Samuel Gompers-class destroyer tender

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

USS Samuel Gompers
USS Samuel Gompers
Class overview
Operators United States Navy
Preceded byShenandoah class
Succeeded byYellowstone class
Planned4
Completed2
Cancelled2
Retired2
General characteristics
TypeDestroyer 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

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 name Hull no. Builder Laid down Launched Commissioned Decommissioned Fate DANFS NVR Page
Samuel Gompers AD-37 Puget Sound Naval Shipyard 7 September 1964 14 May 1966 1 July 1967 27 October 1995 Sunk as target, 22 July 2003
Puget Sound AD-38 15 February 1965 16 September 1966 27 April 1968 27 January 1996 Sold 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
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