Uss Chandler DDG996

• 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.