Click On Image For Full Size Image	Size	Image Description		Contributed By
[1] [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
	78k	Undated, location unknown.		Dwayne Davis
	90k	Undated, location unknown.		-
	97k	Undated, location unknown.		Andy Forsythe, MM3, 87-89, Official USN Photo, Approx. 1975
	62k	Undated, location unknown. Before name change to Claude V. Ricketts		-
	71k	Undated, location unknown. Photo from Warship Boneyards, by Kit and Carolyn Bonner.		Robert Hurst
	83k	Undated, location unknown.		Richard Miller BMCS USNR RET.
	187k	Undated, location unknown.		Richard Miller BMCS USNR RET.
	140k	Undated, location unknown.		Richard Miller BMCS USNR RET.
	74k	Undated, location unknown.		Richard Miller BMCS USNR RET.
	66k	USS Biddle (DDG-5) on Builder's sea trials in the Atlantic in April 1962.		Robert M. Cieri
	153k	USS 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
Commissioning pamphlet - May 5 1962				Robert M. Cieri
	29k	As the USS Biddle in New York July 1962.		Marc Piché
	95k	USS 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
	65k	NOB Norfolk, August 1964		© Richard Leonhardt
	76k	USS 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
	67k	Circa 1966, location unknown. Image from the 1966/67 Edition of Jane's Fighting Ships.		Robert Hurst
	166k	Circa 1970, location unknown.		Richard Miller BMCS USNR RET.
	148k	Entering Rotterdam harbor in 1972.		Charlie Richardson
	153k	As above.		Charlie Richardson
	105k	USS 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)
	192k	DN-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
	197k	DN-SN-87-07336. As above.		Robert M. Cieri
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
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
	28k	Zeebrugge, Belgium March 13 1981.		Marc Piché
	129k	Aerial 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
	828k	Starboard 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
	132k	September 1982, the USS Claude V. Ricketts (DDG-5) in drydock at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard.		Gerd Matthes
	108k	Off Virginia Capes, 1986		Andy Forsythe, MM3, 87-89
	383k	In the Kiel Canal at Wilhemshaven, Germany, 2 October 1987. Original photographer unknown.		Dave Wright
	70k	Christmas 1987, location unknown.		Bob Haner
	51k	The Ricketts alongside the USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67) in May 1988. Bob served aboard both ships.		Bob Haner, YN1, USN (Ret.)
Decommissioning pamphlet - October 31 1989				Ron Reeves
	92k	Invitation 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
	36k	USS Claude V. Ricketts (DDG-5), USS Sellers (DDG-11) and USS Luce (DDG-38) in Philadelphia July 16 1991.		Marc Piché
	81k 151k	Pages from the "Bid Book" as she is placed up for sale.		Ron Reeves
	54k	Baltimore 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
	124k	Baltimore, 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
	35k	At 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 Biddle		AN Brian S. Bell USNR
	85k	Same as above		AN Brian S. Bell USNR
	314k	An 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
	88k	Seven 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
	85k	As above. Ricketts with Lawrence behind.		Larry Backus
	69k	As above. Ricketts with Lawrence behind.		Larry Backus
	83k	As above. (L-R) Ricketts and Lawrence.		Larry Backus
	91k	As above. Ricketts behind Lawrence.		Larry Backus
	89k	As above. (L-R) Lawrence and Ricketts.		Larry Backus
	85k	As above. (L-R) Lawrence and Ricketts.		Larry Backus
	116k	USS 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
	47k	Ship's patch		Mike Smolinski
	47k	Ship's patch		Mike Smolinski
	66k	Ship's patch		Mike Smolinski
	33k	Ship's patch		Gerd Matthes
	45k	Ship's patch		Gerd Matthes
	100k-120k	Uniform Ship's name shoulder patch.		Al Grazevich

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