USS Macdonough (DDG-39)

Last updated

USS MacDonough (DDG-39) underway in the Atlantic Ocean on 12 August 1988 (6442967).jpg
USS MacDonough (DDG-39)
History
Flag of the United States.svgUnited States
NameMacDonough
Namesake Thomas MacDonough
Builder Fore River Shipyard, Bethlehem Steel Corporation
Laid down15 April 1958
Launched9 July 1959
Commissioned4 November 1961
Decommissioned23 October 1992
Stricken30 November 1992
FateSold for scrapping
General characteristics
Class and type Farragut-class destroyer
Displacement5,800 tons
Length512.5 ft (156.2 m)
Beam52 ft (16 m)
Draft25 ft (7.6 m)
Propulsion
  • 4 x 1200psi boilers
  • 2 x geared turbines
Speed33 knots (61 km/h; 38 mph)
Complement377 (21 officers + 356 enlisted)
Armament

USS Macdonough (DLG-8/DDG-39) was a Farragut-class guided missile destroyer in the United States Navy. She was named for Commodore Thomas Macdonough, the 4th ship of the United States Navy to be named for him.

Contents

Construction and career

The fourth Macdonough was projected as DL-8, but redesignated DLG-8 prior to keel laying by the Fore River Shipyard owned by Bethlehem Steel Co. in Quincy, Massachusetts, on 16 April 1958. The ship was launched on 9 July 1959, sponsored by Mrs. Agnes Macdonough Wilson, great-granddaughter of Commodore Thomas Macdonough; and commissioned on 4 November 1961. She was initially rated as a guided missile frigate.

Having undergone an extended shakedown and training period, she reported to her home port at Charleston, South Carolina, 23 September 1962 and assumed duties as flagship for Commander, Cruiser-Destroyer Flotilla 6, U.S. Atlantic Fleet. A month later she joined other units of the U.S. 2nd Fleet in enforcing the Cuban quarantine during the Cuban Missile Crisis, become part of Task Group 136.1 under Rear Admiral John Ailes, Commander, CruDesFlot 6. [1] She remained with that force until it was dissolved on Thanksgiving Day, 22 November. The first 3 months of 1963 were spent firing missiles off the coast of Florida under the auspices of the Operational Test and Evaluation Force. She returned to Charleston in March and operated in the Charleston-Norfolk area until departing on her first U.S. 6th Fleet deployment 4 June.

The guided missile destroyer cruised the Mediterranean Sea until the following fall, taking part in scheduled fleet exercises and training operations. Upon her return to the East Coast of the United States, 26 October, she resumed operations in the Charleston area. With the new year, 1964, Macdonough steamed south to Puerto Rico for training exercises with the 2nd Fleet. During these exercises; she participated in an Atlantic Fleet live-firing anti-air warfare exercise, which included missile firing at drone aircraft. The ship returned to Charleston for 2 weeks in February, and then put out to sea again for carrier exercises off the East Coast followed by helicopter evaluation tests in the Atlantic. [2]

Macdonough's second Mediterranean deployment, 10 July to 22 December 1964, was followed by a 6-month overhaul at the Charleston Naval Shipyard. Coastal operations out of home port occupied the frigate until mid-September 1965, when she proceeded to the Atlantic Fleet Missile Range and then to Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, for training exercises. Having returned to her Charleston home port in early November, Macdonough prepared for another Mediterranean deployment, departing Charleston at the end of the month. Macdonough served as flagship for the recovery effort of the Palomares Incident during the third Mediterranean deployment. [3]

On 8 April 1966, Macdonough returned to South Carolina and once again resumed operations and fleet and squadron exercises along the southern east coast and in the Caribbean Sea. During the summer a midshipman training cruise took the frigate to several east coast ports and to the Caribbean. After participating in "LANTFLEX 66," and AAW/ASW/amphibious exercise, she returned to Charleston on 16 December.

After conducting further exercises off the east coast, Macdonough prepared once again for overseas movement; and, on 2 May 1967, she departed Charleston for her fourth Mediterranean cruise. She conducted summer midshipmen training, visited various Mediterranean ports and participate in several joint exercises with ships of allied navies, returning to South Carolina 28 October.

Macdonough continued operating with the 2nd Fleet until May 1968 when she again deployed to the Mediterranean, returning to her home port in September. She remained off the east coast into 1969.

Decommissioning

Commissioned as a guided missile frigate (DLG), the USS MacDONOUGH was reclassified as guided missile destroyer (DDG) on June 30, 1975, changing its hullnumber from DLG 8 to DDG 39. [4]

The ship was decommissioned on October 23, 1992, and stricken from the Navy list on November 20, 1992. On December 16, 1994, the MacDONOUGH was finally sold for scrapping. [5]

Notes

  1. ↑ Crazy Ivan, 169
  2. ↑ "Mittelmeer Kreuzfahrt".
  3. ↑ Melson, June 1967, p.31
  4. ↑ "USS MacDonough (DDG 39)" . Retrieved 20 August 2023.
  5. ↑ "Macdonough IV (DLG‑8)". Naval History and Heritage Command. Retrieved 20 August 2023.

Related Research Articles

USS <i>Gyatt</i> Gearing-class destroyer

USS Gyatt (DD-712/DDG-1/DDG-712) was a Gearing-class destroyer in service with the United States Navy. The ship was named for Edward Earl Gyatt, a United States Marine Corps private and Marine Raider who was killed during the Battle of Guadalcanal. Laid down in 1944, the destroyer was commissioned in 1945 and missed combat during the Second World War. In 1955, she was converted into the world's first guided missile destroyer (DDG), and operated as a testbed for the Terrier guided surface-to-air missile. During the 1960s, she continued to test new radars and other systems before she was decommissioned and sunk as a target in 1970.

USS <i>Dale</i> (DLG-19) United States Navy guided-missile cruiser

USS Dale (DLG-19/CG-19) was a Leahy-class cruiser in service with the United States Navy from 1963 to 1994. She was sunk as a target in 2000 off the East Coast of the United States near Maryland.

USS <i>John King</i> Charles F. Adams-class destroyer

USS John King (DD-953/DDG-3) was a Charles F. Adams-class guided missile armed destroyer in the United States Navy named for Medal of Honor recipient John King.

USS <i>Lawrence</i> (DDG-4) Charles F. Adams-class destroyer

USS Lawrence (DD-954/DDG-4) was a Charles F. Adams class guided-missile destroyer in the United States Navy. It was the fifth ship named after Captain James Lawrence USN (1781–1813). The USS Lawrence served on blockade duty during the Cuban Missile Crisis in October 1962 and, in 1972, was part of Operation Linebacker in the west Pacific.

USS <i>Sampson</i> (DDG-10) Charles F. Adams-class destroyer

USS Sampson (DDG-10), named for Admiral William T. Sampson USN (1840–1902), was a Charles F. Adams-class guided missile destroyer in the United States Navy.

USS <i>Tattnall</i> (DDG-19) Charles F. Adams-class destroyer

USS Tattnall (DDG-19) was a Charles F. Adams-class guided missile-armed destroyer of the United States Navy. She was named for Commodore Josiah Tattnall III USN (1794–1871) – also commandant of the CSS Virginia, and an admiral in the Confederate States Navy – who made the adage "blood is thicker than water" a part of American history.

USS <i>Semmes</i> (DDG-18) Charles F. Adams-class destroyer

USS Semmes (DDG-18), was the second Navy ship named for Commander (USN), Rear Admiral (CSN), Brigadier General (CSA) Raphael Semmes (1809–1877). Semmes was a Charles F. Adams-class guided-missile destroyer of the United States Navy. Entering service in 1962, Semmes spent most of her career in the Atlantic and Mediterranean theaters. Decommissioned in 1991, Semmes was transferred to the Hellenic Navy and renamed Kimon. The destroyer was decommissioned for the final time in 2004 and sold for scrap in 2006.

USS <i>Mitscher</i> (DL-2)

USS Mitscher (DL-2/DDG-35), named for Admiral Marc "Pete" Mitscher USN (1887–1947), was the lead ship of her class of destroyer leaders of the United States Navy. Commissioned in 1953, she was later converted to a guided missile destroyer, and served until 1978. She was sold for scrap in 1980.

USS <i>Luce</i> (DDG-38) American Destroyer

The third USS Luce (DLG-7/DDG-38) was Farragut-class guided missile destroyer of the United States Navy that served from 1962 until discarded in 1992. The ship was named for Rear Admiral Stephen B. Luce (1827–1917). Luce was sold for scrapping in 2005.

USS <i>Leahy</i> (DLG-16) Leahy class Guided missile cruiser

USS Leahy (DLG/CG-16) was the lead ship of a new class of destroyer leaders in the United States Navy. Named for Fleet Admiral William D. Leahy, she was commissioned on 4 August 1962 as DLG-16, a guided missile frigate, and reclassified as CG-16, a guided missile cruiser, on 30 June 1975.

A destroyer squadron is a naval squadron or flotilla usually consisting of destroyers rather than other types of vessel. In some navies other vessels, such as frigates, may be included. In English the word "squadron" tends to be used for larger and "flotilla" for smaller vessels; both may be used for destroyer units. Similar formations are used in non-English-speaking countries, e.g., the "escadrille"—which would translate directly as "squadron"—in France.

USS <i>King</i> (DDG-41)

USS King (DL-10/DLG-10/DDG-41) was a Farragut-class guided missile destroyer in the United States Navy. She was named for Fleet Admiral Ernest Joseph King (1878–1956),

USS <i>Coontz</i> US Navy destroyer

USS Coontz (DLG-9/DDG-40) was a Farragut-class destroyer leader/frigate in the United States Navy. She was named after Admiral Robert Coontz, the US Navy's second chief of naval operations.

USS <i>Talbot</i> (FFG-4)

The USS Talbot (FFG-4) was the fourth Brooke-class frigate guided missile frigate and laid down on 4 May 1964 at Bath, Maine, by the Bath Iron Works Corp.; launched on 6 January 1966; sponsored by Miss Frances K. Talbot; and commissioned on 22 April 1967. The ship was named for U.S. Navy Captain Silas Talbot.

USS <i>William V. Pratt</i>

USS William V. Pratt (DLG-13/DDG-44) was a Farragut-class destroyer in the service of the United States Navy. She was commissioned in 1961 as DLG-13 and reclassified as a guided missile destroyer, designation DDG-44, in 1975. She was named to honor Admiral William Veazie Pratt, a President of the Naval War College and a Chief of Naval Operations.

USS <i>Blakely</i> (FF-1072)

The third USS Blakely (DE-1072/FF-1072) was a Knox-class destroyer escort in the United States Navy. She was reclassified as a frigate in 1975 along with her entire class. Her primary mission of ASW remained unchanged. She was named for Captain Johnston Blakeley and Vice Admiral Charles Adams Blakely. She was primarily stationed out of Charleston, South Carolina.

USS <i>Johnston</i> (DD-821) Gearing-class destroyer

USS Johnston (DD-821) was a Gearing-class destroyer of the United States Navy, the second Navy ship named for Lieutenant John V. Johnston, who served in the Navy during the American Civil War.

USS <i>Wainwright</i> (CG-28) Belknap-class destroyer leader

USS Wainwright (DLG/CG-28), a Belknap-class destroyer leader, was the third ship of the United States Navy to be named for members of the Wainwright family; specifically, Commander Jonathan Mayhew Wainwright, his son, Master Jonathan Mayhew Wainwright, Jr., and his cousin, Commander Richard Wainwright, as well as Rear Admiral Richard Wainwright, the son of Commander Richard Wainwright, and Commander Richard Wainwright, the son of Admiral Wainwright. Her keel was laid down on 2 July 1962 at Bath, Maine, by the Bath Iron Works Corporation. She was launched on 25 April 1965 sponsored by Mrs. Richard W. Wainwright; and commissioned on 8 January 1966 at the Boston Naval Shipyard.

USS <i>William H. Standley</i>

USS William H. Standley (DLG/CG-32) was a Belknap-class destroyer leader / cruiser. She was named for Admiral William Harrison Standley, former Chief of Naval Operations and ambassador to the Soviet Union. She was launched as DLG-32, a frigate, and reclassified Cruiser on 30 June 1975.

USS <i>Mahan</i> (DDG-42) United States Navy guided missile destoyer

USS Mahan (DLG-11/DDG-42), was a Farragut-class guided missile destroyer in the United States Navy. She was named for Rear Admiral Alfred Thayer Mahan USN (1840–1914). The ship was laid down as DLG-11 by the San Francisco Naval Shipyard on 31 July 1957 and launched on 7 October 1959. Mahan was sponsored by Mrs. H. P. Smith, wife of Vice Adm. Harold Page Smith, and commissioned on 25 December 1960. Mahan was reclassified as a guided missile destroyer on 30 June 1975 and designated DDG-42. USS Mahan was decommissioned on 15 June 1993 and stricken from the Naval Vessel Register on the same day.

References

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.