USS Charles F. Adams (DDG2)

• First of Her Class: USS Charles F. Adams (DDG-2) was the lead ship of the Charles F. Adams-class guided missile destroyers, the first class of guided missile destroyers built for the U.S. Navy as such from the keel up. • Namesake: The ship was named after Charles Francis Adams, Secretary of the Navy from 1929 to 1933, and the grandson of President John Quincy Adams. • Commissioning Date: She was commissioned on September 10, 1960, at the Boston Naval Shipyard, marking a new era in naval air defense. • Cold War Frontline: USS Charles F. Adams served throughout the Cold War, playing a vital role in NATO operations and U.S. naval strategy against the Soviet Union. • Cuban Missile Crisis: The ship participated in the Cuban Missile Crisis naval blockade in October 1962, helping enforce the quarantine of Cuba. • Technological Pioneer: She was among the first ships equipped with the Tartar Guided Missile System, capable of launching surface-to-air missiles for fleet air defense. • Vietnam War Service: USS Charles F. Adams conducted operations in the Vietnam War, including plane guard duties for aircraft carriers and naval gunfire support missions. • Decommissioning: The ship was decommissioned on August 1, 1990, after nearly 30 years of service. • Museum Ship Effort: Considerable efforts have been made to preserve USS Charles F. Adams as a museum ship in Jacksonville, Florida, though as of 2024, the initiative remains ongoing. • Legacy: The Charles F. Adams-class influenced future U.S. Navy destroyer designs and served as the basis for similar ships in the Australian and German navies.