USS Biddle (CG-34)

• Namesake: USS Biddle (CG-34) was named in honor of Captain Nicholas Biddle, a distinguished officer in the Continental Navy during the American Revolutionary War. • Class: She was a Belknap-class guided missile cruiser, one of the first US Navy ships designed to carry guided missiles as a primary armament. • Commissioning: USS Biddle was commissioned on January 21, 1967, at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard. • Vietnam War Service: Biddle saw extensive action during the Vietnam War, providing naval gunfire support and serving as a positive control ship for air operations. • Operation Pocket Money: In May 1972, she played a key role in the mining of North Vietnamese ports during Operation Pocket Money, helping enforce the naval blockade. • First Missile Engagement: In 1972, Biddle became the first US Navy ship to successfully engage and destroy enemy aircraft using surface-to-air missiles during combat operations off Vietnam. • Lebanon Deployment: In the 1980s, Biddle participated in peacekeeping operations off the coast of Lebanon, supporting US and allied forces during the Lebanese Civil War. • Cold War Operations: Throughout the Cold War, Biddle conducted numerous North Atlantic and Mediterranean deployments, often shadowing Soviet naval vessels and participating in NATO exercises. • Modernization: Biddle underwent major upgrades during her service life, including the installation of the New Threat Upgrade (NTU) system, enhancing her anti-air warfare capabilities. • Decommissioning: After nearly 27 years of service, USS Biddle was decommissioned on November 30, 1993, and later scrapped, marking the end of her storied career.