USS Hayler (DD-997)

USS **Hayler** (DD-997) was a Spruance-class destroyer of the United States Navy, commissioned on March 5, 1983. Named after Admiral Robert W. Hayler, the ship was designed primarily for anti-submarine warfare but also carried capabilities for surface and air engagements. Throughout her service, Hayler participated in multiple deployments, including operations in the Mediterranean Sea, the Atlantic Ocean, and the Persian Gulf, supporting various fleet exercises and multinational operations. The ship was decommissioned on August 25, 2003, and later sunk as a target during a training exercise in 2004.