Destroyer Squadron 26

Destroyer Squadron Twenty-Six
Current Destroyer Squadron Twenty-Six insignia
Active	1950–
Country	United States of America
Branch	United States Navy
Type	Destroyer Squadron
Role	Naval surface/strike/anti-aircraft warfare
Part of	Carrier Strike Group Ten Commander, Naval Surface Forces Atlantic
Garrison/HQ	Norfolk Naval Base
Motto(s)	Par Excellence
Engagements	Korean War Vietnam War Operation Enduring Freedom Operation Iraqi Freedom Operation Enduring Freedom - Afghanistan Operation New Dawn
Website	Official Website
Commanders
Commodore	Captain Brian Fort, USN
Deputy Commodore	Commander Zoah Scheneman, USN
Command Master Chief	GSCM(SW) Thomas E. Eicks, USN

Destroyer Squadron 26 (DESRON-26) is a destroyer squadron of the United States Navy. It was first created in 1950. It has seen action in Korea, service in the Atlantic, in Vietnam, and many deployments in the Atlantic. From 1974 for a period it became the 'Mod Squad', trialling ships commanded by officers one rank junior to the usual appointment rank.

In 1950, four general purpose destroyers were grouped into Destroyer Squadron Twenty-Six, which saw combat action in Korea until 1952. Following the end of the Korean War, the squadron departed the Pacific for a new homeport in Norfolk, Virginia. On February 6, 1961 I went aboard USS Corry (DDR-817) the day she returned to D&S Piers Norfolk from a Med Cruise. Corry was in DESRON 26, DESDIV 262. Commander H.W. Hiller was the CO and LCDR Crevier was XO.' In July 1964, Destroyer Squadron TWENTY-SIX became one of the Navy's three all guided missile squadrons consisting of six modern and versatile destroyers. The squadron also saw combat action off Vietnam with the U.S. Pacific Fleet from 1964 to 1970. From 1971 to 1974, Destroyer Squadron 26 was selected by the Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Elmo Zumwalt, to evaluate a new manning concept in which ships would be manned and commanded by outstanding officers one rank junior to those normally assigned. This "Mod Squad," as it was nicknamed, initiated the "Go Navy" cruise recruiting program with 626 prospective recruits embarked in the squadron's ships conducting operations off Newport, Rhode Island. On 1 January 1971, USS Blandy (DD-943) joined the squadron.

Since 1974, Destroyer Squadron 26 has participated in the first Anti-Air Warfare Training Ship Program, the first Atlantic Fleet Open Ocean Mobile Sea Range Operation, Operation Sail ("Review of the Tall Ships"), and the 1976 NATO Firepower Demonstration, operating with the United States Second Fleet. In April 1978, Destroyer Squadrons in the Atlantic were reorganized and Destroyer Squadron 26 was designated a tactical squadron. As such, it was responsible for the "at-sea" training and operations of destroyers and frigates during exercises and deployments, while administrative responsibilities were assigned to readiness squadrons who remained in homeport. In September 1995, as a result of the reorganization of Commander, Naval Surface Forces Atlantic, destroyer squadrons became permanent Immediate Superior In Command (ISIC) to all destroyers and frigates. This reorganization replaced all tactical destroyer squadrons and readiness squadrons and combined the duties and responsibilities of the two into the new destroyer squadron. USS Barry (DDG-52) was under command of (tactical) Destroyer Squadron 26 in 1993, 1994 and 1995, while administratively part of Destroyer Squadron 2. From August 31, 1995, in accordance with the reorganization, Destroyer Squadron 26 was to oversee the combat readiness of four ships, USS Barry (DDG-52), USS Arthur W. Radford (DD-968), USS Comte de Grasse (DD-974), and USS Samuel B. Roberts (FFG-58).