Samuel Gompers-class destroyer tender

The Samuel Gompers-class destroyer tenders were a class of ships that served the United States Navy from 1967 to 1996.

USS Samuel Gompers
Class overview
Operators:	United States Navy
Preceded by:	Shenandoah class
Succeeded by:	Yellowstone class
Planned:	2
Completed:	2
Retired:	2
General characteristics
Type:	Destroyer tender
Displacement:	13,458 long tons (13,674 t)
Length:	645 ft (197 m)
Beam:	85 ft (26 m)
Draft:	22 ft 6 in (6.86 m)
Propulsion:	Steam turbines, 1 shaft
Speed:	20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph)
Complement:	1056 officers and enlisted
Armament:	Originally: 1 x 5"/38 caliber gun 2 x 20 mm cannon 4 x .50 cal (12.7 mm) caliber machine guns

History

The Samuel Gompers-class was the first class of destroyer tenders designed by the U.S. Navy, twenty years after the preceding Shenandoah-class. The ships were specifically designed to be able to service ships with nuclear propulsion or with gas turbines. The ships were also able to service the variety of guided missiles coming into service. They also had a helicopter platform aft, although only Puget Sound was later fitted with a hangar, when she served as flagship of the United States Sixth Fleet.[1] Both ships were originally armed with a World War II-vintage 5"/38 caliber gun turret forward. The construction of two additional ships (AD-39, AD-40) was cancelled in 1969 and 1974. [2]

Ships in class

Name	Number	Builder	Launched	Commissioned	Decommissioned	Status	DANFS	NVR
Samuel Gompers	AD-37	Puget Sound Naval Shipyard	14 May 1966	1 July 1967	27 October 1995	Sunk as target, 22 July 2003
Puget Sound	AD-38	Puget Sound Naval Shipyard	16 September 1966	27 April 1968	27 January 1996	Sold for scrap, 2008

References

1. Stefan Terzibatschitsch: Seemacht USA, Volume 2, Bechtermünz Verlag, Augsburg (Germany), 1997, pp. 652-655. ISBN 3-86047-576-2
2. Paul H. Silverstone: U.S. Warships since 1945. Ian Allan Ltd., London (UK), 1986, p. 145. ISBN 0-7110-1598-8