USS Detroit ( AOE - 4 ) USS " Detroit " ( AOE - 4 ) was the fourth and last built for the United States Navy . She was laid down on 29 November 1966 by Puget Sound Naval Shipyard , Bremerton , Washington ; launched 21 June 1969 ; and commissioned on 28 March 1970 . She is the fourth United States Navy ship named after Detroit , Michigan ( the largest city in the state of Michigan ) & the fifth ship total including one commissioned by the British Navy in Canada . " Detroit " served for 35 years operating primarily with the U . S . 6th Fleet in the Mediterranean Sea and Persian Gulf regions . Service history . 1970 – 1980 . After her initial shakedown cruise , " Detroit " departed Bremerton for her first operational home port , Newport , Rhode Island , rounding the horn of South America en route . In March 1971 , she was involved in a minor collision with a US Navy oiler off the coast of South Carolina . Shortly thereafter , " Detroit " deployed for six months of extended operations with the 6th Fleet , returning to Newport in December 1971 . On 12 December 1973 , while the ship was undergoing repairs and upkeep in Newport , " Detroit " suffered an explosion in her after engine room exhaust stack which caused extensive material damage . " Detroit " made her second deployment with 6th Fleet to the Mediterranean on 1 December 1972 , returning to Newport in July of the following year . A shore establishment realignment led to " Detroit ' s " home port shift to Norfolk , Virginia in January 1974 . " Detroit " sailed from Norfolk 14 July 1974 , en route to her third Mediterranean deployment in support of 6th Fleet operations . In addition to her normal taskings , she participated in contingency operations related to the Cyprus crisis , completing this task in December 1974 before returning to Norfolk . " Detroit " sailed for her fourth Mediterranean deployment on 19 August 1975 and completed over 200 replenishments before returning to Norfolk on 28 January 1976 . On 13 July 1976 , " Detroit " sailed north to commence her first shipyard overhaul at Bath Iron Works in Maine . The NATO Sea Sparrow missile system and new communications capabilities were added prior to her return to Norfolk in July 1977 . " Detroit ' s " fifth Mediterranean deployment was completed on 26 October 1978 . She conducted 232 replenishments on this deployment . After another five - month Mediterranean deployment in 1979 , " Detroit " returned to Norfolk for a short six - month turn - around in preparation for her seventh Mediterranean deployment , commencing on 14 July 1980 . A Suez Canal transit followed National Week exercises , and the new routine became the support of U . S . 7th Fleet ’ s Indian Ocean Battle Group operating in the vicinity of the Persian Gulf . Returning through the Suez , " Detroit " proceeded to service 6th Fleet units prior to visiting Lisbon , Portugal , in late November . " Detroit " returned to Norfolk on 11 December 1980 . 1981 – 1989 . On 10 June 1981 " Detroit " ran aground on a sandbar in Hampton Roads while the ship was entering port . She was refloated four days later after fuel and weapons were removed . There was no apparent damage to ship or injuries to the crew , but the commanding officer was relieved of command for the incident . " Detroit " departed Norfolk on 25 June 1981 for her eighth Mediterranean deployment . She serviced 6th Fleet and NATO units and participated in the missile exercises in the Gulf of Sidra , when two Libyan aircraft were shot down by F - 14 Tomcat s from USS Nimitz ( CVN - 68 ) . " Detroit " returned to Norfolk on 8 November 1981 . In January 1982 , " Detroit " began her second shipyard overhaul at Norfolk Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company ’ s Berkeley Yard in Chesapeake , Virginia . The focus of this overhaul was on the engineering plant and the crew ’ s living quarters . Her defensive capability was also upgraded by the addition of two 20 mm Phalanx CIWS Mark 15 guns . " Detroit " left the yard in January 1983 . On 20 October 1983 , " Detroit " departed for deployment with the 6th Fleet . While in the Mediterranean , " Detroit " was the principal combat logistics force ship supporting U . S . and Allied units of the Multi - National Peacekeeping Force , in Beirut , Lebanon . Throughout the height of the crisis , " Detroit " provided logistical support to two carrier battle groups , the battle group and the deployed Marine Amphibious Ready Group . On 9 January 1984 " Detroit " suffered a fuel fire in her forced - draft blower while moored at Souda Bay , Crete . Some crew members were treated for smoke inhalation . When she returned to Norfolk on 2 May 1984 , " Detroit " had completed 301 replenishments , a new ship ’ s record . In February 1985 , " Detroit " completed an extensive three - month repair availability . From July through October 1985 , she participated in fleet exercises in the Caribbean Sea , as well as in " Ocean Safari 85 " operating above the Arctic Circle in Norway ' s Vestfjord . During these operations , " Detroit " encountered a severe storm consisting of extreme cold and heavy seas . As a result " Detroit " suffered the loss of a large section of main deck railing , several deck fixtures and the ship ’ s solid brass bell . " Detroit " put in for repairs in Dunoon , Scotland before continuing operations . In August 1985 , " Detroit " successfully completed the first Operational Propulsion Plant Examination given to an AOE by the Commander - in - Chief , Atlantic Fleet ( CINCLANTFLT ) Propulsion Examination Board . In March 1986 , " Detroit " departed Norfolk for her tenth deployment with the 6th Fleet in the Mediterranean . She supported three carrier operations off the coast of Libya in March and April 1986 . In September 1986 , she returned to Norfolk . The summer of 1988 found " Detroit " back in the European theater , participating in Exercise Teamwork 88 replenishing U . S . and NATO allies in the Norwegian fjords . After officially changing homeports in October 1989 , " Detroit " was underway in support of law enforcement operations in the Caribbean Sea . 1990 – 1999 . In May 1990 , " Detroit " arrived at Naval Weapons Station Earle , Leonardo , New Jersey where she was homeported until decommissioning in 2005 . In August 1990 , " Detroit " deployed to the Mediterranean for the 11th time since commissioning , but was diverted to the Red Sea in response to Iraq ' s invasion of Kuwait . She remained on station in the Red Sea through the remainder of the year . On 17 January 1991 , Operation Desert Storm commenced with " Detroit " as one of two fast combat support ship s on station . " Detroit ' s " crew worked non - stop for the remaining three months of what ultimately became a nine - month deployment . " Detroit " commenced a six - month dry docked phased maintenance availability in May 1991 at Philadelphia Naval Shipyard . In May 1992 , " Detroit " returned to 6th Fleet in support of MED 2 - 92 . This deployment proved to be remarkably successful for " Detroit " and her crew . " Detroit " participated in the insertion and retrieval of United States Army and Navy Special Forces during the Exercise Ellipse Bravo , and rescue efforts to the TCG " Muavenet " , a Turkish warship , after it was struck by a missile from the USS Saratoga . " Detroit " returned to Philadelphia Naval Shipyard for a dry docked phased maintenance availability in July 1993 . Shipyard repairs were completed in January 1994 and the ship immediately commenced work - ups for her next deployment . On 20 October 1994 , " Detroit " was underway for her 13th Mediterranean deployment . Prior to arriving in the Mediterranean , the ship was tasked to take station in the Arabian Sea in support of U . S . Naval Forces . " Detroit " returned to the 6th Fleet in December 1994 . She remained in the Mediterranean and Adriatic Seas , providing logistics support for the remainder of the deployment . On 22 November 1996 , " Detroit " deployed with the battle group for her 14th Mediterranean deployment . " Detroit " performed operations in the Adriatic Sea , as well as transiting the Suez Canal , joining the U . S . 5th Fleet in support of Operation Southern Watch . Additionally , she participated in exercise " Inspired Siren 2 - 97 " and a variety of other multi - national exercises . " Detroit " returned to Earle , New Jersey on 22 May 1997 . She was awarded a Navy Unit Commendation during this deployment . From July through November 1997 , " Detroit " underwent a four month phased maintenance availability , which extended the life of her propulsion plant at least another ten years . " Detroit " earned the Commander , Naval Surface Force , U . S . Atlantic Fleet 1997 Battle Efficiency Award and the 1997 Chief of Naval Operations Ship - Helo Safety Award . Upon completion of the basic phase of training in preparation for her next deployment in support of the battle group " Detroit " then known as the " Dirty D " deployed for her 15th Mediterranean / Persian Gulf Deployment in November 1998 . Responding to a national crisis , she sped her way from Earle , New Jersey to the Persian Gulf to complete the fastest transit in combat logistics force history . " Detroit " was key in Operation Desert Fox by providing ammunition , combat stores , fresh fruits and vegetables , and fuel to battle group units participating in the operation . On Thanksgiving Day , " Detroit " had the pleasure of hosting the Chief of Naval Operations for a brief visit while import Jebel Ali . During the deployment , " Detroit " was notified that she was awarded four individual " E ’ s " for excellence during 1998 in supply and logistics , mission area excellence , engineering and damage control , and operations and communications - a clean sweep in all mission areas . In May 1999 , " Detroit " returned to her homeport . On 8 November 1999 , " Detroit " began a four month docking phased availability at Philadelphia Naval Shipyard . 2000 – 2005 . On 27 August 2000 , " Detroit " was involved in a collision with approximately 100 miles off the Virginia Capes . Damage to both ships was minor . " Detroit " deployed with the " Enterprise " battle group to the Persian Gulf 2 October 2003 and returned to her homeport 1 March 2004 . " Detroit " was decommissioned in 17 February 2005 and is berthed at the inactive ships maintenance facility at Philadelphia , Pennsylvania . " Detroit " was brought to Port of Brownsville , Texas for final disposal in October 2005 . The remains of the ship were sent to a scrap heap in Mexico . Ship ' s crest . " Detroit ' s " emblem was constructed by a member of the ship ' s pre - commissioning crew . This was the rationale : 1 . A profile of the first 2 . A flaming mine to symbolize ordnance3 . A wheat - filled cornucopia to symbolize provisions4 . A fuel valve to symbolize petroleum products5 . Electron paths to symbolize the nuclear era6 . Five stars to represent the five ships named " Detroit " named in honor of the City of Detroit , Michigan7 . The ship ' s motto , " Superare Optimum " ; " To Surpass the Finest . " The first was a 19 - gun sloop captured from the British in the Battle of Lake Erie during the War of 1812 . The black hull and white sails of the first " Detroit " are set against a background of light blue sky and deep blue sea . The symbols for ordnance , provisions , and petroleum products are set along the electron paths which symbolize the modern nuclear age . These symbols reflect the mission of the fast combat support ship : to support naval forces at sea in the theater of operations . Awards . " Detroit " was awarded the following awards during her career :