DDG10

• Name & Class: USS Sampson (DDG-10) was a Charles F. Adams-class guided missile destroyer in the United States Navy. • Namesake: The ship was named after Rear Admiral William T. Sampson, who distinguished himself during the Spanish-American War. • Construction & Commissioning: USS Sampson was built by Bath Iron Works in Maine, launched on 14 April 1961, and commissioned on 24 June 1961. • Missile Prowess: As a Charles F. Adams-class ship, she was among the first designed specifically to operate guided missiles, notably the Tartar surface-to-air missile system. • Cuban Missile Crisis: Sampson played an active role in the Cuban Missile Crisis quarantine in October 1962, patrolling the Atlantic to enforce the naval blockade. • Vietnam War Service: During the Vietnam War, Sampson provided naval gunfire support and served as a plane guard for aircraft carriers in the Gulf of Tonkin. • Space Program Support: She participated as a recovery ship for the Gemini 6 and Gemini 7 space missions in December 1965, demonstrating the Navy's dual military and space support roles. • Collision Incident: In 1972, Sampson collided with the Soviet submarine K-108 in the Mediterranean Sea, an incident highlighting Cold War tensions at sea. • Awards: Over her career, the USS Sampson earned multiple commendations, including campaign medals and the Navy Unit Commendation for outstanding performance. • Decommissioning & Fate: Sampson was decommissioned on 24 June 1991 and later sold for scrap, ending three decades of distinguished service with the US Navy.