USS Worden Sinkex RIMPAC 2000 (former DLG/CG-18)

Decommissioned Leahy Class Destroyer Leader (Frigate) / Guided Missile Cruiser USS Worden (DLG/CG 18) is sunk as a target during Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) wargame exercises north of Hawaii in June of 2000.

Worden was built in 1961/62, first commissioned in 1963, served about 30 years (minus yard time and an 18 month decommissioning in 1969 to 71) taking part in many conflicts and operations around the world, and was decommissioned for good in October of 1993. It spent roughly 7 years in Pearl Harbors inactive fleet reserve area before being towed to sea for the last time to be sunk as a target.

During the SinkEx exercise the former Worden was hit multiple times by various munitions from the HMAS Adelade (FFG-01), sustained a Torpedo attack from the USS Tuscon (SSN-770) (likely a training torpedo, non explosive), and was hit with Maverick anti ship missiles fired from aircraft operating off of the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72).

Worden took approximately 90 minutes to sink after the last shot was fired. Worden was set to Condition Zebra prior to the sinkex, with all watertight doors and hatches sealed. Worden is recorded as having sunk at 1801 hrs on June 18th.

What remains of Worden now rests roughly 2,560 Fathoms (15360 feet, 4681 meters, 2.9 miles) below the Pacific Ocean.

Copyright and use notice: The original video footage was shot and released publicly by the DOD/USN/US Government, and is therefore free to use and distribute. I have kept it largely as I found it, except for adding some stills and the music track (there was no sound originally). Credit is due to the original film crew and editors, whose names I don't have, but would be happy to post if someone knows who they were.

Side note - If so inclined some of you 80's Worden guys should go over to the Worden Wikipedia and fill in the big gap between 1980 and 1991.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Wor...