DDG-1 Gyatt
Gyatt (DD-712) was a Gearing (DD-710) class destroyer originally commissioned in July 1945, too late for service during World War Two. Gyatt entered the Boston Naval Shipyard 26 September 1955 and decommissioned 31 October for conversion to the Navy's and the world's first guided missile destroyer. Gyatt was fitted with a twin Terrier launcher replacing the aft 5" gun mounts. The magazine carried 14 missiles. In addition to twin Terrier guided missile launchers, she received the Navy's first Denny-Brown stabilization system-two 45-square-foot retractable fins extending out from midships well below the waterline to greatly reduce pitch and roll on the sea.
Her hull clasification was changed to DDG-712 as of 01 December 1956. Gyatt recommissioned 2 days later. The Gyatt was the third US Navy warship to carry the "guided-missile" designation, following the Boston (CAG-1) and Canberra (CAG-2).
The new guided missile ship, a potent weapon in America's expanding arsenal, spent nearly 3 years of intensive evaluation and development work along the Atlantic coast. On 23 May 1957 her hull number was changed to DDG-1 in recognition of her pioneering position. She sailed to join the 6th Fleet 28 January 1960, the first guided missile destroyer to deploy with an oversea fleet. By the time of her arrival back in Charleston, her new home port, 31 August 1960, Gyatt had participated in fleet readiness and training operations throughout the Mediterranean.
On her return Gyatt joined in America's space program, taking nose-cone recovery station 5 to 10 November 1960 and 24 to 26 April 1961 to aid in "Project Mercury," thus operating in another new area of expanding sea-power. With another world crisis pending over the status of Berlin, she again sailed 3 August 1961 to bolster the flexing and powerful arm of the 6th Fleet in the Mediterranean. She remained on alert posture with the "steelgray stabilizers" in the Mediterranean until 3 March 1962, then resumed training along the eastern seaboard out of Charleston, S.C.
Gyatt entered the Charleston Naval Shipyard 29 June 1962 for overhaul that included the removal of her missile system and installation of newly developed equipment that would prepare her for specialized service with the Operational Test and Evaluation Force. Her classification changed from a guided missile destroyer DDG-1 back to conventional destroyer DD-712 1 October 1962. Her preparations were complete by 1 January 1963 when Gyatt arrived in Norfolk for continuing experimental work under Operational Test and Evaluation Force in waters reaching into the Caribbean Sea.
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