USS Chandler (DDG-996) was the final vessel in the Kidd class of guided-missile destroyers operated by the United States Navy. Built upon the design lineage of the Spruance class, the Kidd class ships were tailored for air defense operations in hot climates, featuring robust construction to withstand challenging environments. The USS Chandler was originally ordered by Iran under the name Andushirvan, but the order was canceled following the Iranian Revolution of 1979, preventing her delivery to Iran. Constructed and commissioned in 1982, USS Chandler was equipped with heavy-duty air conditioning systems and filtration capabilities, making her well-suited for operations in the Persian Gulf and Mediterranean Sea, especially in sandy and NBC warfare environments. Her design emphasized resilience and operational readiness in extreme conditions. Throughout her service, USS Chandler played a strategic role in maritime defense, although her career was marked by a notable incident in June 1985. During this event, she was involved in an accident on the Columbia River, which led to a legal case. The ship was sued under Admiralty law by a barge owner who claimed that Chandler's negligent actions caused a dangerous swell known as a soliton. The District Court of Oregon found that the ship’s officers breached their duty to exercise reasonable care, and the plaintiff was awarded damages for the incident. USS Chandler was decommissioned in 1999 after nearly two decades of service. She was later transferred to the Republic of China in 2004, renamed Wu Teh (DDG-1805), and subsequently recommissioned in 2006 as ROCS Ma Kong (DDG-1805). Her service history and transfer signify her importance as a versatile and resilient guided-missile destroyer, with a notable operational and legal footprint in U.S. naval history.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.