USS RADFORD

SPENCER, WV

The USS RADFORD (DD-446) is a Fletcher-class destroyer that served in the United States Navy during World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. It was commissioned on February 22, 1943, and named after Rear Admiral William Radford, who served in the American Civil War and the Spanish-American War.

After its service in the Navy, the USS RADFORD was decommissioned and transferred to the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources in 1994. It was then sunk in the Sutton Lake near Spencer, WV, in 2001 to create an artificial reef and a recreational diving site.

The ship is approximately 376 feet long and 39 feet wide, with a displacement of 2,924 tons. It carried a crew of 329 sailors and was armed with five 5-inch guns, ten 40mm guns, and seven 20mm guns.

Today, the USS RADFORD is a popular attraction for scuba divers and snorkelers due to its location in the clear, freshwater lake. The ship sits upright on the lake bottom at a depth of 90 feet and has become home to various fish and other aquatic life. Its presence also supports the local economy, as many visitors come to the area to explore the underwater site.

USS RADFORD is a History Museum in SPENCER WV. US MID #8405400120

The museum is classed as HST (History Museums). It comes under American Alliance of Museums (AAM) region: Southeastern (Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia).

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U S S RADFORD 446 INC
482 WINDYVILLE ROAD
SPENCER
WV
25276-8792

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