USS Arthur W. Radford (DD-968) was a in the United States Navy. She was named for Admiral Arthur W. Radford USN (1896–1973), the first naval officer to be Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. She was decommissioned on 18 March 2003 after serving for 26 years, and on 10 August 2011 her hull was scuttled off the coast of Delaware to form part of an artificial reef.

Construction and commissioning

Arthur W. Radford was laid down 31 January 1974 by the Ingalls Shipbuilding Division of Litton Industries at Pascagoula, Mississippi, and launched on 1 March 1975, sponsored by Mrs. Arthur Radford, the admiral's widow. Arthur W. Radford was commissioned on 16 April 1977,

Early operations

Underway for the United States East Coast the day she was commissioned, Arthur W. Radford was forced to return to her builder's yard for repairs soon thereafter, but got underway again on 30 April. Touching at Charleston, South Carolina, on 3 and 4 May, the ship proceeded to her home port Norfolk, Virginia, which she reached on 6 May. against forces threatening the peacekeeping force on 21 and 22 September until relieved on station by the battleship on 8 October. Visits to La Maddalena, Sardinia, and to Tangier, Morocco rounded out the destroyer's time in the U.S. 6th Fleet. Operating briefly with Spanish Navy units en route to the turnover port of Rota, Arthur W. Radford cleared Rota on 10 November with the battle group formed around the carrier . She arrived at Norfolk 11 days later, remaining there for the rest of 198

thumb|Arthur W. Radford performing an underway replenishment with Iowa.3.

A vertical launching system (VLS) was installed in January 1990

The ship deployed to the Mediterranean sea in 1994 and in 1996. The ship and crew received awards for service relating to Bosnia during both deployments.

On 4 February 1999 at about 23:34, Arthur W. Radford collided with the Saudi Riyadh, The ship entered Norfolk Naval Shipyard Drydock #3 25 February 1999.

thumb|Arthur W. Radford returning to duty following collision repairs, September 1999.

Arthur W. Radford sustained an estimated $32.7 million in damages and the damage prevented the ship from leaving 26 March on a scheduled six-month deployment to the Mediterranean Sea with the carrier battle group. Repairs aboard Arthur W. Radford were completed on 13 September and the destroyer then deployed with the battle group. As a result of the collision, the commanding officer was relieved 13 February 1999. In June 2000, a US court affixed liability at 65% Saudi Riyadh / 35% Arthur W. Radford. Neither the US Navy commanding officer nor the cargo ship's master were on the bridge or consulted prior to the collision.

Arthur W. Radford deployed to the Mediterranean Sea and Persian Gulf 3 April to 1 October 2000.

Decommissioning and fate

Arthur W. Radford was decommissioned 18 March 2003,), about southeast of Cape May, New Jersey, and northeast of Ocean City, Maryland.

<gallery mode="nolines">

File:USS Arthur W Radford (DD-968) in the Med 1983.jpg|USS Arthur W. Radford in the Mediterranean Sea, 1983

File:USS ARTHUR W. RADFORD (DD 968) arrives at Crete.jpg|USS Arthur W. Radford arrives in Crete on 30 August 2002

File:A crewman and officer of the deck stand by on the brow of the nuclear-powered attack submarine USS ALBANY (SSN 753) following the vessel's commissioning ceremony. The destroyer USS - DPLA - c33da53e923dfe53be45f4963a481b79.jpeg|USS Arthur W. Radford behind USS Albany on 7 April 1990

File:USS ARTHUR W. RADFORD (DD-968) underway in 1992.jpg|USS Arthur W. Radford in 1992

</gallery>

Awards

From the Navy Unit Award website:

  • Navy Expeditionary Medal, 20-May-1983 to 27-May-1983, Lebanon
  • Navy Unit Commendation, 28-May-1983 to 19-Nov-1983