USS Biddle (CG-34)

USS Biddle CG-34
USS Biddle (DLG-34/CG-34)
History
United States
NameBiddle
NamesakeNicholas Biddle
Ordered16 January 1962
BuilderBath Iron Works
Laid down9 December 1963
Launched2 July 1965
Sponsored byMrs. William H. Bates
Acquired10 January 1967
Commissioned21 January 1967
Decommissioned30 November 1993
Reclassified30 June 1975 as CG-34
Stricken30 November 1993
HomeportNS Norfolk, Virginia (former)
MottoDeus Clypeus Meus
FateSold for scrap. Scrapping completed 2 January 2002
Badge
General characteristics
Class and typeBelknap-class guided missile cruiser
Displacement7,930 tons (full load)
Length547 ft (167 m)
Beam55 ft (17 m)
Draught31 ft (9.4 m) (maximum navigational)
Propulsion4 – 1,200 psi (8,300 kPa) boilers; 2 geared turbines, 2 shafts; 85,000 shp (63,000 kW)
Speed32 knots (59 km/h; 37 mph)
Complement477 (27 officers, 450 enlisted)
Sensors and
processing systems
Electronic warfare
& decoys
AN/SLQ-32
Armamentone Mark 42 five-inch / 54-caliber gun, two 3"/50 caliber guns, one Mark 10 Mod 7 Missile System Terrier missile / SM-2ER/ASROC launcher, six 15.5-inch torpedo tubes, Harpoon missiles, Phalanx CIWS
Aircraft carried1 x SH-2F Seasprite (LAMPS)

USS Biddle (DLG-34/CG-34) was a Belknap-class guided missile frigate/cruiser of the United States Navy. She saw action in Vietnam, where she is believed to be the last ship to down an enemy aircraft with hand-loaded guns. She was involved in the Gulf of Sidra incident in 1981. The cruiser was decommissioned on 30 November 1993 and sold for scrap on 4 December 2000.