DL Destroyer Leader Conversions - DLG DLGN to DDG CG CGN

4,683 · April 27, 2017

An odd man out so to speak the USS Biddle DLG 5 which became the USS Claude V Ricketts DDG 5

16,163 · May 3, 2017

The first large Destroyer Leader, originally designed as a Hunter-Killer light cruiser

USS NORFOLK (DL-1) In service 1953 to 1970. As with all of the new DL classes, they were also designed to be flagships of Cruiser-Destroyer groups, flotillas and squadrons, having flag staff accommodations aboard. They were also used as flagships for the NATO squadron, STANAVFORLANT and UNITAS/SEATO cruises.

DL- Flagships of the Hunter Killer Force, US Atlantic Fleet

...and ASW Force Atlantic

NORFOLK and her sister ships were initially leaders of the Atlantic Cruiser Destroyer force

Bullion Cruiser Destroyer Force Atlantic Fleet - Versatile Spearhead of Seapower

This type of patch was often made for units of the Sixth Fleet and CTF 60 in the Med

Destroyer Force Atlantic Fleet - made by Hilborn Hamburger

NORFOLK was also the DL flagship for COMCRUDESLANT, COMCRULANT, COMCRUDIV SIX and others during her career at sea

...and COMCRUDESFLOT FOUR

16,163 · May 3, 2017

The second DL - class leader USS MITSCHER (DL-2) In service 1953 to 1978. She was renumbered to DDG-35 in 1975

Welcome Aboard and Decommissioning booklet

16,163 · May 3, 2017

USS WILLIS A. LEE (DL-4) In service 1954 to 1969. She had a short service life due to mechanical breakdowns and remained a DL during her career

Among her other flagship assignments, WILLIS LEE was the test bed for DESDEVGRU 2 and COMMIDEASTFOR. This last assignment was cut short due to mechanical breakdowns and she was replaced by LUCE (DLG-7)

16,163 · May 3, 2017

USS WILKINSON (DL-5) In service 1954 to 1969, she also had a short service life due to budget cuts and was never redesignated as DLG/DDG 6" fully embroidered US made patch, rescued from a tackboard at a garage sale

16,163 · June 9, 2017

"FIGHTING LUCE" My third ship, Mayport Florida, serving with the Atlantic & Mediterranean Fleets and in the Tonkin Gulf

USS STEPHEN B. LUCE (DLG-7) Farragut class Destroyer Leader aka 'Guided Missile Frigate' Commissioned in 1961

USS LUCE (DLG-7) First patch circa 1961

USS LUCE (DLG-7) First version plaque

USS LUCE (DLG-7) Ball cap patches circa 1961

USS LUCE (DLG-7) Second version Pride, Power, Knowledge patch (also used for her DDG-38 patch and crest)

3 different manufacturers

Other DLG-7 items from my collection (she was my third ship)

Zippo knife, Zippo lighter, Piece of bridge railing from her modernization, DLG-7 coffee mug

Black & White photo I took of the 'FIGHTING LUCE' oil painting which hung in the wardroom. Her hull number was changed from 7 to 38 and repainted to reflect the change in 1975. We raffled it off to a shipmate at our first reunion.

4,683 · June 9, 2017

USS LUCE (DLG-7) First patch circa 1961

Two thumbs up on this Luce Patch.

16,163 · June 10, 2017

Mahalo Bearmon,

These are my DLG-7 Medalion and pin plus her post-1975 DDG-38 patches, cut edge and merrowed edge (Swiss-Tex) which I got from the ships' store when I was aboard

Along with my rocker and cap patch, chrome zippo and custom ivory zippo, and our STANAVFORLANT badge and zippo

Two additional USS LUCE (DDG-38) patches, the MED-IO patch is a Swiss-Tex, don't know who made the Second to None patch

16,163 · June 10, 2017

Two different sized class leader USS FARRAGUT (DLG-6) cut edge patches, in service 1960 to 1989

post 1975 conversion USS FARRAGUT (DDG-37) with rocker

16,163 · June 10, 2017

Farragut/Coontz class conversion USS MACDONOUGH (DLG-8/DDG-39) In service 1961 to 1992 cut edge patches

post 1975 Coontz class USS MACDONOUGH (DDG-39)

When the Farragut class Destroyer Leaders (Guided Missile Frigates) were converted to Coontz class DDG's their main batteries were upgraded to fire the Terrier SM2 Standard Missile

Cold War Gunners Mate DDG-39 Death from a Distance and SM-2 Mig Killer This One's For You (Ivan)

(Note the "DDG-39" on the anchor)

16,163 · June 10, 2017

Farragut class USS COONTZ (DLG-9) In service 1960 to 1989

post 1975 Farragut conversion class leader USS COONTZ (DDG-40), all subsequent DLG to DDG conversions were known as 'Coontz Class'

16,163 · June 10, 2017

"THE KING OF THE FLEET"

USS KING (DLG-10) Gemsco 1960's

Farragut class USS KING (DLG-10) In service 1960 to 1991

Farragut class USS KING (DLG-10) Hilborn-Hamburger

Farragut/Coontz class conversion USS KING (DLG-10) to (DDG-41)

Hilborn-Hamburger on left, Gemsco on right

post 1975 Coontz class USS KING (DDG-41)

16,163 · June 10, 2017

Farragut/Coontz class conversion USS MAHAN (DLG-11) to (DDG-42) In service 1960 to 1993

Pre and Post 1975 DLG-11 & DDG-42 Patches

Swiss-Tex redesignation version circa 1975

16,163 · June 10, 2017

Farragut class USS DAHLGREN (DLG-12) In service 1961 to 1992

Note, the rocker is for DDG-43 post 1975

post 1975 Coontz class USS DAHLGREN (DDG-43) cut edge and merrowed edge

16,163 · June 10, 2017

Farragut class USS WILLIAM V. PRATT (DLG-13) In service 1961 to 1991

USS WILLIAM V. PRATT (DLG-13) 6 1/2" Jacket patch

post 1975 Coontz class USS WILLIAM V. PRATT (DDG-44) 6 1/2" Jacket patch and 4" Swiss-Tex patch

WM V. PRATT Ships' store Swiss-Tex patch

and unknown maker patch

post 1975 USS WILLIAM V. PRATT (DDG-44)

16,163 · June 14, 2017

Farragut Class USS DEWEY (DLG-14) In service 1959 to 1990

"Navy's First Guided Missile Destroyer Leader"

Farragut Class USS DEWEY (DLG-14) Cut edge 1960's

Farragut Class USS DEWEY (DLG-14) Hilborn-Hamburger 1960's

Coontz Class conversion USS DEWEY (DDG-45) Gemsco 1975

16,163 · June 16, 2017

Farragut class Destroyer Leader USS PREBLE (DLG-15) In service 1960 to 1991

USS PREBLE (DLG-15) - the AS patch is a Vietnamese repro shown for illustration

USS PREBLE (DDG-46) As flagship, STANDING NAVAL FORCES ATLANTIC (SNFL) 1989

USS PREBLE (DDG-46) circa 1975

16,163 · June 24, 2017

12" x 18" Commissioning Artwork, Belknap class USS JOUETT (DLG-29) In service 1966 to 1994

Original USS JOULETT (DLG-29) patch which came with the artwork

Belknap class USS JOUETT (DLG-29) In service 1966 to 1994

Redesignated Cruiser CG-29 in 1975, cut edge white version

Belknap class USS JOUETT (CG-29) In service 1966 to 1994

CIC - CT, OS, EW patches

16,163 · July 6, 2017

Nuclear Machinist Mates - USS TRUXTUN (DLGN-35) pre-1975

Engineering Laboratory Technicians, the glow in the dark gang

4,683 · July 7, 2017

Japanese manufacture USS Reeves DLG 24 and a US manufacture USS Richmond K Turner DLG 20

4,683 · July 7, 2017

A smaller USS Truxtun CGN 35

16,163 · September 10, 2017

Farragut class Destroyer Leader USS PREBLE (DLG-15) In service 1960 to 1991

Another 1960's version USS PREBLE (DLG-15)

16,163 · September 13, 2017

USS RICHMOND K TURNER (DLG-20) Leahy Class

Leahy Class USS RICHMOND K TURNER (DLG-20), large cut edge pulled from a scrapbook

Leahy Class USS RICHMOND K TURNER (DLG-20), another cut edge but an error patch 'DG' rather than 'DLG'

16,163 · October 13, 2017

Mitscher class destroyer leader USS JOHN S. McCAIN (DL-3) In service 1953 to 1978. Reclassified DDG-36 in 1967

7" Crusader for Peace Jacket patch - Named after Adm. John S. "Slew" McCain, Sr.

Mitscher class destroyer leader USS JOHN S. McCAIN (DL-3) In service 1953 to 1978. Reclassified DDG-36 in 1967

Gemsco recommissioning patches, both black and red hull number versions

16,163 · December 9, 2017

On 4/26/2017 at 11:01 AM, Bearmon said:

There is a post for DDG's but DLG's and DLGN's that where reclassified as DDG's, CG's or CGN's were orphans until now.

Here is the post for those ships. I will start off with a very short lived Classified ship the USS South Carolina, DLGN 37. commissioned in January of 1975 and reclassified in June of 1975, giving this patch a roughly 6 month life span.

California class USS SOUTH CAROLINA (DLGN-37) Commissioning packet and patch (Swiss Tex, same as Bearmons)