History – socar37.org (2024)

The prehistory of SOUTH CAROLINA begins on December 1, 1970. Mrs. Margaret Rivers, wife of the late L. Mendel Rivers of South Carolina, authenticated the ship’s keel by hammering the Naval Inspector’s Seal into a commemorative plaque and announcing that the keel was truly and fairly laid.

In May 1972, more than two dozen sailors received orders that would eventually lead them to the SOUTH CAROLINA, still under construction at Newport News Shipyard.

On July 1, 1972, Mrs. Imogene Buzhardt, wife of J. Fred Buzhardt, then General Counsel, Department of Defense, christened the ship SOUTH CAROLINA.

Capt. William C. Neel assumed command of the Precommissioning Unit, and with Executive Officer Lt. Cdr. Joseph King reported aboard in February 1973.

Crew members began to move onto the ship in September 1974. The ship was delivered on December 9, 1974, and commissioned on January 25, 1975. At the time, it was anticipated that SOUTH CAROLINA would be transferred to the Pacific Fleet in San Diego in 1976. Instead, she remained in Norfolk throughout her time of service.

After commissioning, SOUTH CAROLINA completed fitting out, Combat Systems Qualifications and Refresher Training in the Caribbean from May through July 1975. SOUTH CAROLINA conducted her first port visit, at the request of Senator Strom Thurmond, to her namesake state, visiting Charleston.

During August and September of that year, she participated in her first operational North Atlantic deployment with the NIMITZ Battle Group.

Subsequently, SOUTH CAROLINA participated in Exercise Solid Shield in the Caribbean and completed her first Mediterranean deployment in February 1977.

SOUTH CAROLINA, in company with her sister ship, CALIFORNIA, and NIMITZ commenced a second Mediterranean deployment in November 1977 and returned to Norfolk in July 1978.

SOUTH CAROLINA deployed again to the Mediterranean in January 1979 with the DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER Battle Group.

In 1980, SOUTH CAROLINA deployed as part of the first Atlantic battle group to spend an entire deployment in the Indian Ocean during the Iran crisis.

After a cruise to the Virgin Islands in November 1981, SOUTH CAROLINA deployed in January 1982 for a six-month deployment with DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER.

SOUTH CAROLINA underwent her first overhaul at Norfolk Naval Shipyard from January 1983 to May 1984. Upon completion, she participated in Caribbean exercises, enjoying port visits to Puerto Rico, St. Croix and Nassau.

SOUTH CAROLINA made her second visit to her namesake state in October 1984. The ship hosted numerous dignitaries, including the governor of South Carolina during her visit to a Charleston. She also visited Annapolis, Maryland, that year.

In 1985, SOUTH CAROLINA began a new year by conducting preparatory exercises in the Caribbean. She deployed to the Mediterranean in March and completed the deployment seven months later. SOUTH CAROLINA spent the majority of the deployment on station off Lebanon, in the wake of the hijacking of TWA Flight 847.

SOUTH CAROLINA underwent her second extended maintenance period from October 1985 to June 1986. She departed in July 1986 for a North Atlantic Cruise, and made port visits to Wilhelmshaven, Germany, and Olso, Norway.

Upon her return to Norfolk, SOUTH CAROLINA commenced preparations for overseas deployment and got underway on December 30, 1986, with the NIMITZ Battle Group. SOUTH CAROLINA completed her seventh Deployment on June 30, 1987.

In February 1988, SOUTH CAROLINA participated in the FLEETEX 2-88, and made an Independence Day visit to Nassau.

On August 1, 1988, the state of South Carolina officially adopted USS SOUTH CAROLINA as the state flagship. Approximately 1,200 visitors toured the ship on that day in Charleston.

SOUTH CAROLINA sailed in August 1988 to participate in the NATO Northern Wedding exercise with the USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT Battle Group off the coast of Norway. She conducted joint exercises and a port visit to Wilhelmshaven, Germany. She returned home in October 1988 to make final preparations for deployment.

SOUTH CAROLINA deployed to the Mediterranean in December 1988 with the THEODORE ROOSEVELT Battle Group. During this deployment, SOUTH CAROLINA and THEODORE ROOSEVELT helicopters teamed up to rescue the crews of seven yachts disabled by heavy weather.

SOUTH CAROLINA return to Norfolk on June 30, 1989, and began a four-month availability at Norfolk Naval Shipyard following a one-month Caribbean visit in support of operations with FORRESTAL.

SOUTH CAROLINA departed January 5, 1990, for Limited Team Training in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, followed by READIEX BASIC from January 26 to February 15, 1990, in the Puerto Rico operating area.

SOUTH CAROLINA again set sail for the Caribbean on March 12, 1990, for law enforcement operations returning on April 13, 1990, having acted as Coast Guard COMCARIBRON flagship and making two drug interdictions. SOUTH CAROLINA returned to the Caribbean in July for counter narcotics operations, where she served as flagship for Commander, Joint Task Group 4 and COMCARIBRON.

SOUTH CAROLINA departed October 1, 1990, for operations with the SARATOGA Battle Group. Following a solo trans-Atlantic crossing, SOUTH CAROLINA transited the Suez Canal for the first time in her history.

During Operation Desert Shield, she served as flagship for COMDESRON 24, the Maritime Interdiction Force Commander in the northern Red Sea. SOUTH CAROLINA conducted twenty-seven boardings during Maritime Interdiction Force operations. Admiral Frank Kelso, Chief of Naval Operations, visited SOUTH CAROLINA on station November 7, 1990.

Upon completion of Maritime Interdiction Force operations, SOUTH CAROLINA was selected as the first nuclear powered warship to visit Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. In January 1991, SOUTH CAROLINA participated in operations in the Central Mediterranean with the THEODORE ROOSEVELT and AMERICA Battle Groups.

She sortied early from Taranto, Italy January on 17, 1991, at the start of Operation Desert Storm. SOUTH CAROLINA acted as an Anti-Air Warfare Commander for the Mediterranean, protecting operation Silver Cloud air corridors and the approaches to the Suez Canal. SOUTH CAROLINA acted as on-scene commander and supervised the recovery of four survivors and 29 bodies from the sinking merchant ship Continental Lotus. SOUTH CAROLINA returned to homeport on March 28, 1991.

SOUTH CAROLINA entered Norfolk Naval Shipyard for a Combat System New Threat Upgrade and refueling of both reactors and left the shipyard March 30, 1994, with a new lease on life.

SOUTH CAROLINA's first post-refueling employment was to the Straits of Florida during October and November 1994 to rescue Cuban refugees who were fleeing their homeland in hopes of reaching the United States. SOUTH CAROLINA commenced workups in the spring in preparations for her next major deployment.

In the fall of 1995, SOUTH CAROLINA started her eleventh deployment. This cruise saw service off the coast of the former republic of Yugoslavia in support of Operations Deny Flight, Sharp Guard and Decisive Endeavor. SOUTH CAROLINA acted as “Green Crown” and Air Warfare Commander in the Adriatic Sea. SOUTH CAROLINA returned to homeport in the spring of 1996.

History adapted from the USS South Carolina decommissioning program