On 3 August 1964, the "Turner Joy" was ordered to accompany the "Maddox" for another DESOTO mission, on 4 August "Turner Joy"s radar screens picked up a number of what appeared to be small, high-speed surface craft approaching, but at extreme range. As a precaution, the two destroyers called upon "Ticonderoga" to furnish air support. By nightfall, the unidentified radar echoes suggested that VPN torpedo boats were converging upon the two American warships from the west and south. "Turner Joy" reported that she sighted one or two torpedo wakes, then rang up full speed, maneuvered radically to evade expected torpedoes, and began firing in the direction of the unidentified blips. Over the next two and a half hours, "Turner Joy" fired approximately 220 five-inch shells, while planes from "Ticonderoga" fired at the supposed torpedo boats.