About this Unit
USS NEWMAN K. PERRY (DD-883) was a Gearing-class destroyer commissioned by the United States Navy in December 1945. Named after Lieutenant Newman K. Perry, she served extensively during the Cold War era, performing patrols, training exercises, and serving as a plane guard for aircraft carriers. The destroyer saw action during the Korean and Vietnam Wars, providing naval gunfire support and participating in various operations. Decommissioned in 1981, she was later transferred to the Republic of China (Taiwan) Navy, where she continued service as ROCS Chi Yang (DD-912).
Historical Facts
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Namesake Hero: The USS Newman K. Perry (DD-883) was named after Ensign Newman K. Perry, a U.S. Navy aviator who was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross for his bravery in the Battle of the Coral Sea during World War II.
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Gearing-class Destroyer: Commissioned in 1945, the ship was a Gearing-class destroyer, one of the most prolific classes built by the U.S. Navy during and after WWII.
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World War II Service: Although commissioned in the final months of World War II, the USS Newman K. Perry did not see combat in that conflict, but immediately began post-war operations in the Pacific.
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Korean War Deployments: The destroyer saw active duty during the Korean War, providing gunfire support for United Nations troops and patrolling the Korean coastline.
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Vietnam War Action: The ship participated in multiple Vietnam War deployments, conducting naval gunfire support missions and serving as a plane guard for aircraft carriers in the Gulf of Tonkin.
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FRAM Modernization: In the early 1960s, USS Newman K. Perry underwent the Fleet Rehabilitation and Modernization (FRAM) program, receiving state-of-the-art anti-submarine warfare upgrades, including the installation of ASROC and DASH systems.
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Cuban Missile Crisis: The destroyer took part in the Cuban Missile Crisis blockade in 1962, helping to enforce the U.S. quarantine of Cuba during the tense standoff with the Soviet Union.
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Homeports: Over her career, the USS Newman K. Perry was homeported at several locations, including Norfolk, Virginia and Mayport, Florida, reflecting the changing strategic needs of the Cold War Navy.
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International Service: After her U.S. Navy service, the ship was transferred to the Republic of South Korea in 1981, where she served as ROKS Kyong Ki (DD-71) until her decommissioning in 1997.
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Decorations and Honors: The destroyer earned numerous awards, including battle stars for service in Korea and Vietnam, attesting to her long, active, and distinguished career in the U.S. and South Korean navies.
