USS Towers

USS Towers underway on 1 August 1982
History
United States
NameTowers
NamesakeJohn Henry Towers
Ordered28 March 1957
BuilderTodd Pacific Shipyards
Laid down1 April 1958
Launched23 April 1959
Acquired31 May 1961
Commissioned6 June 1961
Decommissioned1 October 1990
ReclassifiedDDG-9, 23 April 1957
Stricken27 May 1992
Identification
FateSunk as target, 9 October 2002
General characteristics
Class and typeCharles F. Adams-class destroyer
Displacement3,277 tons standard, 4,526 full load
Length437 ft (133 m)
Beam47 ft (14 m)
Draft15 ft (4.6 m)
Propulsion
Speed33 knots (61 km/h; 38 mph)
Range4,500 nautical miles (8,300 km) at 20 knots (37 km/h)
Complement354 (24 officers, 330 enlisted)
Sensors and
processing systems
  • AN/SPS-39 3D air search radar
  • AN/SPS-10 surface search radar
  • AN/SPG-51 missile fire control radar
  • AN/SPG-53 gunfire control radar
  • AN/SQS-23 Sonar and the hull mounted SQQ-23 Pair Sonar for DDG-2 through 19
  • AN/SPS-40 Air Search Radar
  • Naval Tactical Data System
Armament
Aircraft carriedNone

USS Towers (DD-959/DDG-9) was a Charles F. Adams-class guided missile destroyer of the United States Navy notable for action in the Vietnam War. The ship was named in honor of Admiral John Henry Towers.