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USS SAMPSON (DDG-10)


Flag Hoist/Radio Call Sign - NZXF

Tactical Voice Radio Call Sign (circa 1968) - LEESBURG

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
Laid down by Bath Iron Works, Bath ME on March 2 1959.
Launched May 21 1960 and commissioned June 24 1961.
Decommissioned June 24 1991.
Stricken November 20 1992.
Fate Sold to Metro Machine Corp., Philadelphia, scrapping completed October 15 2003.

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Sampson 12kRear Admiral William T. Sampson, born at Palmyra, New York , February 9, 1840. Appointed to the United States Naval Academy September 24, 1857, and graduated at the head of his class in 1861. He subsequently earned an LLD degree from Harvard in 1899. He was promoted to Master, 1861 and commissioned as a Lieutenant July 16, 1862. He was Executive Officer on the ironclad USS Patapsco when it was blown up by mine in Charleston harbor. He was blown into water, but then rescued. Advanced to Lieutenant Commander, July 25, 1866, Commander, August 9, 1874, Captain, March 1889. He was Superintendent of the Naval Academy, 1886-90. An expert on ordnance, torpedoes, etc. With Lieutenant Joseph Strauss, he devised-perfected superimposed turrets introduced into the Navy in February 1898. He was President, Board of Inquiry as to cause of the destruction of the USS Maine in Havana Harbor, February 15, 1898, and after a declaration of war with Spain he commanded the North Atlantic Squadron with the rank of acting Rear Admiral. Promoted to Commodore, 1898, Rear Admiral, 1899. During the Spanish-American his command numbered 125 vessels, the strongest ever organized for hostile purposes. His fleet captured many Spanish merchant vessels and blockade runners and finally defeated the Spanish fleet under Admiral Cevera. Appointed, September 1898, one of three commanders to Cuba. Resumed command of North Atlantic fleet, December 1898. Commandant, Boston USN Yard, Oct 14, 1899. In 1865-67 he served on the USS Colorado in European Squadron, advancing to Lieutenant Commander, July 1866. Again at USNA 1868-71, and, after service on the USS Congress in 1872 and European station in 1873 and promotion to Commander in August 1874, he returned for third tour, 1874-78, as head of Physics Department. 1879-82 he commanded USS Swatara in the Asiatic Squadron, after 2 years as Assistant Superintendent of the Naval Observatory in Washington, DC, during which time was delegate to International Prime Meridian Conference, October 1884, he commanded the Naval torpedo station at Newport from 1884 to 1886. September 1886 named Superintendent of the Naval Academy. Promoted to Captain in March 1889, he left the Academy in 1890 to command the USS San Francisco. 1893-97 he was Chief of the Bureau of Ordnance, where under his leadership much progress was made in such matters as introduction of smokeless powder and improvement of gunnery training. June 1897 given command of new battleship Iowa, joining the North Atlantic Squadron as senior Captain. During February-March 1898 served as president of the Naval Board investigating the sinking of the Maine in Havana harbor. In the latter month he was advanced to acting Rear Admiral, and named to succeed the ailing Montgomery Sicard in command of the North Atlantic Squadron. On declaration of war against Spain in April, he proceeded from Key West to institute a blockade of northern coast of Cuba, his own plan to attack Havana directly having been overruled by the Navy Department. In May while location of the Spanish fleet under Admiral Cevera was yet unknown, he made a cruise east to Puerto Rico and on May 12 bombarded San Juan. He then returned to blockade and joined by "Flying Squadron" under Winfield Scott Schley, who, though technically his senior, was placed under his command for the campaign. He sent Schley to reinforce the blockade of the southern coast, particularly at Cienfuegos and Santiago. Schley was tardy in movements, and Cevera slipped undetected into easily defended harbor at Santiago. When he was finally discovered there, Sampson concentrated his forces outside the harbor. He supported landing of Shafter's army at Daiquiri, June 22, and the capture of Siboney next day, and the subsequent advance to Santiago. Following capture of San Juan heights commanding the city on July 1 he and Shafter arranged a shore conference to plan a coordinated land-sea assault. On morning of July 3 aboard the USS New York, headed for the conference point some miles to east. Half an hour later the first of Cevera's ships appeared, steaming out of harbor to west. The Blockade Squadron, under the immediate command of Schley, went instantly into action and in less than 4 hours entire Spanish fleet was sunk or run ashore. The battle took place entirely to west of harbor entrance, and the New York was out of it altogether. Considerable controversy ensued, with Schley, who had been present aboard the USS Brooklyn, quickly becoming hero of day in papers, while the Navy Department and most knowledgeable observers credited Sampson's training, preparation, and standing orders with the squadron's success. A dispute, bitter at times, delayed promotions for both men for nearly a year. During September-December 1898 in Cuba as 1 of 3 US commissioners. He was made permanent Rear Admiral in March , and resumed command of his squadron until October 1899. He commanded the Boston Navy Yard until October 1901, waiting orders from then until his retirement, February 1902. He died on May 6, 1902, at Washington, DC and it was originally suggested that he be buried at the Naval Academy. He was, however, subsequently buried in Section 21 of Arlington National Cemetery.Steven A. Cardali
Sampson 122kUndated, location unknown.-
Sampson 118kUndated, location unknown.-
Sampson 72kUndated postcard Copyright © Atlantic Fleet Sales, Norfolk, VA.Mike Smolinski
Sampson 86kUndated, location unknown.Wendell Royce McLaughlin Jr
Sampson 151kUndated, location unknown.Robert M. Cieri
Sampson 178kUndated, location unknown.ssharpbt2
Sampson 104kUndated, location unknown.Richard Miller BMCS USNR RET.
Sampson 111kUndated, location unknown.Richard Miller BMCS USNR RET.
Sampson 125kUndated, location unknown.Richard Miller BMCS USNR RET.
Sampson 41kThe launching program May 21 1960.Gerd Matthes
Sampson 53kMrs. John Crenshaw christens the Sampson May 21 1960.Gerd Matthes
Sampson 47kThe launching May 21 1960.Gerd Matthes
Sampson 100kBoston Naval Shipyard, June, 1960© Richard Leonhardt
Sampson 107kBoston Naval Shipyard, August 1961© Richard Leonhardt
Sampson 26kQuebec July 1963.Marc Piché
Sampson 119kDecember 2 1963, location unknown.Tommy Trampp
Sampson 75kCheseapeake Bay, July, 1964© Richard Leonhardt
Sampson 185kEarly 1966 in the Bosporus off Istanbul, USS Sampson (DDG-10) and USS Richard E. Byrd (DDG-23).David Meare
Sampson 73kViewed from the USCGC Ingham (WHEC 35) in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba June 1972.Terry Wright
Sampson 173kMay 12 1974, Aegean Sea, near Falconera Island. The USS Sampson comes by the Soviet Kashin class DDG Krasny Krim.Eugene Ivkin
Sampson 236kAs above.Eugene Ivkin
Sampson 89kUSS Barry (DD-933) (left), USS Sampson (DDG-10) (left-center) and USS Richard L. Page (DEG-5) (right) In the harbor at Athens, Greece. This image was received by the Naval Photographic Center in July 1974. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.Fred Weiss
Sampson 89kAt Barcelona, Spain, on March 21, 1978. Compared to the photo taken at Boston, in June 1960 (above), this view shows Sampson with the new, improved planar antenna for her SPS-39 3D radar, mounted on her after stack, and a more complex foremast. At the time, she was fitted with an SPS-37 2D air search radar (the larger antenna on her foremast); this was replaced by an SPS-40D in 1981.Fabio Peña
Sampson 501kMoored at Trumbo Point, Naval Station Key West, FL, November 1978. Photo by Raymond L. Blazevic. Image from Flickr courtesy of Florida Keys Public Libraries photo # MM00036141.Robert Hurst
Sampson 241kMoored at Trumbo Point, Naval Station Key West, FL, November 1978. Photo by Raymond L. Blazevic. Image from Flickr courtesy of Florida Keys Public Libraries photo # MM00036309.Robert Hurst
Sampson   Sampson   Sampson   Sampson
Welcome Aboard pamphlet - circa 1978
Wolfgang Hechler
Sampson   Sampson   Sampson
Welcome Aboard pamphlet - September 1979
Manuel García García
Sampson 85kThe Charles F. Adams-class USS Sampson (DDG 10) alongside the Forrest Sherman-class USS Barry (DD 933). Initially conceived as a missile-armed version of the Forrest Shermans, the Charles F. Adams-class ships had, as actually built, a larger hull with more freeboard forward, for dryness. Note different anchor locations on both ships, reflecting their different sonar domes positions. Barcelona, Spain, Sep. 2, 1979.Fabio Peña
Sampson 111kCloser view, as above.Fabio Peña
Sampson 81kCloser view, as above.Fabio Peña
Sampson 81kMediterranean 1979.Marc Piché
Sampson 55kDN-SC-83-10459. An SM-1 Standard missile is launched from the guided missile destroyer USS SAMPSON (DDG-10) near the Atlantic Fleet Weapons Training Facility (ATWTR), Puerto Rico. Photo by Rick Moore on June 11 1982.Bill Gonyo
Sampson 169kAt Genoa, Italy on December 22 1984.Carlo Martinelli
Sampson 58kTaken between July 1985 and July 1986. The photo was taken by Walt Anhorn, the Missile Officer at that time.Tim Morgan LCDR, SC, USNR
Sampson 70kOperating with USS DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER (CVAN-69) Battle Group, Eastern Mediteranean 1985.Edward H. Cleary
Sampson 95kCirca 1988-1989 while Greg was stationed on board as the Chief Engineer.Greg Krawczyk, Captain USNR
Sampson   Sampson   Sampson   Sampson   Sampson   Sampson
Welcome Aboard pamphlet - circa 1990
Wolfgang Hechler
Sampson   Sampson   Sampson   Sampson
Willkommen an Board pamphlet - circa 1990
Wolfgang Hechler
Sampson 124kDN-SC-91-06958. Crew members man the rails aboard the guided missile destroyer USS SAMPSON (DDG-10) as the ship returns to Mayport after serving in the Persian Gulf region during Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm. Photo by Julie Irwin, March 28 1991.Bill Gonyo
Sampson 60kCover of the decommissioning pamphlet June 24 1991.Gerd Matthes
Sampson 124kUSS Charles F. Adams (DDG-2) and USS Sampson (DDG-10) showing the gangway between the two ships while moored in the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard in November 1999. Photo from Warship Boneyards, by Kit and Carolyn Bonner.Robert Hurst
Sampson 57kShip's patch.Mike Smolinski
Sampson 88kShip's coin.Tommy Trampp

USS SAMPSON DDG-10 History
View This Vessels DANFS History Entry
(Located On The hazegray Web Site, This Is The Main Archive For The DANFS Online Project.)

Commanding Officers
Thanks to Wolfgang Hechler & Ron Reeves


CDR Forester William Isen Jr.    Jun 24 1961 - Sep 15 1962

CDR John Glennon Finneran    Sep 15 1962 - Dec 19 1963 (Later VADM)

CDR John Leighton Merrick    Dec 19 1963 - May 8 1965

CDR Robert Francis Schniedwind    May 8 1965 - Jan 19 1967

CDR Charles Arthur Reed    Jan 19 1967 - Jul 30 1968

CDR Thomas Joseph Bigley    Jul 30 1968 - Feb 9 1970 (Later VADM)

CDR Thomas Richard Kinnebrew    Feb 9 1970 - Apr 9 1971 (Later VADM)

CDR Arie Christiaan A. Sigmond    Apr 9 1971 - Jul 28 1972

CDR Richard Lew Carson    Jul 28 1972 - Jul 19 1974

CDR Robert Lee Whitmire    Jul 19 1974 - Sep 30 1976

CDR Albert Ludwig Bartels    Sep 30 1976 - Jul 28 1978

CDR Ted Perley Fenno    Jul 28 1978 - Aug 1980

CDR James F. Chandler    Aug 1980 - Jun 9 1983

CDR Jerrold Jay Negin    Jun 9 1983 - Aug 15 1985

CDR Dennis Irving Parsons    Aug 15 1985 - Feb 18 1988

CDR Earl Robert Jones    Feb 18 1988 - Jul 18 1988

CDR Marvin Richard Rice    Jul 18 1988 - Aug 1 1988

CDR Albert Clinton Myers    Aug 1 1988 - Aug 3 1990

CDR William Daniel (Bill) Sullivan    Aug 3 1990 - Jun 24 1991 (Later VADM)


Crew Contact And Reunion Information

None Located
Contact Name: Dave Brandt
Address:
Phone:
E-mail: drbrandt@ftc-i.net


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
USS Sampson Website
Adams Class Veterans Association Website
Tin Can Sailors Website
Destroyer History Foundation
Destroyers Online Website
Official U.S.Navy Destroyer Website

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This page was created by Fred Willishaw (ex ARG-4, AS-11 & DD-692) and is maintained by David L. Wright
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Last Updated 15 October 2017