USS Arthur W. Radford (DD-968) was a Spruance-class destroyer in the United States Navy. She was named for Admiral Arthur W. Radford USN (1896–1973), the first naval officer to be Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. She was decommissioned on 18 March 2003 after serving for 26 years, and on 10 August 2011 her hull was scuttled off the coast of Delaware to form part of an artificial reef.
USS Arthur W. Radford in the Mediterranean Sea, circa 27 November 2002
Arthur W. Radford (DD-968) transits the Panama Canal during Unitas XXI.
Arthur W. Radford c.1981 with ASROC launcher, without CIWS and original mast.
Arthur W. Radford performing an underway replenishment with Iowa.
The Spruance-class destroyer was developed by the United States to replace the many World War II–built Allen M. Sumner- and Gearing-class destroyers, and was the primary destroyer built for the United States Navy during the 1970s and 1980s. It was named in honor of U.S. Navy Admiral Raymond A. Spruance, who successfully led major naval battles in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater during World War II such as the Battle of Midway and the Battle of the Philippine Sea.
USS Briscoe on 21 March 2003
Six Spruance-class destroyers fitting out, c. May 1975
starboard quarter view of Fife
Ingersoll with only ASROC launcher forward, as all destroyers were initially built. Image also shows an example of black masts and no Phalanx CIWS