About this Unit
USS Truxtun (DLGN-35), later reclassified as CGN-35, was a nuclear-powered guided missile cruiser commissioned into the United States Navy in 1967. As the fifth ship named after Commodore Thomas Truxtun, she played a vital role in carrier task force escort duties, participating in operations during the Vietnam War and later in the Persian Gulf. Truxtun was notable for her advanced nuclear propulsion, which allowed for extended deployments without refueling. After nearly three decades of distinguished service, she was decommissioned in 1995 and subsequently scrapped.
Historical Facts
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Name and Class: USS Truxtun (DLGN-35) was the lead ship of her class of nuclear-powered guided missile cruisers, originally designated as a "destroyer leader" (DLGN) before being reclassified as a cruiser (CGN-35) in 1975.
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Namesake: The ship was named after Commodore Thomas Truxtun, a distinguished naval officer during the Quasi-War with France and one of the first six captains appointed to the U.S. Navy by President George Washington.
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Nuclear Power: Truxtun was only the fourth nuclear-powered surface ship in the U.S. Navy, following USS Long Beach, USS Enterprise, and USS Bainbridge. She had a unique nuclear power plant, not shared with any other ship.
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Commissioning: USS Truxtun was commissioned on 27 May 1967 at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, with Captain Harold M. Ryan as her first commanding officer.
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Vietnam War Service: The ship saw extensive service in the Vietnam War, providing plane guard, search and rescue, and anti-aircraft support for aircraft carriers operating on Yankee Station in the Gulf of Tonkin.
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Operation Frequent Wind: In 1975, Truxtun participated in Operation Frequent Wind, the evacuation of Saigon, helping to protect U.S. and allied ships during the final days of the Vietnam conflict.
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Persian Gulf Deployments: Truxtun served multiple tours in the Persian Gulf, supporting operations during the Iran Hostage Crisis and Operation Earnest Will, escorting reflagged Kuwaiti tankers during the Iran-Iraq War.
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Humanitarian Mission: In August 1980, Truxtun rescued 42 Vietnamese refugees from a small boat in the South China Sea, exemplifying the Navy's humanitarian outreach during the Southeast Asian refugee crisis.
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Unique Armament: Truxtun was initially armed with Terrier surface-to-air missiles, ASROC anti-submarine rockets, torpedoes, and later upgraded with Standard missiles, Harpoon anti-ship missiles, and Phalanx CIWS for close-in defense.
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Decommissioning and Fate: Truxtun was decommissioned on 11 September 1995 after nearly 30 years of service. Her nuclear reactors were defueled and removed, and her hull was scrapped by 1999 in Bremerton, Washington.
