Farragut-class destroyer (1958)

The Farragut-class destroyers, also known as the Coontz-class, were a class of nine guided missile destroyers built for the United States Navy in the late 1950s and early 1960s. They were the first class of U.S. Navy destroyers designed from the keel up to launch guided missiles, representing a significant shift in destroyer design philosophy. Their primary armament was the Terrier surface-to-air missile system, intended to provide fleet air defense against increasingly capable Soviet aircraft and anti-ship missiles.

The ships displaced approximately 4,700 tons standard and were powered by a steam turbine propulsion system, allowing for speeds in excess of 30 knots. In addition to the Terrier missile system, they were equipped with 5-inch/54 caliber guns for surface and shore bombardment, as well as anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capabilities including torpedoes and sonar.

The Farragut-class destroyers served extensively throughout the Cold War, participating in numerous deployments and exercises around the world. They underwent various modernization programs throughout their service lives, including upgrades to their electronic warfare suites and fire control systems. Eventually, the Terrier missile system was upgraded to the Standard Missile (SM-1ER) system.

All nine ships were decommissioned from the U.S. Navy by the early 1990s. They represented an important step in the evolution of destroyer design, paving the way for later generations of guided missile destroyers and cruisers in the U.S. Navy. The lead ship of the class was USS Farragut (DDG-37). The other ships in the class were USS Luce (DDG-38), USS Macdonough (DDG-39), USS Coontz (DDG-40), USS King (DDG-41), USS Mahan (DDG-42), USS Dale (DDG-43), USS Richmond K. Turner (DDG-20) and USS Berkeley (DDG-15).