STATUS:
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Awarded:
January 27, 1956
Laid
down: April 16, 1958
(as DLG 8)
Launched: July 9, 1959 (as DLG 8)
Commissioned: November 4, 1961
redesignated to
DDG 39: June 30, 1975
Decommissioned:
October 23,
1992
Fate:
Stricken
November 30, 1992
sold for scrap:
December 16, 1994
as of 2004
scrapping is in progress by Metro Machine, Philadelphia
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Thomas MacDonough (December 21, 1783 -
November 10, 1825) was an early 19th century American naval officer, most
notably as commander of American naval forces in Lake Champlain during the
War of 1812. One of the leading members of "Preble's Boys", a small
group of naval officers who served during the First Barbary War, MacDonough
actions during the decisive Battle of Lake Champlain are often cited as a
model of tactical preparation and execution.
Born in New Castle County, Delaware (otherwise known as The Trap; present day
Macdonough, Delaware) to prominent physician and judge Major Thomas
MacDonough Sr., MacDonough was working as a clerk in Middletown when his
brother James returned home in late 1799 or early 1800 after losing his leg
in a naval engagement with France during the Quasi-War with France. Enlisting
in the United States Navy on February 5, MacDonough served as a midshipman
aboard a 24-gun corvette in the West Indies taking part in the capture of
three French ships between May and September. With the cessation of
hostilities between the United States and France the next year, MacDonough
was assigned to the 38-gun USS Constellation as the navy began its post-war
reduction.
While serving onboard the USS Constellation, MacDonough participated with
distinction in early naval operations against Tripoli during the First
Barbary War, MacDonough was transferred to the 38 gun USS Philadelphia in
1803 shortly before its capture by the Tripolitans. Reassigned on October 31
to the 12-gun sloop the USS Enterprise under the command of Lieutenant
Stephen Decatur , MacDonough avenged the capture of the USS Philadelphia
burning the captured warship after volunteering to take part in Decatur's
successful raid upon the harbor of Tripoli on February 6, 1804.
Winning promotion to the rank of Lieutenant for his participation in the
raid, MacDonough served aboard the 16-gun schooner USS Syren before assisting
Isaac Hull overseeing the construction of gunboats in Middletown, Connecticut
before earning a permanent Lieutenant's commission in January 1806. Given the
command of the 18-gun USS Wasp, MacDonough served in Great Britain and the
Mediterranean before enforcing the Atlantic blockade from 1807 and 1808.
After a two year leave of absence as captain of a British merchantman en
route to India from 1810 to 1812, MacDonough returned to active duty shortly
before the outbreak of the War of 1812 onboard the USS Constellation, then
being outfitted in Washington, DC. After requesting a transfer to a more
active front, MacDonough was assigned to gunboats defending Portland, Maine
before being reassigned to Burlington, Vermont as commander of naval forces
in Lake Chaplain in October. Promoted to master commandant on July 24, 1813,
MacDonough prepared his fleet of three sloops and two gunboats (which then
included the USS Eagle) despite a lack of supplies, particularly on guns and
stores, and inexperienced sailors. With the loss of one of his sloops in
August, British forces gained naval superiority in Lake Chaplain as
MacDonough struggle to rebuild his fleet. With the construction of three
sloops and four gunboats, MacDonough was able to drive the Royal Navy into
Canadian waters by autumn.
The following year, the British launched a major offensive to control Lake
Chaplain as General Sir George Prevost invaded New York. Refusing to advance
beyond Plattsburgh without adequate naval support, a squadron under Commodore
Robert Downie sailed south to engage MacDonough's fleet. Anticipating British
strategy, MacDonough anchored his fleet off Plattsburgh and prepared for
battle while awaiting Downie's arrival. As Downie's forces attacked on
September 14, they were met with early success mostly due to the firepower of
the 37-gun flagship HMS Confidence. However the British squadron suffered
heavy damage in the close range fighting and, through the use of cables,
MacDonough was able to swing around the undamaged side of his flagship, the
26-gun USS Saratoga, gaining firepower superiority over Downie's fleet. As
Downie attempted the same maneuver, MacDonough opened fire severely damaging
the HMS Confidence and, with the British flagship out of action, Downie was
forced to retreat as the remaining major warships of the squadron were either
sunk or captured. In denying control of the lake to the British, Macdonough’s
victory forced the invading army to retire to Canada, and left no grounds for
British territorial claims in the area at the Ghent peace conference.
Forcing the retreat of Prevost into Canada, MacDonough was awarded by
Congress for his efforts and promoted to Captain. After relieving Isaac Hull
of command on July 1, 1815, MacDonough served as commander of the Portsmouth
Navy Yard for three years until his assignment to the Mediterranean Squadron
as commander of the 44-gun USS Guerriere in April 1818, despite his suffering
from tuberculosis. Returning later that year, MacDonough was given command of
the 74-gun USS Ohio (then under construction in New York) serving as captain
from 1818 to 1823. After several requests for sea duty, MacDonough was placed
in command of the 44-gun USS Constitution in 1824, however, after returning
to the Mediterranean, MacDonough relieved himself of command on October 14,
1825 due to increasingly poor health. Returning to New York, MacDonough
departed in the USS Edwin, and died at sea near Gibraltar on November 10,
1825 and was later buried in Middletown, Connecticut.
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The fourth Macdonough was projected as DL-8,
but redesignated DLG-8 prior to keel laying by the Fore River Shipyard,
Bethlehem Steel Co., Quincy, Mass., 16 April 1958; launched 9 July 1959,
sponsored by Mrs. Agnes Macdonough Wilson, great-gr anddaughter of Commodore
Thomas Macdonough; and commissioned 4 November 1961, Comdr. Wm. G. Hurley in
command.
The guided-missile frigate Macdonough, having undergone an extended shakedown
and training period, reported to her home port at Charleston, S.C., 23
September 1962 and assumed duties as flagship for Commander,
Cruiser-Destroyer Flotilla 6, Atlantic Fleet. A month later she joined other
units of the 2d Fleet in enforcing the Cuban quarantine, remaining with that
force until it was dissolved on Thanksgiving Day. 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 6th
Fleet deployment 4 June.
The frigate cruised the Mediterranean until the following fall, taking part
in scheduled fleet exercises and training operations. Upon her return to the
East Coast, 26 October, she resumed operations in the Charleston area. With
the new year, 1964, Macdon ough steamed south to Puerto Rico for training
exercises with the 2d Fleet. During these exercises; she participated in an
Atlantic Fleet live-firing antiair 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.
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 1966,
when she proce eded to the Atlantic Fleet Missile Range and then to
Guantanamo 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.
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. 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 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 mighty 2d 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. In July 1975, her
designation became DDG-39.
-- more DDG-39 history wanted --
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