USS Mitscher (DL-2)

USS "Mitscher" (DL-2/DDG-35), named for Admiral Marc "Pete" Mitscher USN (1887–1947), was the lead ship of her class of destroyer of the United States Navy.

Originally designated DD-927, she was laid down by the Bath Iron Works Corporation at Bath, Maine on 3 October 1949, reclassified as a destroyer leader and designated DL-2 on 2 February 1951, launched on 26 January 1952 by Mrs. Marc A. Mitscher, widow of Admiral Mitscher and commissioned on 15 May 1953, Commander Terrell H. W. Connor in command.

After initial shakedown exercises off Cuba, "Mitscher" returned to Boston for further modification, followed by another shakedown cruise to Guantanamo Bay, ending 31 August 1954. Homeported thereafter at Newport, R.I., she conducted exercises off the east coast until 3 January 1956, when she sailed on a good-will cruise to England, Germany, and France, returning to Rhode Island 10 February. For the next 5 years, she continued her east coast operations, deploying annually either to the northern or eastern Atlantic for NATO exercises.

On 9 February 1961, she departed her new homeport, Charleston, S.C., and steamed to the Mediterranean for her first 6 month tour with the 6th Fleet. Such deployments over the next 4 years involved her in further NATO exercises as well as 6th Fleet exercises. Spring 1964, departed Newport, RI for 6 month tour with 6th Fleet. In August 1964, while in the Mediterranean, she stood off Cyprus to aid in the evacuation of American nationals, and then steamed through the Suez Canal to patrol the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf. Returned to Mediterranen for 4 month tour with U.S. 6th Fleet in 1965, returned to Newport, RI December 1965.

On 2 March 1966, "Mitscher" departed Newport for the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard. There, she was converted to a guided missile destroyer at between 18 March 1966 and 29 June 1968 and designated DDG-35. " Mitscher" was decommissioned and stricken from the Naval Vessel Register on 1 June 1978, and sold for scrap in July 1980.

References

*DANFS|http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/m12/mitscher.htm
*NVR|http://www.nvr.navy.mil/nvrships/details/DDG35.htm

External links

* [http://www.destroyerleaderassociation.org/ships/dl-2.asp destroyerleaderassociation.org: USS "Mitscher"]