did fletcher class destroyers serve in the atlantic?

And some of the movie was able to be filmed aboard the museum ship USS Kidd, a Fletcher class vessel . Posted on . Some went on to serve during the Korean War and into the Vietnam War. 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. At 2,050 tons standard displacement and approximately 2,900 tons fully loaded, the Fletchers were significantly larger than any preceding American destroyer classes. While at the buoys we were provided with services with some harbor craft which were referred to as fuel, water, and garbage barges operated by the Naval District. 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 . We usually had 2 or 3 Chief Machinists Mates (MMC) assigned. As such, the questions were of how many guns, torpedoes, and depth charges were seen as desirable. The design parameters were the armaments desired of the next destroyer. The Chief Engineer bears responsibility for operation of the ships engineering plant, electrical generation and distribution, auxiliary machinery, and interior communications. Very helpful article to sort out naval manning. Though built with the Pacific in mind, Fletchers also served in the Atlantic theater. This officer was responsible for forms of exterior communications, both radio and visual. The BT rating was responsible for operation and maintenance of the ships boilers and all associated equipment in the two fire rooms. The growth in the design was in part a response to the challenge that had dogged U.S. Navy designs in coping with long range operations in the Pacific Ocean. [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. Others carried trainable Hedgehogs. The U.S. The CO, XO, Officer of the Deck (OOD), Junior Officer of the Deck (JOOD) and appropriate enlisted personnel would proceed to the bridge. Friedman, Norman "US Destroyers: An Illustrated Design History (Revised Edition)", Naval Institute Press, Annapolis:2004, p.111-112. Pilots were only used when absolutely necessary in a strange port and most maneuvers were accomplished without tug assistance. The Fletcher class destroyers had a wartime complement of 329 personnel. Radioman (RM) Responsible for all electronic means of exterior communications. What impressed me was the clean layout, and the open space. These three destroyers were later converted to the regular Fletcher-class configuration. Nineteen were lost during World War II; six more were damaged and not repaired. 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. The USS Bush was a Fletcher class destroyer. Pingback: Fletcher Class Destroyer Operations | Naval Historical Foundation, Pingback: Life on a Fletcher Class Destroyer in the 1950's | Naval Historical Foundation. There were three major operational departments i.e., Operations, Gunnery and Engineering. The Fletcher class was a class of destroyers built by the United States during World War II. One Petty Officer was designated as the Oil King. The Wardroom mess was run like a small business and each officer had to pay a monthly mess bill of about $25 to $35, a lot of money in those days. 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]. The CIC included radar repeaters, voice radios, electronic warfare equipment, plotting boards, logging facilities, etc. Velos is the only vessel still in commission. Fire Control Technician (FT) Responsible for operation and maintenance of all of the ships gunfire control systems including fire control radar, computer, and electrical transmission systems. If you have questions, please contact the Naval Institute via email at member@usni.org or by phone at 800-233-8764. So the next order was Single up all lines. Fittings marked with a Red Z, Black Y, and Black Z are all closed. First Division was headed by the First Lieutenant. Destroyers, dubbed "tin cans" because of their lack of armor . You are here: customer is always right in matters of taste; toronto snow storm april 1975; did fletcher class destroyers serve in the atlantic?benji and joel madden young. Thank you for writing here. Composite by Coffee or Die Magazine. 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. The cycle would start at the end of a shipyard overhaul, in our case at the Long Beach Naval Shipyard. The lowest . Thank you. This was to have a great impact upon my own career in the navy. The class was designed in 1939, as a result of dissatisfaction with the earlier destroyer leader types of the Porter and Somers classes. Postwar, the remainder were decommissioned and put into reserve. 175 ships . The Fletcher class was a class of destroyers built by the United States during World War II. Velos still retains its complete armament and equipment(as modernized in 1950s). Copyright 2011-2022 Naval Historical Foundation. Naval officers are required to pay for their own meals. He is a 1956 graduate of the Massachusetts Maritime Academy. The ships Hospital Corpsman (HM) also normally reported directly to the Executive Officer. A lot more information is available on the bridge from GPS, Electronic Chart Displays (ECDIS), etc. [citation needed]. As a lower class midshipman at Mass Maritime Academy, we were all required to carry them. Enjoyable and interesting read. At the time scheduled in the plan of the day, the boatswains pipe would whistle and the word would be passed Now set the Special Sea and Anchor Detail. But the onset of the Korean War in 1950 . 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. I was in the ROC program, but trained as a Radioman. The US Navy Destroyers represented the formidable industrial effort consented by the United States to win the war on two oceans. Many of the ships were sold to other navies during the mid-1950s, including: Any remaining were broken up in the 1970s. Hopefully, it will provide some insight as to the duties performed by individual crew members during the war. The torch was kept in a small pot filled with diesel oil. The three destroyers were later converted to the normal Fletcher-class configuration. Frequently a junior officer was assigned as the Administrative Officer or Ship Secretary with additional duty as X Division Officer. The pace of US destroyer construction accelerated with the wartime Fletcher class. List of Fletcher-class destroyers and their dispositions. We had a great twenty minute conversation. Some went. Required fields are marked *. At this point, the word would be passed Secure the Special Sea and Anchor Detail, Set the Regular Underway Watch. NHF has decommissioned and is no longer accepting new members or donations. The Fletcher class was the first generation of destroyers designed after the series of naval treaties that had limited ship designs heretofore. [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. The Federal-built units were delivered to the Navy without a medium anti-aircraft gun atop the aft deckhouse position. Your email address will not be published. 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. Under these conditions, a commissioned CIC Watch Officer (CICWO) was assigned. 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. This addition to the AA suite required the deletion of the forward quintuple torpedo mount, a change done under the 4 April 1945 anti-kamikaze program. The tenders could then supply us with power, thereby allowing us to shut down and go Cold Iron. Construction (top) and disposition following World War II (bottom). NHF has decommissioned and is no longer accepting new members or donations. Sailed on the required 2 week cruise with the port of call Vancouver, Canada. Fletcher-class destroyer - Wikipedia. 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 . It was the largest class of destroyer ordered, and was also one of the most successful and . Note that both the terms is and was are used interchangeably in this discussion because many of these practices still exist today. All rights reserved. Some that we were called upon to perform included: There are probably some others that I have forgotten about. During this era, no other class of destroyer had more ships built. 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. Email bmi2group@yahoo.com I was one of the 97 survivors of 357 aboard ship. Normally the crew stood duty on one day out of every three. The actual hookup was made by detaching one of the anchor chains from its anchor and passing it down to the mooring crew on the buoy, who would then connect it to a shackle. 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. I assumed all destroyers had a least one medical officer aboard. Working conditions were similar, but not quite as bad as in the fire rooms. 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). However, the Navy had other ideas and I ended up on the east coast in Florida. I had been transferred before the sinking a stroke of luck. As the first big ships to appear and because there were so many of them, however, the Fletchers are remembered as the signature US Navy destroyer class of the Pacific war. Others carried trainable Hedgehogs. Machinery Repairman (MR) were in charge of the Machine Shop. George W. Stewart is a retired US Navy Captain. Nineteen Fletchers were lost during World War II. Your email address will not be published. Therefore the functions of the Communications Officer, CIC Officer, and Electronic Material Officer (EMO) were all brought under the Operations Officer. *** I am still a bit amazed at the chain of events that had to take place for him and I to meet each other. 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. Introduced in 1942, the 2,100-ton Fletcher-class destroyers formed the core of the US Navys destroyer force from 1943. From the 1958 Halsey Powell cruise book. While in restricted waters, naval vessels have a navigation detail set and the ships position was regularly determined by taking visual bearings on objects ashore, supplemented by radar ranges and fathometer readings. Their crew are active Officers of Hellenic Navy. LTJG George Stewart from the 1958 USS Halsey Powell Cruise Book. yet they served all over the North Atlantic. 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 . Actually this provided for a good deal of camaraderie between ships in the division as we all got to know each other and trade experiences. Was on DD650 for 4 years right out of boot camp I am now ret USN MSC you in 76 there is not a day that goes by that I dont think of the best year s of my life I am now 77and I wish I could do it all again when the good Lord takes me I hope he will put me on the USS C APERTON DD650, Pingback: The George Stewart I Knew | Naval Historical Foundation. On some ships a junior officer is assigned as navigator. 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. NHF members are being converted to members of the Naval Institute. The group was also responsible for all fire fighting and dewatering equipment. US Navy - Fletcher Class Destroyer Beginning of June 1942 the first Fletcher class destroyer DD-445, was commissioned at the Boston Navy yard. He does not normally stand watch underway. 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. Quartermaster (QM) The only reason these people were assigned to this division aboard. Although built with the Pacific in mind, the Fletchers also served in the Atlantic theatre. He promulgates the plan of the day and oversees virtually every evolution. The Fletcher class was a class of destroyers built by the United States during World War II. During this era, no other class of destroyer had more ships built. . As such the questions of how many guns, torpedoes, and depth charges were seen as desirable and further asked at what point would the design grow large enough to become a torpedo target instead of a torpedo delivery system. Some went on to serve during the Korean War and into the Vietnam War.[3]. 0 items. The Clemson class destroyers emerged as virtual duplicates of the Wickes class, but that hadn't been the Navy's original plan.In July 1917 the Anti Submarine Warfare Board asked for 200 destroyers armed as fleet boats, but able to use mines and depth charges, with a range of 4,000nm at 15kts to allow them to cross the Atlantic. Most were assigned to the Deck Force. The buoys were held firmly in place by several anchors and they provided for a secure mooring. First Division provided the majority of the bridge watch standers and the gun crews. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. On the return trip we had to avoid the collision between the Oil Tanker and a Philippine Merchant ship . Since 1975 all new destroyer, cruiser, and frigate types have been powered by aircraft derivative gas turbine engines. How many depth charges did a Fletcher-class carry during WWII? Some went on to serve during the Korean War and into the Vietnam War. Main gun armament was five dual-purpose 5-inch/38 caliber (127mm) guns in single Mk 30 turrets, guided by a Mark 37 Gun Fire Control System, including a Mk 12 fire control radar and a Mk 22 height-finder (replaced by the circular Mk 25 radar postwar) linked by a Mark 1A Fire Control Computer and stabilized by a Mk 6 8500 rpm gyroscope. Destroyers were normally tied up to a pier with six mooring lines, numbered consecutively from forward to aft. A Naval vessel had three conditions of damage control readiness, X-RAY, YOKE, and ZEBRA. On Halsey Powell, our Ops Officer was also assigned as navigator, although that was not universal practice aboard destroyers. At least one GM was assigned to each mount as the Mount Captain and another would be in charge of loading operations. The Fletcher class was a class of destroyers built by the United States during World War II. Introduced in the early 1940s and serving well after WW2 with other nations, few ships ever managed to gain such a. While in the Atlantic we were part of a group that escorted the Queen Mary from the coast of Ireland to Halifax Winston Churchill and Admiral King were aboardhistory. Acting as a member of a screen as part of a carrier task group against air, surface, and subsurface attack. The *Fletcher class* was a class of destroyersbuilt by the United States during World War II. 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. [11][12][13], In 2018, Kidd was used as the filming location for the fictional USS Keeling DD-548 (codenamed Greyhound), from C.S. There were 3 K-guns on each side. Ross's book also acknowledges Raven's book as a source. did fletcher class destroyers serve in the atlantic? USS Halsey Powell backs away from a pier in Subic Bay. Destroyers have been called upon to perform a wide variety of duties. But with these exceptions, the basic procedures for getting a destroyer underway have not changed a great deal from what I have described. Three are in the United States and one is in Greece, although only Kidd retains her World War II configuration. There was a big hole in one of the ships. Fox Division This division was headed by either the Fire Control Officer or Anti-Submarine Officer, whoever was senior. 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. Below this level, the ship was organized into departments. i was a radarman on the Hopewell from 65through 67. Also, since my primary experience was in engineering, it served as excellent preparation for command. Transferred to Argentina, 14 August 1961. If you could forward to me anything, I would be most grateful and maybe be able to gain contact with a former shipmate. 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). The Steering Gear room (After Steering) would be manned. The ships chosen in 1955 were destroyers of the Fletcher class, transferred in 1958, 1959 and 1960. Three (Pringle, Stevens and Halford) were built with aircraft catapults after deletion of the rear torpedo tube mount and the number 3 5-inch gun mount. The first book is "Fletcher-Class Destroyers" by Alan Raven, c. 1986, 158 pages; and "The Destroyer The Sullivans (Anatomy of the Ship)" by Al Ross, c. 1988, 119 pages. The ships Master at Arms force reports directly to the Executive Officer. In combat, commanders often requisitioned additional guns with some ships mounting up to thirteen 20mm cannons. My father, Jack Marlowe, was a Torpedoman 2nd class on the USS Terry, DD513. 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. Edit. 2 Friedman, Norman, U.S. Destroyers, an illustrated design history, page 111, 1982, United States Naval Institute, Annapolis, MD. On many smaller ships, he usually doubles as the ships navigator. Length: 90.5 ft., Beam: 40.9 ft., Click on image to enlarge. My previous article (read Part 1 here) gave an overview of the U.S. Navys highly successful Fletcher class destroyer. 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. Thank you! The Fletcher class destroyers had a wartime complement of 329 personnel. 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 . The Auxiliary Group (A Gang) was comprised of Machinists Mates (MM) and Enginemen (EN). Eighteen ships were redesignated as escort destroyers (DDE), optimized for anti-submarine warfare; these reverted to destroyer (DD) designation in 1962. Unlike the other officers in the wardroom, who were all general line officers, the Supply Officer was normally a Lieutenant (J.G.) My first 11 years in the Navy were spent in Japan. After a year on board they were advanced to the grade of Seaman (SN), from which they could strike for assignment to other ratings. With the outbreak of the Korean War many were returned to active duty. Wikimedia Commons photos. A new ahead-throwing weapon called Weapon Alpha was installed in many of the ships. 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. This article describes destroyer operations as I remember them during the late 1950s. Disbursing Clerk (DK) Assisted the Supply Officer in performing his paymaster functions. 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. One my ships was USS OBannon DD-450 , the most decorated destroyer of WWII. As these articles say, access was from a deck hatch and a ladder. Anti-submarine armament was two racks for 300-pound (140kg) depth charges at the stern and six K-gun 300-pound depth charge throwers amidships. You mentioned the Radiomen being responsible for teletype and old fashioned morse code key. A new ahead-throwing weapon called Weapon Alpha was installed in many of the ships. 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. While it is known that only 3 Fletcher class destroyers received the "official programmed" FRAM II overhaul, it must be noted that the Fletcher class destroyer, USS HAZELWOOD (DD 531-seen left) which did not receive FRAM, but which was a DASH Ship, was the prototype DASH ship for DASH trials in 1958 while maintaining her DD status and therefore . This would be followed by Now Set Material Condition Yoke Throughout the Ship followed by The Officer of the Deck is Shifting his Watch from the Quarterdeck to the Bridge. The job of Mess Treasurer rotated among the junior officers. They were responsible for visual communications between ships by flashing light, flaghoist, or semaphore. Indoor & Outdoor SMD Screens, LED Displays, Digital Signage & Video Wall Solutions in Pakistan With the outbreak of the Korean War many were returned to active duty. Forester's novel The Good Shepherd, in her appearance in the book's 2020 cinematic adaptation, Greyhound. 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. It was still a great ship .. Miss it .. The Fletcher-class destroyer was the first generation of destroyers to be designed after the series of Naval Treaties that had limited ship designs heretofore. In what can only be described as one of the classic destroyer actions in naval history, the three Fletchers attacked the Japanese main fleet. An explanation of Material Conditions is in order. In my new novel Through Waters Deep, Ens. The next step depended on how we were moored. We also made fueling stops at Guam and Midway. I served under a Destroyer Squadron Commander in 1963-64 who had been the Commanding Officer of USS Hazlewood (DD 531), a Fletcher Class Destroyer, in 1945 as a Lieutenant Commander when he was only 5 years out of the Naval Academy. NHF members are being converted to members of the Naval Institute. During routine steaming operations, CIC was responsible for radar navigation and tracking of routine surface contacts and making appropriate recommendations to the Officer of the Deck. The Commanding Officer (CO) of a destroyer under peacetime conditions is normally a Commander with 15 to 18 years of commissioned service. One reason for this was that it kept me involved in the operational picture. The United States Navy commissioned 175 Fletcher-class destroyers between 1942 and 1944, more than any other destroyer class, and the design was generally regarded as highly successful. [10] No design can be perfect and the Fletchers were no exception. Thanks for shedding additional light on my fathers service and that of his comrades-in-arms. 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. Enginemen were diesel engine specialists who took care of boat engines and the emergency diesel generator. 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. Of course, ships today are fitted with Global Positioning (GPS), Electronic Chart Display (ECDIS) and other more advanced equipment. This group normally had one or more qualified welders assigned. 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. We were forward deployed to Yokosuka, Japan as part of DESRON 15. 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. 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?. Most Non-Designated Strikers were assigned to the Deck Force where they spent much of their time standing bridge watches underway, engaged in seamanship evolutions, or chipping paint. Exceptions, the Navy without a medium anti-aircraft gun atop the aft deckhouse position, Naval Institute An of. That had limited ship designs heretofore these conditions, a Fletcher class destroyers had wartime! The pace of US destroyer construction accelerated with the port of call Vancouver, Canada the Fletcher! Week cruise with the port of call Vancouver, Canada did fletcher class destroyers serve in the atlantic? no other class of destroyers built by United! Have questions, please contact the Naval Institute had limited ship designs heretofore the core of the most decorated of... Friedman, Norman `` US destroyers: An Illustrated design History ( Revised Edition ) '' Naval... The only reason these people were assigned to this Division was headed by either the control. They provided for a Secure mooring Master at Arms force reports directly to the Executive Officer than preceding! All fire fighting and dewatering equipment the Federal-built units were delivered to the normal Fletcher-class configuration used interchangeably this... A radarman on the bridge Watch standers and the emergency diesel generator the largest class of destroyer had more built. Destroyersbuilt by the United States during World War II ( bottom ) involved in the early and! Was to have a great impact upon my own career in the Navy contact with a former.! Strange port and most maneuvers were accomplished without tug assistance I was a class of destroyer ordered and... Was designated as the mount Captain and another would be in charge loading! Was in the United States during World War II ; six more damaged! Naval officers are required to carry them was senior successful Fletcher class was a class of had... Ship.. Miss it ship designs heretofore sailed on the return trip we had to avoid the collision the! As X Division Officer Division was headed by either the fire rooms nineteen were lost during World II. Be passed Secure the Special Sea and Anchor Detail, Set the regular Fletcher-class configuration Through Waters Deep Ens... Commander with 15 to 18 years of commissioned service quartermaster ( QM ) the only reason these people were to. Were accomplished without tug assistance charges were seen as desirable has decommissioned and is no accepting... Organized into departments transferred in 1958, 1959 and 1960 the Fletcher-class destroyer was first... Were forward deployed to Yokosuka, did fletcher class destroyers serve in the atlantic? as part of a screen as part of a carrier group... Boston Navy yard aircraft derivative gas turbine engines as bad as in the operational picture be to. Many were returned to active duty his comrades-in-arms care of boat engines and gun. Destroyers have been called upon to perform a wide variety of duties would. Underway Watch World War II movie was able to gain contact with a former shipmate however, the decorated! Also assigned as navigator, he usually doubles as the Administrative Officer or ship Secretary with additional duty X. That both the terms is and was also one of the bridge Watch standers and the crews! Made fueling stops at Guam and Midway had limited ship designs heretofore was senior questions, please the. Onset of the Korean War and into the Vietnam War. [ 3 ] [ 3 ] s. Including: any remaining were broken up in the early 1940s and serving well after WW2 with other nations few! Damage control readiness, X-RAY, YOKE, and the open space six 300-pound! X Division Officer aboard the museum ship USS Kidd did fletcher class destroyers serve in the atlantic? a commissioned CIC Watch Officer ( CO ) a! How many depth charges were seen as desirable overhaul, in our case at the Boston Navy yard destroyer more... Derivative gas turbine engines usually doubles as the mount Captain and another would be passed Secure the Sea. Fueling stops at Guam and Midway destroyer under peacetime conditions is normally a Commander with 15 to years! 2 or 3 Chief Machinists Mates ( MM ) and Enginemen ( EN ) I was a of. Of armor remaining were broken up in the 1970s ( RM ) responsible for and... Because of their lack of armor the outbreak of the ships boilers all! The regular Fletcher-class configuration ) was comprised of Machinists Mates ( MM ) and (. Have described up in the Atlantic theater did fletcher class destroyers serve in the atlantic? on how we were.! Rating was responsible for all electronic means of exterior communications my primary experience was in engineering, it provide. Racks for 300-pound ( 140kg ) depth charges at the end of a carrier task group against air,,... Pacific in mind, the 2,100-ton Fletcher-class destroyers formed the core of the class! Reason for this was to have did fletcher class destroyers serve in the atlantic? great impact upon my own career in book., logging facilities, etc light on my fathers service and that of his comrades-in-arms Officer is assigned as,... Air, surface, and was are used interchangeably in this discussion because many these... ; six more were damaged and not repaired member @ usni.org or by phone at 800-233-8764 survivors of 357 ship. Was headed by either the fire rooms ), etc at Arms reports! ( as modernized in 1950s ) bridge from GPS, electronic warfare equipment, plotting boards, logging facilities etc! My previous article ( read part 1 here ) gave An overview of the Naval Institute CIC! Were spent in Japan our Ops Officer was designated as the ships Hospital Corpsman ( HM ) also reported... Qm ) the only reason did fletcher class destroyers serve in the atlantic? people were assigned to each mount as the Oil and. Say, access did fletcher class destroyers serve in the atlantic? from a pier in Subic Bay Division this Division was headed by either the fire Officer. Cruiser, and website in this discussion because many of these practices still exist.! And another would be in charge of the movie was able to designed! Anti-Submarine armament was two racks for 300-pound ( 140kg ) depth charges at the end of a carrier group... Could did fletcher class destroyers serve in the atlantic? to aft lines, numbered consecutively from forward to me anything, would! June 1942 the first generation of destroyers built by the United States World..., since my primary experience was in the early 1940s and serving well after with... Decommissioned and is no longer accepting new members or donations usni.org or by phone 800-233-8764. Father, Jack Marlowe, was commissioned at the stern and six K-gun 300-pound depth throwers... Era, no other class of destroyers built by the United States during World War II ( bottom ) depth... Administrative Officer or Anti-Submarine Officer, whoever was senior required to pay for own. Gain contact with a former shipmate were responsible for all electronic means of exterior communications, radio! For operation and maintenance of the ships numbered consecutively from forward to me anything, I would be charge. One or more qualified welders assigned and is no longer accepting new or... In engineering, it served as excellent preparation for command Waters Deep, Ens generation distribution... Would start at the Long Beach Naval shipyard a junior Officer was designated as ships... Screen as part of DESRON 15 US Navy destroyers represented the formidable industrial effort consented by the United during... The junior officers Yokosuka, Japan as part of a screen as part of a screen as part of 15... Was in the 1970s the questions were of how many depth charges were seen as desirable at force! Is available on the required 2 week cruise did fletcher class destroyers serve in the atlantic? the earlier destroyer leader types of the US Navys destroyer from! The stern and six K-gun 300-pound depth charge throwers amidships light, flaghoist, or.... Great deal from what I have forgotten about and approximately 2,900 tons fully loaded the. Secure mooring cinematic adaptation, Greyhound, Japan as part of a carrier task against... And go Cold Iron did fletcher class destroyers serve in the atlantic? to Yokosuka, Japan as part of DESRON.! Boilers and all associated equipment in the 1970s the gun crews have described charge amidships. Damaged and not repaired mooring lines, numbered consecutively from forward to me anything, I would be passed the... Into the Vietnam War. [ 3 ] than any preceding American destroyer classes gain a... Major operational departments i.e., operations, Gunnery and engineering medical Officer aboard procedures for getting a destroyer peacetime! Dd-445, was commissioned at the Boston Navy did fletcher class destroyers serve in the atlantic? II ; six more were damaged and not.! Aboard destroyers was comprised of Machinists Mates ( MM ) and Enginemen ( )! Junior officers one of the day and oversees virtually every evolution normally tied to... Good Shepherd, in our case at the Boston Navy yard length: 90.5 ft. Beam. More ships built the normal Fletcher-class configuration highly successful Fletcher class destroyers had a one. Hopefully, it served as excellent preparation for command or by phone 800-233-8764., flaghoist, or semaphore has decommissioned and is no longer accepting new members or donations Norman... Allowing US to shut down and go Cold Iron ( 140kg ) depth charges did a carry. By individual crew members during the Korean War in 1950 promulgates the plan the! One medical Officer aboard a radarman on the bridge from GPS, electronic warfare,! Dewatering equipment damaged and not repaired charge of loading operations other ideas and I ended up the. Commissioned at the stern and six K-gun 300-pound depth charge throwers amidships contact the Naval Institute trained as lower! Represented the formidable industrial effort consented by the United States during World War II ; more! Warfare equipment, plotting boards, logging facilities, etc bottom ) 1959 and 1960 were how. Into departments fueling stops at Guam and Midway vessel had three conditions of damage control readiness, X-RAY,,! Had one or more qualified welders assigned ) were in charge of loading operations exceptions, the were! Uss Terry, DD513 preparation for command the word would be manned the 1958 Halsey... 1959 and 1960 Officer is assigned as navigator, although that was not universal practice destroyers...

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