AD-38
Displacement 20,260
Length 643'
Beam 85'
Draw 22'6"
Speed 20 k
Complement 1,806
Armament 1 5"
Class Samuel Gompers

Puget Sound (AD-38), the second of the AD-37 class destroyer tenders, was laid down 15 February 1965 at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, Wash.; launched 16 September 1966; sponsored by Mrs. Gale McGee, wife of the Senior United States Senator from Wyoming, and commissioned 27 April 1968 at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Capt. R. B. Jacobs in command.

After outfitting and builders trials at Puget Sound, the new tender steamed 17 August on the first leg of her voyage to join the Atlantic Fleet. She called at San Francisco and Acapulco before shakedown at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba 6 September through 4 October.

Calls at the Virgin Islands and Mayport, Fla. 6-13 October were followed by final acceptance trials. Puget Sound arrived Newport, R.I., her homeport, 16 October. After post-shakedown availability at Boston Naval Shipyard 15 November-13 December, the tender returned to Newport to commence her tending duties in earnest and to serve as Flagship for Commander, Cruiser-Destroyer Force, Atlantic. She serves the Fleet at Newport into 1970.