NavSource Main Page FAQ Contact us Search NavSource

Waving US Flag

NavSource Naval History
Photographic History of the United States Navy
DESTROYER
ARCHIVE

USS BIDDLE / USS CLAUDE V. RICKETTS (DD-955 / DDG-5)


Flag Hoist/Radio Call Sign - NDRO

Tactical Voice Radio Call Sign (circa 1968) - BULOVA

CLASS - CHARLES F. ADAMS As Built.
Displacement 4526 Tons (Full), Dimensions, 437' (oa) x 47' x 15' (Max)
Armament 2 x 5"/54 RF (2x1), Tartar SAM (1x2 Mk 11) ASROC ASW (1x8), 6 x 12.75" Mk 32 ASW TT (2x3).
Machinery, 70,000 SHP; Geared Turbines, 2 screws
Speed, 33 Knots, Range 4500 NM@ 20 Knots, Crew 333-350.
Operational and Building Data
Originally classified as DD-955, Classification changed to DDG-5 April 23 1957.
Laid down by New York Shipbuilding on May 18 1959.
Launched June 4 1960 and commissioned May 5 1962.
Renamed Claude V. Ricketts on July 28 1964.
Decommissioned October 31 1989.
Stricken June 1 1990.
Fate Moved to Navy Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility Philadelphia November 3 1989.
Sold to NR Aquisition, Wilmington, Bid #310-4313 Item #15 for $183,361.40. Contract terminated Oct 1 1996.
Repossessed October 8 1996, removed November 2 1996, arriuved NISMF Nov 5 1996 by Moran Towing.
Sold to Metro Machine Corp., Philadelphia December 18 2001 for $183,361.40. Delivered January 11 2002, scrap complete November 8 2002.

Click On Image
For Full Size Image
Size Image Description Contributed
By
Ricketts
[1]

Ricketts
[2]
[1] 99k




[2] 109k
[1] Born in Philadelphia, Pa., in 1750, Nicholas Biddle was appointed a Captain in the Continental Navy in 1775. He had a brilliant career in command of Andrew Doria and Randolph and was killed when the latter blew up while engaging the far larger HMS Yarmouth, 7 March 1778.
[2] Admiral Claude Vernon Ricketts (February 23 1906 - 6 July 1964) served in the United States Navy as the Vice Chief of Naval Operations. Originally enlisted in the Navy, Ricketts attended the United States Naval Academy and became an officer upon his graduation in 1929. As a lieutenant, he was the gunnery officer on board the USS West Virginia (BB-48) during the attack on Pearl Harbor. When West Virginia threatened to capsize after taking several torpedo hits, Ricketts lead a successful effort to initiate counterflooding and stabilize the ship. His quick action is widely credited with preventing West Virginia from sharing the fate of USS Oklahoma. Ricketts commanded USS Saint Paul (CA-73) during 1955. He later became Commander Second Fleet and then assumed duties as the Vice Chief of Naval Operations. The USS Claude V. Ricketts (DDG-5) was named for him as is Ricketts Hall at the Naval Academy.
[1] Bill Gonyo




[2] Robert M. Cieri
Ricketts 78kUndated, location unknown.Dwayne Davis
Ricketts 90kUndated, location unknown.-
Ricketts 97kUndated, location unknown.Andy Forsythe, MM3, 87-89, Official USN Photo, Approx. 1975
Ricketts 62kUndated, location unknown. Before name change to Claude V. Ricketts-
Ricketts 71kUndated, location unknown. Photo from Warship Boneyards, by Kit and Carolyn Bonner.Robert Hurst
Ricketts 83kUndated, location unknown.Richard Miller BMCS USNR RET.
Ricketts 187kUndated, location unknown.Richard Miller BMCS USNR RET.
Ricketts 140kUndated, location unknown.Richard Miller BMCS USNR RET.
Ricketts 74kUndated, location unknown.Richard Miller BMCS USNR RET.
Biddle 66kUSS Biddle (DDG-5) on Builder's sea trials in the Atlantic in April 1962.Robert M. Cieri
Ricketts 153kUSS Biddle (DDG-5), underway on 21 April 1962, while running trials. This ship was renamed Claude V. Ricketts in July 1964. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval History and Heritage Command. Photo # NH 106744.Robert Hurst
Biddle   Biddle
Commissioning pamphlet - May 5 1962
Robert M. Cieri
Ricketts 29kAs the USS Biddle in New York July 1962.Marc Piché
Ricketts 95kUSS Claude V. Ricketts (DDG-5), in Valletta Harbour, Malta, circa 1964. Photo by A. & J. Pavia from the 1964-65 Edition of Jane's Fighting Ships. Robert Hurst
Ricketts 65kNOB Norfolk, August 1964© Richard Leonhardt
Ricketts 76kUSS Claude V. Ricketts (DDG-5) underway in 1965, location unknown. Photo courtesy Captain Aldo Fraccoroli. Image from the 1967/68 Edition of Jane's Fighting Ships.Robert Hurst
Ricketts 67kCirca 1966, location unknown. Image from the 1966/67 Edition of Jane's Fighting Ships.Robert Hurst
Ricketts 166kCirca 1970, location unknown.Richard Miller BMCS USNR RET.
Ricketts 148kEntering Rotterdam harbor in 1972.Charlie Richardson
Ricketts 153kAs above.Charlie Richardson
Ricketts 105kUSS Claude V. Ricketts (DDG-5), USS New (DD-818) and USS Steinaker (DD-863) in August 1972 at Copenhagen, Denmark with USS Intrepid (CVS-11) berthed behind.Jim Converse, Ltjg USNR, USS Intrepid (CVS-11)
Ricketts 192kDN-SN-87-07337. Ionian Sea, November 22 1975, firefighters aboard the guided missile destroyer USS Claude V. Ricketts (DDG 5) direct spray from their hoses onto a fire aboard the guided-missile cruiser USS Belknap (CG 26). The Belknap was heavily damaged and caught fire when it collided with the aircraft carrier USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) during night operations.Robert M. Cieri
Ricketts 197kDN-SN-87-07336. As above.Robert M. Cieri
Ricketts   Ricketts   Ricketts   Ricketts
Firefighters aboard the guided missile destroyer USS CLAUDE V. RICKETTS (DDG 5) direct spray from their hoses onto a fire aboard the guided missile cruiser USS BELKNAP (CG 26). The BELKNAP was heavily damaged and caught fire when it collided with the aircraft carrier USS JOHN F. KENNEDY (CV 67) during night operations on November 22 1975.
Fabio Peña
Ricketts   Ricketts
A view of damage sustained by the guided missile destroyer USS CLAUDE V. RICKETTS (DDG 5) while fighting a fire aboard the guided missile cruiser USS BELKNAP (CG 26). The BELKNAP was heavily damaged and caught fire when it collided with the aircraft carrier USS JOHN F. KENNEDY (CV 67)during night operations on November 22 1975.
Fabio Peña
Ricketts 28kZeebrugge, Belgium March 13 1981.Marc Piché
Ricketts 129kAerial port view of ships from the Standing Naval Force, Atlantic, underway in formation on 1 July 1982. The ships are, from front to back : HMS Norfolk (D21); USS Claude V. Ricketts (DDG-5); HNLMS De Ruyter (F806) and FGS Braunschweig (F225). U.S.National Archive. Photo # NN33300514.Robert Hurst
Ricketts 828kStarboard bow view of the guided missile destroyer USS Claude V. Ricketts (DDG-5) in drydock for overhaul, 01 September 1982. Official Navy photo 330-CFD-DN-ST-82-11098 by PH2 Robert K. Hamilton.Gerd Matthes
Ricketts 132kSeptember 1982, the USS Claude V. Ricketts (DDG-5) in drydock at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard.Gerd Matthes
Ricketts 108kOff Virginia Capes, 1986Andy Forsythe, MM3, 87-89
Ricketts 383kIn the Kiel Canal at Wilhemshaven, Germany, 2 October 1987. Original photographer unknown.Dave Wright
Ricketts 70kChristmas 1987, location unknown.Bob Haner
Ricketts 51kThe Ricketts alongside the USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67) in May 1988. Bob served aboard both ships.Bob Haner, YN1, USN (Ret.)
Ricketts   Ricketts   Ricketts
Ricketts   Ricketts
Decommissioning pamphlet - October 31 1989
Ron Reeves
Ricketts 92kInvitation to the Decommissioning Ceremony. Photo taken at NISMF Philadelphia in 1990. The Sellers (DDG-11) is outboard of the Ricketts, and the two merchants in the backround are the S.S. Lake (T-AKR 5016), and S.S. Scan (T-AKR 5017).Ron Reeves
Ricketts 36kUSS Claude V. Ricketts (DDG-5), USS Sellers (DDG-11) and USS Luce (DDG-38) in Philadelphia July 16 1991.Marc Piché
Ricketts

Ricketts
81k




151k
Pages from the "Bid Book" as she is placed up for sale.Ron Reeves
Ricketts 54kBaltimore Maryland Aug 25, 1994: An aerial port side view of two Adams-class guided missile destroyers and one Forest Sherman-class destroyer tied up at the Baltimore Fairfield Marine Terminal awaiting scrapping. The destroyer on the right is unidentified. The inboard guided missile destroyer is the Lawrence (DDG-4) with the Claude V. Ricketts (DDG-5) outboard.Fred Weiss
Ricketts 124kBaltimore, Maryland Aug 25, 1994: An aerial port side view of two Adams-class guided missile destroyers and one Forrest Sherman-class destroyer tied up at the Baltimore Fairfield Marine Terminal awaiting scrapping. The destroyer on the right unidentified. The inboard guided missile destroyer is the Lawrence (DDG-4) with the Claude V. Ricketts (DDG-5) outboard. The two Forrest Sherman Class destroyers are the USS Bigelow (DD-942) and USS Davis (DD-937).Gerd Matthes
Ricketts 35kAt the Philidelphia Inactive Ship Maintainance Facility. She has been partially scrapped but the contractor defaulted and the ship was repossessed. Inboard of her are the Belknap class CG's Wainwright and BiddleAN Brian S. Bell USNR
Ricketts 85kSame as aboveAN Brian S. Bell USNR
Ricketts 314kAn aerial view of the Baltimore Fairfield Terminal area showing various former U.S. Navy destroyers awaiting the scrapper's torch. From bottom to top: the destroyers Blandy (DD-943) and Forrest Sherman (DD-931), the former U.S. Army N-3 type port repair ship Madison Jordon Manchester (ex USS Hydra (AK-82)), the guided missile destroyers USS Claude V. Ricketts (DDG-5) and USS Lawrence (DDG-4), the destroyer USS Davis (DD-937) and the bow of the USS Bigelow (DD-942), November 11 1994. Photo courtesy of the National Archives.Bill Gonyo
Ricketts 88kSeven views of the USS Lawrence and USS Claude V. Ricketts in March of 1995 when both vessels were in Baltimore to be scrapped. Lawrence behind Ricketts.Larry Backus
Ricketts 85kAs above. Ricketts with Lawrence behind.Larry Backus
Ricketts 69kAs above. Ricketts with Lawrence behind.Larry Backus
Ricketts 83kAs above. (L-R) Ricketts and Lawrence.Larry Backus
Ricketts 91kAs above. Ricketts behind Lawrence.Larry Backus
Ricketts 89kAs above. (L-R) Lawrence and Ricketts.Larry Backus
Ricketts 85kAs above. (L-R) Lawrence and Ricketts.Larry Backus
Ricketts 116kUSS Claude V. Ricketts (DDG-5) as she sits at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard in November 1999. She has already been partially cut up by Wilmington Resources Inc., a shipbreaker that was sanctioned by the state. Photo from Warship Boneyards, by Kit and Carolyn Bonner.Robert Hurst
Ricketts 47kShip's patchMike Smolinski
Ricketts 47kShip's patchMike Smolinski
Ricketts 66kShip's patchMike Smolinski
Ricketts 33kShip's patchGerd Matthes
Ricketts 45kShip's patchGerd Matthes
Ricketts 100k-120kUniform Ship's name shoulder patch.Al Grazevich

USS BIDDLE/USS CLAUDE V. RICKETTS DD-955/DDG-5 History
Note: History is unavailable at this time
This ship was built too late to be covered by the DANFS project

Commanding Officers
Thanks to Wolfgang Hechler & Ron Reeves


CDR Paul Roth    May 5 1962 - Nov 30 1964

CDR Thomas Edward Fortson    Nov 30 1964 - Dec 18 1965

CDR Robert George Buechler    Dec 18 1965 - Aug 3 1967

CDR Thomas Frederick Mullane    Aug 3 1967 - Apr 3 1969

CDR Jerome Rapkin    Apr 3 1969 - Jun 2 1971

CDR Jack Watson    Jun 2 1971 - Sep 5 1972

CDR Francis Raymond Donovan    Sep 5 1972 - Mar 8 1974 (Later VADM)

CDR Robert Carney Powers    Mar 8 1974 - Jun 25 1976

CDR Joseph Francis King    Jun 25 1976 - Apr 7 1978

CDR Thomas Andrew York Jr.    Apr 7 1978 - Jun 19 1980

CDR Thomas Russell Sheridan    Jun 19 1980 - Mar 27 1982

CDR Thomas William McKechnie    Mar 27 1982 - Feb 3 1984

CDR John Scott Beachy    Feb 3 1984 - Apr 18 1986

CDR Joseph Daniel Gorman    Apr 18 1986 - Mar 28 1988

CDR James Armstrong Reid    Mar 28 1988 - Oct 31 1989


Crew Contact And Reunion Information

Contact Name: Carl Slack
Address: P.O. Box 83, Jackson, NH 03846
Phone: (603) 986-4661
E-mail: slack_39@yahoo.com
Next reunion: 28 April-2 May 2010 in Norfolk, VA

Note About Contacts.

The contact listed, Was the contact at the time for this ship when located. If another person now is the contact, E-mail me and I will update this entry. These contacts are compiled from various sources over a long period of time and may or may not be correct. Every effort has been made to list the newest contact if more than one contact was found.


Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
Adams Class Veterans Association Website
Tin Can Sailors Website
Destroyer History Foundation
Destroyers Online Website
Official U.S.Navy Destroyer Website

Back To The Main Photo Index To The Destroyer Index Page


Comments and Suggestions about this page, E-mail DestroyerInfo
Problems and site related matters, E-mail Webmaster

This page was created by Fred Willishaw (ex ARG-4, AS-11 & DD-692) and is maintained by David L. Wright
All pages copyright NavSource Naval History
Last Updated 06 August 2017