What were the Maddox and Turner Joy?
Mia Smith
Published Feb 09, 2026
What were the Maddox and Turner Joy?
Retiring to South Vietnamese waters, Maddox was joined by the destroyer USS Turner Joy. These runs into North Vietnamese territorial waters coincided with South Vietnamese coastal raids and were interpreted as coordinated operations by the North, which officially acknowledged the engagements of August 2, 1964.
Were the USS Maddox and USS Turner Joy attacked?
The American ship fights off the PT boats, which launch three torpedoes, none of which strike the Maddox. On August 3, the Maddox is joined by the USS Turner Joy in the Gulf. That night, it is reported that the Turner Joy was attacked. It is later discovered that the attack never happened.
What happened to USS Maddox?
August 2 the destroyer USS Maddox was attacked by North Vietnamese torpedo boats while on electronic surveillance patrol in the Gulf of Tonkin.
What is the significance of the USS Maddox?
This warship was involved in the Vietnam War’s only US naval surface engagement against North Vietnamese Navy torpedo boats from the 135th Torpedo Squadron (Gulf of Tonkin Incident), which led to direct open warfare between the nation of North Vietnam and the United States on 7 August 1964 (Tonkin Gulf Resolution).
Did the USS Maddox sink?
Maddox, who served in the Mexican–American War. Maddox was laid down on 7 May 1942 by the Federal Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Company, Kearny, New Jersey and launched on 15 September 1942; sponsored by Mrs….USS Maddox (DD-622)
| History | |
|---|---|
| United States | |
| Fate | Sunk by German air attack, 10 July 1943 |
| Stricken | 19 August 1943 |
| General characteristics |
What happened to the USS Turner Joy?
She participated extensively in the Vietnam War, and was one of the principal ships involved in the Gulf of Tonkin Incident. Decommissioned in 1982, she is now a museum ship in Bremerton, Washington.
Was USS Maddox sunk?
Maddox was laid down on 7 May 1942 by the Federal Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Company, Kearny, New Jersey and launched on 15 September 1942; sponsored by Mrs….USS Maddox (DD-622)
| History | |
|---|---|
| United States | |
| Fate | Sunk by German air attack, 10 July 1943 |
| Stricken | 19 August 1943 |
| General characteristics |
What really happened to the USS Maddox on that dark night in the Gulf of Tonkin?
On 2 August 1964, North Vietnamese patrol torpedo boats attacked the USS Maddox (DD-731) while the destroyer was in international waters in the Gulf of Tonkin.
Where is the USS Ticonderoga now?
After being decommissioned in 2004, Ticonderoga was stored at the Naval Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility in Philadelphia. She arrived in Brownsville, Texas for scrapping in 2020.
Who fired the first shot in the Vietnam War?
Henry Bluechel, Dewey refused to stop at a roadblock manned by three Viet Minh soldiers. He yelled back at them in French and they opened fire, killing Dewey instantly.