September and October 1983 found '' Hassayampa '' entwined in Russian politics and foreign intrigue when she accompanied United States Coast Guard cutter , the rescue salvage ship and the fleet tug in search and salvage efforts surrounding the wreckage of Korean Air Lines Flight 007 that was brought down by Russian aircraft . In addition , there were also three Japanese tugs chartered through the U.S. Navy ’s Far East Salvage Contractor ( Selco ) — '' Ocean Bull '' , '' Kaiko-Maru 7 '' , and the ill-fated '' Kaiko-Maru 3 '' . These vessels , which housed navigation systems equipment , had the assignment of towing sideways scanning sonar designed to detect objects at the bottom of the sea such as the wreckage of Korean Air Lines Flight 007 . Additionally , there were several U.S. naval combatants and logistical support ships . In addition to the above ships , there were numerous Japanese Maritime Safety Agency ( JMSA ) patrol boats and South Korean vessels . Additionally , there were scores of Russian vessels navigating the area . On 17 October 1983 , Rear Admiral Walter T. Piotti , Jr. , was placed in command of U.S. Seventh Fleet Task Force 71 which was overseeing search and salvage efforts . Commander Piotti ’s assessment of the enormity of this naval undertaking was : “ Not since the search for the hydrogen bomb lost off Palamares , Spain has the U.S. Navy undertaken a search effort of the magnitude or import of the search for the wreckage of KAL Flight 007
Korean Air Lines Flight 007
Korean Air Lines Flight 007
USS Hassayampa (AO-145)