All photos were taken from USS SIDES (FFG 14) by PHAN Andrew Betting Fleet Imaging Command Pacific, San Diego Det. Special thanks to Mahlon Miller, currently senior chief mate Photographers Imaging Fleet Pacific Command in San Diego, who requested and received permission from the Head Office of Naval Intelligence in Washington DC to send the following photos.
The SINKEX 08OCT02 began when he was hit by a missile SM-1, a Hellfire missile and missile harpoon. Ex-TOWERS remained floating around all night. In 09OCT02 ship experienced a near miss with SLAM-ER missile and hit at least twenty times gun ammunition 76 mm. The last shot was fired in 091512TOCT02 and ex-TOWERS sank by the bow in 091547TOCT02. Location of the sinking was 31-16.192N 119-31.396W, 115 nm southwest of the island of San Clemente, in 1963 fathoms.
More pictures from inside the DDG-9, prior to exercising SINKEX and sinking.
Sinkex Interior 2.html
Sinkex Interior 3.html
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