The following article is from the USS Damato DD-871 website by Allen Downs FTG2. The USS DeHaven was operating with the Damato.
During the DAMATO's first tour on Operation Sea Dragon, we repeatedly tangled with coastal defense gun emplacements near Dong Hoi. We received a lot of counter battery fire from the guns of Dong Hoi, and possibly others. Quoting from the ship's log in the USS Damato Vietnam Cruise book, on 2 September 1967, our first day on Operation Sea Dragon:
1700-Received 103 rounds counter battery fire while firing at Canh Duong Xa Bridge Approach. Closest rounds bracketed ship at 50 yards.
1900-Received 69 rounds counter battery fire while preparing to fire on My Duyet Ha Hwy Bridge. Closest rounds landed 20 yards from the bow and close aboard on the starboard side. Shrapnel was showered on deck.
The next day, 3 September:
1400 ...taken under fire by coastal defense site. Took closest rounds close aboard with shrapnel on the decks.
1530-Received counter battery fire with 86 rounds landing in the vicinity of DAMATO. Shrapnel landed on decks. Nearest explosion 10 yards off the bow and 10 yards astern.
There are at least four additional incidents of counter battery fire against DAMATO listed in the log between 3 September and 13 September. It was on 13 September 1967, that DAMATO took two hits from the guns of Dong Hoi. Quoting again from the ship's log as found in the USS Damato Vietnam Cruise book:
0700, 13 September 1967-A spotter aircraft assigned to the task unit consisting of DAMATO and DEHAVEN, detected seven large logistic craft in the Dong Hoi area, moored in the Song Giang River. DAMATO and DEHAVEN came to firing position and at 0758 commenced fire. Twenty-six rounds were fired with no visible results.
0809-The enemy opened up with heavy counter battery fire estimated at being over 200 rounds. Both ships immediately turned seaward at flank speed while directing fire at the gun sites. Enemy rounds landed all around the ship and there were several air explosions.
0811-DAMATO took a direct hit on her port side, frame 57, on the 01 level. The enemy shell went through the torpedo deck leaving a one foot by two foot hole and a large hole in the bulkhead between the main deck and the torpedo deck. It then passed into the Captain's cabin, completely destroying the interior.
0814-DAMATO took a second direct hit on her ASROC deck, frame 110. The blast put a large hole in the deck and numerous holes in the launcher itself. The shell passed through into the supply office and exploded against a heavy band of high power cables in the amidships passageway. Directly under the cables was Second Class Electrician Roy Whitehurst who escaped with a minor scratch.
DAMATO fired 102 rounds at the enemy sites.
After emergency patchwork on DAMATO, both ships made a high speed retaliatory run on the gun sites from 1331 to 1344 with DAMATO expending approximately 45 rounds. One secondary explosion and fire was observed.
Upon completion of the mission, Commander Destroyer Division 222 was transferred to DEHAVEN and DAMATO was detached to proceed to Subic Bay, Republic of the Philippines for emergency battle repairs.
At Subic Bay the ASROC launcher was removed and replaced with a mortar that was used to fire chaff. It soon became known as "mount fifty one and a half".