Duncan (DDR 874) - Naval Cruise Book

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Cgfwffig'-f EJJMC DUNCAN' CRUISE We INTCD HISTCDRY We didn't know on that cool crisp day back in Nlarch that when vve set sail from San Diego to WESTPAC, the ocean area where DUNCAN achieved her earlier glories, this would be the old girI's final cruise. Late in June vvord was received that shortly after our return DUNCAN would be inactivated and kept in a place of rest in the reserve fleet alongside so many other famous greyhounds of the seas.

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SHIP's HISTORY USS DUNCAN bears the name of Silas DUNCAN whose fame stems from gallant and heroic deeds during the Battle of Lake Champlain in the War of 1812. Three destroyers have borne the name of DUNCAN. The first, DD-46, a ninety seven man ship commissioned in 1913, survived the perilous years of World War l as a convoy escort in the Atlantic, and in 1935 went to the scrap pile under terms of the London Treaty limiting naval arms. The second DUNCAN, lDD485l was commissioned in early 1942. ln the fall of that same year, while engaged along with other American ships in a battle with a large Japanese force near Guadalcanal, she sustained major damage and sank to the bottom just four days short of her first six months. Today's DUNCAN was constructed from the keel up in less than thirteen months in 1944 and 1945. Following her commis- sioning DUNCAN took part in pre-invasion strikes to recapture WAKE Island. Later in 1945 DUNCAN was assigned patrol duty off the Chinese mainland and Korea returning to the states in Nlarch 1946. During the next four years, DUNCAN participated in two WESTPAC cruises, a shipyard overhaul prompted by an explosion in the magazines, and numerous training exercises while operating out of her home port. Following the outbreak of war in KOREA, DUNCAN partici- pated in extensive support operations off KOREA, earning seven battle stars and a KOREAN Presidential Unit Citation in three deployments. Following her return to the states in 1952, DUNCAN underwent shipyard overhaul which included installa- tion of heightfinder radar and redesignation as a radar picket lDDRl. From 1953 to 1960, DUNCAN continued the routine of WESTPAC duty and training exercises out of her home port in San Diego. In October 1960, she entered Long Beach Naval Shipyard to commence an extensive fleet rehabilitation and modernization overhaul lFRAlVl Ill, which extended DUNCAN's useful life 10 years. ln 1961, DUNCAN joined Destroyer Squadron NINE as flagship while the squadron was homeported in Yokosuka, Japan. DUNCAN returned to San Diego in 1964. During the remainder of 1964 and through the summer of 1965, DUNCAN operated as 2.3:Fz1'.:2.t.fO1.515.323 ?SZZOgfZVYf.iffiticipatlng ' male' SEVENTEEN'DUNCAN oncea ' ' 0 estroyer Squadron , gain sailed off to war for the 3rd 2 time, this time to Vietnam. She saw action as a unit of Operation Sea Dragon in the fall of 1965 and spring of 1966. She returned to San Diego in June 1966, but by December was on her way back to Vietnam. She was once again assigned to Operation Sea Dragon and was credited with destruction of over 190 enemy logistics craft and the rescue of a downed aviator. DUNCAN was taken under fire by North Vietnamese shore batteries on several occasions but luckily was never hit. These actions earned her the Combat Action Ribbon and a COIVISEVENTHFLT citation. Following return to San Diego in 1967, DUNCAN conducted training exercises and surveillance operations before entering Long Beach Naval Shipyard in lVlarch 1968 for overhaul. In November 1968, DUNCAN deployed once again to the SEVENTH Fleet. Thirty days later she was on the gunline off Vietnam delivering gunfire against Viet Cong targets. During the ensuing three months DUNCAN expended nearly 200 tons of ammunition at various targets in South Vietnam and the DMZ in support of U.S., Vietnamese, Korean and Australian forces. In lVlarch 1969, DUNCAN joined USS RANGER for the remainder of the cruise conducting special operations in the Sea of Japan and Yellow Sea. Highlights of the cruise were returning to the states via Australia, crossing the equator, navigating all four quadrants of the earth and sighting APOLLO 11's reentry near PAGO PAGO, American Samoa. From June 1969 to lVlarch 1970 DUNCAN operated out of her home port of San Diego. IVlarch again saw DUNCAN cross the Pacific for duty with the SEVENTH Fleet. DUNCAN performed Korean Patrol duties during the later part of lVlarch and first half of April until diverted to conduct surveillance of a Russian Task Force. Nlay through August were months in which DUNCAN showed her true mettle hurling over 4000 rounds of five inch ammunition at the Viet Cong insurgent forces while firing in direct support of Allied Forces. DUNCAN fired missions from the DIVIZ to the Cambodian border, steaming into waters plved previously only by the brown water Navy in the steamy IVlekong Delta regions. During this period DUNCAN also per- formed screen commander duties for the USS AlVlERICA lCVA 661 in the Tonkin Gulf. DUNCAN returned to San Die90 for the last time in September after traveling over 42,000 miles during the six month deployment.