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USS JOHN KING was the second ship in the CHARLES F. ADAMS class and was last homeported in Norfolk, Va. Initially, JOHN KING was designated DD 953 but in June 1957, this was changed to DDG 3.
USS JOHN KING was stricken from the Navy list on January 12, 1993, and was then berthed at the Naval Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility (NISMF), Philadelphia, PA. On February 10, 1999, the ship was finally sold for scrap.
General Characteristics: | Awarded: March 28, 1957 |
Keel laid: August 25, 1958 | |
Launched: January 30, 1960 | |
Commissioned: February 4, 1961 | |
Decommissioned: March 30, 1990 | |
Builder: Bath Iron Works, Bath, Maine. | |
Propulsion system:4 - 1200 psi boilers; 2 geared turbines | |
Propellers: two | |
Length: 437 feet (133.2 meters) | |
Beam: 47 feet (14.3 meters) | |
Draft: 20 feet (6.1 meters) | |
Displacement: approx. 4,500 tons | |
Speed: 31+ knots | |
Aircraft:none | |
Armament: two Mk 42 5-inch/54 caliber guns, | |
Crew: 24 officers and 330 enlisted |
Crew List:
This section contains the names of sailors who served aboard USS JOHN KING. It is no official listing but contains the names of sailors who submitted their information.
USS JOHN KING Cruise Books:
USS JOHN KING History:
The scans below are from USS JOHN KING's Mediterranean Cruise Book 1989. Click on the scans to read the ship's history.
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About the Ship's Name:
John King, born in Ireland 7 February 1865, enlisted in the Navy as a coal passer in VERMONT 20 July 1893. He served on board MASSACHUSETTS in the Caribbean during the Spanish-American War, and in 1900 was transferred to VICKSBURG for service during the Philippine Insurrection. King received the Medal of Honor while in VICKSBURG "for extraordinary heroism in the line of his profession at the time of the accident to the boilers...29 May 1901." Eight years later, while a water tender in SALEM, King received a second Medal of Honor during another boiler explosion 13 September 1909. Advanced to Chief Water Tender 1 October 1909, he continued to serve at sea until discharged in 1916. The beginning of World War I, however, brought Chief King back on active duty; he served at New York until 20 August 1919. He lived in retirement until his death 20 May 1938.
USS JOHN KING Image Gallery:
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