The Samuel Gompers-class destroyer tenders were a class of ships that served the United States Navy from 1967 to 1996. Their namesake was union leader Samuel Gompers.
History The Samuel Gompers-class was the first class of destroyer tenders designed by the U.S. Navy, twenty years after the preceding Shenandoah-class. The ships were specifically designed to be able to service ships with nuclear propulsion or with gas turbines. The ships were also able to service the variety of guided missiles coming into service. They also had a helicopter platform aft, although only was later fitted with a hangar, when she served as flagship of the United States Sixth Fleet.Stefan Terzibatschitsch: Seemacht USA, Volume 2, Bechtermünz Verlag, Augsburg (Germany), 1997, pp. 652-655. Both ships were originally armed with a World War II-vintage 5"/38 caliber gun turret forward. The construction of two additional ships (AD-39, AD-40) was cancelled in 1969 and 1974. Paul H. Silverstone: U.S. Warships since 1945. Ian Allan Ltd., London (UK), 1986, p. 145.
Ships in class Ship name Builder Laid down Launched Commissioned Decommissioned Fate DANFS NVR PageAD-37Puget Sound Naval Shipyard7 September 196414 May 19661 July 196727 October 1995Sunk as target, 22 July 2003AD-3815 February 196516 September 196627 April 196827 January 1996Sold for scrap, 2008
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