About this Unit
USS Stormes (DD-780) was an Allen M. Sumner-class destroyer commissioned by the United States Navy in 1945. Named after Lieutenant Commander Robert E. Stormes, the ship served in the Pacific during the closing months of World War II. In the following decades, USS Stormes participated in various Cold War operations, including patrols and exercises in the Atlantic, Mediterranean, and off Korea during the Korean War. The destroyer was decommissioned in 1970 and later transferred to the Iranian Navy, where she served under the name IIS Zaal.
Historical Facts
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Namesake: USS Stormes (DD-780) was named in honor of Commander Robert E. Stormes, a US Navy officer who was killed in action during World War II at the Battle of Cape Esperance in 1942.
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Ship Class: She was an Allen M. Sumner-class destroyer, one of the most advanced destroyer classes of World War II, known for their firepower and improved anti-aircraft capabilities.
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Commissioning: USS Stormes was commissioned on 27 July 1945, just weeks before the end of World War II, and thus did not see combat action in that war.
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Korean War Service: Stormes served during the Korean War, performing escort, patrol, and shore bombardment missions, protecting aircraft carriers and supporting United Nations forces.
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Famous Rescue: In 1952, while operating off Korea, Stormes rescued four downed aviators from the aircraft carrier USS Princeton (CV-37), demonstrating the versatility and humanitarian role of destroyers.
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FRAM Modernization: In the early 1960s, Stormes underwent the Fleet Rehabilitation and Modernization (FRAM) program, receiving new anti-submarine warfare (ASW) equipment, including ASROC and DASH drone helicopters.
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Cuban Missile Crisis: In October 1962, Stormes was part of the US naval blockade during the Cuban Missile Crisis, helping enforce the "quarantine" of Cuba.
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Vietnam War: Stormes supported US operations in the Vietnam War, providing gunfire support to ground troops, conducting search and rescue missions, and serving on carrier escort duty in the Gulf of Tonkin.
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International Service: After decommissioning from the US Navy in 1970, Stormes was transferred to the Turkish Navy, where she served as TCG Alcitepe (D-346) until 1983.
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Legacy: Over her nearly three decades of service, Stormes earned commendations and campaign ribbons for her roles in the Korean and Vietnam Wars, as well as for peacetime operations, exemplifying the adaptability and endurance of the Sumner-class destroyers.
