About this Unit
USS Vogelgesang (DD-862) was a Gearing-class destroyer commissioned into the United States Navy in April 1945. Named after Ensign Charles Vogelgesang, she served in the final stages of World War II and participated actively in the Korean and Vietnam Wars, providing naval gunfire support and screening for aircraft carriers. Throughout the Cold War, Vogelgesang took part in numerous NATO exercises and undertook Mediterranean and Atlantic deployments, showcasing American naval presence worldwide. After over three decades of service, she was decommissioned in 1976 and later transferred to the Mexican Navy, where she continued her career as ARM Quetzalcoatl.
Historical Facts
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Namesake: USS Vogelgesang (DD-862) was named in honor of Rear Admiral Carl Theodore Vogelgesang, a distinguished U.S. Navy officer who served in World War I and contributed to U.S.-Latin American naval relations.
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Gearing-class Destroyer: The ship was a Gearing-class destroyer, one of the largest classes of destroyers built for the U.S. Navy during and after World War II.
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Commissioned Post-WWII: USS Vogelgesang was commissioned on April 28, 1945, too late to see combat in World War II but went on to have a long and active service life during the Cold War.
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Korean War Service: Although she missed WWII, she participated in Cold War operations, including patrol and screening duties during the Korean War era.
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FRAM Overhaul: In the early 1960s, Vogelgesang underwent a Fleet Rehabilitation and Modernization (FRAM) overhaul, which upgraded her anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capabilities and extended her service life.
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Cuban Missile Crisis: The destroyer took part in the Cuban Missile Crisis naval blockade in 1962, serving as part of the U.S. Navy’s quarantine forces.
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Vietnam War Operations: Vogelgesang was deployed to Vietnam, providing naval gunfire support, search and rescue, and carrier escort duties during the conflict.
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International Training Ship: She served as a training ship for foreign naval officers, including those from South American and Middle Eastern countries, helping strengthen U.S. alliances.
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Transfer to Mexico: After being decommissioned by the U.S. Navy on August 24, 1976, she was transferred to the Mexican Navy, where she served as ARM Quetzalcoatl (E-03).
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Decommissioning and Fate: The ship was finally retired by the Mexican Navy and is believed to have been scrapped; however, some sources report she was used as a target ship and sunk in the Gulf of Mexico.
