USS LUCE (DLG-7)

• Commissioning and Namesake: USS Luce (DLG-7), later reclassified as DDG-38, was commissioned on 20 May 1961. She was named after Rear Admiral Stephen B. Luce, a prominent naval educator and founder of the U.S. Naval War College. • Class and Type: USS Luce was a Farragut-class guided missile destroyer leader (frigate), designed to provide anti-aircraft warfare (AAW) protection for carrier battle groups. • Cuban Missile Crisis: During the Cuban Missile Crisis in October 1962, Luce played a critical role in the naval quarantine of Cuba, helping enforce the blockade against Soviet shipping. • Space Program Support: Luce participated in recovery operations for NASA’s Mercury and Gemini space missions, standing by to recover astronauts and capsules that splashed down in the Atlantic. • Vietnam War Service: Although not deployed directly to Vietnam, Luce supported Sixth Fleet operations in the Mediterranean and provided a U.S. naval presence during the tense Cold War years. • Reclassification: In 1975, as part of a Navy-wide reclassification, USS Luce was redesignated from DLG-7 (frigate) to DDG-38 (guided missile destroyer). • Technological Innovations: Luce was among the first ships equipped with the Tartar guided missile system, marking a significant advancement in naval air defense capability. • Collision Incident: In 1975, USS Luce collided with the USS Belknap (CG-26) in the Mediterranean. The incident caused minor damage to Luce but reinforced the importance of navigational safety. • Humanitarian Efforts: The ship provided assistance to civilian vessels in distress on several occasions, including rescuing Greek fishermen in the Aegean Sea. • Decommissioning and Fate: USS Luce was decommissioned on 1 April 1991 and stricken from the Naval Vessel Register. She was sold for scrap in 2004, ending her distinguished 30-year service.