About this Unit
USS McCaffery (DD-860) was a Gearing-class destroyer commissioned by the United States Navy in July 1945. Named after Lieutenant Colonel Joseph P. McCaffery, the ship served during the final months of World War II and was later active throughout the Cold War era. USS McCaffery participated in major operations during the Korean War, provided naval gunfire support during the Vietnam War, and conducted numerous Atlantic and Mediterranean deployments as part of the U.S. Sixth Fleet. The ship was decommissioned in 1973 after nearly three decades of distinguished service.
Historical Facts
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Namesake: USS McCaffery (DD-860) was named after Lieutenant Colonel Joseph P. McCaffery, a U.S. Marine who was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross for heroism during the Battle of Tarawa in World War II.
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Gearing-class Destroyer: McCaffery was a Gearing-class destroyer, the last and most advanced class of destroyers produced by the United States during World War II.
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Commissioning: The ship was launched on January 12, 1945, and commissioned on July 26, 1945, just before the end of World War II.
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Korean War Service: USS McCaffery served in the Korean War, performing a variety of duties including screening aircraft carriers, shore bombardment, and patrol duties.
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Cuban Missile Crisis: In 1962, McCaffery participated in the naval quarantine of Cuba during the Cuban Missile Crisis, helping enforce the U.S. blockade against Soviet ships.
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Vietnam War Deployments: The destroyer took part in multiple Vietnam War deployments, providing gunfire support, search and rescue, and carrier escort operations in the Gulf of Tonkin.
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FRAM Modernization: In the early 1960s, McCaffery underwent the Fleet Rehabilitation and Modernization (FRAM) program, receiving upgrades in anti-submarine warfare capabilities, new radar, and sonar systems.
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Arctic Operations: The ship participated in NATO’s "Operation Strikeback" in 1957, operating above the Arctic Circle and earning the Blue Nose certificate for crossing the Arctic Circle.
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Rescue Operations: In 1958, McCaffery rescued the crew of a burning vessel in the Atlantic, demonstrating the versatility and humanitarian capabilities of U.S. Navy destroyers.
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Decommissioning and Fate: USS McCaffery was decommissioned on September 30, 1973, after nearly 30 years of service, and was eventually sold for scrap in 1974.
