U.S. Navy Destroyers
Charles F. Adams-Class Guided-Missile Destroyers
America's first purpose-built guided-missile destroyers. Twenty-three ships constructed between 1958 and 1964, based on the Forrest Sherman hull but redesigned from the keel up to carry the Tartar surface-to-air missile. The last steam-powered destroyers built for the U.S. Navy - every class that followed runs on gas turbines. Six more were built for Australia and West Germany, making 29 total. They served through the Cuban Missile Crisis, Vietnam, and the Cold War's final chapter, escorting carrier battle groups and providing air defense across every ocean. The Navy tried to save the lead ship as a museum in Jacksonville, but she was scrapped in 2021. Replaced by the Arleigh Burke class starting in 1993.
DDG-2 to DDG-24
1960–1993
DDG-2 USS Charles F. Adams
Charles F. Adams
Class
Lead ship of the class and the Navy's first purpose-built guided-missile destroyer. Named for Charles Francis Adams III, Secretary of the Navy 1929–1933. Originally designated DD-952 before the design diverged from the Forrest Shermans. Participated in the Mercury 8 recovery and the Cuban Missile Crisis blockade in 1962. Attempted museum preservation in Jacksonville failed. Scrapped 2021.
DDG-3 USS John King
Charles F. Adams
Class
Named for Admiral John King, who served as CINCLANT during the critical early months of WWII. Deployed to the Mediterranean and participated in NATO exercises throughout the Cold War. Decommissioned 1990.
DDG-4 USS Lawrence
Charles F. Adams
Class
Named for Captain James Lawrence, whose dying command 'Don't give up the ship!' became the Navy's most famous motto. Killed commanding USS Chesapeake against HMS Shannon in 1813. Deployed to Vietnam and the Mediterranean. Decommissioned 1990.
DDG-5 USS Claude V. Ricketts
Charles F. Adams
Class
Originally commissioned as USS Biddle, renamed in 1964 for VADM Claude Ricketts, who was aboard USS West Virginia at Pearl Harbor and later became Vice CNO. Deployed to the Mediterranean and participated in multiple NATO exercises. Decommissioned 1989.
DDG-6 USS Barney
Charles F. Adams
Class
Named for Commodore Joshua Barney, Revolutionary War naval hero who also fought the British at Bladensburg during the War of 1812. Deployed to the Mediterranean and Atlantic. Decommissioned 1990.
DDG-7 USS Henry B. Wilson
Charles F. Adams
Class
Named for Admiral Henry Wilson, who commanded U.S. naval forces in France during WWI. Deployed to the Western Pacific and Vietnam. Provided naval gunfire support off the coast of Vietnam. Decommissioned 1990.
DDG-8 USS Lynde McCormick
Charles F. Adams
Class
Named for VADM Lynde McCormick, who commanded the first NATO naval force, SACLANT. A pioneer of joint allied naval operations during the early Cold War. Deployed to the Western Pacific. Decommissioned 1991.
DDG-9 USS Towers
Charles F. Adams
Class
Named for Admiral John Towers, Naval Aviator No. 3 and the father of naval aviation who fought to establish carrier aviation as the Navy's striking arm. Deployed to Vietnam and the Western Pacific. Decommissioned 1990.
DDG-10 USS Sampson
Charles F. Adams
Class
Named for RADM William Sampson, who commanded the North Atlantic Squadron during the Spanish-American War and the destruction of the Spanish fleet at Santiago de Cuba. Deployed to the Mediterranean and Atlantic. Decommissioned 1991.
DDG-11 USS Sellers
Charles F. Adams
Class
Named for RADM David Sellers, who served as commander of the Battle Force during the interwar period and played a key role in fleet development. Deployed to Vietnam and the Western Pacific. Decommissioned 1989.
DDG-12 USS Robison
Charles F. Adams
Class
Named for Admiral Samuel Robison, who commanded the Battle Fleet in the 1920s and helped shape the Navy's interwar strategy. Deployed to the Western Pacific and Vietnam. Provided fire support operations. Decommissioned 1990.
DDG-13 USS Hoel
Charles F. Adams
Class
Named for Captain William Hoel, killed commanding USS Hoel (DD-533) at the Battle off Samar - the destroyer that charged the Japanese center force in the most lopsided naval engagement of the war. Deployed to Vietnam. Decommissioned 1990.
DDG-14 USS Buchanan
Charles F. Adams
Class
Named for Admiral Franklin Buchanan, first superintendent of the Naval Academy and commander of CSS Virginia during the Battle of Hampton Roads. Deployed to the Western Pacific and Vietnam. Transferred to Greece 1992.
DDG-15 USS Berkeley
Charles F. Adams
Class
Named for RADM Randolph Berkeley, USMC, who distinguished himself in the Philippines and China during the Boxer Rebellion. First ship with the Mk-13 single-arm launcher. Deployed to Vietnam and the Western Pacific. Decommissioned 1992.
DDG-16 USS Joseph Strauss
Charles F. Adams
Class
Named for RADM Joseph Strauss, the Navy's mine warfare pioneer who commanded the mine barrage across the North Sea in WWI - 56,000 mines that helped bottle up the German U-boat fleet. Deployed to the Western Pacific. Decommissioned 1990.
DDG-17 USS Conyngham
Charles F. Adams
Class
Named for Captain Gustavus Conyngham, Revolutionary War privateer who terrorized British shipping and was called 'the Dunkirk pirate' by the Royal Navy. Deployed to the Mediterranean and participated in Lebanon operations. Decommissioned 1990.
DDG-18 USS Semmes
Charles F. Adams
Class
Named for Admiral Raphael Semmes, commanding officer of the legendary Confederate raider CSS Alabama, which captured or sank 65 Union merchant ships before being sunk by USS Kearsarge off Cherbourg. Deployed to the Mediterranean. Decommissioned 1991.
DDG-19 USS Tattnall
Charles F. Adams
Class
Named for Commodore Josiah Tattnall, who commanded CSS Virginia after the Battle of Hampton Roads. One of only three ships to receive the full New Threat Upgrade. Deployed to the Mediterranean and Indian Ocean. Transferred to Greece 1992.
DDG-20 USS Goldsborough
Charles F. Adams
Class
Named for RADM Louis Goldsborough, who commanded the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron during the Civil War. One of three ships with full NTU upgrade. Last Charles F. Adams-class destroyer decommissioned - April 29, 1993. Transferred to Greece 1992.
DDG-21 USS Cochrane
Charles F. Adams
Class
Named for Admiral Edward Cochrane, who served as Chief of the Bureau of Ships during WWII and oversaw the massive wartime shipbuilding program. Deployed to the Western Pacific. Decommissioned 1990.
DDG-22 USS Benjamin Stoddert
Charles F. Adams
Class
Named for Benjamin Stoddert, the first Secretary of the Navy, who established the Department of the Navy in 1798 and built the original six frigates. One of three ships with full NTU upgrade. Deployed to the Western Pacific and Indian Ocean. Decommissioned 1992.
DDG-23 USS Richard E. Byrd
Charles F. Adams
Class
Named for RADM Richard E. Byrd, polar explorer who was the first to fly over both the North and South Poles. His Antarctic expeditions expanded American territorial claims and scientific knowledge. Deployed to the Western Pacific and Indian Ocean. Decommissioned 1990.
DDG-24 USS Waddell
Charles F. Adams
Class
Named for Captain James Waddell, who commanded CSS Shenandoah on a globe-spanning raiding cruise that continued months after the Civil War ended - the last Confederate command to surrender. Last hull number in the class. Deployed to Vietnam. Decommissioned 1992.
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23
USN Ships Built
29
Total Including Exports
1st
Purpose-Built DDG Class