USS ROBISON DDG-12

A Tin Can Sailors Destroyer History

USS ROBISON DDG-12

The Tin Can Sailor, April 2009

A CHARLES F. ADAMS Class guided missile destroyer, the USS ROBISON (DDG-12) was launched a the Defoe Shipbuilding Company of Bay City, Michigan, on 28 April 1960 and commissioned at the Boston Naval Shipyard on 9 December 1961. She was headed for the West Coast in January 1962 when she was diverted to Clipperton Island to rescue ten stranded seamen from the tuna boat MONARCH, which had capsized 20 days earlier. She finally reached San  Diego on 7 March.

The ROBISON proceeded to Mare Island for ammunition, took on ASROC and Tartar missiles at Seal Beach, for local operations out of San Diego. The following November, she got underway with Cruiser‑Destroyer Flotilla 11 for her first WestPac tour of duty which took her into June 1963. She ended that year serving with the USS PARSONS (DD‑949) on escort duty with the MIDWAY (CVA-41) and HANCOCK (CVA-19 that took her to Pearl Harbor, Midway, and Guam.

Following overhaul at the Long Beach Naval Shipyard early in 1964, she steamed out of San Diego in August for her second WestPac deployment where she participated modern naval warfare training exercises and called at various Far Eastern ports. In the fall of 1965 she sharpened her ASW, AAW, and shore bombardment techniques during coastal operations out of San Diego. Preparations complete, she embarked early in 1966 for her third tour of duty with the Seventh Fleet which lasted until July. Overhaul and related operations brought her into July 1967 when she was once again en route to Western Pacific. By August she was in the Tonkin Gulf screening the CORAL SEA. In naval gunfire support and Sea Dragon operations from 26 August 1967 to 9 January 1968, the ROBISON’s guns destroyed 78 waterborne logistics craft. Her remarkable degree of combat readiness earned her a Meritorious Unit Commendation.

Upkeep, availability, training, and operations off the west coast maintained the ROBISON’s readiness through the next eleven months. She steamed from San Diego for her fifth WestPac deployment in December 1968 in company with carrier KITTY HAWK. After stops at at Pearl Harbor and in January 1969, she joined Task C.roup 77.3 in the Tonkin Gulf. Serving as flagship of her division, the destroyer served in the screen of the KITTY HAWK and BON HOMME RICHARD. In addition, she provided naval gunfire support to troops ashore in the I Corps Zone.

Back in the states in July 1969, the ROBISON went into the San Francisco Naval Shipyard at Hunters Point, for overhaul. After refresher training she was headed for another WestPac deployment in 1970, which began a cycle of alternating tours of duty in the Western Pacific with operations on the West Coast.

The ROBISON was decommissioned on 1 October 1991, stricken from the Naval Vessel Register on 20 November 1992, and sold for scrap on 20 June 1994.

USS ROBISON DDG-12 Ship History

Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, November 2015

Robison (DDG-12), a guided missile destroyer, was laid down 28 April 1959 by Defoe Shipbuilding Co., Bay City, Mich.; launched 28 April 1960; sponsored by Mrs. John H. Sides, wife of the Commander-in-Chief, Pacific Fleet; and commissioned 9 December 1961 at the Boston Naval Shipyard, Comdr. D. V. Cox in command.

Robison steamed for the west coast 29 January 1962 via the Panama Canal. On 1 March she received a message diverting her to Clipperton Island, to rescue 10 stranded seamen from the tuna boat Monarch, which had capsized 20 days earlier.

Arriving at San Diego on 7 March, Robison underwent shakedown and then post-shakedown availability 14 June in San Francisco. Fleet Adm. Chester Nimitz, who had twice served on Admiral Robison’s staff, visited the ship on 25 June.

Following completion of availability 31 July, Robison proceeded to Mare Island for ammunition, took on ASROC and Tartar missiles at Seal Beach, and then commenced 3 months of local training operations out of San Diego. She got underway with Cruiser-Destroyer Flotilla 11 on 13 November for her first WestPac tour of duty. Upon completion of this deployment, Robison arrived San Diego 21 June 1963 for coastal operations.

She departed San Diego 18 November in company with Parsons (DD-949) for escort duties. Calling at Pearl Harbor 23 November, she departed 2 days later in company with Midway (CVA-41). Upon detachment from Midway, she touched at Guam, and then escorted Hancock (CVA-19) eastward. Following fueling stops at Midway and Pearl Harbor, she arrived San Diego 19 December.

In January 1964 Robison entered Long Beach Naval Shipyard for regular overhaul. After missile qualifications and refresher training, she steamed 14 August for her second WestPac deployment. Following her successful participation in modern naval warfare training exercises and calls at various Far Eastern ports, she departed Yokosuka 24 January 1965 and arrived San Diego 6 February.

Local spring operations were followed by a midshipman training cruise from 10 June to 5 August. The latter month also brought a call at Portland, Oreg., and a visit, on the 24th, by the Chief of Naval Operations, Adm. David L. McDonald. In the fall she sharpened her ASW, AAW, and shore bombardment techniques during coastal operations. Early in the new year 1966, the destroyer prepared for her third tour of duty in support of 7th Fleet operations in WestPac.

That deployment ended with her return to San Diego 18 July 1966. Overhaul in San Francisco took her through the fall and into the winter months, culminating in her return to homeport on 3 February 1967. Refresher and type training filled the next 5 months, and 25 July saw Robison once again en route to the Orient.

After calling at Pearl Harbor 31 July and Yokosuka, Japan, 5 August, she commenced Tonkin Gulf operations 25 August in the screen for Coral Sea (CVA-43). In naval gunfire support and “Sea Dragon” operations during the period from 26 August 1967 to 9 January 1968, Robison was credited with the destruction of 78 waterborne logistics craft. Her remarkable degree of combat readiness during this period earned for her the Meritorious Unit Commendation.

Upkeep, availability, training, and operating off the west coast maintained Robison’s state of readiness through the next 11 months. She steamed from San Diego for her fifth WestPac deployment on 30 December 1968 in company with carrierKitty Hawk (CVA-63). The usual call at Pearl Harbor was followed by arrival at Subic Bay, 20 January 1969. After voyage repairs Robison joined Task Group 77.3 in Tonkin Gulf. The destroyer, flagship of her division, served in the screen of both Kitty Hawk and Bon Homme Richard (CVA-31). She also provided naval gunfire support to troops ashore in the I Corps Zone.

Robison returned to San Diego on 6 July 1969, remaining there until 2 October, when she arrived at the San Francisco Naval Shipyard, Hunters Point, for overhaul. Work was completed 4½ months later, and Robison returned to her homeport of San Diego 27 February 1970, ready for refresher training and yet another WestPac deployment.

With the advent of 1970, Robison began a cycle of deployments which endured for three years. She spent the spring of each year on the west coast of the United States and then, in late spring or early summer, she deployed to WestPac. This cycle continued until 1973. During that year she remained on the west coast, engaged in normal operations out of San Diego, where she is berthed as of January 1974.

The guided missile destroyer decommissioned on 1 October 1991, was struck from the navy list on 20 November 1992 and sold to Consolidated Metals, Inc., for scrapping.

Robison earned seven battle stars for service off the Vietnamese coast.