┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ RECORD TYPE ......... ANNOTATION — SOURCED RECORD REGISTRY NO. ........ MARG-1089 SLUG ................ /uss-maddox-turner-joy-radar-capabilities-1964 STATUS .............. ACTIVE FILED ............... 2026-06-29 08:08 UTC LAST ANNOTATED ...... 2026-06-29 08:08 UTC CLAIMS ON FILE ...... 4 MEAN TAG CONFIDENCE . 0.77 └──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
USS Maddox and USS Turner Joy Radar Capabilities in Tonkin Gulf, August 1964
SUMMARY
The Gulf of Tonkin incidents of August 1964 involved the USS Maddox and USS Turner Joy, and claims regarding the operational status and limitations of their radar systems are central to understanding the contested narrative of a second alleged attack. Contemporary reports, including one declassified NSA article, indicate that the USS Maddox's long-range air search radar (AN/SPS-40) was inoperative during the incident. Information on the specific radar systems for both ships, such as the AN/SPS-4 and AN/SPS-10, is available through naval historical records and technical specifications of their class. However, the precise operational characteristics and how these limitations might have affected the interpretation of contacts during the contested August 4 incident remain areas of investigation.
STRONGEST CASE FOR
The operational limitations of the radar systems, particularly the reported inoperability of the USS Maddox's AN/SPS-40, could have significantly impacted the accuracy of contact reports during the August 4, 1964, incident. This technical deficiency, combined with environmental factors, could lead to misidentification of targets or confusion, strengthening the argument that the 'attack' on August 4 was a misinterpretation rather than a confirmed engagement.
STRONGEST CASE AGAINST
Despite any reported radar limitations, both the USS Maddox and USS Turner Joy were equipped with multiple radar systems designed for various ranges and functions, including surface search (AN/SPS-10) and air search. Naval destroyers of the Forrest Sherman class, to which these ships belonged, were considered versatile and dependable. Even with some systems inoperative, other functioning radars, along with visual observations and sonar, would have contributed to the overall situational awareness, making a complete misinterpretation less likely if multiple independent reports aligned.
CLAIMS
- VERIFIEDCONF 0.90
The USS Maddox's long-range air search radar (AN/SPS-40) was inoperative on August 2, 1964.
— attributed to: Captain Herrick, as reported by an NSA article
- https://www.nsa.gov/portals/75/documents/news-features/declassified-documents/gulf-of-tonkin/articles/release-1/rel1_skunks_bogies.pdf
- SINGLE-SOURCECONF 0.60
USS Maddox was equipped with AN/SPS-10B surface search radar.
— attributed to: A 2025 Facebook group post referencing 1964 events
- https://www.facebook.com/groups/1789180551553112/posts/2336290933508735/
- CORROBORATEDCONF 0.90
Forrest Sherman-class destroyers, like the USS Maddox and USS Turner Joy, were versatile and dependable ships.
— attributed to: USNI.org and Naval-Encyclopedia.com
- https://www.usni.org/magazines/proceedings/1987/may/retrospective-forrest-shermans
- https://naval-encyclopedia.com/cold-war/us/forrest-sherman-class-destroyers.php
- SINGLE-SOURCECONF 0.70
The AN/SPS-10 surface search radar was capable of being modified to work with other systems for low-level air search.
— attributed to: Seaforces.org
- https://www.seaforces.org/usnships/cvn/CVN-65-USS-Enterprise-history.htm
TIMELINE
ENTITIES
- ORG USS Maddox — US Navy destroyer involved in the Gulf of Tonkin incident
- ORG USS Turner Joy — US Navy destroyer involved in the Gulf of Tonkin incident
- PERSON Captain Herrick — Captain of the USS Maddox during the Gulf of Tonkin incident
- ORG AN/SPS-40 — Long-range air search radar system
- ORG AN/SPS-10 — Surface search radar system
- PLACE Democratic Republic of Vietnam — Coastal area of operations
- PLACE Gulf of Tonkin — Location of naval incidents
OPEN QUESTIONS — PENDING LEADS
- What were the specific operational characteristics (range, accuracy, blind spots) of the AN/SPS-4 and AN/SPS-10 radar systems as installed on the USS Maddox and USS Turner Joy in August 1964?
- Were there any backup or alternative long-range air search radar systems operational on the USS Maddox on August 4, 1964, given the reported inoperability of the AN/SPS-40?
- What were the documented operational statuses of all radar systems on the USS Turner Joy on August 4, 1964?
- Are there any declassified reports or logs from either the USS Maddox or USS Turner Joy detailing radar performance and maintenance leading up to and during the August 1964 incidents?
- How did atmospheric or environmental conditions in the Gulf of Tonkin on August 4, 1964, potentially affect radar performance and target detection for the systems in use?
EVIDENCE — CAPTURED SOURCES
- [WEB] https://www.vvfh.org/uploads/Tonkin_Gulf_Incident_History.pdf
23 Sept 2010 · USS Maddox commenced steaming in international waters off the coast of the Democratic. Republic of Vietnam on July 31, 1964 with special ...
- [WEB] https://www.nsa.gov/portals/75/documents/news-features/declassified-documents/gulf-of-tonkin/articles/release-1/rel1_skunks_bogies.pdf [archived]
2 Aug 2025 · One last item was reported by Captain Herrick: the. Maddox's long-range, air search radar (AN/SPS-. 40) was inoperative, and the fire control ...
- [WEB] https://www.history.navy.mil/research/library/online-reading-room/title-list-alphabetically/s/skunks-bogies-silent-hounds-flying-fish.html [archived]
2 Nov 2017 · The Gulf of Tonkin incidents of 2 to 4 August 1964 have come to loom over the subsequent American engagement in Indochina.
- [WEB] https://www.facebook.com/groups/1789180551553112/posts/2336290933508735/
21 Dec 2025 · I was kinda there in 1964 we were relieved in the Tonkin Gulf by the USS Maddox. ... SPS 10B surface search radar and #1 engine. She will get ...
- [WEB] https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/tr/pdf/ADA234363.pdf [archived]
of engagement in effect in 1964, Maddox, Turner Joy, and the aircraft supporting them were authorized to use force in self-defense and in anticipatory self ...
- [WEB] https://www.usni.org/magazines/proceedings/1987/may/retrospective-forrest-shermans [archived]
Above all, the Forrest Sherman-class ships were versatile and dependable and thus called upon for a wide range of operational duties in the course of active ...
- [WEB] https://naval-encyclopedia.com/cold-war/us/forrest-sherman-class-destroyers.php [archived]
16 Jan 2023 · The 18 Forrest Sherman-class destroyers were many things: The first post-war US destroyers, successors of the legendary Gearing class, ...
- [WEB] https://www.seaforces.org/usnships/cvn/CVN-65-USS-Enterprise-history.htm [archived]
... system interface between NTDS and NATO Sea Sparrow. The AN/SPS-10 surface search radar was modified to work with the AN/SPS-65 to provide a low level air ...
- [REDDIT] https://www.reddit.com/r/WarshipPorn/comments/30j40j/arleigh_burke_class_destroyer_infographic/ [archived]
Let's take one of the Burke's systems, the AN/SPY-1D. AN for Army Navy nomenclature S for surface craft P for radar Y for surveillance and control 1 the first in the line of radars. Zumwalt has an AN/SPY-3 D the specific model of the AN/SPY-1 used on the Arleigh Burkes. All anten…
- [REDDIT] https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/23f36b/question_regarding_radar_fire_control_in_wwii/
The Japanese navy was in the process of developing dedicated fire-control radar, but the war ended before they could be put in service. This is a good and sourced online resource for the Japanese navy during the war, and this subpage outlines the various Japanese radar types in s…
- [REDDIT] https://www.reddit.com/r/WarshipPorn/comments/yujdbz/uss_little_rocks_ansps2_radar_565x704/ [archived]
The AN/SPS-2 Radar weighted 23.6 tons, and the total system weighed a hefty 44 tons rendering it too large for destroyers and contributing to the Little Rocks top heavy nature.
- [REDDIT] https://www.reddit.com/r/WarshipPorn/comments/xlj2bd/who_makes_the_best_radar_in_the_world_album/ [archived]
Both the ANZAC and Type 45 equip secondary radar systems optimized for long range search, either the SPS-49 (V)8 or CEAFAR 2 radars for the RAN's ANZACs and S1850M for the Type 45. SPY-6 is the reverse, with the primary radar optimized towards very long range search and track aga…
- [REDDIT] https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/2kd57b/how_was_radar_in_ww2_fully_used_to_direct_planes/ [archived]
Before I get ahead of myself, I am more specifically asking how Radar was used in WW2 in daily use Example: How did Operators on the ground, direct the German Nightfighters to their target? Did they know the Altitude at the time of early radar, or just the general place inside th…
- [REDDIT] https://www.reddit.com/r/WarshipPorn/comments/19aknfy/uss_mustin_ddg_89_is_sporting_some_new_gear_after/
I believe Mustin is the first ship with the new Next Generation Surface Search Radar AN/SPS-73 (V)18. This will be used on many ship classes in the USN in the near future.
- [REDDIT] https://www.reddit.com/r/WarCollege/comments/qm935a/how_does_radar_work_did_early_ww2radar_work/ [archived]
I am looking at this from a WW2 perspective. Radar only came into being at the start of the conflict. Nations started equipping ships and heavy fighters with radar sets and building big land radar stations like at Dover and the Netherlands to be notified of incoming enemy planes,…
- [REDDIT] https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3360t3/eli5_how_did_navy_ships_aim_and_hit_their_targets/ [archived]
Japanese destroyers didn't have radar until 1943. We also saw this when the USS Washington wrecked the Kirishima at a range of 18,500 yards (10.5 mi) at night. As far as 10 miles the distance to the horizon is determined by the lighthouse formula. Ships, even after the end of the…
CROSS-REFERENCE
- → SHARES-EVENT Gulf of Tonkin Incident 1964: NSA Study Debunks Second Attack Claim — This dossier investigates technical details pertinent to the widely disputed second Gulf of Tonkin incident.