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NavSource Online: Destroyer Photo Archive

DL-7 / DLG-7 / DDG-38 USS LUCE


Flag Hoist/Radio Call Sign - NOGH

Tactical Voice Radio Call Sign (circa 1968) - TEXAS RANGER

CLASS - FARRAGUT As Built.
Displacement 5648 Tons (Full), Dimensions, 512' 6" (oa) x 52' 4" x 17' 9" (Max)
Armament 1 x 5"/54 RF, 1 Terrier Missile SAM System, 1 ASROC ASW System,
6 x 12.75" MK 32 ASW TT.
Machinery, 85,000 SHP; Geared Turbines, 2 screws
Speed, 33 Knots, Range 5000 NM@ 20 Knots, Crew 360.
Operational and Building Data
Laid down by Bethlehem Steel, Quincy on October 1 1957.
Launched December 11 1958 and commissioned May 20 1961.
Reclassified Guided Missile Frigate DLG -7 November 14 1956.
Reclassified Guided Missile Destroyer DDG -38 June 30 1975.
Decommissioned April 1 1991.
Stricken November 20 1992.
Fate Sold for scrap, scrapping completed June 17, 2005.

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By
Luce 66kStephen Bleecker Luce, the father of the Navy's Training System and founder of the Naval War College, was born in Buffalo, New York on March 25, 1827. He entered the navy in 1841 at the age of 14 and served on board frigates in both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. In 1860 he was ordered to the U.S. Naval Academy where he served as Commandant of Midshipmen and prepared one of the best known textbooks on seamanship. During the Civil War he served with the Atlantic Coast Blockade and commanded the monitor NANTUCKET at the siege of Charleston Harbor. He also participated in operations along the Savannah River in 1865. After the Civil War, Admiral Luce was instrumental in establishing a nautical school for the training of seamen and developing the enlisted training system both ashore and afloat that has been employed by the U.S. Navy for over 127 years. As a direct result of this pioneer effort, the navy later established Training Centers, including those at Newport and Great Lakes. As a captain, Luce served as Inspector of Training Ships from 1878 to 1881 and as commodore, he commanded the U.S. Training Squadron from 1881 to 1884. Following that duty he was promoted to rear admiral and assumed command of the North Atlantic Squadron for a brief time. In 1884, and after several years of continuing effort, Admiral Luce succeeded in having the world's first Naval War College established at Newport, Rhode Island. His reason for urging the establishment of the college, as expressed in his own words, was "Good gunners, good engineers and good communications are found in every navy in time of war, but good admirals are always too few in number." Thus, the primary function of this institution is to train senior officers to think in terms of current fleet evolutions, to study and master broad strategic concepts and to prepare themselves for the handling of modern fleets in battle. Appropriately, Admiral Luce served as the first president of the Naval War College until 1886, when he again took command of the North Atlantic Squadron. He retired on March 25, 1889, after completing over 47 years of naval service. Rear Admiral Luce died on July 28, 1917 and is buried in St. Mary's Churchyard at Portsmouth, Rhode Island. Photo #: KN-711, Rear Admiral Stephen B. Luce, USN (1827-1917) oil on canvas, 54" x 40", by Alexander James (1890-1946) after E.P. Vinton. Painting in the U.S. Naval Academy Museum Collection. Gift of Stephen B. Luce, 1938. Official U.S. Navy Photograph.Tony Cowart/Robert M. Cieri
DLG-7
Luce 107kUndated, location unknown.-
Luce 73kUndated, location unknown.Roy Brooks FC1c/MN (SW) USNR
Luce 60kUndated, location unknown.Roy Brooks FC1c/MN (SW) USNR
Luce 57kUndated, location unknown.Roy Brooks FC1c/MN (SW) USNR
Luce 49kUndated, Charleston Navy Yard photograph.Robert Hall
Luce 219kBoston, July, 1961© Richard Leonhardt
Luce 73kBoston, July, 1961© Richard Leonhardt
Luce 47kAs DLG-7 New York July 1962.Marc Piché
Luce 31kAs DLG-7 Quebec July 1963.Marc Piché
Luce 44kAs DLG-7 Quebec July 1963.Marc Piché
Luce 183kPostcard sold in the ships store circa Oct 1965. The only credit showing on the card is "Printed by the Cruise Book Firm Burdette & Co. Boston 27, Mass."Bill Friebus
Luce 173kPostcard "Navy ship at submarine base, St Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, Color Photo by H. C. Magorian." Postally used March 5, 1966.Bill Friebus
Luce 134kOfficial US Navy Photograph of USS Luce (DLG-7), undergoing AAW Modernization at Philadelphia Naval Shipyard in 1970. Luce was decommissioned on 25 February 1970 for an extensive 15-month conversion as part of the Navy's Anti-Air Warfare Modernization Program. New radar and electronics were installed to replace less efficient units. The missile system was modified to permit the firing of two next generation missiles and to operate against sophisticated enemy countermeasures. The Naval Tactical Data System was also installed enabling Luce to exchange digital information by computer-to-computer radio links with similarly equipped ships and aircraft. She was then capable of making rapid and accurate identification, as well as precise control of weapons.Robert M. Cieri
Luce 53kThe cover of the Commissioning Ceremony Program for USS Luce (DLG-7), held at the Philadelphia Naval Base on 22 May 1971.Robert M. Cieri
Luce 91kThe schedule of events for the Commissioning Ceremony for USS Luce (DLG-7).Robert M. Cieri
Luce 107kThe rear cover of the Commissioning Program with a explanation of the meaning of the ship's insignia.Robert M. Cieri
Luce 82kFollowing the Commissioning Ceremony, invited guests were able to tour the ship.This is the Tour Route Diagram handed out for this purpose on 22 May 1971.Robert M. Cieri
DDG-38
Luce 110kUndated location unknown.-
Luce 101kUndated location unknown.-
Luce 51kUndated location unknown.-
Luce 66kUndated location unknown.-
Luce 84kUSS Luce (centre) accompanied on her starboard side by the Dutch A/S frigate Isaac Sweers (F 814) and the Norwegian frigate Stavanger (F 303). Astern of Luce is an unidentified Canadian 'St Laurent' or 'Restigouche' class DDE. On Luce's portside is the RN A/S frigate HMS Bacchante (F 69) and an unidentified West German 'Hamburg' class destroyer. Picture taken during a Standing Naval Force Atlantic (STANAVFORLANT) Exercise, date unknown.Robert Hurst
Luce 101kUndated location unknown.Wendell Royce McLaughlin Jr
Luce 80kCirca 1979, location unknown.Robert Hurst
Luce 26kAs DDG-38 Quebec September 4 1979.Marc Piché
Luce 103kAntwerp 1984.Marc Piché
Luce 74kMediterranean Sea, March 2 1988, a starboard bow view of the guided missile destroyer USS Tattnall (DDG-19) underway. Also visible is the frigate USS PAUL (FF-1080), the destroyer USS Stump (DD-978), the frigate USS Capodanno (FF-1093) and the guided missile destroyer USS luce (DDG-38).Fred Weiss
Luce 66kAt anchor somewhere in the Persian Gulf during the Iran-Iraq War.Robert Hurst
Luce 79kMediterranean Sea, March 12 1988, a starboard bow view of the guided missile destroyer USS Luce (DDG-38) underway.Fred Weiss
Luce 107kDN-SC-88-05385. A starboard bow view of the guided missile destroyer USS LUCE (DDG 38) underway. Photo by PH3 Houser, March 12 1988.Bill Gonyo
Luce 36kUSS Claude V. Ricketts (DDG-5), USS Sellers (DDG-11) and USS Luce (DDG-38) in Philadelphia July 16 1991.Marc Piché
Luce 33kSydney, Australia, May 1 1992, F-16 Fighting Falcon and F-111 aircraft fly in formation over the guided missile destroyer USS Luce (DDG-38) and a dock landing ship.Fred Weiss
Luce 98kPhiladelphia Naval Shipyard, August 31 2002, due to her location between the USS MacDonough (DDG-39) on her port side, and the USS Farragut (DDG-37) on her starboard side these were the best photos possible. Although she's been at the Naval Inactive Ships Maintenance Facility (NISMF) since 1991 with almost no upkeep (other than to keep her trimmed and afloat) the Luce is in remarkable condition. She's missing all her search radars, whip antennas, EW antennas (AN/SLQ-32), and the AN/SPG-55B radomes have been smashed to demilitarize her. It was difficult to see from her location, but it also appears that the 5" gun mount has been removed as well. (Roy also added a photo of the Charles F. Adams (DDG-2) for comparison)Roy J. Brooks
Luce 99kAs above.Roy J. Brooks
Luce 117kAs above.Roy J. Brooks
Luce 114kAs above.Roy J. Brooks
Luce 68kAs above.Roy J. Brooks
Luce 81kAs above.Roy J. Brooks
Luce 85kA series of three photos of the Luce as she appeared at the Naval Inactive Ship Maintenace facility Philadelphia September 2004.Jon White
Luce 120kAs above.Jon White
Luce 81kAs above.Jon White
Luce 101kA series of 21 photos of the scrapping of the Luce at Metro Machine.Jon White and Richard Owen of Metro Machine
Luce 25kAs above.Jon White and Richard Owen of Metro Machine
Luce 35kAs above.Jon White and Richard Owen of Metro Machine
Luce 40kAs above.Jon White and Richard Owen of Metro Machine
Luce 46kAs above.Jon White and Richard Owen of Metro Machine
Luce 51kAs above.Jon White and Richard Owen of Metro Machine
Luce 29kAs above.Jon White and Richard Owen of Metro Machine
Luce 53kAs above.Jon White and Richard Owen of Metro Machine
Luce 40kAs above.Jon White and Richard Owen of Metro Machine
Luce 70kAs above.Jon White and Richard Owen of Metro Machine
Luce 58kAs above.Jon White and Richard Owen of Metro Machine
Luce 46kAs above.Jon White and Richard Owen of Metro Machine
Luce 68kAs above.Jon White and Richard Owen of Metro Machine
Luce 50kAs above.Jon White and Richard Owen of Metro Machine
Luce 49kAs above.Jon White and Richard Owen of Metro Machine
Luce 34kAs above.Jon White and Richard Owen of Metro Machine
Luce 43kAs above.Jon White and Richard Owen of Metro Machine
Luce 69kAs above.Jon White and Richard Owen of Metro Machine
Luce 77kAs above.Jon White and Richard Owen of Metro Machine
Luce 49kAs above.Jon White and Richard Owen of Metro Machine
Luce 50kAs above.Jon White and Richard Owen of Metro Machine
Patches
Luce 46kShip's patch.Mike Smolinski
Luce 52kShip's patchMike Smolinski
Luce 47kShip's patchMike Smolinski
Luce 68kShip's patchMike Smolinski

USS LUCE DL-7 / DLG-7 / DDG-38 History
View This Vessels DANFS History Entry
(Located On The hazegray Web Site, This Is The Main Archive For The DANFS Online Project.)

Crew Contact And Reunion Information

Contact Name: Bob Speidel
Address: 618 Via Umbroso, San Clemente CA 92672
Phone: 949 366 2895
E-mail: bspeidel@mindspring.com


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 Luce (DLG-7) website
Tin Can Sailors Website
Destroyer History Foundation
Destroyers Online Website
Official U.S.Navy Destroyer Website

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