Construction of the boat, laid down by Puget Sound Navy Yard, began in March of 1957 and was completed in November of 1958. The USS King was officially commissioned November 17th, 1960, however she was launched a year earlier on December 6th, 1958. The ship was named in honor of the late Fleet Admiral Ernest Joseph King. Built as a Farragut-Class Destroyer, She had a displacement of 5648 tons when full. Her dimensions were 512'6" (oa) x 52' 4" x 17'9" (max) and she was equipped with an armament of a 1x 5" /54 RF, Single Terrier Surface to Air missile system and a single ASROC Anti-Submarine Warfare System.
Her machinery, 85,000 SHP powered by twin geared turbines was guided by two screws, which allowed a maximum speed of 33 knots, or a range of 5000 nautical miles at 20 knots. She could accommadate a crew of 360 Sailors.
She was reclassified as a Guided Missile Frigate DLG -10 on November 14 1956, and again as a Guided Missile Destroyer DDG -41 on June 30 1975.
She was Decommissioned March 28 1991, and stricken November 20 1992. Her fate had her sold on April 15 1994 and she was broken up for scrap By J&L Metals, Wilmington N.C. during 1995.
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