About this Unit
USS Chandler (DDG-996) was a Kidd-class guided-missile destroyer commissioned by the United States Navy in 1982. Originally ordered for the Imperial Iranian Navy, she was completed for the U.S. following the Iranian Revolution. The Chandler served primarily in the Pacific Fleet, taking part in numerous exercises and deployments, including Operation Desert Storm in 1991. After nearly two decades of service, she was decommissioned in 1999 and later transferred to the Republic of China (Taiwan), where she serves as ROCS Ma Kong (DDG-1805).
Historical Facts
• Namesake: USS Chandler (DDG-996) was named after Rear Admiral Theodore E. Chandler, a decorated US Navy officer who served with distinction during both World Wars and was killed in action in 1945.
• Kidd-class Destroyer: The Chandler was a Kidd-class guided missile destroyer, a class originally ordered by the Shah of Iran before the 1979 Iranian Revolution led to the ships being incorporated into the US Navy instead.
• Construction: Laid down on June 23, 1978, at Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, Mississippi, and commissioned on March 13, 1982.
• Unique Features: Kidd-class ships, including Chandler, were designed with heavy-duty air conditioning and NBC (nuclear, biological, chemical) filtration systems, making them ideal for operations in the Persian Gulf and other hot climates.
• Operation Earnest Will: Chandler participated in Operation Earnest Will (1987–1988), the US mission to escort Kuwaiti oil tankers during the Iran-Iraq War, protecting them from Iranian attacks in the Persian Gulf.
• Battle Efficiency Awards: Chandler earned multiple Battle Efficiency ("E") awards for excellence in combat readiness and overall performance.
• Gulf War Service: During Operation Desert Storm in 1991, Chandler provided air defense and escort duties, contributing to coalition naval operations in the Persian Gulf.
• Decommissioning: Chandler was decommissioned on September 23, 1999, marking the end of her US Navy service after 17 years of active duty.
• Transfer to Taiwan: After decommissioning, Chandler was transferred to Taiwan in 2004, where she serves as ROCS Ma Kong (DDG-1805) with the Republic of China Navy.
• Legacy: USS Chandler and her Kidd-class sisters were sometimes called the "Ayatollah class" by US sailors, reflecting their unique origin as ships initially destined for Iran.
