USS King DDG 41 (DLG 10) / Fleet Admiral Ernest Joseph King / Farragut (Coontz) class Guided Missile Destroyer – US Navy
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Guided Missile Destroyer

DLG 10 / DDG 41   -   USS King

USS King (DDG 41)

US Navy photo

Type, Class:

 

Guided Missile Destroyer; Farragut (Coontz) - class;

planned as DL 10; built and commissioned as DLG 10; redesignated to DDG 41;

Builder:

 

Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, Washington, USA

STATUS:

 

Awarded: November 18, 1955;

Laid down: March 1, 1957 (as DLG 10);

Launched: December 6, 1958;

Commissioned: November 17, 1960 / redesignated to DDG 41: June 30, 1975;

Decommissioned: March 28, 1991;

 

Fate: Stricken November 20, 1992;

transferred to MARAD May 6, 1993 / sold for scrap April 15, 1994;

scrapped by J&L Metals, Wilmington, North Carolina in 1995;

Homeport:

 

-

Namesake:

 

Named after and in honor of Fleet Admiral Ernest Joseph King (1878 – 1956);

> see history, below;

Ship’s Motto:

 

> MANU TENERE MARE SUPREMUS <

Technical Data:

(Measures, Propulsion,

Armament, Aviation, etc.)

 

see: INFO > Guided Missile Destroyer / Farragut (Coontz) - class.

 

Pictures, photos & more ...

 

Ernest Joseph King

Naval Cadet King (1901)

Admiral King

Fleet Admiral King (1945)

Photo credits: US Navy, US Naval Historical Center,

 

Namesake & History:

Fleet Admiral Ernest Joseph King (November 23, 1878 – June 25, 1956);

 

Ernest Joseph King was born in Lorain. Ohio, on November 23, 1878, son of James C. and Mildred Keam King. He attended Lorain High School before his appointment in 1897 to the U. S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland, by the Honorable Winfield Scott Kerr of Mansfield, Ohio, Representative from the Fourteenth District of Ohio. In July and August 1898, during the Spanish American War, he served in the grade of Naval Cadet in the USS SAN FRANCISCO, flagship of the Northern Patrol Squadron. Graduated with distinction in the Class of 1901, he served the two years at sea then required by law before commissioning, and was commissioned Ensign to rank from June 7, 1903. With subsequent promotions he attained the rank of Rear Admiral to date from April 26, 1933. He served as Vice Admiral in 1938-39, was appointed Admiral in 1941, and Fleet Admiral to date from December 17, 1944.

 

After graduation from the Naval Academy in 1901, he served successively in the USS EAGLE, converted gunboat, engaged in the survey of Cienfuegos, Cuba; in the USS CINCINNATI, a protected cruiser employed in the Asiatic Fleet during the Russo-Japanese War; and in the USS ILLINOIS, flagship of the European Squadron. Rejoining the CINCINNATI in January 1903, he cruised in that vessel to Asiatic waters. He returned to the United States in August 1905 for duty in the USS ALABAMA, flagship of the Second Division Atlantic Fleet.

 

On duty at the Naval Academy from September 1906 until June 1909, he served for two years as instructor in the Department of Ordnance and Gunnery, and one year on the Executive Staff. He next served as Aide on the staff of Commander, Second Division, Atlantic Fleet (USS MINNESOTA, flagship), and in March 1910 was transferred to the USS NEW HAMPSHIRE, with duty as first assistant to the Senior Engineer Officer, and from August 1910 served as Senior Engineer Officer. From June 1911 until June 1912 he had duty as Aide and Flag Secretary on the staff of Commander in Chief, U. S. Atlantic Fleet (USS CONNECTICUT, flagship).

From June 1912 until April 1914 he had shore duty at the Engineering Experimental Station, Annapolis, Maryland. Upon detachment he reported to the destroyer TERRY for his first command, On July 18, 1914 he was transferred to command of the USS CASSIN, and on August 10 was assigned additional duty as Aide to Commander Torpedo Flotilla, Atlantic Fleet. From June until December 1915 he had command of the Sixth Division, Torpedo Flotilla, Atlantic Fleet, with his pennant in the CASSIN. He then served on the staff of the Second in Command, Atlantic Fleet (Admiral H. T. Mayo, USN).

 

During the World War I period, he continued staff duty as Aide and Squadron Engineer Officer in the flagship ARKANSAS, and later the USS WYOMING and USS PENNSYLVANIA, while Admiral Mayo served as Commander in Chief, U. S. Atlantic Fleet. He was awarded the Navy Cross "For distinguished service in the line of his profession as Assistant Chief of Staff for the Commander in Chief, U, S, Atlantic Fleet.

 

In the rank of Captain, Fleet Admiral King served as Head of the Postgraduate Department, U. S. Naval Academy, from May 1919 until July 1921, and the succeeding year commanded the USS BRIDGE. In July 1922 he reported for duty on the staff of Commander, Submarine Flotillas, Atlantic Fleet, and on November 20, 1922 assumed command of Submarine Division Eleven, with additional duty from April 1923 as Commander, Submarine Division Three. From September 1923 until July 1926 he had command of the Submarine Base, New London, Connecticut, and Submarines based at New London, and.' also served as Naval Inspector of Ordnance in Charge, Navy Mine Depot, New London. During that tour of duty he was in charge of the Salvage of the USS S-51 which was sunk off Block Island, September 25, 1925, He was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal "For exceptionally meritorious service in a duty of great responsibility as officer in charge of the salvaging of the USS S-51."

 

On July 28, 1926 he assumed command of the aircraft tender WRIGHT, with additional duty as, Senior Aide on the staff of Commander, Aircraft Squadrons, Scouting Fleet. Detached in January 1927, he reported to the Naval Air Station, Pensacola, Florida, for flight training, and was designated Naval Aviator #3368 on May 26, 1927, He rejoined the WRIGHT in June 1927 to serve as Commanding Officer until June 1928. When the USS S-4 was sunk off Provincetown, Massachusetts, in December 1927, he was assigned temporary duty in command of the Salvage Force that raised that submarine.

 

He was awarded a Gold Star in lieu of a second Distinguished Service Medal for "exceptionally meritorious service in a duty of great responsibility as Commanding Officer of the Salvage Force entrusted with the raising of the USS S-4 sunk as a result of a collision, off Provincetown, Massachusetts, 17 December 1927..." The citation continues; "Largely through his untiring energy, efficient administration and judicious decisions this most difficult task, under extremely adverse conditions, was brought to a prompt and successful conclusion."

 

After serving as Commander, Aircraft Squadrons, Scouting Fleet, from June 1 until August 2, 1928, he was named Assistant Chief of the Bureau of Aeronautics, Navy Department, Washington, D. C., and served in that capacity from August 1928 until April 1929, He commanded the Naval Air Station, Norfolk, Virginia, the next year, and in June 1930 assumed command of the USS LEXINGTON, which, he commanded for two years. He completed the senior course at the Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island, in April 1933, after which, with the rank of Rear Admiral, he served as Chief of the Bureau of Aeronautics, Navy Department, until June 1936.

 

During the period June 1936 until September 1937, he had duty as commander of Aircraft, Base Force, and for four months thereafter was Commander, Aircraft Scouting Force, with additional duty as Commander Patrol Wing ONE. In January 1936 he was designated Commander Aircraft, Battle Force, with the accompanying rank of Vice Admiral. In August 1939, in his permanent rank of Rear Admiral, he reported for duty as a member of the General Board of the Navy, and in December 1940 returned to sea as Commander Patrol Force, U. S. Fleet.

 

On February 1, 1941 he was designated Commander in Chief, Atlantic Fleet, to serve in the rank of Admiral. He was appointed Commander in Chief of the United States Fleet on December 20, 1941, and assumed command December 30, 1941. The duties of Commander in Chief, United States Fleet, and Chief of Naval Operations, were combined under Executive Order of March 12, 1942, and the next day he was nominated Chief of Naval Operations by President Roosevelt, and confirmed to that Office by the Senate for a term of four years from March 18, 1942.

 

On 17 December 1944 he was advanced to the newly created rank of Fleet Admiral.

 

In 1945, when the position of Commander in Chief, U. S. Fleet ceased to exist, as an office established by the President pursuant to Executive Order 99635, Admiral King became Chief of Naval Operations in October of that year. In December he was relieved by Fleet Admiral Nimitz. From that time he served in an Advisory Capacity in the office of the Secretary of the Navy, and as President of the Naval Historical Foundation. He died at the Naval Hospital, Portsmouth, New Hampshire on 25 June 1956.

 

Dates of rank:

 

Naval Cadet: 1897

Passed Midshipman: 1901

Ensign: June 7, 1903

Lieutenant Junior Grade: Not Held

Lieutenant: June 7, 1906

Lieutenant Commander: July 1, 1913

Commander: July 1, 1917

Captain: September 21, 1918

Commodore: Not Held

Rear Admiral: November 1, 1933

Vice Admiral: January 29, 1938

Admiral: February 1, 1941

Fleet Admiral: December 17, 1944

 

Awards and decorations:

 

Navy Cross
Distinguished Service Medal with two gold stars
Spanish Campaign Medal
Sampson Medal
Mexican Service Medal
Victory Medal, Atlantic Fleet Clasp
American Defense Service Medal, with bronze "A"
American Campaign Medal
World War II Victory Medal
National Defense Service Medal

 

USS King (DDG 41):

 

The second King (DLG-10) was laid down 1 March 1957 by Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, launched 6 December 1958 sponsored by Mrs. Oliver W. Vandenberg, daughter of Fleet Admiral King; and commissioned 17 November 1960, Comdr. Melvin E Bustard, in command.

 

After shakedown along the coast, and in Hawaiian waters, King continued training out of San Diego for the remainder of 1961. Following extensive preparations the guided-missile frigate sailed on her first WestPac cruise, 7 June 1962, strengt hening the mighty 7th Fleet with her Terrier missile arsenal. Operating with this mighty peacekeeping force, King helped to check Communist aggression in Southeast Asia.

 

Upon returning San Diego 31 December, she resumed tactical exercises off the West Coast until 1 August 1963 when she departed on her second WestPac cruise. Once again her operations with the 7th Fleet helped maintain stability in the Far East. King returned San Diego 10 March 1964 and conducted operations along the coast, for the rest of the year constantly perfecting her fighting skills and increasing the peacekeeping ability of the Navy.

 

King headed back for the Far East 5 April 1965 escorting Oriskany (CVA 34). She operated from the South China Sea during May screening carriers and participating in air-sea rescue work. She continued to serve off Vietnam until returning to S an Diego 2 November.

 

The guided missile frigate operated off the West Coast until heading back for the Western Pacific 26 May 1966. On this cruise she carried a helicopter for search and rescue missions to save American pilots during strikes against North Vietnam. She arrived Da Nang, South Vietnam, 27 June. During July she saved five downed aviators, including one who was rescued from deep within North Vietnam by the ship's daring helicopter crew. In August the ship was stationed in a positive identification and radar adviso ry zone (PIRAZ) in the Gulf of Tonkin to help protect American ships from enemy aircraft. Before she was relieved, she had checked over 15,000 aircraft. During this duty she also rescued seven pilots whose planes had gone down during strikes against enemy targets. She continued this duty, except for brief runs to Hong Kong and Subic Bay, until relieved by Long Beach (CGN-9) on 29 November.

 

King returned to San Diego 20 December and operated off the West Coast into 1967 preparing for future action.

 

Decommissioned 28 Mar 1991. Stricken 20 Nov 1992. Sold for scrap 15 Apr 1994.

 

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