USS Gyatt DDG1

• First Guided Missile Destroyer: USS Gyatt (DDG-1) made history in 1956 by becoming the first U.S. Navy destroyer to be equipped with guided missiles, specifically the Terrier missile system. This conversion marked her hull as DDG-1, the first of her kind. • Namesake Hero: The ship was named after Corporal Edward Earl Gyatt, a Marine who posthumously received the Navy Cross for heroism during the Battle of Guadalcanal in World War II. • Original Classification: USS Gyatt was originally commissioned as DD-712, a Gearing-class destroyer, in 1945 and served as a conventional destroyer before her conversion. • Experimental Platform: After her missile conversion, Gyatt served as an experimental platform to evaluate the integration of guided missile technology on destroyer-sized ships. • Unusual Configuration: To accommodate her missile launchers, Gyatt had her aft 5-inch gun mount removed and replaced with a twin Terrier missile launcher, which was unusual for her class. • Cold War Service: During her service as a missile destroyer, she participated in numerous Cold War exercises and operations, helping to develop Navy tactics for missile warfare. • Training Ship: After her initial service as a missile testbed, Gyatt was used extensively as a training ship for crews destined for newer missile destroyers and cruisers. • Decommissioned Early: Despite her pioneering role, Gyatt was decommissioned in 1969, earlier than many of her Gearing-class sisters, as newer purpose-built missile ships entered service. • Legacy: The success and lessons learned from USS Gyatt’s conversion paved the way for the development of the Charles F. Adams-class (DDG-2) and subsequent missile destroyers. • Final Fate: After decommissioning, USS Gyatt was sunk as a target off the coast of Virginia in June 1970, ending her trailblazing career beneath the waves.