Named forAdmiral Robert E. Coontz (1864-1935), second Chief of Naval Operations (1 November 1919 - 21 July 1923).
Basic facts:
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 Puget Sound Navy Yard on March 1 1957. Launched December 6 1958 and commissioned July 15 1960. Reclassified Guided Missile Frigate DLG -9 November 14 1956. Decommissioned February 23 1971 and recommissioned March 18 1972. Reclassified Guided Missile Destroyer DDG -40 June 30 1975. Decommissioned October 2 1989. Stricken January 7 1990. Fate October 3 1989 moved from ISMF Philadelphia to ISMF Portsmouth, VA arriving October 5 1989. May 5 1993 sold to NR Aquisition for $232,270.10, arrived Wilmington, NC October 24 1994. Reposessed October 1 1996, moved by Moran Towing to ISMF Philadelphia October 13 1996. January 25 2002 sold to Metro for $97,275.00, removed April 1 2002. Scrap completed March 26 2003.
Source: http://www.navsource.org/archives/05/0209.htm
Naval Career of the USS Coontz:
Commissioned in 1960, she spent the early part of her career in the Pacific Ocean, participating in four tours of duty during the Vietnam War. In the early 1970s she transferred to the east coast and spent the remainder of her service years in the Caribbean Sea, Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean Sea, and Persian Gulf. She assisted in saving USS Stark after that ship was hit by Iraqi missiles. In 1975, as part of the Navy's reclassification process, all ships of her class were reclassified as guided missile destroyers (DDG).Hull number DLG-9