I found an account of the Elliot’s sinking in the July 14 edition of Jet Observer, a Navy newspaper covering NAS Oceana, Virginia. Page seven has the article.
The jet jockeys probably thought they’d have the job done in time for a mid-morning coffee break. Instead it took 3,000 pounds of explosives and half a day to do her in. Damn straight! It’s because of all those coats of paint I put on it.
Note to VFA-195 PAO: I take issue with “rusting hulk.” You got the Elliot mixed up with the Standley.
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VFA-195 plays important role in ‘Sinkex’
by Ens. Matt Myers
Maritime dominance has been the mission of the U.S. Seventh Fleet since its founding over 60 years ago. During Operation Talisman Sabre 2005, a three-week cooperative exercise with the Royal Australian Navy, Army and Air Force, Carrier Strike Group Five demonstrated critical war at sea capabilities against two decommissioned U.S. Navy ships. The threat may have been simulated, but the guns, bombs and warfighting skills tested during the “sinkex” were very real.
The ex-USS Standley (CG 32) sank early under a barrage from the guns of Destroyer Squadron Fifteen and air-to-surface missiles from the Strike Group’s two helicopter squadrons.
When the smoke cleared, it was time for Carrier Air Wing Five’s strike fighter squadrons to unleash their firepower on the ex-USS Elliot (DD 967). The airwing scheduled a full day of sorties against the rusting hulk, but less than halfway through the flight schedule, six 500 pound bombs from Lt. Cmdr. Brian Bronk and Lt. Brett Dresden of the “Dambusters” of VFA-195 sent the ex-Elliot to the bottom of the Coral Sea.
The sinkex tested every aspect of Carrier Air Wing Five’s readiness for combat operations as low-lying clouds restricted weapon delivery profiles and two weeks of intensive flying kept maintenance departments working overtime. The Dambusters’ aviation electronics and armament shops found themselves in the spotlight since Sinkex participants were tasked with putting ordnance on target and bringing back the cockpit video to prove it.
“A sinkex as successful as this one demonstrates the incredible lethality of the Hawk-Five team,” summed up Mike Patterson from VFA-195. “The Chippies are proud to be a player on that team.”
Ens. Matt Myers is the PAO for the VFA-195 “Chippies”