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During this time 39 were refitted, reducing their overall main armament and the number of torpedo tubes. This meant passing a second bight around the bollard on the pier or the ship alongside. Thanks for the experience. Four Fletchers have been preserved on public display. I made 2 deployments, home ported out of Pearl Harbor. On a small ship, this is usually a collateral duty. I was a radioman aboard this ship. What they got was a destroyer design that was effective enough to provide excellent service in World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam Wars. He does not normally stand watch underway. Named after a swashbuckling Union Civil War captain, the Porter was one of 175 Fletcher-class destroyers built during World War II. They did not stand regular watches but they were the people you called when something failed to operate properly. The lowest . Next we will describe the process for getting underway from alongside another ship or a pier. Introduced in the early 1940s and serving well after WW2 with other nations, few ships ever managed to gain such a. A whole bunch of information is conveyed very concisely. Built for speed and capability, USS Cassin Young engaged in seven Pacific battles in World War II, survived two Kamikaze hits, and served another full decade beyond her expected lifetime. A major reason for these differences was the greater reliance on radar that developed during the war and the establishment of the Combat Information Center (CIC). In September 2019 its crew took her to Thessaloniki for a short 3-month stay. Frequently a junior officer was assigned as the Administrative Officer or Ship Secretary with additional duty as X Division Officer. Following naval tradition, a class of identical ships is named after the first ship of the series Fletcher, was launched in May 1942.Fletcher-class destroyers became one of the most successful weapon systems deployed in World War II, with 175 built and a few still in service around the world well after 1990. The BT rating was considered to have the hottest and dirtiest jobs in the navy. His office was referred to as the Log Room and he would designate one bright young sailor as the Log Room Yeoman to help with the paperwork. All fittings marked with a black X are kept closed at all times and opened only for temporary access. Velos still retains its complete armament and equipment(as modernized in 1950s). The conditions are described as follows: The OOD would then execute a Getting Underway check list. Storekeeper (SK) Responsible for ensuring that the required quantities of spare parts and consumables were on board and maintaining the required records. In the interest of reduced manning levels, did the Radiomen copy fleet broadcast via teletype instead of morse? [8] The first design inputs were in the fall of 1939 from questionnaires distributed around design bureaus and the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations. Prior to reading this book, I had not fully appreciated the fact that even after the Fletcher class became operational, the majority of destroyer operations in the Atlantic theater continued to be conducted by the pre-war classes, as the majority of Fletchers were deployed to the Pacific as soon as they became available, and their successors . Answer (1 of 4): Few destroyer classes of WW2 were able to reload their torpedoes whilst at sea, below I have listed several that can. During his 30 year naval career he held two ship commands and served a total of 8 years on naval material inspection boards, during which he conducted trials and inspections aboard over 200 naval vessels. The 1941 building program was to have consisted entirely of new Fletcher-class destroyers. On Halsey Powell, our Ops Officer was also assigned as navigator, although that was not universal practice aboard destroyers. There were 3 K-guns on each side. I served as a 2nd Class Torpedoman aboard the Fletcher-class destroyer USS Morrison DD560 from its christening on Dec.18, 1943, until we were sunk by a . Not a member of the Naval Institute? Communications would be established with all vital stations, steering gear, alarms, whistle and engine order telegraph tested, radar, sonar, and fathometer in operation, and compasses checked. Thanks for shedding additional light on my fathers service and that of his comrades-in-arms. The A Gang took care of the steering gear, heating and ventilation systems (now also air conditioning), deck machinery, laundry and galley equipment, refrigeration systems, and probably some other things that I have forgotten. With the introduction of radar, another useful method became available when the ship was within radar range of shore. Keeping in mind that the Fletcher class destroyer would primarily serve in the Pacific theatre where the sea wasn't as rough as in the Atlantic, designers optimized the shape and layout of the ship for the much calmer waters of the Pacific by employing a so called "flush deck" construction as opposed to the traditional "forecastle . Is this Fire Controlman? 175 Fletcher Class Destroyers were commissioned from June 1942 to February 1945. The class was designed in 1939, as a result of dissatisfaction with the earlier destroyer leader types of the Porter and Somers classes. US Navy image 19-N-31790. . Normally half of the sailors in this division would be assigned to each space. But he had a good deal of responsibility. I am the USS EATON DD/DDE510 REUNION ASSOC. Email bmi2group@yahoo.com I am a retired Merchant Chief Engineer (Steam). Naval Documents of the American Revolution, - Naval Documents of the American Revolution, Fletcher Class Destroyer Operations | Naval Historical Foundation, Life on a Fletcher Class Destroyer in the 1950's | Naval Historical Foundation, A History of the Naval Historical Foundation. The entire process of raising steam was started by making up a burner, igniting the torch with a match, inserting it into the furnace, and opening the fuel valve. Some went on to serve during the Korean War and into the Vietnam War. Speed requirements varied from 35 to 38kn (40 to 44mph; 65 to 70km/h), and shortcomings in the earlier Sims class, which were top heavy and needed lead ballast to correct it, caused the Fletcher design to be widened by 18in (46cm) in the beam. . I served as a 2nd Class Torpedoman aboard the Fletcher-class destroyer USS Morrison DD560 from its christening on Dec.18, 1943, until we were sunk by a Japanese kamikaze on May 4,1945. I assumed all destroyers had a least one medical officer aboard. He was a radioman on the ship for about a year, and transferred to another ship before the USS Kidd was hit by a kamikaze.the sailor I was talking to lost a few friends in that attack. They were also to carry no less than five 5in (127mm) guns and ten deck-mounted torpedo tubes on the centerline, allowing them to meet any foreign design on equal terms. I loved the country so much that I did not want to leave. On Nov. 13, 1942, the USS Juneau light cruiser was torpedoed and sunk by a Japanese submarine. He functions as the administrator of the ship and has overall responsibility for all personnel on board. 624-628. These are senior petty officers who function as the ships police force. Previous. or the number in each thrower. A new ahead-throwing weapon called Weapon Alpha was installed in many of the ships. Abbot was a Fletcher-class destroyer built in 1943. Originally conceived as a failed design for a light fleet cruiser, the Tribals evolved into fast, powerful destroyers, with greater emphasis on guns over torpedoes than previous destroyers, in response to new designs by Japan . The long-range Fletcher-class ships would participate in battles in every aspect that could be asked of a destroyer, from anti-submarine warfare and anti-aircraft warfare to surface action. Since his retirement from active naval service in 1986 he has been employed in the ship design industry where he has specialized in the development of concept designs of propulsion and powering systems, some of which have entered active service. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Fifty-one were further modified beginning in 1945, replacing the forward torpedo tubes and midships 40mm twin Bofors with quad mounts for a total of 14 barrels, and the seven 20mm singles with six 20mm twins. Regardless of who it was, it was very important for him to announce I have the Conn so that all bridge personnel would know who to take their orders from. Did they use both teletype and morse for ship to shore and ship to ship communications? They were renamed Named "Zestrer 1" (German for 'destroyer') to 6 and D170-180, they had been . Torpedoman (TM) Responsible for operation and maintenance of the ships torpedoes, depth charges, and Hegehogs. The deck divisions would man the line handling stations with the First Lieutenant and Chief Boatswains Mate on the Forecastle and the Gunnery Officer in charge on the fantail. Supply officers were all referred to as Pork Chops because of the shape of their insignia. [10] No design can be perfect and the Fletchers were no exception. At least one GM was assigned to each mount as the Mount Captain and another would be in charge of loading operations. Phil, the Morrison and Luce were sister ships and often worked together. Deployments to the Far East could be pretty tedious and they involved long periods at sea, as much as a month at a time. Builder Laid down Launched Commissioned / Recommissioned Decommissioned Fate Fletcher DD-445 Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Company, Kearny, New Jersey: 2 October 1941 3 May 1942 30 June 1942 15 January 1947 Sold for scrap, 22 February 1972: 3 October 1949: 1 October 1969 Radford DD-446 Nineteen were lost during World War II; six more were damaged and not repaired. The Chief Gunners Mate (GMC) normally acted as a roving troubleshooter. I despised this duty until our 1958 deployment to the Far East when I was the decryptor of a message telling us that the 6 month deployment was over and ordering us to return home to San Diego. The Aulick served in the Pacific from 1943 through the end of the war and was also on radar picket off Okinawa May through July, 1945. The Fletcher class (named for Admiral Frank F. Fletcher, Medal of Honor recipient) was the largest destroyer class ordered. Normally he was a non-watchstander and he was usually provided with at least one full time assistant. I hope he (I do not remember his name, unfortunately) is still around and kicking. About once per quarter we would be assigned an availability alongside a Destroyer Tender for routine repairs. After the yard period there would be a stint at the Fleet Training Group in San Diego (Guantanemo for East Coast Ships) for refresher training followed by a work up for deployment to the Far East (WESTPAC). The Navigator is responsible for determining the ships position and making recommendations as to the appropriate course of action to the commanding officer. Again, the terms is and was are used interchangeably in this article. Stewards (SD) Ran the Wardroom Mess and provided valet service for the officers. At 2,050 tons standard displacement and approximately 2,900 tons fully loaded, the Fletchers were significantly larger than any preceding American destroyer classes. Ships of the Fletcher destroyer class Name Hull no. Compared to earlier classes built for the United States Navy, the Fletchers carried a significant increase in lethal firepower, including anti-aircraft (AA) weapons and increased armor plating; this contributed to greater displacement and overall weight and height increase. Admiral's flag is flying from the yardarm. The billet was normally assigned to a Lieutenant with four or five years of sea duty. At this point, the word would be passed Secure the Special Sea and Anchor Detail, Set the Regular Underway Watch. This addition to the AA suite required the deletion of the forward quintuple torpedo mount, a change was under the 4 April 1945 anti-kamikaze program.[7]. Some SAs were sent through advanced schooling for a particular rating and came aboard as Designated Strikers such as GMSN, RMSN, etc. Destroyers, dubbed "tin cans" because of their lack of armor . [1], Learn how and when to remove this template message, Buffalo and Erie County Naval & Military Park, Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_Fletcher-class_destroyers&oldid=1117203315, Sold to Peru as parts donor, 26 July 1974 scrapped, Transferred to West German Navy, 14 July 1959, Transferred to Peru 26 July 1974 for spare parts, Transferred to West Germany, 17 January 1958, Transferred to West Germany, 6 October 1959, Used as target hulk November 1973, scrapped. Went active in 1969. Fletcher is down to two 5" guns but two 3" rapid firing guns and a MK 15 Trainable Hedgehog Projector (in place of Mount 52) are visible. i was a radarman on the Hopewell from 65through 67. 1 LCdr. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. One reason for this was that it kept me involved in the operational picture. This officer stood no underway watches. Great series of articles!. The Fletcher class was a class of destroyers built by the United States during World War II. The last Fletcher in service, BAM Cuitlahuac (ex-John Rodgers), left the Mexican navy in 2001, meaning the total service life of the Fletchers stretched over almost six decades and into the 21st century.[12]. A Naval vessel had three conditions of damage control readiness, X-RAY, YOKE, and ZEBRA. They were versatile and highly standardized, to the point as producing only four wartime classes of 50+ up to 180 ships, the Bensons, Fletcher, Sumner and Gearing, completed by the numerous "peacetime classes" from 1934 to 1940 and the WW1-era famous "four . [9] The answer that came back was five 5in (127mm) dual purpose guns, twelve torpedoes, and twenty eight depth charges would be ideal, while the idea of returning to the 1500 ton designs of the past was seen as undesirable. Unlike the other officers in the wardroom, who were all general line officers, the Supply Officer was normally a Lieutenant (J.G.) By 1971, all ships remaining in the US Navy had decommissioned but not until 2001 was Mexicos Cuitlhuac, the former John Rodgers and the last active Fletcher, retired. $0.00. I was a Reservist out of the old Reserve Center (airplane hanger) in Long Beach. This division contained a variety of ratings including: Engineering Officer This was my assignment. Of course, ships today are fitted with Global Positioning (GPS), Electronic Chart Display (ECDIS) and other more advanced equipment. Most had been commissioned by the end of 1946 and went on to serve well into the 1960's. USS Sarsfield (DD-837) Gearing Class destroyer in 1945. During this time 39 were refitted under project SCB 74A, reducing their overall main armament and the number of torpedo tubes to accommodate other weapons. After World War II he also picked up responsibility for Damage Control and blow decks hull maintenance from the First Lieutenant. The nine ships came from three yards as follows: Capps (DD 550), David W. Taylor (DD 551), Evans (DD 552) and John D. Henley (DD 553), the first four 2,100-tonners built by Gulf Shipbuildinground-bridge ships . Some went on to serve during the Korean War and into the Vietnam War.[3]. Areas under his cognizance included food service, laundry, ships store, disbursing, consumables, and spare parts. Composite by Coffee or Die Magazine. Interior Communications Electricians (IC) were responsible for all interior communications equipment including telephone, indicating and alarm systems, announcing systems, and the ships gyro compass. He is assisted by personnel of the Quartermaster (QM) rating. The Fletcher class was a class of destroyers built by the United States during World War II.The class was designed in 1939, as a result of dissatisfaction with the earlier destroyer leader types of the Porter and Somers classes. Manage all your favorite fandoms in one place! Compared to earlier designs, the Fletchers were large, allowing them to adapt to evolving defensive priorities through the addition of two 40-millimetre (1.6in) Bofors quadruple mount AA guns as well as six 20mm (0.79in) Oerlikon dual AA gun positions. You mentioned the Radiomen being responsible for teletype and old fashioned morse code key. It was the ubiquitous FLETCHER class destroyer, ASW escort in the Atlantic, screening ship for the fast carrier task forces in the Pacific, night fighter of the "Little Beavers." . 35 knots: Engines: Geared-turbines : Power: 60000 : Notes on class: This was the second class of destroyers, after Benson / Gleaves, built during the war. [citation needed]. Military Wiki is a FANDOM Lifestyle Community. Fletcher related story: After being in Baton Rouge, LA when the USS Kidd was put on public display, 15 years later I was living outside of Fort Lauderdale, FL. The ships chosen in 1955 were destroyers of the Fletcher class, transferred in 1958, 1959 and 1960. while Ross's book is about just one ship that served from 1942 to 1965. Second Division was headed by the Assistant Gunnery Officer. When he answered 1943 I had to change gears in a hurry! The RD ratings stood watch in the Combat Information Center (CIC). Some went. Often he was assigned additional duties as Chief Master at Arms (The ships head policeman). The long-range Fletcher-class ships performed every task asked of a destroyer, from anti-submarine warfare and anti-aircraft warfare to surface action. Navy ships never use this method any more, as sufficient pier space is provided in all of the navys home ports and all necessary services are provided from shore. Acting as a rescue destroyer (Plane Guard). 789k. I introduced myself, and asked him when he had been on the ship. She was a rough riding ship with a crew of dedicated men. Fletcher (DDE-445) is recommissioned as an escort destroyer at Hunters Point Naval Shipyard, 03 October 1949. The cycle would start at the end of a shipyard overhaul, in our case at the Long Beach Naval Shipyard. First (Deck), Second (Guns), and Fox (Fire Control, Sonar, and Anti-Submarine Armament). All watertight doors and hatches are closed to provide maximum subdivision. It was a slow day, and a lot of the safety procedures were not formally set up yet, so me and another engineer friend were able to tour the forward engine room. The United States Navy commissioned 175 Fletcher-class destroyers between 1942 and 1944, more than any other destroyer class, and the Fletcher design was generally regarded as highly successful. That number was necessary to allow around the clock manning of gun mounts, repair parties, and other watch stations. Eventually, eleven shipyards launched 175 ships over the next 32 monthsthe most numerous class of destroyer completed by any navy. USS Halsey Powell backs away from a pier in Subic Bay. About 12 of the enlisted men were Chief Petty Officers. The Commanding Officer (CO) of a destroyer under peacetime conditions is normally a Commander with 15 to 18 years of commissioned service. Electronics Technician (ET) These sailors were responsible for maintenance of all exterior communication, navigation, and radar equipment. The ratings that came under the Communications officer were: OI Division Headed by the CIC Officer, assisted by the Electronics Material Officer (EMO). There, the earliest ones saw action in the nighttime surface battles in the Solomon Islands, many fought at Leyte and all completed in time for fleet screening and shore bombardment assignments and the notorious anti-kamikaze radar picket duty at Okinawa. He volunteered for service in 1943 at which time he was in private practice in Radford Virginia where he served the area and the employees of the Radford Army Ammunition Plant adjacent to Radford. Boatswains Mates (BM) This was generally considered to be the senior enlisted rating in the navy, a tradition probably handed down from the days of sail. Aboard Halsey Powell, the Chief Boatswains Mate also functioned as the Chief Master at Arms. This article describes destroyer operations as I remember them during the late 1950s. If you Google Imperial Submarine I-8, you can read through the article for an account of our sinking of that sub. In the United States, The Sullivans at Buffalo, Kidd (beautifully restored to late-World War II configuration) at Baton Rouge, and Cassin Young, berthed across the pier from the frigate USS Constitution at the Boston Navy Yard, Charlestown, Massachusetts, are open to the public. The class was designed in 1939, as a result of dissatisfaction with the earlier destroyer leader types of the Porter and Somers classes. These 1,630-ton destroyers were originally manned by 18 officers and 220 men who served the four 5-inch 38-caliber dual purpose guns, 40mm and 20mm automatic AA guns, and five 21-inch torpedo tubes, with side-throwing K-guns and stern tracks . Stuber: It was a very diverse division that was comprised of several ratings. She was a fine destroyer and served in WWII as a real war ship. The First Lieutenant probably came under fire more than any other officer because everything his people did was readily observable and most COs and XOs were very concerned with topside appearance, sometimes overly so. I much preferred WESTPAC! Postwar, the remainder were decommissioned and put into reserve. The list is divided by navy, then ordered by commissioned date of each class (oldest first). An explanation of Material Conditions is in order. Meanwhile, the Navy continued looking ahead. For a secure moor, the lines were Doubled Up. The other rated BMs were generally assigned individual sections of the ship to maintain. Anti-aircraft armament initially was light, with a quadruple 1.1"/75 caliber gun located in an elevated tub between the number three and four 5-inch gun mounts and six Oerlikon 20 mm cannons (two in front of and below the bridge and four amidships). At this point, we were underway. Velos is the only vessel still in commission. Hoel was the first to go after suffering 44 direct hits from shells ranging from 5 inch to 14 inch. One Petty Officer was designated as the Oil King. However in 1956 there was an acute shortage of Lieutenants in the Navy and therefore each ship was only provided with one, who was invariably assigned as the Operations Officer and Senior Watch Officer. or phone 8156753603. Enginemen were diesel engine specialists who took care of boat engines and the emergency diesel generator. During both of my XO tours, I served as navigator. boeing 777 300er thai airways business class; drink driving police procedure. (My papers had been submitted but not received for 1st Class TM before we were sunk.) There was always a stop at Pearl Harbor on the way to and from the deployment for INCOP and OUTCHOP (Change of Operational Command) briefings at CINCPACFLEET. In my previous two articles ( read Part 1 here, read Part 2 here) I gave technical and manning overviews of the U.S. Navy's highly successful Fletcher class destroyer. . USS Fletcher (DD-445) was commissioned on 30 June 1942, with Lieutenant Commander W. M. Cole in command. Laid down beginning in 1941, all 175 Fletchers were completed between June 1942 and February 1945, launched an average of 212 days after keel laying and commissioned after an average of 152 days more or 364 days totalnearly 10 per cent faster than the repeat Bensons and Gleaves that preceded them. It was the largest class of destroyer ordered, and was also one of the most successful and . As with other previous U.S. flush deck destroyer designs, seagoing performance suffered to a degree. The Fletcher class destroyers had a wartime complement of 329 personnel. During World War II, the Atlantic Coast destroyers would probably be at battle stations with Material Condition Zebra set by the time that they cleared the submarine net. We also made fueling stops at Guam and Midway. I served on 2 Fletchers as BT during Vietnam. Introduced in 1942, the 2,100-ton Fletcher -class destroyers formed the core of the US Navy's destroyer force from 1943. Electricians Mates (EM) Were responsible for the entire ships electrical and distribution systems including all power and lighting equipment. The Fletchers featured air-encased boilers producing steam at 600psi (4,100kPa) and 850F (450C), with two 350 kW steam turbine driven electrical generators and a 100kW emergency diesel generator. They were also to carry no fewer than five 5in (127mm) guns and ten deck-mounted torpedo tubes on the centerline, allowing them to meet any foreign design on equal terms. Here in Charlestown, this navy yard built . Heres how to join! It seemed like there was always something going on out there in those days and port visits were few and far between. The USS The Sullivans (DD-537), a Fletcher -class destroyer, pictured here in 1962 was named in their honor. The Tribal class, or Afridi class, were a class of destroyers built for the Royal Navy, Royal Canadian Navy and Royal Australian Navy that saw service in World War II. The design parameters were in the form of the armaments desired of the next destroyer. All fittings with a black Y are closed and only opened for protection. He died back in 1986. Preparations would start several hours before getting underway, primarily down in the engineering spaces. Copyright 2011-2022 Naval Historical Foundation. This was mitigated somewhat due to deployment in the Pacific. There was a big hole in one of the ships. between the turbine and the shaft it appeared that there was a temperature gauge built into every section. The Fletcher class was a class of destroyers built by the United States during World War II. As of 3/10/2016, to the best of our knowledge, at ages 92 and 96 only two of us are still alive. As Senior Watch Officer, he had the responsibility for the training and assignment of junior officers, and in some cases CPOs to underway and in port watch stations. The Fletcher class was a class of destroyers built by the United States during World War II.The class was designed in 1939, as a result of dissatisfaction with the earlier destroyer leader types of the Porter and Somers classes. These three destroyers were later converted to the regular Fletcher-class configuration. Commissioned; Brazilian Navy : K (1) 1922 - 1922 : Marcilio Dias (3) 1943 . It was an entirely different Navy! Your email address will not be published. Did any Fletcher class destroyers serve in the Atlantic? Some went on to serve during the Korean War and into the Vietnam War. Indoor & Outdoor SMD Screens, LED Displays, Digital Signage & Video Wall Solutions in Pakistan Velos alongside G. Averof are ceremonially commissioned by the Hellenic Navy having Palaio Faliro as their base. The Fletchers had a design speed of 38 knots (70km/h; 44mph) and a principal armament of five 5-inch (127mm) guns in single mounts with ten 21-inch (530mm) torpedo tubes in two quintuple centerline mounts. My father, Jack Marlowe, was a Torpedoman 2nd class on the USS Terry, DD513. In 1942 and 1943, the number of Oerlikon cannons was steadily increased with ships modified before leaving the shipyard with a seventh 20mm mount in front of the bridge behind the number two 5" gun mount and anywhere from one to three mounts on the flying bridge depending upon the configuration of the ship. Shipfitter (SF) and Damage Controlmen (DC) comprised the Damage Control gang on the ship. All USN ships are worthy of their tails of history while securing the waters they sail and for protecting all of freedoms we so take for granted every day. [11] I know what than meant -some snipe had to record temperature readings on a clipboard form every few hours, to make sure a bearing was not overheating. The U.S. Below this level, the ship was organized into departments. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Naval Historical Foundation 1306 Dahlgren Avenue, SE Washington Navy Yard, DC 20374 1-202-678-4333 info@navyhistory.org. [5] They could cover the vast distances required by fleet actions in the Pacific and served almost exclusively in the Pacific Theater of Operations during World War II, during which they accounted for 29 Imperial Japanese Navy submarines sunk. . With the outbreak of the Korean War many were returned to active duty. Naval Institute is maintaining and preserving the former Naval Historical Foundation website so readers and former NHF members can still access past issues of Pull Together and other content. Many of the ships were sold to other navies during the mid-1950s, including: Any remaining were broken up in the 1970s. The design parameters were the armaments desired of the next destroyer. Introduced in 1942, the 2,100-ton Fletcher-class destroyers formed the core of the US Navys destroyer force from 1943. Ten 21in (530mm) torpedo tubes were fitted in two quintuple mounts amidships, firing the 21-inch Mark 15 torpedo. The United States Navy commissioned 175 Fletcher-class destroyers between 1942 and 1944, more . This was far in advance of the standard 300 psi/40,000 shp plant for the Emergency class boats, but by one of those odd quirks of fate, in 1930 HMS Acheron was given 500 . Thanks for shedding additional light on my fathers service and that of his comrades-in-arms. Petroleum/Chemical plant operations dept.. A good profession. It was still a great ship .. Miss it .. They were also the first US destroyers fitted with radar as built. Would like if at all possible to get pictures of C.I.C on my ship USS Conway DDE 507.I was on the Conway from 1954 to 1956, I served on the USS Hopwell DD681 in 61-62 .. In June 1942, the 1.1" gun was replaced by a twin Bofors 40 mm gun mount; in some ships, another twin mount may have been added on the fantail between the depth charge racks. A fleet destroyer will normally have all three major department head billets filled by a Lieutenant Commander or fairly senior Lieutenant. These conditions are established by closing the appropriate fittings such as valves, hatches, and watertight doors. This duty normally fell to the most junior three Ensigns in the wardroom. Mrz 25, 2022; Posted by are meatless crumbles vegan? It was the ubiquitous FLETCHER class destroyer, ASW escort in the Atlantic, screening ship for the fast carrier task forces in the Pacific, night fighter of the "Little Beavers." and . If we were backing out of a slip you would hear a prolonged blast on the whistle. All records of boiler water treatment and fuel usage were kept in an office referred to as the Oil Shack. Built in 1943 in San Pedro, California, she is one of 175 Fletcher-class destroyers built during World War II. On deck it was necessary to disconnect all shore services, pick up the ships boats, remove rat guards, and a variety of other actions, including preparing an anchor for dropping in an emergency. Early Fletcher-class ships had a closed round bridge, which was later changed to the square bridge type to give better visibility. Three have been preserved as museum ships in the U.S., and one in Greece. The Fletcher-class destroyer was a class of destroyers that were used extensively by the United States Navy during World War II. But at least one other type ship also played a powerful role for the U.S. Navy in World War II. United States naval ship classes of World War II. The Navy started my lifes work e.g. Some 2,100-tonners served off Korea in the 1950s and some even off Vietnam in the 60s. Named after a swashbuckling Union Civil War captain, the Porter was one of 175 Fletcher-class destroyers built during World War II. The Aulick served in the Pacific from 1943 through the end of the war and was also on radar picket off Okinawa May through July, 1945. On the return trip we had to avoid the collision between the Oil Tanker and a Philippine Merchant ship . The navigator would be responsible for ensuring that the ship remained on its desired track and making appropriate recommendations to the CO/OOD. Obviously they were the people who were most likely to take heat from the other crew members for their efforts, or lack thereof. Engineers were always referred to as Snipes. This term originated in the British Navy when a visiting Admiral said that the engine room on a battleship resembled a snipe marsh. The Fletcher design permitted significant increases over preceding classes in hull, armament, machinery, ammunition, stores and fuel bunkerage. This is the third in a series of articles by Captain Stewart detailing the technical specifications, manning, and operations of the U.S. Navys Fletcher class destroyers. This is how I met my wife. Three have been preserved as museum ships in the U.S. and one in Greece. My wifes first comment when I took her around the ship for the first time was You mean that you start all of this up with a match?. Some that we were called upon to perform included: There are probably some others that I have forgotten about. The Damage Control Assistant (DCA) was in charge of R Division. All sailors initially attended Boot Camp where they held the rating of Seaman Recruit (SR). The class featured enclosed air-case boilers and 80kW of power available by emergency diesel generators. USS Taylor (DD/DDE-468) was a Fletcher-class destroyer of the United States Navy, named for Rear Admiral William Rogers Taylor (1811-1889). I did not like this practice and I always made sure that more experienced officers were assigned to these duties when I became a commanding officer myself. There were 39 casualties and extensive damage in the after part of the ship. The destroyer USS Saufley (DD 465) of the US Navy. The three destroyers were later converted to the normal Fletcher-class configuration. But most of the other wartime functions still remained. My father, Charles Ross Duncan, Sr. served on the USS Kimberly from 1943 thru 1945 in the Pacific. Forester's novel The Good Shepherd, in her appearance in the book's 2020 cinematic adaptation, Greyhound. Once this was accomplished, the OOD would pass the order to stand by to answer all bells to the engine room and them report ready to get underway to the CO. US Navy - Fletcher Class Destroyer Beginning of June 1942 the first Fletcher class destroyer DD-445, was commissioned at the Boston Navy yard. did fletcher class destroyers serve in the atlantic? Together, these classes dominated the US Navys destroyer force over the next 25 years. Department heads reported to XO for all administrative matters related to their departments. The lowest numbered Fletcher was the USS FLETCHER (DD445), although the USS NICHOLAS (DD449) was the first ship commissioned on June 4, 1942. My uncle was also a TM2 aboard the USS Terry. Ship Servicemen (SH) Served as laundry men and operated the ships store and barber shop. Essentially what this meant was for the first team to take their assigned stations for getting underway. Also asked was at what point would the design grow large enough to become a torpedo target instead of a torpedo delivery system. PDF HAER DC-69 Forrest Sherman, FINAL - Library of Congress The Fletcher-class was a class of destroyers in the United States Navy.The ships were built from 1941 and served in the Navy from 1942. I served on the USS Luce DD522 in ww2 as a seaman 1rst signalman striker. Destroyer Squadron 51 in World War II was a squadron whose 2,100-ton Fletcher-class destroyers were deployed in thirteen diverse operations in both the Atlantic and Pacific. The individual rating groups are very specialized. Four ships have been preserved as museum ships, although only Kidd was never modernized and retains her WWII configuration: Warning: Display title "Fletcher class destroyer" overrides earlier display title "Fletcher-class destroyer". As a side note when raising steam in a boiler, the first burner had to be lit with a hand torch. There were also fueling stops at Midway and sometimes Guam. His direct superior in the chain of command was his squadron or division commander who was normally a Captain with the honorary title of Commodore. He is a 1956 graduate of the Massachusetts Maritime Academy. The only ports we got to visit during my deployments were Yokosuka and Sasebo in Japan, Hong Kong, Kaoshung Taiwan, and Subic Bay in the Philippines. The Fletcher class was a class of destroyers built by the United States during World War II. The class was designed in 1939, as a result of dissatisfaction with the earlier destroyer leader types of the Porter and Somers classes. Due to the increasing threat from kamikaze attacks, beginning in July 1945 some ships returning to the United States for refits received further anti-aircraft modifications, replacing the forward set of torpedo tubes with gun platforms housing two quadruple 40mm guns (for a total of eighteen). Thank you! East Coast deployments tended to be much better because ports in the Mediterranean are much closer together than in the Far East and there never were as many potential shooting situations over there that demanded that we be underway for prolonged periods. The Chief Engineer would be in the Forward Engine Room and the Main Propulsion Assistant would be in the After Engine Room. Authorized for fiscal year 1941, construction of the first ships was already under way when the United States entered the war. We had a great twenty minute conversation. Others carried trainable Hedgehogs. The Fletcher-class is almost synonymous with the term destroyer within the context of WWII. Machinery Repairman (MR) were in charge of the Machine Shop. In an emergency program to expand capacity, some shipyards were upgraded and other new ones were brought on line. Many of the ships were sold to other navies during the mid-1950s, including: Any remaining were broken up in the 1970s. I was on the same 2-week Reserve Cruise. Some went on to serve during the Korean War and into the Vietnam War. Thus there were two groups of 2,100-tonners: one-third (58) were high- or round-bridge ships; two-thirds, (117) were low- or square-bridge ships. The Fletcher class was the first generation of destroyers designed after the series of naval treaties that had limited ship designs heretofore. The torch was kept in a small pot filled with diesel oil. May 21, 2022. . Friedman, Norman "US Destroyers: An Illustrated Design History (Revised Edition)", Naval Institute Press, Annapolis:2004, p.111-112. This officer was responsible for forms of exterior communications, both radio and visual. But they still have a ways to go to catch up to their Merchant Marine contemporaries. How many depth charges did a Fletcher-class carry during WWII? [4] The Allen M. Sumner and Gearing classes were Fletcher derivatives. Does anyone have information I can get from on of his mates during that time. [7] The answer that came back was that five 5in (127mm) dual-purpose guns, twelve torpedoes, and twenty-eight depth charges would be ideal, while a return to the 1,500-ton designs of the past was seen as undesirable. The Conning Officer could be the CO, XO, or OOD. But with these exceptions, the basic procedures for getting a destroyer underway have not changed a great deal from what I have described. In combat, commanders often requisitioned additional guns with some ships mounting up to thirteen 20mm cannons. 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