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History of USS Farragut DDG 37

USS Farragut (DDG-37) was a guided missile destroyer and the lead ship of her class in the United States Navy. Commissioned in 1960, she served during the height of the Cold War, participating in key NATO exercises, Atlantic and Mediterranean deployments, and operations such as the Cuban Missile Crisis quarantine. Over her career, Farragut provided anti-air and anti-submarine warfare capabilities, showcasing advancements in naval technology. She was decommissioned in 1989 after nearly three decades of service and was later scrapped.

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ABOUT USS Farragut DDG 37

  • Namesake: USS Farragut (DDG-37) was named after Admiral David Glasgow Farragut, the first rear admiral, vice admiral, and admiral in the United States Navy, famed for his order, "Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!" during the Battle of Mobile Bay.
  • Lead Ship: She was the lead ship of the Farragut-class guided missile destroyers (originally designated as a guided-missile frigate, DLG-6 class, later reclassified as DDG-37).
  • Commissioning Date: USS Farragut was commissioned on 10 December 1960 and served until she was decommissioned on 31 October 1989.
  • First of Her Kind: Farragut was the first U.S. Navy ship designed and built as a guided-missile escort, showcasing the transition to missile-based naval warfare during the Cold War.
  • Cuban Missile Crisis: USS Farragut participated in the naval quarantine (blockade) of Cuba during the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis, playing a key role in intercepting and monitoring Soviet ships.
  • Vietnam War Service: She saw action during the Vietnam War, providing escort duty for aircraft carriers and participating in naval gunfire support missions.
  • Technological Innovation: Farragut featured the Terrier surface-to-air missile system, advanced radar, and anti-submarine warfare capabilities, making her one of the most advanced ships of her time.
  • Proud Motto: Her motto was "Prepared and Able," reflecting the legacy of Admiral Farragut and the ship's high state of readiness.
  • Presidential Review: USS Farragut took part in the 1976 International Naval Review in New York Harbor, marking the United States Bicentennial and hosting foreign dignitaries and the public.
  • Final Fate: After decommissioning, Farragut was sold for scrap in 1994, but her legacy lives on through her namesake, the current Arleigh Burke-class USS Farragut (DDG-99).

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