About this Unit
The USS Robert K. Huntington (DD-781) was an Allen M. Sumner-class destroyer commissioned by the United States Navy in 1945. Named in honor of Marine Private Robert K. Huntington, a hero of Guadalcanal, the ship served in the final months of World War II and participated in occupation duties in East Asia afterward. During the Korean War, the Huntington provided gunfire support, screened carrier task forces, and engaged in patrol operations. In the subsequent decades, she was active in Cold War operations, including deployments to the Mediterranean and the Vietnam War, before being decommissioned in 1973.
Historical Facts
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Namesake Hero: USS Robert K. Huntington (DD-781) was named in honor of Private Robert Kingsbury Huntington, a US Marine who posthumously received the Navy Cross for his heroic actions during the Battle of Guadalcanal in World War II.
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Gearing-Class Destroyer: The ship belonged to the Gearing-class, the largest class of destroyers built for the US Navy during World War II, known for their improved endurance and anti-aircraft capabilities.
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Launched in 1945: The destroyer was launched on January 5, 1945, by Todd Pacific Shipyards in Seattle, Washington, and commissioned on March 3, 1945, just months before the end of World War II.
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Missed WWII Combat: Despite her wartime construction, USS Robert K. Huntington did not see combat action in World War II, as the war ended shortly after her commissioning.
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Korean War Service: The ship served actively during the Korean War, providing naval gunfire support, anti-submarine warfare patrols, and screening for aircraft carriers.
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FRAM Overhaul: In the early 1960s, she underwent a Fleet Rehabilitation and Modernization (FRAM) upgrade, which extended her service life and equipped her with anti-submarine rockets (ASROC) and improved sonar.
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Cuban Missile Crisis: During the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962, USS Robert K. Huntington was deployed as part of the naval quarantine, helping to enforce the blockade of Cuba.
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Vietnam War Deployments: The destroyer saw Vietnam War service, providing gunfire support for ground forces, search and rescue, and carrier escort duties in the Tonkin Gulf.
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Collision at Sea: In July 1959, she collided with USS Fred T. Berry (DD-858) off the coast of Virginia during night exercises, resulting in significant damage but no loss of life.
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Decommissioned and Fate: USS Robert K. Huntington was decommissioned on September 31, 1973, and later expended as a target ship in naval exercises in 1981.
