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History of USS Coontz (DLG-9)

USS Coontz (DLG-9), later reclassified as DDG-40, was a Farragut-class guided missile destroyer leader commissioned by the United States Navy in 1960. Named after Admiral Robert E. Coontz, the ship served extensively during the Cold War, participating in numerous exercises and deployments, including operations in the Mediterranean with the Sixth Fleet and off the coast of Vietnam during the Vietnam War. Coontz underwent modernization in the late 1960s to enhance her missile and anti-submarine capabilities. She remained active until her decommissioning in 1989, after nearly three decades of distinguished service.

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ABOUT USS Coontz (DLG-9)

  • Namesake: USS Coontz (DLG-9) was named after Admiral Robert E. Coontz, the second Chief of Naval Operations and a key figure in the modernization of the U.S. Navy after World War I.
  • Class: Coontz was the lead ship of her class of guided missile destroyer leaders (later reclassified as guided missile cruisers), introducing advanced missile capabilities to the fleet.
  • Commissioning: USS Coontz was commissioned on July 15, 1960, at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, marking a significant step in Cold War naval modernization.
  • Vietnam War Service: During the Vietnam War, Coontz served multiple tours supporting carrier operations and providing naval gunfire support, earning five battle stars for her service.
  • First West Coast DLG: She was the first ship of her class to be homeported on the U.S. West Coast, with San Diego, California as her initial base.
  • Cuban Missile Crisis: USS Coontz was part of the naval quarantine during the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962, helping to enforce the blockade and prevent Soviet ships from delivering missiles to Cuba.
  • Reclassification: In 1975, as part of the Navy's ship reclassification, USS Coontz was redesignated from DLG-9 (Destroyer Leader, Guided Missile) to CG-9 (Guided Missile Cruiser).
  • Technological Innovation: Coontz was among the first ships equipped with the Tartar missile system, a significant leap in anti-air warfare capability at the time.
  • Global Deployments: Over her career, Coontz participated in numerous Pacific and Indian Ocean deployments, visiting ports in Asia, Australia, and the Middle East, representing U.S. naval power abroad.
  • Decommissioning and Fate: USS Coontz was decommissioned on October 2, 1989, after nearly 30 years of service, and was eventually scrapped in 1994, but her legacy endures through the sailors who served aboard her.

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