This site is dedicated to Bainbridge veterans and their families, containing a great deal of information and links to other information sources. We're hoping that you will sign the roster, seek out and reconnect with former shipmates.

Many sailors have called Bainbridge, with her pitch, roll, and yaw, their home and the many oceans on which she proudly sailed, having crossed the quarterdeck going ashore or back to sea over more than three decades, beginning with her commissioning in 1962, ending sadly with her decommissioning in 1995. She was a worthy vessel, with nuclear-powered stamina, state of the art armament, and an elite, highly trained crew, many of whom have honored this site with their names in its roster, and not a few of the listed having passed into Davy Jones Locker and into the arms of the Almighty.

We hope you enjoy sailing with us through our site and visiting links to other interesting sites.

The mission of the USS BAINBRIDGE was to operate offensively, either independently or with strike and amphibious forces, against air, sea, and land-based threats. With the unlimited endurance and cruising range provided by her nuclear propulsion plant, USS BAINBRIDGE possessed the capability for conducting extended operations without logistics support. USS BAINBRIDGE's advanced search and tracking radars, combined with her extended range Standard surface to air missiles and Harpoon cruise missiles, provided a robust capability for undertaking any assigned task.

The ship's seal contains a five-pointed star, denoting the rank of Commodore William Bainbridge USS CONSTITUTION, "Old Ironsides," is encircled with nuclear rings symbolizing the versatility and endurance provided by the ship's propulsion plant.

"Only a seaman realizes to what great extent an entire ship reflects the personality and ability of one individual...her Commanding Officer. To a landsman, this concept is difficult to understand, and for us mariners, it may be hard to comprehend, but it is so.

A ship at sea is a different world unto herself. In consideration of the protracted and distant operations of the fleet units, the Navy must place great power, responsibility, and trust in the hands of those leaders chosen for command.

In each ship, there is one man who, in the hour of emergency or peril at sea, can turn to no other man. There is one man who alone is ultimately responsible for the safe navigation, engineering performance, accurate gunfire, and morale of his ship. He is the Commanding Officer. He is THE SHIP."

This assignment is the most demanding and difficult in the Navy. There is not an instant during his tour as Commanding Officer that he can escape the grasp of command responsibility. His privileges in view of his obligations are almost ludicrously small; nevertheless, this is the spur which has given the Navy its great leaders.

It is a duty which most richly deserves the highest, time-honored title of the seafaring world.... CAPTAIN!"

-Joseph Conrad

This page is dedicated to all of the Bainbridge Commanding Officers.

VADM Raymond E. Peet 06 Oct1962 - 27 Jul 1964

CAPT Hal C. Castle 27 Jul 1964 - 17 Dec 1966

VADM James H. Doyle Jr.17 Dec 1966 - 30 Aug 1970

CAPT William R. Sheridan 30 Aug 1970 - 09 Feb 1974

RADM B. Bruce Newell 09 Feb 1974 - 26 Mar 1977

RADM T. A. Almstedt Jr. 26 Mar 1977 - 20 May 1980 

RADM J.F. Shaw 20 May 1980 - 24 Jun 1983 

VADM J. Paul Reason 24 Jun 1983 - 28 Jun 1986

CAPT J. Thomas Gilmartin 28 Jun 1986 - 23 Jun 1989

CAPT Laurence M. Bergen 23 Jun 1989 - 23 Dec 1991

CAPT G.M. Ziller JR 23 Dec 1991 - 24 Nov 1993

CAPT James M. Brown 24 Nov 1993 - Decom.