About this Unit
USS Lawrence (DDG-4) was a Charles F. Adams-class guided missile destroyer commissioned by the United States Navy in January 1962. Named after Captain James Lawrence, a hero of the War of 1812, the ship served prominently during the Cold War, conducting operations in the Atlantic, Mediterranean, and Caribbean. USS Lawrence participated in significant events such as the Cuban Missile Crisis quarantine and multiple Mediterranean deployments with the Sixth Fleet. After more than two decades of service, the destroyer was decommissioned in March 1990 and subsequently scrapped.
Historical Facts
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Namesake Heritage: USS Lawrence (DDG-4) was named after Captain James Lawrence, a War of 1812 hero famous for his dying command, "Don't give up the ship!".
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First Guided Missile Destroyer: USS Lawrence was the fourth ship in the Charles F. Adams-class, the first class of US Navy ships designed and built as guided missile destroyers from the keel up.
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Commissioning: The ship was commissioned on January 6, 1962, at the New York Naval Shipyard, entering service during the height of the Cold War.
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Cuban Missile Crisis: Lawrence participated in the Cuban Missile Crisis naval blockade in October 1962, helping to enforce President Kennedy’s "quarantine" of Cuba.
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Mediterranean Deployments: The destroyer made numerous deployments to the Mediterranean Sea as part of the US Sixth Fleet, supporting American interests during tense periods such as the Arab-Israeli conflicts.
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Vietnam War Service: Lawrence served in the Vietnam War, providing naval gunfire support for ground troops and carrier escort duties in the Gulf of Tonkin.
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Space Program Support: The ship participated in recovery operations for the Gemini space missions, acting as a recovery ship for NASA missions in the Atlantic.
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Collision Incident: In 1975, USS Lawrence was involved in a collision with the Greek destroyer Lonchi during NATO exercises in the Mediterranean, suffering only minor damage.
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Modernization: The ship underwent multiple overhauls during its service to upgrade its electronics, weapons, and missile systems, reflecting changes in naval warfare technology.
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Decommissioning and Fate: USS Lawrence was decommissioned on March 30, 1990, after nearly three decades of service. She was scrapped in 1994, but her legacy is honored by veterans and naval historians.
