About this Unit
USS Tattnall (DDG-19) was a Charles F. Adams-class guided missile destroyer commissioned into the United States Navy in 1963. Throughout her service, Tattnall participated in Cold War operations, including Mediterranean deployments with the Sixth Fleet and NATO exercises, providing air defense and anti-submarine capabilities. The ship played a key role during the 1973 Yom Kippur War, operating as part of the U.S. naval presence in the Eastern Mediterranean. After nearly three decades of service, USS Tattnall was decommissioned in 1991 and later sunk as a target in 1999.
Historical Facts
• Namesake: USS Tattnall (DDG-19) was named after Commodore Josiah Tattnall, a notable 19th-century U.S. Navy officer renowned for his service in the War of 1812, the Mexican-American War, and the Civil War.
• Class and Type: The ship was a Charles F. Adams-class guided missile destroyer, one of 29 built for the U.S. Navy during the Cold War era.
• Commissioning: USS Tattnall was commissioned on April 13, 1963, at the New York Naval Shipyard, with Commander Joseph W. Kitch, Jr. as her first commanding officer.
• Vietnam War Service: Although not directly involved in combat, the Tattnall conducted numerous deployments in support of U.S. operations during the Vietnam War, including carrier escort and anti-aircraft warfare missions.
• Technological Advancements: Tattnall was equipped with the Tartar Guided Missile System, providing advanced air defense capabilities for her time, and was later upgraded with the NTDS (Naval Tactical Data System).
• Historic Rescue: In 1981, Tattnall rescued Vietnamese boat people adrift in the South China Sea, providing humanitarian aid and safe passage.
• Lebanon Crisis: During the 1980s, Tattnall was deployed to support the Multinational Force in Lebanon, participating in the U.S. response to the Lebanese Civil War.
• Operation Desert Storm: Tattnall took part in Operation Desert Storm in 1991, firing Tomahawk cruise missiles and providing air defense for coalition naval forces in the Persian Gulf.
• Decommissioning: After nearly three decades of service, the ship was decommissioned on January 18, 1991, and struck from the Naval Vessel Register the same day.
• Final Fate: USS Tattnall was sold for scrap in 1994 after being laid up in the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, marking the end of her distinguished naval career.
