The Kidd class destroyers (often called the "dead-admiral" class) are a series of vessels based upon the hull of the Spruance class destroyers. These ships were originally ordered by the Shah of Iran for service in the Persian Gulf in an air defense role.

The vessels were not able to be delivered before the 1979 Iranian Revolution, so they were instead commissioned in the U.S. Navy. Because they were equipped with heavy-duty air conditioning and other features that made them suitable in hot climates, they tended to be used in the Middle East, specifically the Persian Gulf itself.

They were all decommissioned from the U.S. Navy in the late 1990s. They are in the process of being transferred to the Republic of China and expect to be delivered by winter 2005-2006 They were sold for a price of $732 million. [1]

List of ships

• Kidd (DDG-993), formerly Kouroush, will be Chi Teh (1981–1998)
• Callaghan (DDG-994), formerly Daryush, will be Ming Teh (1981–1998)
• Scott (DDG-995), formerly Nader, will be Tong Teh (1981–1998)
• Chandler (DDG-996), formerly Andushirvan, will be Wu Teh (1982–1999)

External links

Haze Gray page