USS Barry (DD-933) facts for kids

Barry, 1971
Quick facts for kids History
United States
Name	Barry
Namesake	John Barry
Ordered	15 December 1952
Builder	Bath Iron Works
Laid down	15 March 1954
Launched	1 October 1955
Sponsored by	Mrs. Francis Rogers
Acquired	31 August 1956
Commissioned	7 September 1956
Decommissioned	5 November 1982
Stricken	31 January 1983
Status	Currently undergoing scrapping at Brownsville, Texas
General characteristics
Class and type	Forrest Sherman-class destroyer
Displacement	4,050 tons
Length	418 ft 6 in (128 m)
Beam	45 ft (13.7 m)
Draught	19 ft 6 in (5.9 m)
Propulsion	70,000 shp (52.2 MW); Geared turbines, two propellers
Speed	33 knots (61 km/h; 38 mph)
Range	4500 nautical miles (8,300 km)
Complement	337
Electronic warfare & decoys	5
Armament	(in 1956) 3 × 5 in (127 mm)/54, 2 × 3 in (76 mm)/50 twin mounts, 2 × ASW hedgehogs (Mk 11), 4 × 21 inch (533 mm) Mk 25 torpedo tubes (in 1967) 2 × 5 in (127 mm)/54, 1 × ASROC launcher 2 × triple 13 in Mk 32 torpedo tubes

The USS Barry (DD-933) was a destroyer ship of the United States Navy. She was one of eighteen ships in the Forrest Sherman class. The Barry was named after Commodore John Barry, a hero of the American Revolution. She was the third U.S. destroyer to carry his name.

The Barry was launched in 1955 and served for many years. She spent most of her time in the Caribbean Sea, the Atlantic Ocean, and the Mediterranean Sea. She also took part in the Vietnam War, where she earned two battle stars for her service. A very important event in her history was the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962.

After being taken out of service in 1982, the Barry became a museum ship called "Display Ship Barry" (DS Barry). She was located at the Washington Navy Yard in Washington, D.C. from 1984. However, keeping her as a museum ship became too expensive. Also, a new bridge was planned that would have trapped her at the Navy Yard. Because of this, the ship had to be scrapped. A special ceremony was held on October 17, 2015, and she was towed away on May 7, 2016, to be taken apart.

Building the USS Barry

The Barry was built at the Bath Iron Works Corporation in Bath, Maine. Her construction started on March 15, 1954. She was launched into the water on October 1, 1955. Mrs. Francis Rogers, a relative of Commodore Barry, was her sponsor. This means she officially named the ship. The Barry was officially put into service on September 7, 1956, at the Boston Naval Shipyard in Charlestown, Massachusetts. Commander Isaac C. Kidd, Jr. was her first commanding officer.

Early Years: 1956–1959

After being built, the Barry spent time testing her new equipment. This included her electronics, anti-submarine warfare (ASW) gear, and gun systems. In January 1957, she sailed to Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, for more training. She visited several ports in Latin America, like Kingston, Jamaica, and Santa Marta, Colombia.

Barry around 1956, shortly after being commissioned.

In February 1957, the destroyer traveled through the Panama Canal. She visited Ecuador, Peru, and Chile as part of a "goodwill" tour. This helped build friendly relationships with these countries. After returning to Boston in March, she had some repairs.

In June 1957, the Barry went on her first trip to Europe. She visited France, Portugal, and Gibraltar. She then joined the US 6th Fleet in the Mediterranean Sea. Her jobs included protecting aircraft carriers and looking for enemy submarines. She returned to Newport, Rhode Island, in August.

In 1958, the Barry prepared for another trip to the Mediterranean. On July 14, a new government took over in Iraq. The government of Lebanon worried about similar problems and asked the United States for help. President Dwight D. Eisenhower sent Marines to Lebanon. The Barry helped by patrolling the Lebanese coast and protecting carriers. She returned home in September. Later that year, she received a new bow-mounted sonar system, which is like an underwater radar.

Exploring Europe: 1960–1962

In June 1960, the Barry went on a summer tour to Northern Europe. She visited England, Germany, the Netherlands, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, and Belgium. During this trip, she showed off her new sonar technology to other navies. She also conducted sonar demonstrations with friendly submarines. This helped other countries see how advanced U.S. naval technology was.

After returning home, the Barry continued her training exercises. In June 1962, she sailed to the Mediterranean again with a group of ships. For two months, she watched Soviet merchant ships sailing from the Black Sea towards Cuba. This was an important observation before the Cuban Missile Crisis.

The Cuban Missile Crisis

Barry, a P-3A Orion plane, and the Soviet ship Metallurg Anosov in November 1962.

On October 16, 1962, President John F. Kennedy learned that the Soviet Union was building nuclear missile sites in Cuba. The Barry was in Newport for repairs at this time. On October 22, President Kennedy announced a "strict quarantine" (blockade) of all military equipment heading to Cuba. The Barry quickly left Newport with other destroyers.

She worked with the aircraft carrier Essex, protecting it and looking for submarines. On October 28, she was ordered to watch a Soviet submarine, C-19, which was on the surface. The Barry kept a close eye on it until it submerged.

The Barry stayed on patrol until November 8. On November 9, she was ordered to check a Soviet merchant ship. She got close to the ship, identified it as the Metallurg Anosov, and took photos of its cargo. The merchant ship was heading away from the quarantine zone. After this, the Barry returned to the Essex. Her part in the Cuban Missile Crisis was over.

Training and Repairs: 1962–1965

After the Cuban Missile Crisis, the Barry returned to Newport. She continued training exercises, including anti-submarine warfare drills. In June 1963, she went into the Boston Naval Shipyard for maintenance. That summer, she took midshipmen (Navy students) on a training cruise along the East Coast. They even experienced a hurricane near Bermuda.

In March 1964, the Barry helped another ship, the Antares, which had a serious fire. The Barry's crew helped put out the fire after an 18-hour battle. Later that year, she took part in a NATO exercise with German destroyers.

In September 1964, the Barry sailed for a three-and-a-half-month trip to Europe and the Mediterranean. She crossed the Arctic Circle during NATO exercises in the Norwegian Sea. She also visited many cities like Valencia, Spain, and Naples, Italy. She returned to Newport in December.

In 1965, the Barry went to the Caribbean for training. In June, she helped as a recovery ship for the Gemini 4 space mission. She also won an award for her excellent anti-submarine warfare skills. She then prepared for her first deployment to Vietnam. She was the flagship for a group of destroyers from the Atlantic Fleet heading to Vietnam.

Service in the Vietnam War

The Barry passed through the Panama Canal on October 6, 1965. After stopping in Hawaii and Midway, she arrived in the Philippines in November. She then sailed to the South China Sea with a task group that included the aircraft carrier Enterprise.

Patch of the USS Barry (DD-933)

In December, the Barry protected the Enterprise while it launched air strikes against enemy positions in South Vietnam. Later, the Barry was sent to the South Vietnamese coast for gunfire support. Her 5-inch (127 mm) guns fired on enemy supply points and trenches near the Saigon River. She also supported troops in the Mekong Delta region. She fired about 1,500 rounds in support of ground forces.

In January 1966, the Barry continued to protect the Enterprise as it launched strikes against targets in North Vietnam. These targets included bridges, roads, and supply centers. After 48 days of continuous combat operations, the task group arrived in the Philippines for repairs.

However, the Barry quickly received new orders for "special operations" in South Vietnam. She was to provide naval gunfire support for the landing of 5,000 Marines north of Duc Pho. This was a large combat assault. The Barry fired on enemy positions and helped patrol the coast to stop enemy infiltration. She fired over 700 more 5-inch rounds in combat.

The Barry earned two battle stars for her service in the Vietnam War.

Updates and Deployments: 1966–1970

After Vietnam, the Barry sailed across the Indian Ocean, through the Suez Canal, and back to Newport, completing a trip around the world in April 1966.

Barry during testing of the new Mk 86 gun fire control system in 1966.

In 1966, the Barry was used to test a new Mk 86 fire control system for her guns. This involved installing new radar and an experimental gun platform. She also received a new sonar system.

In January 1967, the Barry began a major overhaul and anti-submarine warfare (ASW) conversion. She was taken out of service temporarily. During this time, she received a new variable depth sonar (VDS), an ASROC (anti-submarine rocket) launcher, a new combat information center, and an enclosed bridge. She was put back into service in April 1968.

Barry in 1969 after her ASROC launcher was installed.

In May 1969, the Barry went on a six-week cruise in the Caribbean for training. Later, she went to Europe for a four-month deployment in the North Atlantic, including operations in the Arctic Circle. She visited cities like Antwerp, Belgium, and Oslo, Norway, for goodwill visits. In December, she rescued the crew of a disabled helicopter.

For the next two years, the Barry followed a routine schedule of training, exercises, and port visits. In 1972, she prepared to change her home port to Athens, Greece, as part of a new program.

Mediterranean Operations: 1972–1976

The Barry arrived in Athens, Greece, on September 1, 1972. She joined other destroyers there. She took part in NATO exercises with Greek and Turkish ships. She also visited Italy, Spain, and Turkey. In January 1973, she even spotted a Soviet submarine.

In October 1973, during the Yom Kippur War between Arab nations and Israel, the Barry was in a shipyard for repairs. However, all crew members were called back to the ship to prepare for deployment. She was needed as an anti-submarine screen ship for Marines stationed near the Suez Canal.

On November 16, 1973, a Marine helicopter crashed onto the Barry's ASROC deck during a routine flight. It then rolled over the side and sank. No one on the Barry was hurt, and two of the three helicopter crewmen were rescued. The ship returned to Athens for repairs.

Barry, USS Sampson (DDG-10), and USS Richard L. Page (DEG-5) at Piraeus, Greece, in 1974.

In 1974, the Barry continued patrol operations. In July, during the Cyprus Crisis, she saw the Greek fleet leave its base. The Barry helped evacuate military personnel from Athens to Naples, Italy. She then returned to the Aegean Sea for tense operations during the crisis.

In 1975, the Greek government ended the naval station agreement, so the Barry prepared to leave Athens. She departed on July 20 and arrived in Philadelphia on August 20, after 36 months of being deployed forward. She spent the rest of the year in port. She also received the Arleigh Burke award, presented by Admiral Isaac Kidd, her first commanding officer.

Final Years of Service: 1977–1982

In February 1976, the Barry entered the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard for a major overhaul. She left the shipyard in February 1977 and moved her homeport to Mayport, Florida. She then began training for her fifth deployment to the Mediterranean.

In September 1977, she joined the aircraft carrier America and sailed to Lisbon, Portugal, and Naples, Italy. In November, the Barry helped rescue two crewmembers from an aircraft that crashed while trying to land on the America.

Barry in 1978.

In January 1978, the Barry shadowed Soviet aircraft carriers in the Eastern Mediterranean. She observed their operations before returning to Italy. She participated in more NATO exercises and visited several European cities, including Copenhagen, Denmark, and Helsinki, Finland. She returned to Mayport in November.

In 1979, the Barry continued training and prepared for another Mediterranean deployment. She visited Tunis, Tunisia, and Monaco. In June, she transited the Suez Canal and sailed to Djibouti and Karachi, Pakistan. Due to events in Iran, she was sent to the Persian Gulf to support American civilians and reassure friendly countries. She patrolled the Strait of Hormuz until July, then returned to the Mediterranean and finally home to Mayport in September.

In January 1980, the Barry's homeport was changed to Boston, and she entered the Bethlehem Steel Shipyard for a year-long overhaul. Her crew moved ashore while the ship's engines, electronics, and weapons systems were repaired. She returned to sea in March 1981 for testing and training.

USNS Apache (T-ATF-172), a U.S. Navy tugboat, towing the decommissioned Barry up the Anacostia River on November 18, 1983. This was when the Barry arrived to become a museum ship at the Washington Navy Yard.

In November 1981, the Barry sailed for a deployment to the Middle East. She transited the Suez Canal and joined a battle group in the Red Sea. She took part in Operation "Bright Star '82" as a screen and gunfire support ship. She visited Mombasa, Kenya, and patrolled the Persian Gulf until March 1982, returning to Newport in April.

In her final months, the Barry supported the "Tall Ships '82" race and hosted an Italian cruiser. On November 5, 1982, the Barry was officially taken out of service. She was then towed to the Inactive Ship Facility at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard.

The USS Barry as a Museum Ship

The U.S. Navy museum ship USS Barry (DD-933) at the Washington Navy Yard in 1994. She was open to the public from 1984 to 2015.

After the Barry was decommissioned, Admiral Arleigh Burke suggested that a U.S. Navy display ship should be at the Washington Navy Yard. The Navy chose the Barry. She was towed from Philadelphia and arrived at the Washington Navy Yard on November 18, 1983.

After volunteers helped repaint the ship and set up museum displays, the Barry opened to the public as Display Ship Barry (DS Barry) in 1984. She was a popular attraction, especially for school groups. In 1990, about 500,000 people visited her. She also hosted retirement ceremonies for Navy officers and appeared in the background of TV shows like NCIS.

Why the USS Barry Was Scrapped

The number of visitors to the Barry started to decrease after 1990. By 2015, only about 10,000 people visited each year. Even though her hull was still good, the ship needed about $2 million in repairs. The U.S. Navy decided this was too expensive for the low number of visitors.

Also, the city of Washington, D.C., planned to replace the Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge with a new fixed bridge. The old bridge could swing open to let ships pass, but the new one would not. Building a new swing bridge would have cost an extra $140 million. A fixed bridge would trap the Barry in the Anacostia River.

Because of these reasons, the Navy decided to close the DS Barry and have her scrapped before the new bridge was built. During the summer of 2015, items from the ship, like communication gear, were removed for display in other museums. A special farewell ceremony was held on October 17, 2015, at the Washington Navy Yard.

DD-933 being towed under the Senator William V. Roth Jr. Bridge on May 8, 2016, on her way to Philadelphia.

On May 7, 2016, the Barry's masts were cut down. She was then towed from the Washington Navy Yard by tugboats. As she was towed down the Anacostia River, a Washington, D.C., fireboat saluted her with water cannons, and the Navy anthem "Anchors Aweigh" was played. The Barry was towed to the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, where she would be prepared for scrapping.

Awards and Honors

The USS Barry received several awards for her service:

• Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (four times) for service during the 1958 Lebanon crisis
• National Defense Service Medal
• Navy Expeditionary Medal for the Cuban Missile Crisis
• Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal for the Cuban Missile Crisis
• Vietnam Service Medal
• Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
• Meritorious Unit Commendation for the Jordanian-PLO conflict

Images for kids

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  Awards displayed on the museum ship in 2012.

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  Barry's bridge

• This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.
• This article includes information collected from the Naval Vessel Register, which, as a U.S. government publication, is in the public domain. The entry can be found here.

• USS Barry (DD-933) at Historic Naval Ships Association