After World War 2 (1939-1945), the threat of the Soviet Navy to Western interested grew considerably as the service graduated from a limited, coastal-minded defense force to one that could project its power around the world - made possible in large part by a heavy investment in a surface and submarine fleet. This prompted the West, led by the United States, to match its potential enemy and the Charles F. Adams-class of guided-missile destroyers was born. These 3,300 ton warships, twenty-nine in all with 23 serving the USN and three apiece delivered to West Germany and Australia, were offshoots of the preceding Forrest Sherman-class vessels with their battlefield role rewritten to fulfill that of guided-missile destroyer - adding a focus on missile weaponry which became the "Tartar" Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM) system.
USS Conyngham (DDG-17) was counted as one of the class's number, the warship being laid down on May 1st, 1961, launched on May 18th, 1962, and commissioned into the USN on July 13th, 1963 (carrying the fighting motto of "Ready to Serve"). The vessel would serve the USN until October 30th, 1990, stripped of her usefulness and eventually sold off to be scrapped.
Named after the Irish-American American Revolutionary of the Continental Navy, Gustavus Conyngham (1747-1819), USS Conyngham followed the Adams-class design standard, displacing 3,300 tons under standard load, up to 4,525 tons under full load, and having a length of 437 feet with a beam of 47 feet, and a draught of 15 feet.
The last commissioned ships to be operated by steam power, the Adams-class was outfitted with 2 x General Electric steam turbines outputting 70,000 horsepower. These were fed by 4 x Combustion Engineering boiler units and drove power to 2 x Shafts under stern. Conyngham could make headway speeds in ideal conditions reaching 33 knots and range out to 4,500 nautical miles - giving her Blue Water capability.
Aboard was a complement of 354. The vessel was stocked with all manner of sensors, processing, and communication systems of the day including sonar, 3D air-search radar, surface-search radar, and fire control assistants. Armament including the Mk 13 single-armed missile launcher as well as 2 x 5" /24 caliber Mark 42 turreted deck guns. There was also 1 x RUR-5 Anti-Submarine ROCket (ASROC) launcher and w x Mark 32 triple torpedo tubes.
Conyngham's career took her throughout the world with patrols and goodwill stops across the Mediterranean, the Middle East, and the Caribbean. Notable actions included Libya (1982), Lebanon (1983), and Grenada (1983). In all, she would receive four Battle Efficiency (E) awards for her commitment in operations upholding American interests.
Note: The above text is EXCLUSIVE to the site www.MilitaryFactory.com. It is the product of many hours of research and work made possible with the help of contributors, veterans, insiders, and topic specialists. If you happen upon this text anywhere else on the internet or in print, please let us know at MilitaryFactory AT gmail DOT com so that we may take appropriate action against the offender / offending site and continue to protect this original work.
USS Charles F. Adams (DDG-2); USS John King (DDG-3); USS Lawrence (DDG-4); USS Claude V Ricketts (DDG-5); USS Barney (DDG-6); USS Henry B. Wilson (DDG-7); USS Lynde McCormick (DDG-8); USS Towers (DDG-9); USS Sampson (DDG-10); USS Sellers (DDG-11); USS Robison (DDG-12); USS Hoel (DDG-13); USS Buchanan (DDG-14); USS Berkeley (DDG-15); USS Joseph Strauss (DDG-16); USS Conyngham (DDG-17); USS Semmes (DDG-18); USS Tattnall (DDG-19); USS Goldsborough (DDG-20); USS Cochrane (DDG-21); USS Benjamin Stoddert (DDG-22); USS Richard E. Byrd (DDG-23); USS Waddell (DDG-24) Ships-in-Class
Offshore Bombardment
Offshore bombardment / attack of surface targets / areas primarily through onboard ballistic weaponry.
Land-Attack
Offshore strike of surface targets primarily through onboard missile / rocket weaponry.
Maritime Patrol
Active patroling of vital waterways and maritime areas; can also serve as local deterrence against airborne and seaborne threats.
Airspace Denial / Deterrence
Neutralization or deterrence of airborne elements through onboard ballistic of missile weaponry.
Fleet Support
Serving in support (either firepower or material) of the main surface fleet in Blue Water environments.
437.0 feet (133.20 meters) Length
47.0 feet (14.33 meters) Beam
15.0 feet (4.57 meters) Draught
3,275 tons Displacement
4 x Babcock & Wilcox boiler units feeding 2 x General Electric steam turbines developing 70,000 horsepower to 2 x Shafts astern. Propulsion
The "Military Factory" name and MilitaryFactory.com logo are registered ® U.S. trademarks protected by all applicable domestic and international intellectual property laws. All written content, illustrations, and photography are unique to this website (unless where indicated) and not for reuse/reproduction in any form. Material presented throughout this website is for historical and entertainment value only and should not to be construed as usable for hardware restoration, maintenance, or general operation. We do not sell any of the items showcased on this site. Please direct all other inquiries to militaryfactory AT gmail.com. No A.I. was used in the generation of this content; site is 100% curated by humans.
