US destroyer USS Hopper returns from Persian Gulf deployment

The US Navy’s guided-missile destroyer USS Hopper (DDG 70) returned to Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam on February 9 after four months of operations in the Western Pacific and Persian Gulf.

Hopper operated in the US 7th and 5th Fleets, Hopper supporting ballistic missile defense and promoting security and stability.

An early highlight to Hopper’s deployment was a visit from Secretary of the Navy Robert V. Spencer on Thanksgiving Day. While aboard, Spencer received a tour of the ship, which provided an opportunity for him to speak with Sailors on watch before heading out to the ship’s flight deck to address the rest of the crew. He reminded them how much their service means to the country.

Hopper, at the time operating with the America amphibious ready group, had the opportunity to exchange sailors with Her Majesty’s Australian Ship HMAS Warramunga (FFH 152). Two groups of six Hopper sailors made the small boat ride over to Warramunga.

Hopper conducted a boarding of underway replenishment oiler USNS Guadalupe (T-AO-200) while working in coordination amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6), expeditionary mobile base vessel USS Lewis B. Puller (ESB 3), and 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit during an expanded maritime interdiction operation (EMIO) exercise.

During the four-month span, Hopper executed port visits in Bahrain, Singapore, and Guam.

Commissioned Sep. 6, 1997, Hopper is named after former U.S. Navy Rear Adm. “Amazing” Grace Hopper, owing to the breadth of her accomplishments as a pioneering computer scientist and naval officer.