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 destroyers 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:
 * Surface Warfare Commander (SUWC)
 * Under-Sea Warfare Commander (USWC)
 * Maritime Inspection Commander (MIC) involving U.N. Sanctions Enforcement
 * LAMPS Element Coordinator (LEC)
 * Defensive Mine Warfare (MIW-D)
 * Force Protection Coordinator (FPC)
 * Explosive Ordnance Disposal Coordinator (EODC)
 * Submarine Operational Controlling Authority (SOCA) [responsible for coordinating employment of attack submarines assigned to the Strike Group.

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 USS Niblack (DD-424) fired the first American depth charges of the war. On 31 October 1942, Niblack and USS Hilary P. Jones (DD-427) rescued the 45 survivors of the USS Reuben James (DD-245), 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, USS Mayo (DD-422) and USS Madison (DD-425) successfully rescued more than 1,400 men from the disabled troopship USS Wakefield (AP-21). 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:
 * USS Preble (DDG-88)
 * USS Howard (DDG-83)
 * USS Decatur (DDG-73)
 * USS Benfold (DDG-65)
 * USS Gary (FFG-51)
 * USS Thach (FFG-43)