USS Buchanan (DDG-14)

• Namesake: USS Buchanan (DDG-14) was named after Admiral Franklin Buchanan, the first Superintendent of the U.S. Naval Academy and a prominent Confederate naval officer during the American Civil War. • Class: Buchanan was a Charles F. Adams-class guided missile destroyer, part of the first class of U.S. Navy ships designed from the keel up to launch guided missiles. • Commissioning: The ship was commissioned on 7 February 1962, at the Boston Naval Shipyard. • Vietnam War Service: Buchanan served extensively during the Vietnam War, participating in multiple combat operations, including naval gunfire support and carrier escort duties. • Rescue Operations: In 1967, Buchanan rescued the crew of a downed U.S. Navy aircraft off the coast of North Vietnam, showcasing the ship’s versatility and quick response abilities. • Collision Incident: In 1972, Buchanan collided with the Australian aircraft carrier HMAS Melbourne during joint exercises, resulting in minor damage but no casualties. • PACEX '89: Buchanan participated in PACEX '89, the largest naval exercise since World War II, demonstrating U.S. naval power in the Pacific during the Cold War’s final years. • Missile Capabilities: The ship was equipped with the RIM-24 Tartar surface-to-air missile system, advanced radar, and anti-submarine weapons, reflecting significant technological advancements of the era. • Decommissioning: USS Buchanan was decommissioned on 1 October 1991 after nearly 30 years of service and was later struck from the Naval Vessel Register. • Sinking Exercise: In June 2000, Buchanan was used as a target and sunk during RIMPAC naval exercises off the coast of Hawaii, ending her career with a final service to training and weapons testing.