About this Unit
USS Glennon (DD-840) was a Gearing-class destroyer commissioned by the United States Navy in October 1945, named after Rear Admiral James H. Glennon. Though commissioned too late for World War II combat, Glennon played a significant role during the Cold War era, participating in NATO exercises and serving in the Atlantic and Mediterranean with the 6th Fleet. The destroyer supported operations during the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962 and aided in the recovery efforts for the Gemini space missions. USS Glennon was decommissioned in 1976 and later transferred to the Hellenic Navy, where she served as Nearchos until 1993.
Historical Facts
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Namesake Heroism: USS Glennon (DD-840) was named after Rear Admiral James H. Glennon, a distinguished naval officer who served with valor during the Spanish-American War and World War I.
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Gearing-Class Destroyer: Glennon was a Gearing-class destroyer, one of the most successful and numerous classes of destroyers built for the U.S. Navy during and after World War II.
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Commissioning Date: She was commissioned on 4 October 1945, just weeks after the end of World War II, and was built at Bath Iron Works, Bath, Maine.
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Early Cold War Service: Glennon served as a vital part of the U.S. Navy’s Atlantic Fleet during the early years of the Cold War, participating in exercises and patrols designed to counter Soviet naval activity.
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Korean War Role: Although she did not see direct action in the Korean War, Glennon performed important training and readiness duties in the Atlantic, helping to maintain fleet preparedness.
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Cuban Missile Crisis: Glennon played a role in the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis, participating in the naval blockade ("quarantine") that helped defuse the confrontation between the United States and the Soviet Union.
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FRAM Modernization: In the early 1960s, Glennon received a Fleet Rehabilitation and Modernization (FRAM) upgrade, improving her anti-submarine warfare capabilities with advanced sonar and weaponry.
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Mediterranean Deployments: Throughout her career, Glennon made numerous deployments with the Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean Sea, helping to project U.S. power and maintain stability in the region.
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Vietnam War Service: Glennon saw action off the coast of Vietnam, providing naval gunfire support for ground troops and participating in patrol operations during the conflict.
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Decommissioning and Fate: USS Glennon was decommissioned on 1 October 1976 and transferred to the Greek Navy, where she served as Konstantinos Kanaris (D212) before being scrapped in 1993.
