Samuel Gompers-class destroyer tender

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USS Samuel Gompers (AD-37) underway off the coast of Oahu on 24 November 1968 (NH 96875).jpg
USS Samuel Gompers
Class overview
OperatorsFlag of the United States Navy (official).svg  United States Navy
Preceded by Shenandoah class
Succeeded by Yellowstone class
Planned4
Completed2
Cancelled2
Retired2
General characteristics
Type Destroyer tender
Displacement13,458 long tons (13,674 t)
Length645 ft (197 m)
Beam85 ft (26 m)
Draft22 ft 6 in (6.86 m)
PropulsionSteam turbines, 1 shaft
Speed20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph)
Complement1056 officers and enlisted
Armament

The Samuel Gompers-class destroyer tenders were a class of ships that served the United States Navy from 1967 to 1996. Their namesake was union leader Samuel Gompers.

Contents

History

The Samuel Gompers-class was the first class of destroyer tenders designed by the U.S. Navy, twenty years after the preceding Shenandoah-class. The ships were specifically designed to be able to service ships with nuclear propulsion or with gas turbines. The ships were also able to service the variety of guided missiles coming into service. They also had a helicopter platform aft, although only Puget Sound was later fitted with a hangar, when she served as flagship of the United States Sixth Fleet. [1] Both ships were originally armed with a World War II-vintage 5"/38 caliber gun turret forward. The construction of two additional ships (AD-39, AD-40) was cancelled in 1969 and 1974. [2]

Ships in class

Ship nameHull no.BuilderLaid downLaunchedCommissionedDecommissionedFateDANFSNVR Page
Samuel Gompers AD-37 Puget Sound Naval Shipyard 7 September 196414 May 19661 July 196727 October 1995Sunk as target, 22 July 2003
Puget Sound AD-3815 February 196516 September 196627 April 196827 January 1996Sold for scrap, 2008

References

  1. Stefan Terzibatschitsch: Seemacht USA, Volume 2, Bechtermünz Verlag, Augsburg (Germany), 1997, pp. 652-655. ISBN   3-86047-576-2
  2. Paul H. Silverstone: U.S. Warships since 1945. Ian Allan Ltd., London (UK), 1986, p. 145. ISBN   0-7110-1598-8