USS Josephus Daniels (CG-27)

• Namesake: USS Josephus Daniels (CG-27) was named after Josephus Daniels, who served as Secretary of the Navy during World War I under President Woodrow Wilson. • Class & Role: She was a Belknap-class guided missile cruiser, designed primarily for air defense and equipped with the Terrier surface-to-air missile system. • Launch & Commissioning: The ship was launched on December 2, 1963, at Bath Iron Works, Maine, and commissioned on May 8, 1965. • Vietnam War Service: USS Josephus Daniels served in the Vietnam War, providing gunfire support and participating in operations in the Gulf of Tonkin. • Flagship Duties: She served as flagship for various commanders, including Commander, Cruiser-Destroyer Group 2, and Commander, Sixth Fleet during deployments. • Cold War Operations: The cruiser played a vital role in NATO exercises and shadowed Soviet ships, reflecting the tense maritime operations of the Cold War. • Rescue Missions: In 1977, Josephus Daniels rescued the crew of a fishing vessel in distress in the Mediterranean Sea, highlighting her humanitarian capabilities. • Modernization: The ship underwent significant upgrades in the late 1970s, including improvements to her missile systems and electronic warfare suites. • Decommissioning: She was decommissioned on January 21, 1994, after almost 29 years of service, and her hull was later scrapped. • Cultural Appearance: USS Josephus Daniels appeared in Tom Clancy’s novel "Red Storm Rising," where she played a fictional role in a major naval engagement.