The USS Paulding (DD-576) was a Gearing-class destroyer of the United States Navy, launched on 18 December 1945. It was named after Rear Admiral John Paulding, who served in the U.S. Navy during the 19th century. The ship was designed for anti-submarine warfare and surface action, featuring advanced radar and weaponry for its time. Commissioned on 28 June 1946, the USS Paulding served primarily in the Atlantic Fleet and participated in various training exercises and operations during the Cold War. The destroyer was decommissioned on 1 July 1970 and later sold for scrap in 1974.