USS Arthur W. Radford
Destroyer · United States · Lost 2011 · The New Jersey Coast
A retired Navy destroyer deliberately sunk off Cape May in 2011 as the largest warship ever placed on the New Jersey artificial reef system.
The Vessel and Her Loss
Arthur W. Radford was a Spruance-class destroyer built in the 1970s and later decommissioned by the U.S. Navy. In 2011, after extensive environmental cleanup, she was sunk on the Del-Jersey-Land Reef southeast of Cape May in a cooperative project among the Navy and the states of New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland. She remains upright on the bottom and is promoted as a premier wreck-diving and fishing destination.
Vessel
- 1974
- DD-968
- Litton Ingalls Shipbuilding
- Pascagoula, Mississippi
- Steel
- 563 ft
- 55 ft
- 9000
- Gas turbine, twin screw
- United States Navy
Loss
- August 10, 2011
- Intentional sinking
- Del-Jersey-Land Reef, about 28 nautical miles southeast of Cape May, New Jersey
- Atlantic Ocean
- Not established
- Not established
- 0
- 0
- Not established
The Wreck Today
- 130 ft
- Sits upright on the bottom, prepared and cleaned prior to sinking to remove PCB-containing materials
- Upright
- Not established
- Managed jointly by the New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland artificial reef programs
Position
- 38.514° N 74.511° W
- Surveyed position
- Cape May, New Jersey
Position as published by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection at time of reefing.
Evidence
Overall confidence: Well documented (90/100)
New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Fish & Wildlife
Reefing date, location, dimensions, and preparation details.
