Navy fell through due to a fishing rights dispute. Subsequently the ship was disposed of as a missile testing target and sunk at 13:49:30 PST on 2 August 1997 in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California at . Witnesses commented as to the remarkable toughness of the 53-plus-year-old ship prior to sinking. This was due to the entire engine room being filled with a buoyant spray-foam material witnessed by this author when the Southerland was tied up at Mare Island Naval Shipyard in the fall of 1990. Awards Southerland earned one battle star during World War II; eight during the Korean War; and 10 during her Vietnam War tours. References External links hazegray.org: USS Southerland Ship's association page: www.usssoutherland.com World War II destroyers of the United States Cold War destroyers of the United States Korean War destroyers of the United States Vietnam War destroyers of the United States Ships built in Bath, Maine 1944 ships Ships sunk as targets Maritime incidents in 1997 Gearing-class destroyers of the United States Navy