He currently holds the title of Chief Marine Engineer at Marine Design Dynamics. He was responsible for all fuel transfer operations plus chemical testing and treatment of the ships boiler water. I made six month WESTPAC deployments in 1957 and 1958. Transferred to Hellenic Navy, 27 September 1962, Transferred to Hellenic Navy, 21 August 1959, Transferred to West Germany, 12 April 1960, Transferred to West Germany, 16 December 1959, Transferred to West Germany, 17 February 1960, Transferred to Hellenic Navy, 16 June 1959, Transferred to Hellenic Navy, 15 September 1959, Transferred to Hellenic Navy, 9 February 1960, Transferred to South Korea, 15 November 1968, Transferred to the Republic of Korea, 27 April 1968, Museum ship at the former Boston Navy Yard in Boston, Massachusetts, This page was last edited on 20 October 2022, at 13:05. The Fletcher class destroyers had a wartime complement of 329 personnel. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. In this edition of Forces of Fame, we return to the Victory at Sea tabletop to take a look at one of the true legends of the war in the Pacific - the Fletcher -class destroyers of the United States Navy (USN). On Nov. 13, 1942, the USS Juneau light cruiser was torpedoed and sunk by a Japanese submarine. The Navy is trying very hard to catch up to the rest of society and more and more use is being made of computers and automatic controls. Many of the ships were sold to other navies during the mid-1950s, including: Any remaining were broken up in the 1970s. The plant has to be started up from the Central Control Station below decks, but once it is ready for operation throttle control can be transferred to the bridge. I also served aboard USS CORAL SEA (CVA43) for 2 years before joining the submarine force, which I spent 26 years in. Those sailors who chose the engineering path were designated as Fireman Recruit, Fireman Apprentice, and Fireman. Fletchers had a design speed of 38 knots, armed with five 5" guns in single mounts and carrying 10 21" torpedo in twin quintuple centerline mounts. This was a very prestigious assignment and these Petty Officers generally lorded it over the junior non-rated sailors in the division. 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 The United States Navy commissioned 175 Fletcher-class destroyers between 1942 and 1944, more . Fairwinds and calm seas Uncle Andrew. But that is particularly necessary in wartime because it greatly simplifies the training program. Required fields are marked *. Edit. Three have been preserved as museum ships in the U.S., and one in Greece. The destroyer USS Saufley (DD 465) of the US Navy. Radioman (RM) Responsible for all electronic means of exterior communications. Does anyone have information I can get from on of his mates during that time. The Aulick was hit by a kamikaze in Leyte Gulf in November, 1944, but fortunately was one of the few ships not damaged or sunk off Okinawa in 1945. Electronics Technician (ET) These sailors were responsible for maintenance of all exterior communication, navigation, and radar equipment. With the outbreak of the Korean War many were returned to active duty. 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. I was lucky enough to tour the USS Kidd shortly after she was docked for display in Baton Rouge, LA. Destroyers were normally tied up to a pier with six mooring lines, numbered consecutively from forward to aft. Though built with the Pacific in mind, Fletchers also served in the Atlantic theater. We had a great twenty minute conversation. That number was necessary to allow around the clock manning of gun mounts, repair parties, and other watch stations. First Division provided the majority of the bridge watch standers and the gun crews. Aboard destroyers, these were all Lieutenants billets. 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]. Ships of the Fletcher destroyer class Name Hull no. Next we will describe the process for getting underway from alongside another ship or a pier. But by 1956 they were more appropriately assigned to the Ops Department. [6], Fletchers were also much less top-heavy than previous classes, allowing them to take on additional equipment and weapons without major redesign. By VJ Day, 67 Sumners55 destroyers and 12 destroyer-minelayer conversionsplus 45 ships of a lengthened production variant, initially referred to as the 2,200-ton long hull class and later as the Gearing class. [3] The Allen M. Sumner and Gearing classes were Fletcher derivatives. 175 of these were . Copyright 2011-2022 Naval Historical Foundation. 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. 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. It is set under battle conditions. The long-range Fletcher-class ships performed every task asked of a destroyer, from anti-submarine warfare and anti-aircraft warfare to surface action. At this point, we were underway. Ten 21in (530mm) torpedo tubes were fitted in two quintuple mounts amidships, firing the 21-inch Mark 15 torpedo. Most were assigned to the Deck Force. i was a radarman on the Hopewell from 65through 67. *** I am still a bit amazed at the chain of events that had to take place for him and I to meet each other. Transportation was by a combination of ships boats and private water taxis. During their service life, many . Stuber: Normally half of the sailors in this division would be assigned to each space. Introduced in 1942, the 2,100-ton Fletcher -class destroyers formed the core of the US Navy's destroyer force from 1943. . [5][failed verification] In a massive effort, the Fletchers were built by shipyards across the United States, and, after World War II ended, 11 were sold to countries that they had been built to fight against: Italy, Germany, and Japan, as well as other countries, where they had even longer, distinguished careers. My dad (Richmond Thomas (RT) Ezzell) was on the TAYLOR DD468 during WWII .Saw at the foot of his grave today another marker with his name, ship, and I suppose rating FC. Three are in the United States and one is in Greece, although only Kidd retains her World War II configuration. I made 2 deployments, home ported out of Pearl Harbor. Supply officers were all referred to as Pork Chops because of the shape of their insignia. Often he was assigned additional duties as Chief Master at Arms (The ships head policeman). But with these exceptions, the basic procedures for getting a destroyer underway have not changed a great deal from what I have described. Speed requirements varied from 35 to 38 knots (65 to 70km/h; 40 to 44mph), and shortcomings in the earlier Sims class, which were top-heavy and needed lead ballast to correct this fault, caused the Fletcher design to be widened by 18in (46cm) of beam. I was aboard the Morrison when we started at radar picket station 11 and moved into station 1, nicknamed coffin corner where we were sunk. . Again being promoted to Rear Admiral he later took over command of battleship divisions in the Atlantic Fleet. Once the first burner was lit, subsequent burners could be lit from the adjacent burner. 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. [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. With this modification, the Oerlikon cannons were rearranged and their number was standardized at seven; four amidships and three in a heart-shaped mount on the fantail. Below this level, the ship was organized into departments. Hopefully, it will provide some insight as to the duties performed by individual crew members during the war. All wardroom provisions had to be purchased from the General Mess or other sources ashore. The U.S. As with other previous U.S. flush deck destroyer designs, seagoing performance suffered to a degree. 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. That number was necessary to allow around the clock manning of gun mounts, repair parties, and other watch stations. A total of 175 Fletcher Class Destroyers were commissioned between 4 June 1942 and 22 February 1945. George W. Stewart is a retired US Navy Captain. NHF members are being converted to members of the Naval Institute. Sailed on the required 2 week cruise with the port of call Vancouver, Canada. Thanks for sticking your neck out for us youngsters. I was in the ROC program, but trained as a Radioman. Velos alongside G. Averof are ceremonially commissioned by the Hellenic Navy having Palaio Faliro as their base. In this article I will attempt to describe how a World War II Destroyer was manned and organized. Maneuvers conducted in January 1915 made it clear that the US Atlantic Fleet lacked the fast cruisers necessary to provide information on the enemy's position, deny the enemy information of the fleet's own position, and screen friendly forces. He is a 1956 graduate of the Massachusetts Maritime Academy. Construction (top) and disposition following World War II (bottom). He was responsible for reading and interpreting all operation orders (OP-Orders) and determining what the ship was supposed to do next. Category page. Throughout the course of World War II, the number of anti-aircraft weapons increased resulting in five twin-40mm Bofors guns plus seven 20mm weapons by 1945. I am so sorry I never had a discussion with him about his experiences and what he did, before he died when I was 14. She was a fine destroyer and served in WWII as a real war ship. This group was responsible for all general hull fittings such as watertight doors and hatches, ventilation system closures, general plumbing, etc. He was always on call when the ship was underway. Thank you for writing here. The only rating in this division was the Gunners Mate (GM). The goal was to have two boilers on line, one in each fire room, and have both engines ready for operation with the plant split (2 independent plant configuration) prior to setting what is referred to as the Special Sea Detail. The Fletcher class was a class of destroyers built by the United States during World War II. He is assisted by personnel of the Quartermaster (QM) rating. Some went on to serve during the Korean War and into the Vietnam War. [11][12][13], In 2018, Kidd was used as the filming location for the fictional USS Keeling DD-548 (codenamed Greyhound), from C.S. Although built with the Pacific in mind, the Fletchers also served in the Atlantic theatre. The peacetime manning was 14 officers and 236 enlisted men. Went active in 1969. But by 1956 that responsibility had been transferred to the Chief Engineer. 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. The other ships in the division would then come alongside and tie up using regular mooring lines. 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. These conditions refer to degrees of closure to minimize the effects of potential damage. 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. Fittings marked with a Red Z, Black Y, and Black Z are all closed. This is the second in a series of articles by Captain Stewart detailing the technical specifications, manning, and operations of the U.S. Navys Fletcher class destroyers. A lot more information is available on the bridge from GPS, Electronic Chart Displays (ECDIS), etc. We were forward deployed to Yokosuka, Japan as part of DESRON 15. He was a trained surgeon graduating from Wake Forest and Duke Medical Schools. But most of the other wartime functions still remained. All records of boiler water treatment and fuel usage were kept in an office referred to as the Oil Shack. [10] No design can be perfect and the Fletchers were no exception. Beginning in the fall of 1939, the large white-hulled cutters were assigned the outer limits of the Neutrality Zone. Fox Division This division was headed by either the Fire Control Officer or Anti-Submarine Officer, whoever was senior. Eighteen ships were redesignated as escort destroyers (DDE), optimized for anti-submarine warfare; these reverted to destroyer (DD) designation in 1962. References: Bauer and Roberts, Friedman, Raven, Hearn. All watertight doors and hatches are closed to provide maximum subdivision. Mrz 25, 2022; Posted by are meatless crumbles vegan? (read it here). 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. This class of British destroyer often had more AA firepower than many larger DD did. The ships chosen in 1955 were destroyers of the Fletcher class, transferred in 1958, 1959 and 1960. The destroyer was the most capable and most feared escort vessel the allies possessed early in the war. If memory serves me, I think we moved from station 2 to 1 right behind Luce. If the ship was designated as a flagship, accommodations were provided on board for the Commodore and his staff. In those days there was no bridge to bridge radio. I much preferred WESTPAC! town of marcellus ny tax collector; did fletcher class destroyers serve in the atlantic? Compared to earlier designs, the Fletchers were large, allowing them to absorb the addition of two 40mm Bofors quadruple mount AA guns as well as six 20mm Oerlikon dual AA gun positions. Built to scout for a fleet of battleships, the Omaha class featured high speed (35 kn (65 km/h; 40 mph)) for cooperation with destroyers, and 6-inch . On the return trip we had to avoid the collision between the Oil Tanker and a Philippine Merchant ship . The CIC included radar repeaters, voice radios, electronic warfare equipment, plotting boards, logging facilities, etc. They had the fortune of catching American production at the right moment becoming "the" destroyer design, and only Fletcher-class derivatives, the Sumner and Gearing classes, would follow it. The Aulick was at station 15 which was not far from stations 1 and 2. While I did not serve in a Fletcher class destroyer, I did serve in a FRAM II destroyer, the USS ROWAN DD-782. 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. I served on the USS Luce DD522 in ww2 as a seaman 1rst signalman striker. The class was designed in 1939, as a result of dissatisfaction with the earlier destroyer leader types. As such, the questions were of how many guns, torpedoes, and depth charges were seen as desirable. In those days they were nearly all Filipinos. The Fletcher class was a class of destroyers built by the United States during World War II. The job of Mess Treasurer rotated among the junior officers. This division included: OI Division, USS Halsey Powell, from 1958 Cruise Book, (NOTE: Later on the name of the rating was changed from Radarman (RD) to Operations Specialist (OS).). [citation needed]. The pace of US destroyer construction accelerated with the wartime Fletcher class. 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. Abbot was a Fletcher-class destroyer built in 1943. The US Navy Destroyers represented the formidable industrial effort consented by the United States to win the war on two oceans. Destroyers Fletcher class. They also were much less top heavy than the previous classes, allowing them to take on additional equipment and weapons without major redesign. $0.00. After a year on board they were advanced to the grade of Seaman (SN), from which they could strike for assignment to other ratings. The Fletcher class was a class of destroyers built by the United States during World War II. If you have questions, please contact the Naval Institute via email at [email protected] or by phone at 800-233-8764. The RD ratings stood watch in the Combat Information Center (CIC). ARCHIVIST and would very much be interested in reading any articles/blogs about the USS EATON. 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. Jim Avery serves on a fictional Gleaves-class destroyer, the USS . The answer to your question (if you havent already received it) is 12 depth charges in each of the two racks. Previous. or Ensign in the Supply Corps. Required fields are marked *. Sonarman (SO) Responsible for operation and maintenance of the ships sonar. The Fletcher class (named for Admiral Frank F. Fletcher) was the largest class of destroyer ordered and was also one . In May 1942, before the first Fletcher was even commissioned, it approved a six-gun ship in which the Fletchers five 5-inch single mounts were replaced with three 5-inch twinsthe 2,200-ton Allen M. Sumner class, with 20 per cent more firepower on a Fletcher hull widened by 14 inches. Fletcher-Class Destroyer. Aboard a destroyer, the Chief Hospital Corpsman (HMC, referred to as Doc) is the only medical person assigned, although there was a Squadron Doctor who rode the flagship and was available for advice. During this era, no other class of destroyer had more ships built. In what can only be described as one of the classic destroyer actions in naval history, the three Fletchers attacked the Japanese main fleet. NHF has decommissioned and is no longer accepting new members or donations. All rights reserved. Gunnery Officer Or Gun Boss was responsible for operation and maintenance of all of the ships armament plus all matters relating to deck seamanship. As soon as the last line was taken in, the boatswains pipe would sound and the announcement would be made Underway, Shift Colors. The Fletcher-class was a class of destroyers built by the United States during World War II. He promulgates the plan of the day and oversees virtually every evolution. In 1941, the US Navy began building a fleet of large destroyers, its first design to rival the Japanese "special type" destroyers that had first entered service more than a decade before. 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. In the traditional system of naming destroyers after Naval heroes, she was named after Rear Admiral Isaac Campbell Kidd, Sr. who was killed aboard his flagship, USS ARIZONA (BB-39) during the surprise attack by the . This alteration was not a success in service and was not repeated. Normally he was a non-watchstander and he was usually provided with at least one full time assistant. The Damage Control Assistant (DCA) was in charge of R Division. My father, Charles Ross Duncan, Sr. served on the USS Kimberly from 1943 thru 1945 in the Pacific. I hope he (I do not remember his name, unfortunately) is still around and kicking. First (Deck), Second (Guns), and Fox (Fire Control, Sonar, and Anti-Submarine Armament). As of October2020[update], she remains in Thessaloniki and she has been visited by over 157.000 visitors. The ships Master at Arms force reports directly to the Executive Officer. [4] They could cover the vast distances required by fleet actions in the Pacific. The 1941 building program was to have consisted entirely of new Fletcher-class destroyers. In September 2019 its crew took her to Thessaloniki for a short 3-month stay. Some went on to serve during the Korean War and into the Vietnam War.. Here we see the Fletcher-class destroyer USS Cony (DD/DDE-508) off Norfolk in October 1963 as seen from the USS Keppler (DD-765).Though she earned 11 battle stars for World War II service, two for Korean War service and spent five months off Vietnam, it was a little-acknowledged day in 1962 that Cony witnessed what could have been the start of World War III. Others carried trainable Hedgehogs. Shipfitter (SF) and Damage Controlmen (DC) comprised the Damage Control gang on the ship. Torpedoman (TM) Responsible for operation and maintenance of the ships torpedoes, depth charges, and Hegehogs. Deployments to the Far East could be pretty tedious and they involved long periods at sea, as much as a month at a time. There were 39 casualties and extensive damage in the after part of the ship. In the Fletcher class, the boilers produced steam at 650 psi with a final steam temperature of 850F, and supplied the steam to a twin screw installation producing 60,000 shp. The ship was named to honor Admiral Frank Friday Fletcher, who received the Medal of Honor for his leadership during the Mexican-American War.
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