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The USS Moosbrugger's keel was laid on November 3, 1975 at Litton Shipyards in Pascagoula, MS. Launched on July 23, 1976 and commissioned on December 16, 1978, the USS Moosbrugger is the eighteenth in a series of 31 Spruance Class destroyers. She arrived in Charleston just prior to Christmas, 1978, and was the first of many Spruance Class destroyers to call Charleston home.

The Early Years

The Middle Years

The Last Years

The Last Chapter

The USS Moosbrugger was immortalized the Tom Clancy novel, Red Sea Rising, when he included the ship in his story line. In response to a question about the ship in 2002, Clancy said "USS Moosbrugger (is that the right spelling? I am not sure anymore) is a Spruance (DD-963-class) destroyer with a remarkable ASW reputation in the real universe. I invoked her name because she is famous on all the oceans of the world."

Catherine E Moosbrugger, VADM Frederick Moosbrugger's first granddaughter, was inducted as an "honorary" crew member on December 11, 2000 when she rode the ship during it's final voyage December 8 - 11, 2000.

The USS Moosbrugger was decommissioned on December 15, 2000, and is currently located at the Naval Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility, Philadelphia, PA.  She is moored outboard of her sister ship, USS John Hancock (DD-981).  The ship has been reclassified for disposal.

Pull out those cruise books. Fill in the gaps

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