Arthur W Radford (DD 968) - Naval Cruise Book

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r ' ADMIRAL ARTHUR WILLIAM RADFORD UNlTAS 04

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RADFORD ' S HISTORY USS ARTHUR W. RADFORD (DD 96S). the second Spruancc Class destroyer to join the Atlantic Fleet, is assigned to Destroyer Squadron TUM and was designed and built by Ingalls Shipbuilding Division of Litton Industries in Pascagoula, Mississippi. USS ARTHUR W. RADFORD is a versatile, multi-mission ship de- signed to operate with equal effectiveness either alone or with carrier battle groups. She is also an outstanding platform for shore bombardment, am- phibious assault support, or any other traditional destroyer role. .ARTHUR W. RADFORD was designed primarily for anti-submarine warfare and has one of the most advanced underwater detection and fire control systems yet developed. She is a large ship (more than twice as large as WWII destroyers) and can carry a formidable array of weapons and electronic equipment long distances at high speeds. USS ARTHUR W. RADFORD is a member of the first class of major combatant ships in the U.S. Navy to be powered with marine gas turbine engines. Four gas turbines produce more than 20.000 horsepower each to drive the ship at speeds in excess of 30 knots. The twin controllable, revers- ible pitch propellers give the ship an exceptional degree of maneuverability. The main ASW sensor of USS ARTHUR W RADFORD — her subma- rine surveillance and detection sonar — is located in the large dome at the bow of the ship. With its higher power and improved signal processing equipment the sonar is the first in the Navy to be linked directly to digital computers, thus ensuring swift, accurate processing of target information. The armament aboard USS ARTHUR W. RADFORD consists of two 5 guns. Anti-submarine Rocket Launcher (ASROC). torpedo tubes, and heli- copters for ASW detection and long range weapons delivery. .Additionally. N.A TO Seasparrow missiles give protection against anti-ship missiles and aircraft. The Harpoon Weapons System is a long range anti-ship missile svstem capable of over the horizon strikes. ' In September 1979. USS ARTHUR W. RADFORD completed her first Mediterranean deployment. While deployed, she participated in the lleet exercises Dawn Patrol. Trident, and Nation Week A ' .VV . During the latter exercise, she fired a Harpoon missile in the Mediterranean, scoring a direct hit on a target over sixty miles away, she also made port visits to France. Spain. Ilalv. Egvpl. and Yugoslavia. In June 1980. ' USS ARTHUR W RADFORD deployed toSouth Ameri- ca as flagship for USCOMSOLANT during UNITAS XXI conducting joint exercises with South American Navies followed by v s fx to four countries in West .Africa. In October I9SI. the ship entered Ingalls Shipyard in Pascagoula. Missis- sippi for her regular overhaul. It was here she received additional armament and survivabiltiy modifications. The ship completed overhaul in February I9S2. two months ahead of schedule. The ship deployed to the Mediterranean in .April of 1983. and subsequent- Iv fired over 125 rounds of 5 ordinance during actual Naval GunFire Support Operations. USS ARHTUR W. RADFORD was awarded the Navy i ' nit Commendation for support of the .Multi-national Force stationed ashore in Beirut. Lebanon. In Februarv 1985. USS ARHTUR W RADFORD deployed to the Persian Gulf and acted as flagship for COMIDEASTFOR While deployed, the ship was witness to the so called Tanker Wars where in aircraft from Iran and Iraq routinely attacked merchant ships in the Gulf The ship returned to Norfolk, Virginia in August 1985. Subsequent to the 1985 deployment. USS ARTHUR W RADFORD participated in numerous tactical exercises, and under went an extensive upgrade of ship ' s systems during an SRA period in early 1986. From July to September 1986. she went through an intensive REFTRA at Guantanamo Bav. Cuba with a follow-up visit to Fort Lauderdale. Florida. During October of 1986. USS ARTHUR W RADFORD was assigned to Commander Caribbean Squadron. U.S. Coast Guard as flagship for the anti-drug operation Checkmate 7 . This ship was subsequently awarded the U.S. Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Commendation. Just prior to UNIT.AS XXVIII. she participated in a major FLEETEX. .ASW Schoolship training, and Supporting .Arms Coordination Exercises, all of which took place in the Caribbean during early 1987. UNITAS 03

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Admiral Arthur W. Radford ' s career lasted for a total of 45 years. From pioneer aviator to Chair- man, Joint Chiefs of Staff, he believed in a strong Navy as integral to the defense of the nation. Born to John and Agnes Radford on February 27, 1896 in Chicago, Illinois, he was the first of four children. Soon after his birth, the family moved to Grinnel, Iowa where Arthur William graduated high school in 1912. When he was passed over for an appointment to West Point, he entered the U.S. Naval Academy and was commis- sioned Ensign in 1916. When World War I broke out in 191 7, Raddy ' as his classmates called him stood duty on the battleship USS SOUTH CARO- LINA. After the War in 1920, Radford saw a childhood fantasy come true when he completed his aviation training in Pensacola, Florida and was stationed on board the carrier USS SARATOGA. Here he worked his way up to commanding his own fighter squadron, and during the 1930 ' s was assigned to the Bureau of Aeronautics and commanded the Naval Air Station In Seattle, Washington. In 1941, just prior to the attack on Pearl Har- bor, Radford was chosen to centralize and expand the Navy ' s Flight Training Program. As head of the Aviation Training Division in Washington, D.C., he would materialize a long time dream into reality by inaugurating and encouraging a program in which America ' s young pilots could not only learn to fly but would become ' ' Commandos of the Air . He was commissioned a Rear Admiral and com- manded a carrier division in the western Pacific during World War II. His skill in naval tactics, as well as air, was proven by successfully maneuver- ing the Task Force from the Flag Bridge of his carrier USS ENTERPRISE during what was termed as The greatest night torpedo plane attack ever launched against an American Task Force In the Pacific . Not one ship was damaged or lost and he was decorated with the Distinguished Service Medal for his command of this Task Force. Radford served as Commander, Second Task Force, Atlantic Fleet until after the war, but also successively served as Deputy Chief of Naval Op- erations. As a Vice Admiral, he served In the Navy ' s number two spot, as Vice Chief of Naval Operations, before being appointed Admiral In 1949. In the Post World War II air euphoria. It was he, the consumate flier, who became the most outspoken critic of the proposals to scrap the fleet in favor of strategic land-based bombers. In the so called Revolt of Admirals , Radford and three others refused to remain silent in the face of per- sonal and professional criticism, nor did they back down to President Truman. It was rumored that because of this, Radford received his next duty as Commander in Chief of the Pacific Fleet, a post he maintained throughout the Korean conflict. At age 54, he had been a red- hot airman, a resourceful administrator, a crack staff man, and a fight carrier Admiral. Above all, he had been a tireless crusader for naval air power. He received his second Distinguished Service Medal while in this command. In 1953 by appointment of President Dwight D. Eisenhower, Admiral Radford became the first na- val officer to hold the position as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff He was also appointed to a second term In 1955, but retired in 1957 just prior to it ' s completion. In I960, acting as an advisor to Vice President Nixon on military matters, Radford spoke out on foreign issues being installed by Senator John F. Kennedy. He also helped conduct government studies on military aid and the future of the mer- chant marine. When Arthur W. Radford died on August 14, 1974 at the age of 77, he was burled with full military honors at the Arlington National Ceme- tery. He had taken part in three wars, flown, sailed, and commanded the Navy. He appeared twice on the cover of TIME and on the cover of U.S. NEWS AND WORLD REPORT. He was a re- spected political naval officer, and a legacy to those who knew and loved him. ' UNITAS 05