Naval Gunfire Support Ships Off Vietnam: The Complete Fleet List

Operation Sea Dragon, Market Time & Beyond: Ships That Struck the Coast

From 1965-1973, US Navy surface ships delivered millions of rounds of naval gunfire support (NGFS) against North Vietnamese and Viet Cong targets. The fleet evolved from WWII veterans to modern missile ships. Here's the comprehensive breakdown by class.

Battleships (The Heavy Hammers)

USS New Jersey (BB-62): Reactivated 1968-69, 1982-83 — 16"/50 guns (2,700 lb shells, 24 mi range) — only battleship in Vietnam
USS Wisconsin (BB-64): Reactivated 1988 — did NOT serve in Vietnam (source error corrected)

Correction: Only New Jersey served in Vietnam. Wisconsin reactivated later.

Cruisers (Gun & Missile)

Heavy Cruisers (8" guns):

USS Saint Paul (CA-73): 8"/55 triple turrets — extensive NGFS 1966-69

Guided Missile Cruisers (converted Baltimore/Oregon City class — Talos/Terrier):

USS Boston (CAG-1) — Terrier
USS Canberra (CAG-2) — Terrier
USS Chicago (CG-11) — Talos
USS Columbus (CG-12) — Talos
USS Albany (CG-10) — Talos

Light Cruisers (6" guns, CLG — Galveston/Providence/Oklahoma City):

USS Galveston (CLG-3) — Talos
USS Oklahoma City (CLG-5) — Talos — 7th Fleet flagship
USS Providence (CLG-6) — Terrier — 7th Fleet flagship

Destroyers (The Workhorses — 5"/38 & 5"/54 Guns)

Gearing/Sumner/Fletcher classes (5"/38):

USS Maddox (DD-731) — Gulf of Tonkin incident
USS Turner Joy (DD-951) — Gulf of Tonkin incident
USS Edson (DD-946) — Museum ship (MI)
USS McDermut (DD-677)
USS Ozbourn (DD-846)
USS Rowan (DD-782)
USS John R. Pierce (DD-753)
USS Frank E. Evans (DD-754) — collided with HMAS Melbourne 1969, 74 lost
USS Taylor (DD-468)
USS Renshaw (DD-499)
USS Waddell (DDG-24, ex-DD-697) — guided missile
USS Bache (DD-470)

Forrest Sherman class (5"/54):

USS Bigelow (DD-942)
USS Blandy (DD-943)
USS Berkeley (DDG-15) — guided missile

Frigates (Escort & Patrol)

USS Bronstein (FF-1037) — lead class
USS Sterett (FF-1046) — actually CG-31 (Belknap class) — source error
USS Ramsey (FFG-2) — Brooke class (guided missile)

Amphibious Ships (Secondary NGFS Role)

USS Mount McKinley (LCC-7) — Amphibious command
LPH (Helicopter carriers): Princeton (LPH-5), Tripoli (LPH-10), Valley Forge (LPH-8), Guam (LPH-9), Iwo Jima (LPH-2), Okinawa (LPH-3), Boxer (LPH-4)

Operational Context

Operation Sea Dragon (1966-68): Interdiction of NVN coastal logistics (trains, trucks, barges) — destroyers/cruisers
Operation Market Time: Coastal patrol (Swift boats, Coast Guard, destroyers) — blockade
DMZ support: 17th parallel — daily fires for Marines (Con Thien, Khe Sanh, etc.)
Spotters: Marine ANGLICO, Army FO, USAF OV-10, UH-1 — critical for accuracy
Ammunition: 5"/38 (50-70 lb), 5"/54 (70 lb), 6"/47 (105 lb), 8"/55 (260 lb), 16"/50 (1,900-2,700 lb)

Legacy

NGFS provided all-weather, responsive, precise firepower without air-risk. ~2.5M rounds fired by cruisers/destroyers. Ships like Saint Paul, Edson, Turner Joy became legends. Today, only USS Constitution and Zumwalt-class (AGS — cancelled) carry major guns. The gunline era ended with the last 5"/54 mounts—but in Vietnam, the fleet was the artillery.