USS Detroit (AOE-4) was the fourth and last Sacramento-class fast combat support ship built for the United States Navy.

She was laid down on 29 November 1966 by Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, Washington; launched 21 June 1969; and commissioned on 28 March 1970.

After her initial shakedown cruise, Detroit departed Bremerton for her first operational home port, Newport, Rhode Island, rounding the horn of South America en route.

In April 1972 the Detroit escorted USS Saratoga CV-60 to the southern tip of Africa on her way to support the war in Vietnam.

On 12 December 1973, while the ship was undergoing repairs and upkeep in Newport, Detroit suffered an explosion in her after engine room exhaust stack which caused extensive material damage.

On 13 July 1976, Detroit sailed north to commence her first shipyard overhaul at Bath Iron Works in Maine.

The NATO Sea Sparrow missile system and new communications capabilities were added prior to her return to Norfolk in July 1977.

A Suez Canal transit followed National Week exercises, and the new routine became the support of U.S. 7th Fleet’s Indian Ocean Battle Group operating in the vicinity of the Persian Gulf.

Returning through the Suez, Detroit proceeded to service 6th Fleet units prior to visiting Lisbon, Portugal, in late November.

She serviced 6th Fleet and NATO units and participated in the missile exercises in the Gulf of Sidra, when two Libyan aircraft were shot down by F-14 Tomcats from USS Nimitz (CVN-68).

In January 1982, Detroit began her second shipyard overhaul at Norfolk Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company’s Berkeley Yard in Chesapeake, Virginia.

On 9 January 1984 Detroit suffered a fuel fire in her forced-draft blower while moored at Souda Bay, Crete.

From July through October 1985, she participated in fleet exercises in the Caribbean Sea, as well as in "Ocean Safari 85" operating above the Arctic Circle in Norway's Vestfjord.

The summer of 1988 found Detroit back in the European theater, participating in Exercise Teamwork 88 replenishing U.S. and NATO allies in the Norwegian fjords.

After officially changing homeports in October 1989, Detroit was underway in support of law enforcement operations in the Caribbean Sea.

In August 1990, Detroit deployed to the Mediterranean for the 11th time since commissioning, but was diverted to the Red Sea in response to Iraq's invasion of Kuwait.

On 17 January 1991, Operation Desert Storm commenced with Detroit as one of two fast combat support ships on station.

Detroit participated in the insertion and retrieval of United States Army and Navy Special Forces during the Exercise Ellipse Bravo, and rescue efforts to the TCG Muavenet, a Turkish warship, after it was struck by a missile from the USS Saratoga.

From July through November 1997, Detroit underwent a four-month phased maintenance availability, which extended the life of her propulsion plant at least another ten years.

Responding to a national crisis, she sped her way from Earle, New Jersey to the Persian Gulf to complete the fastest transit in combat logistics force history.

On Thanksgiving Day, Detroit had the pleasure of hosting the Chief of Naval Operations for a brief visit while in port at Jebel Ali.

The Culinary Competition was held on board the USS Intrepid at the Sea, Air and Space Museum – Technology Hall.

Executive Chef JUDGES from Manhattan restaurants Craig Agans & William Gallagher of Becco, Salvatore Calisi of Osteria Stella, Cesare Casella of Beppe, Silverio Chavez of Bice, Junnajet Hurapan of Hue, Reginald Leveque of Mirelles, Giancarlo Quadalti of Celeste and Bianca, Claude Solliard of Seppis and Cyrille Wendling of L’Avenue.