected Repair Availability (SRA) period in San Diego. It was a lengthy, often demanding evolution, requiring all hands participation in shipboard maintenance actions. The ship's electronic capabilities, weapons spaces and engineering plants were repaired and refurbished to meet the demands of our next planned deployment. All repairs were completed on 30 April.

c. The important milestone of Crew Certification was accomplished at the end of April prior to the completion of SRA. This certification measured the crew's ability to take ELLIOT safely to sea. As a surface unit of Destroyer Squadron SEVENTEEN, ELLIOT's crewmembers demonstrated the ability to safely navigate, properly man all watches, operate all systems and respond to casualties and emergencies.

d. On 18-20 March the Supply Department had its annual Supply Management Inspection (SMI). Despite the magnitude of repair work going on throughout the ship, Supply Department came through the SMI with all functional areas evaluated as "excellent" or "outstanding".

e. In April ELLIOT received two other inspections, the Light Off Assessment and the Combat System Overhaul review. These inspections were conducted to determine the readiness of the Engineering Department to light off and operate underway and the ability of the combat systems organization to fight the ship. Both inspections were satisfactorily completed. In early April, ELLIOT received an annual Aviation Assist Visit for an upcoming Aviation Readiness Evaluation. This assist visit was "upgraded" to an inspection with a "satisfactory" grade awarded and full flight deck certification granted.

f. ELLIOT commenced another restrictive availability period in May. Leaving San Diego 30 April, ELLIOT proceeded to Todd Shipyard facilities in San Pedro, California for repairs to her starboard propeller and sonar dome. While in San Pedro, ELLIOT became the first active U.S. warship to use the world's largest synchro lift platform.

g. The ship's stay in San Pedro was an opportunity to conduct various inspections and certifications. In May, a weapons assist team from San Diego provided the services needed to assist ELLIOT in the various administrative and weapon handling evolutions in preparation for the Defense Nuclear Surety Inspection (DNSI). DNSI was conducted on 11 June, while ELLIOT was in drydock. The hard work, training and preparation resulted in a successful completion of the inspection and recertification of the ASROC weapons systems.

h. Early in May, ELLIOT was made a unit of Destroyer Squadron FIVE.

i. In mid-June, ELLIOT was at sea to exercise the crew in damage control and battle efficiency drills, testing the ship's crew in all aspects of engineering plant operation and casualty control. These exercises included MTT (Phase I) engineering drills, conducted by the Surface Forces Pacific Mobile Training Team, which helped prepare the ELLIOT's Engineering Department for an upcoming Operational Propulsion Plant Recertification Examination (OPPRE).

j. ELLIOT participated in exercises READIEX 84-4 and KERNAL USHER 84-2 in the Southern California operating areas from 31 July to 21 August. Major accomplishments included successful coordinated operations using air, surface and sub-surface assets. Major operations in anti-submarine tactics, formation maneuvers and gunnery exercises were also accomplished. ELLIOT's participation during KERNAL USHER 84-2 led to the successful evaluation and validation of the shallow water ASW tactics TACMEMO which the ship developed during COBRA GOLD exercises during the previous deployment. Successful over-the-side, ASROC and air-drop exercise torpedo firings on the submarine USS BLUEBACK, as well as ASW operations in single ship, dual ship and coordinated operations with aircraft were conducted with excellent results.

k. ELLIOT spent the next few days inport in San Diego for upkeep before sailing out on 27 August for an intense three weeks of Refresher Training. Under the guidance of the San Diego Fleet Training Group, every conceivable evolution that the ship could be called upon to perform was practiced.

l. On 14 September, ELLIOT returned to San Diego for upkeep and maintenance and required inport training exercises, which were conducted for the remainder of the month.

m. On the 1st of October, ELLIOT got underway to pay final respects to a former crewmember, burying at sea the remains of DSCS(SW) Quentin Danielson, 513-40-7915, United Stats Navy.

n. From 2-12 October, ELLIOT participated in exercise COMPTUEX 85-1, serving as flagship for the ORANGE opposition forces against the USS CONSTELLATION (CV-64) Battle Group.

o. Following COMPTUEX 85-1, ELLIOT headed towards San Francisco Bay to rendezvous with other ships of Battle Group DELTA in order to participate in San Francisco's Fleet Week 84 festivities. On 12 October, in company with 18 other U.S. Navy ships led by USS SAN FRANCISCO (SSN-711), ELLIOT sailed under the Golden Gate Bridge. Battle Group DELTA was welcomed and cheered by the people of San Francisco led by Mayor Dianne Feinstein and Admiral Sylvester R. Foley, Jr., Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet. Battle Group DELTA sailed by in tight formation for the Mayor and other VIP's who were invited to the Fleet Week 84 naval review. ELLIOT moored at Fisherman's Wharf and opened her gangways to the public for general visiting. Over 10,000 visitors crossed her decks in three days.

p. ELLIOT left San Francisco on 16 October and spent the remainder of the month inport in San Diego participating in important maintenance and command inspections.

q. ELLIOT went to sea again on 5 November to conduct MTT Phase II engineering casualty control drills and exercises. It was the final phase of training prior to OPPRE. Also onboard was a detachment of Coast Guard Law Enforcement personnel who trained and briefed the bridge and CIC watchstanders in at-sea drug interdiction.

r. Following MTT Phase II, in late November ELLIOT successfully passed OPPRE in three days of inport material inspections and at sea engineering drills in the Southern California operating areas.

s. ELLIOT returned to port on 29 November where she remained in an upkeep status for the remainder of the year.

E. E. CRAGG, JR.