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History of USS Joseph P Kennedy DD850

USS Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. (DD-850) was a Gearing-class destroyer commissioned by the United States Navy in December 1945. Named after Lieutenant Joseph P. Kennedy Jr., a naval aviator killed in World War II, the ship served extensively during the Cold War era. She participated in the Korean War, the Cuban Missile Crisis quarantine, and performed recovery duties for the Gemini space program. The destroyer was decommissioned in 1973 and now serves as a museum ship at Battleship Cove in Fall River, Massachusetts.

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ABOUT USS Joseph P Kennedy DD850

  • Namesake: USS Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. (DD-850) was named after Joseph P. Kennedy Jr., a U.S. Navy aviator and the eldest son of Joseph and Rose Kennedy, who was killed in action during World War II.
  • Gearing-class Destroyer: She was a Gearing-class destroyer, one of the most numerous and successful destroyer classes built for the U.S. Navy during and after World War II.
  • Commissioning: The ship was commissioned on December 15, 1945, just after the end of World War II.
  • Korean War Service: USS Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. served in the Korean War, providing gunfire support and screening for aircraft carriers.
  • Cuban Missile Crisis: She played a key role during the Cuban Missile Crisis in October 1962, serving on the blockade line and participating in the interception and boarding of the Soviet freighter Marucla.
  • Apollo Recovery: The destroyer served as a recovery ship for NASA’s Gemini 6, Gemini 7, and Apollo space missions, helping to retrieve astronauts and capsules from the Atlantic.
  • FRAM I Modernization: In the early 1960s, she underwent a Fleet Rehabilitation and Modernization (FRAM I) upgrade, receiving new anti-submarine weapons and sensors.
  • Vietnam War: The ship served off the coast of Vietnam, providing naval gunfire support for U.S. and allied ground forces.
  • Decommissioning: She was decommissioned on July 1, 1973, after nearly 28 years of service.
  • Museum Ship: USS Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. is preserved as a museum ship at Battleship Cove in Fall River, Massachusetts, where she is open to the public and serves as a memorial and educational platform.

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