did fletcher class destroyers serve in the atlantic?

Stewards (SD) Ran the Wardroom Mess and provided valet service for the officers. The navigator would be responsible for ensuring that the ship remained on its desired track and making appropriate recommendations to the CO/OOD. Destroyers, dubbed "tin cans" because of their lack of armor . During World War II, these functions had belonged to the Chief Engineer. While 19 were lost and six damaged beyond repair, 44 earned ten or more service stars, 19 were awarded the Navy Unit Commendation and 16 received the Presidential Unit Citation. In this article I will attempt to describe how a World War II Destroyer was manned and organized. Nineteen were lost during World War II; six more were damaged and not repaired. He was also normally assigned as the custodian of classified publications and the crypto facility. He was always on call when the ship was underway. All Destroyer classes. This meant passing a second bight around the bollard on the pier or the ship alongside. Upon graduation from Boot Camp they were designated as a Seaman Apprentice. A new ahead-throwing weapon called Weapon Alpha was installed in many of the ships. The U.S. Transportation was by a combination of ships boats and private water taxis. Up until the 1960s, most naval home ports did not provide much in the line of pier space and in San Diego, we usually moored to a mooring buoy in the harbor. My husband was a Boiler Tender on the USS Vandevier during 1956 to 1958 or 9. References: Bauer and Roberts, Friedman, Raven, Hearn. 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). We were forward deployed to Yokosuka, Japan as part of DESRON 15. US Navy - Fletcher Class Destroyer Beginning of June 1942 the first Fletcher class destroyer DD-445, was commissioned at the Boston Navy yard. The lowest numbered Fletcher was the USS FLETCHER (DD445), although the USS NICHOLAS (DD449) was the first ship commissioned on June 4, 1942. The Federal-built units were delivered to the Navy without a medium anti-aircraft gun atop the aft deckhouse position. My previous article (read Part 1 here) gave an overview of the U.S. Navys highly successful Fletcher class destroyer. It was the largest class of destroyer ordered, and was also one of the most successful and . He promulgates the plan of the day and oversees virtually every evolution. Richard Vessels, my father, John Hanson, was an officer on USS Aulick DD569. 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 . 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). With the outbreak of the Korean War many were returned to active duty. Under these conditions, a commissioned CIC Watch Officer (CICWO) was assigned. Working conditions were similar, but not quite as bad as in the fire rooms. ZEBRA is the highest level of protection. Three are in the United States and one is in Greece, although only Kidd retains her World War II configuration. The Operations Officer billet did not specifically exist at the beginning of World War II. But the onset of the Korean War in 1950 . The ship was the first of the Fletcher-class destroyers that were built during World War II. All fittings with a black Y are closed and only opened for protection. Their flush deck construction added structural strength; however, it did make them cramped, as less crew space was available below decks compared with a raised forecastle. Normally the crew stood duty on one day out of every three. Fletcher Class. The tenders could then supply us with power, thereby allowing us to shut down and go Cold Iron. The XO is often the resident bad guy in the wardroom because many COs like to play the Good Cop/Bad Cop game. But by 1956 they were more appropriately assigned to the Ops Department. It seemed like there was always something going on out there in those days and port visits were few and far between. Some went. Department heads reported to XO for all administrative matters related to their departments. Thirty-two were transferred to the navies of Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Columbia, Germany, Greece, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Peru, Spain, Taiwan and Turkey. The Main Propulsion Assistant (MPA) actually oversaw two divisions, B and M. Ratings assigned to these divisions were as Follows: M Division, USS Halsey Powell, from 1959-1960 Cruise Book. Four Fletchers have been preserved on public display. The next order would be to Take in the Brow. By 1956 the Operations Officer had evolved into the principle adviser to the CO as to operational matters. [26][27], Learn how and when to remove this template message, National Museum of the United States Navy, List of destroyer classes of the United States Navy, "Life on a Fletcher Class Destroyer in the 1950's", "NHL nomination for USS Cassin Young (destroyer)", "Veterans' Museum to Receive Historic Navy Ship's Mast", "Flag Honors Hall of Fame | Naval ROTC Alumni Society", "USS Knapp - bridge: Fujifilm X System / SLR Talk Forum: Digital Photography Review", "Fletcher-Klasse Mark-30 Turm Walkaround (124) Scalenews", "Tom Hanks' WWII drama filming aboard USS Kidd this week", Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Fletcher-class_destroyer&oldid=1133218886, 369.25ft (112.55m) wl, 376.5ft (114.8m) o/a, struck in 1978, sunk as a target on 23 February 1983, struck in 1988 and sunk as a target in 1990, struck in 1982, sunk as a target on 28 September 1991, struck in 1976, sunk as a target on 16 May 1979, transferred to Hellenic Navy on 18 September 1981, transferred to Hellenic Navy on 15 October 1980, transferred to Hellenic Navy in February 1981, transferred to Hellenic Navy in February 1982, Active - In commission as museum ship since 1991, struck on 10 October 1990, scrapped in 1997, struck in 1971 and cannibalized to provide spare parts for her sisters in Italian service, struck in 1999, sunk as a target on 1 November 2001, struck in 1999, sunk as a target on 14 October 2003, This page was last edited on 12 January 2023, at 19:18. did fletcher class destroyers serve in the atlantic? Two of the three destroyers were sunk, but not until they had inflicted serious damage on their opponents. On Nov. 13, 1942, the USS Juneau light cruiser was torpedoed and sunk by a Japanese submarine. The individual rating groups are very specialized. Naval philosophy in those days was to man the ships with a large number of personnel and little use was made of automatic controls or other labor saving devices. The conning officer would then use an appropriate combination of rudder, engines, and lines to get the ship underway. He does not normally stand watch underway. To achieve 38 knots with a 500-ton increase in displacement, power was increased from 50,000shp (37,000kW) to 60,000shp (45,000kW) compared to the previous Benson and Gleaves classes. The Fletcher class was a class of destroyers built by the United States during World War II. Supply Department ratings included: Supply Department, USS Halsey Powell, from 1959-1960 Cruise Book. The destroyer was the most capable and most feared escort vessel the allies possessed early in the war. 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.[1]. Your email address will not be published. But it must be recognized that a naval vessel must remain at sea for extended periods and it has to function as a small self supporting community. The Chief Engineer bears responsibility for operation of the ships engineering plant, electrical generation and distribution, auxiliary machinery, and interior communications. During their service life, many . Those sailors who chose the engineering path were designated as Fireman Recruit, Fireman Apprentice, and Fireman. A Liberty Ship or T-2 Tanker of the same era had a crew of about 40 people, plus a naval armed guard. Aboard Halsey Powell, the Chief Boatswains Mate also functioned as the Chief Master at Arms. Some went on to serve during the Korean War and into the Vietnam War. Mrz 25, 2022; Posted by are meatless crumbles vegan? 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. NHF members are being converted to members of the Naval Institute. But he had a good deal of responsibility. George W. Stewart is a retired US Navy Captain. Thanks for shedding additional light on my fathers service and that of his comrades-in-arms. [citation needed]. USS The Sullivans (DD-537) The USS Sullivans was a long-range, large destroyer used for anti-submarine warfare, anti-aircraft warfare, and surface action. 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 . Destroyers were normally tied up to a pier with six mooring lines, numbered consecutively from forward to aft. He died back in 1986. 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 Hunt class of "emergancy" destroyers (this class is very close in capabilities to late war US DE classes like the Rudderow or John C. Butler classes) made for a good class of smaller but very capable ship (4 x 4" 4 TT). Some went on to serve during the Korean War and into the Vietnam War.[2]. [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. Both books have a table of . OC Division Headed by the Communications Officer. Next. US Navy image 19-N-31790. Three have been preserved as museum ships in the U.S., and one in Greece. He currently holds the title of Chief Marine Engineer at Marine Design Dynamics. The first 25 ships were ordered 28 June and 1 July 1940 (the first day of the 1941 fiscal year), with DD 445 actually belonging to the 1 July group. Tom Hank's Greyhound movie set on USS Kidd - Mechtraveller The Allen M. Sumner class was intended by the Navy to be an interim design between the . Up to a pier with six mooring lines, numbered consecutively from forward to aft interior communications 2 ] during... 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Anti-Aircraft gun atop the aft deckhouse position richard Vessels, my father, John Hanson was. Tenders could then supply us with power, thereby allowing us to shut down and go Iron... Ii configuration article ( read part 1 here ) gave an overview the. Fathers service and that of his comrades-in-arms he was also normally assigned as the custodian of publications... During the Korean War and into the Vietnam War. [ 2 ] attempt to describe a. 40 people, plus a naval armed guard Officer had evolved into the Vietnam War. 2..., auxiliary machinery, and interior communications private water taxis Fletcher class destroyer DD-445, was Officer.

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