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BUCHANAN's keel was laid on 23 April 1959 at Todd Shipyard Corporation, Seattle Division at Seattle, Washington. She was launched on 11 May 1960 sponsored by Mrs. Charles Fisher, at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, Washington. BUCHANAN was commissioned by the Commandant, THIRTEENTH Naval District, Rear Admiral George C. Towner. BUCHANAN carries ASROC and TARTAR Weapon Systems as well as a pair of 5"/54 caliber guns which provide her with defense against surface, sub-surface, and air attacks. Her modular Combat Information Center provides a rapid reaction time to these multiple threats. Her propulsion plant, with automatic combustion control, can drive the 437-foot long, 4,500-ton displacement destroyer at speeds in excess of thirty knots. BUCHANAN's allowance of 20 officers and 340 enlisted men eat and sleep in spaces that are all air conditioned. Took part in dedication of USS Arizona Monument in Pearl right after being commissioned
1968 Deployed WestPac - Preformed Naval Gunfire Support Vietnam. Hit By North Vietnamese gunfire in May1968 during operation Sea Dragon. Received damage to forward mast SPS -37 Antenna No Casualties.1969 Deployed WestPac - March 18, 1969 to Sept. 18
1969 With COMDESDIV 15 aboard. Took part in NAVEL GUNFIRE SUPPORT South Vietnam. In April helped suppress the take over of a Marine Base in hills surrounding Da Nang.
1970 Deployed WestPac - NAVAL GUNFIRE SUPPORT South Vietnam
1970-71 - Yard period Hunters Point, San Francisco
1972 Deployed Westpac - Flag Ship Desron 31 - NAVAL GUNFIRE SUPPORT South Vietnam. On DMZ at start of 72 Easter Offensive. Fired first round into North Vietnam since 68 SEA DRAGON Operations Starting Operation FREEDOM TRAIN Lead by DesRon 31 Commodore Choo Choo Johnson. Hit on April 17,1972 during operation FREEDOM TRAIN Seaman Davis KIA seven Wounded. Took part in operations LINEBACKER. On May 10, 1972 with USS Newport News, USS Providence, USS Oklahoma City and USS Hanson at Do Son Peninsula took part in most Formidable Cruiser-destroyer strike force assembled in Western Pacific since World War II. Was only ship to take part in every surface strike operation off the Haiphong Harbor. Awarded: Meritorious Unit Commendation, Combat Action, Vietnam Campain with one Star ( Two Campains) and Vietnam Service Metal (6 months inVietnam)
1972 - One of three destroyer in Pacific , six Navy wide to be made "Mod Squad". This was and Admiral Zummwald program to reward outstanding performing officers with commands of larger ships that their rank would normally receive. Commanding Officer was Lt. Commander and XO Lt. instead of normal CO of Cdr. and XO of Lt. Cdr.
!973-74 Deployed to West Pac/Indian Ocean. Flag Ship Desron 31 Part of carrier task force in Indian Ocean Late 73 Early 74.
1974 Received Arleigh Burk award for most improved Destroyer Navy wide.
1975 Yard period Long Beach
1977 (April?) Deployed for Westpac. Returns to San Diego on November 21.
1978 (September?) Port of call in Matzetlan, Mexico. During port visit, the ship's pier which was crowded with cotton bales catches fire. Ship's crew assists the poorly equiped local fire department and does the lion's share of fighting the fire, using the ship's fire fighting equipment. Receives a letter of gratitude from the city.
1979 Deployed for WestPac on February 21. Takes part in an ICBM launch exercise with submarines USS Patrick Henry and (USS Thomas Jefferson?) south of the equator.
Deployed to SouthPac in August for excercises with New Zealand, Australian, British, and ROK Navies. Ports of call in Port Villa, New Hebrides Islands, and Auckland, New Zealand. Return to San Diego on September 9.
November, 1979 - October, 1980 Yard Period, Long Beach
1987 - Deployed to North Arabian Sea in July-Dec 1987.
Part of the Ranger Battle Group located just outside of the Persian Gulf during the Iran / Iraq war.
1989??? Deployed WestPac/Indian Ocean. Participated in Operation EARNEST WILL by escorting reflagged Kuwati tankers through the Straits of Hormuz
Decommissioned: Oct 1, 1991 At San Diego
Located at Naval Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility Pearl Harbor, Waipahu, HI From 1991 to 2000
Unit Identification Code (UIC) 04680Stricken to be disposed of by Navy Sale 11/20/92
Changed to sinkex June 1999 and used as target ship for RIMPAC 2000
At 21:26:30Z (11:26:30 AM HST) 14 June 2000 as a target for RIMPAC 2000 she was sunk. Her final resting place is 22:54.38N, 160:27.68W , 64 Nautical Miles from land in 2540 Fathoms of water.
BUCHANAN ASSOCIATION We are presently trying to locate crew members who have an interest in joining the Buchanan Association to document and preserve Buchanan's and the Adams Class DDG's history. Our first objective is to locate as many ex-crewmembers as possible, form some basic committees, and start ground work for reunion in the year 2002. Any one interested in joining amd/or helping please email Dean (Dino) Myers . The more people we get involved the less time and work will be required of each person. To join the Buchanan Association click here. Membership Information
We solicit any materials you may wish to loan for use at this site. All materials will be copied and returned to the owner. We also appreciate any information about the ship or the ship's company you are willing to share especially the whereabouts of those who have served aboard the Buchanan. Please click here to email the USS Buchanan Webmaster.
USS Buchanan Specifications
Displacement 4,500 tons (full load)
Length 437 feet
Beam 47 feet
Max Speed 30 knots
Power Plant 4 - 1200 psi boilers; 2 geared turbines
2 shafts; 70,000 shaft horsepower
Aircraft None - VERTREP capable only
Armament Standard Missiles (MR)
Harpoon (from Standard launcher)
ASROC (from MK 16 launcher)
6 - MK 46 torpedoes (from 2 triple tube mounts)
2 - 5-inch / 54 caliber MK 42 gun
Complement 383 (20 officers, 363 enlisted)
