USS Merrill ( DD - 976 ) USS " Merrill " ( DD - 976 ) , named for Rear Admiral Aaron Stanton Merrill USN ( 1890 – 1961 ) , was a laid down 16 June 1975 by the Ingalls Shipbuilding Division of Litton Industries at Pascagoula , Mississippi . She was launched 1 September 1976 and commissioned 11 March 1978 . History . USS " Merrill " had the distinction of being the test ship for the installation of the Tomahawk cruise missile system aboard the SPRUANCE Class units . On 21 August 1980 , while on a Western Pacific Ocean deployment , " Merrill " rescued 62 Vietnamese refugees , over 200 miles southeast of Saigon . During the next years , " Merrill " served as the Navy ' s test platform for the Tomahawk Cruise Missile Program , earning the Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation . In this function , the ship did not participate in the Pacific Fleet ' s deployment rotation . In 1989 , " Merrill " stood out on a deployment to the Middle East . Serving as a unit of Joint Task Force Middle East , the ship conducted operations in support of Operation Earnest Will and was back in San Diego in May 1990 . In August 1990 the USS Merrill was host to the USSR Navy in San Diego . Assigned to the carrier battle group , " Merrill " again deployed to the Middle East in 1991 . On the way to Persian Gulf the " Merrill " took part in Operation Fiery Vigil in June 1991 . Arriving in the region after the ceasefire of the Gulf War , " Merrill " became the flagship for the coalition minesweeping forces in the Persian Gulf and was the second warship to visit the liberated port of Kuwait City after the Iraqi invasion . 1992 found " Merrill " underway on a counter - narcotics deployment in the Central America area of operations . In September 1992 the " Merrill " was sent to Long Beach for an extensive overhaul which lasted into late 1993 . " Merrill " deployed in 1995 as part of the " Abraham Lincoln " battle group . During the first half of the deployment , the battle group conducted a variety of multinational operations and exercises designed to support U . S . interests and relationships in the Pacific and Indian Oceans , and the Persian Gulf . The battle group maintained a continuous watch on all merchant shipping going to and from Iraq . Numerous ships were queried and boarded to verify their cargo manifests . In July 1995 , as part of a reorganization of the Pacific Fleet ' s surface ships into six core battle groups and eight destroyer squadrons , " Merrill " was reassigned to Destroyer Squadron 7 . The reorganization was scheduled to be completed by 1 October , with homeport changes to be completed within the following year . From 10 February through 21 February 1997 , " Merrill " took part in Pacific Joint Task Force Exercise ( PACJTFEX ) 97 - 1 , off the Southern California coast . The U . S . 3rd Fleet exercise involved 20 ships , fixed - wing aircraft and helicopters from the carrier battle group and Amphibious Ready Group with the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit embarked . Army , Air Force , National Guard and Coast Guard units also participated . The exercise included various air strike and support missions , maritime interdiction operations , humanitarian operations , operational testing of weapons systems , logistics support , search and rescue , and command and control . Amphibious operations supporting the exercise culminated with an amphibious landing at Camp Pendleton , California , involving surface and helicopter assault forces . PAC JTFEX 97 - 1 was part of a series of exercises previously named " FLEETEX " . The change in name reflected the increasing focus on preparing naval forces for joint operations with other U . S . military services . During the previous several years this exercise placed increasing emphasis on incorporating joint procedures , planning , and command and control structures into task group training . " Merrill " then deployed with the " Constellation " battle group , as part of a routine six - month deployment in the waters of the Indian and Pacific Oceans . The " Constellation " battle group departed 5th Fleet ' s Area of Responsibility ( AOR ) on 17 August 1997 . The battle group had entered the Arabian Sea on 16 May , and conducted high tempo operations there that included more than 4 , 400 sorties during more than 10 weeks in the Persian Gulf . Operations included exercises with friendly forces in the region . After departing the Persian Gulf , the " Constellation " battle group concluded its tour in the 5th Fleet with a joint - combined exercise with the Pakistani Armed Forces . Dubbed Inspired Siren 97 - 2 and Inspired Alert 97 - 2 , the exercises incorporated both surface combatants and air components , respectively . The purpose of this four - day training mission was to exercise the joint - combined naval and air capabilities of both countries , improve their respective levels of readiness and interoperability , and enhance military relations between the two nations . Fate . " Merrill " was decommissioned and stricken 26 March 1998 awaiting disposal at Pearl Harbor Naval Intermediate Ship Maintenance Facility . On 1 August 2003 she was sunk as a target northwest of Hawaii . The exact location was 022° 43 ' 53 . 0 " North , 160° 29 ' 23 . 0 " West .