Destroyer Squadron 7 Destroyer Squadron 7 , also known as " Destroyer Squadron Seven " and often abbreviated to " DESRON Seven " or " DESRON 7 " , is a squadron of destroyer s of the United States Navy . Destroyer Squadron Seven operated in the Atlantic and Pacific during World War Two , and it subsequently saw service in the Korean War , the Vietnam War , and the 1990 – 91 Persian Gulf War . The squadron is administratively responsible to Commander , Naval Surface Forces Pacific , and it was operationally part of Carrier Strike Group Seven until the group was disestablished on 30 December 2011 . Commander responsibilities . Commander Destroyer Squadron Seven ( ComDesron - 7 ) serves as the administrative commander , or Immediate Superior in Command ( ISIC ) , of the ships assigned to the squadron . Each DESRON - 7 ship is equipped to operate in a high - density , multi - threat environment either independently or as an integral member of a Carrier Strike Group or Expeditionary Strike Group . In addition to individual vessel supervisory duties , the DESRON - 7 commander planned and trained for deployment as part of Carrier Strike Group Seven . While on deployment , the squadron commodore serves as theSea Combat Commander ( SCC ) for the carrier strike groups which performs the following duties : Commander Destroyer Squadron Seven has the courtesy title of commodore while in command of the squadron . History . Destroyer Squadron 7 was first established in September 1920 as a reserve squadron of 15 ships home - ported at Charleston , South Carolina . The squadron was deactivated from July 1922 until April 1939 when it was reorganized at Naval Station San Diego , California . In December 1940 , the squadron was reformed at Naval Station Newport , Rhode Island , and operated from Argentia , Newfoundland , and Iceland as part of the Neutrality Patrol in the North Atlantic . On 10 April 1941 , while rescuing survivors of a Dutch cargo ship , Desron - 7 destroyer fired the first American depth charges of the war . On 31 October 1942 , " Niblack " and rescued the 45 survivors of the , the first U . S . Warship lost during World War Two . Following the United States ' entry into World War II , on 3 September 1942 , Desron - 7 destroyers " Niblack " , " Hilary P . Jones " , and successfully rescued more than 1 , 400 men from the disabled troopship . Desron - 7 ships subsequently participated in the allied amphibious landings during the Allied invasion of Sicily , the Allied invasion of Italy , Operation Shingle at Anzio , and Operation Dragoon in southern France . In May 1945 , the squadron was reformed at Naval Station San Diego , San Diego , California , and it operated with Pacific Fleet for the balance of World War II . In November 1945 , the squadron was deactivated , but in January 1946 , Destroyer Squadron 60 was re - designated as Destroyer Squadron 7 . Ships of the squadron participated in the atomic - bomb tests at Bikini Atoll , and Destroyer Squadron 7 saw extensive service in the Korean War , including the landing at Inchon . During the Vietnam War , the squadron participated in Operation Market Time and shore bombardment operations against North Vietnam . In 1978 , the squadron was located at San Diego as part of Cruiser - Destroyer Group 3 . In early 1979 , the squadron participated in the evacuation of Americans from Iran . Destroyer Squadron 7 saw action during the Persian Gulf War of 1990 – 91 . Following the war , the squadron participated in the international maritime interdiction campaign against Iraq as well as Operation Southern Watch . The squadron was assigned to Carrier Strike Group Seven until that group was disestablished in 2011 . Assigned units . As of 2012 , the squadron consists of the following destroyers and frigates :