USS Mustin (DDG-89) - Ship History

Ship History

In July 2006, Mustin and her crew of 300 was deployed to Yokosuka Naval Base in Yokosuka, Japan, home of the Navy's 7th Fleet, for permanent assignment. Though coming at an opportune time in response to the recent North Korea missile tests, the deployment was previously ordered, unrelated to the incidents.

During the 2008 Myanmar Cyclone Nargis crisis and the subsequent Operation Caring Response aid mission, as part of the USS Essex Amphibious Ready Group (also including the USS Juneau and the USS Harpers Ferry), she stood by off Burma from 13 May to 5 June, waiting for the Myanmar junta government to permit US aid to its citizens. However, in early June, with permission still not forthcoming, it was decided to put the group back on its scheduled operations.

In March 2011, in company with the carrier Ronald Reagan, the ship was deployed off northeastern Honshu, Japan. The mission was to assist with relief efforts after the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami.

During the 2011 Thailand floods, the ship was docked at Port Laem Chabang on a routine visit when the Thai government asked for assistance in aerial surveillance of the extent of Bangkok flooding. Captain John Kirby said Thailand had asked the warship to prolong its stay at the port for up to six days; the Pentagon said the two Seahawk helicopters, from HSL-51 detachment SIX, aboard would conduct the reconnaissance.