USS Mahan (DDG-42)

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

History

During the first year and a half of her commissioned service, "Mahan’s" primary assignment was the testing and evaluation of her weapons systems, ASROC and Terrier missiles. A unit of the Pacific Fleet’s Cruiser Destroyer Force, she operated out of San Diego, participating in local and fleet exercises off the west coast and in Hawaiian waters. Leaving San Diego 6 June 1962, she commenced her first western Pacific deployment. For the next 6 months she cruised with other units of the 7th Fleet, taking part in antisubmarine, antiaircraft, and amphibious exercises as well as making good will calls on ports in the Far East. Included in these latter visits was a stop at Saigon 24 to 28 October for the Republic of Vietnam’s Independence anniversary celebrations.

1963 brought "Mahan’s" entrance into the standard schedule of the Pacific Fleet, beginning with a shipyard overhaul at Long Beach Naval Shipyard. Following her yard period, she conducted training exercises off the west coast. She then departed San Diego 6 August 1963 for deployment in the western Pacific. In addition to assignments in Japanese and Philippine waters, she spent, on this tour, a total of 4 weeks cruising off South Vietnam before returning to California 10 March 1964.

Remaining on the west coast until late 1965, the guided-missile frigate underwent a 5 1/2 month overhaul, 1 May, 1965 to 20 October, 1965, followed by test and training exercises and a demonstration of her antisubmarine warfare capabilities before members of the United States-Canadian Military Cooperation Committee 9 December 1965. During the summer of 1965, she embarked midshipmen from the Naval Academy and various NROTC units for summer training. Departing San Diego 19 October, she sailed to Pearl Harbor for antisubmarine training operations and then continued on to the western Pacific, arriving at Subic Bay 22 November 1965. "Mahan" operated with the 7th Fleet, spending alternate monthly periods on patrol off Vietnam, until returning to California in April 1966.

Upon arrival at San Diego 28 April, "Mahan" continued her previous west coast activities, local and fleet training operations, missile firing exercises at the Pacific Missile Range, and, as during the summer of 1965, the training of midshipmen during June and July. August brought the installation of a helicopter flight deck.

The period 1 December 1966 through 4 June 1967 again saw "Mahan" in the western Pacific where, as before, she operated off Vietnam, patrolling and providing gunfire support in the fight to prevent the aggressive spread of communism. Arriving back at San Diego 17 June, "Mahan" sailed on 31 July to represent the Navy at Seattle’s annual Sea Fair. Following further coastal operations, she entered Long Beach Naval Shipyard 1 November for overhaul. This was completed late in April 1968 and "Mahan" remained off the west coast until departing for the western Pacific in August. She remained as a part of the 7th Fleet into 1969.

"Mahan" (DDG 42) received New Threat Upgrade (NTU) modernization in 1982 as a test package. The upgrade was considered for the other ships in the class, but was cancelled since modernization would not have been cost effective given the limited service lives remaining.

References

*DANFS|http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/m2/mahan-iii.htm

External links

* [http://www.nvr.navy.mil/nvrships/details/DDG42.htm NVR DDG-42]
* [http://www.hullnumber.com/DDG-42 DDG-42 Personnel Roster at HullNumber.com]