l spent over a year on the USS TINGEY (DD539). All watertight doors and hatches are closed to provide maximum subdivision. Some 2,100-tonners served off Korea in the 1950s and some even off Vietnam in the 60s. 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. Enginemen were diesel engine specialists who took care of boat engines and the emergency diesel generator. It was still a great ship .. Miss it .. Four Fletchers have been preserved on public display. These conditions are established by closing the appropriate fittings such as valves, hatches, and watertight doors. First (Deck), Second (Guns), and Fox (Fire Control, Sonar, and Anti-Submarine Armament). The Aulick was hit by a kamikaze in Leyte Gulf in November, 1944, with a loss of 31 men. The last step was to test out the main engines with steam. Most COs rarely took the conn themselves but acted more as a teacher and overall safety observer. The Fletcher class was a class of destroyers built by the United States during World War II. This officer was responsible for forms of exterior communications, both radio and visual. Since 1975 all new destroyer, cruiser, and frigate types have been powered by aircraft derivative gas turbine engines. Named after a swashbuckling Union Civil War captain, the Porter was one of 175 Fletcher-class destroyers built during World War II. 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. Fletcher (DDE-445) is recommissioned as an escort destroyer at Hunters Point Naval Shipyard, 03 October 1949. The United States Navy commissioned 175 Fletcher-class destroyers between 1942 and 1944, more . The USS KIDD (DD-661) is a Fletcher-class destroyer, the six hundred sixty-first destroyer built by the United States Navy. 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. 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]. A fleet destroyer will normally have all three major department head billets filled by a Lieutenant Commander or fairly senior Lieutenant. Underway operations will be described in the next section. Thanks for shedding additional light on my fathers service and that of his comrades-in-arms. The Operations Department was normally divided into three divisions, each of which was headed by a Division Officer, normally an Ensign or Lieutenant (jg). I had a great time with the locals in Vancouver and also remember the near collision. His principal assistants were the Main Propulsion Assistant (MPA) and Damage Control Assistant (DCA). Note that both the terms is and was are used interchangeably in this discussion because many of these practices still exist today. 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. Your email address will not be published. I loved the country so much that I did not want to leave. *** One of the biggest regrets of my life is not volunteering to be part of the crew that cleaned up decades of layered on paint, to get her ready for public display. Does anyone have information I can get from on of his mates during that time. The ratings that came under the Communications officer were: OI Division Headed by the CIC Officer, assisted by the Electronics Material Officer (EMO). In those days, the Navy had been heavily influenced by carrier task group operations during the war and the experiences with the Kamikazes during the Battle of Okinawa. The CIC included radar repeaters, voice radios, electronic warfare equipment, plotting boards, logging facilities, etc. A new ahead-throwing weapon called Weapon Alpha was installed in many of the ships. 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. His name is George Meyn. Velos alongside G. Averof are ceremonially commissioned by the Hellenic Navy having Palaio Faliro as their base. The Fletcher class was the first generation of destroyers designed after the series of naval treaties that had limited ship designs heretofore. At 2,050 tons standard displacement and approximately 2,900 tons fully loaded, the Fletchers were significantly larger than any preceding American destroyer classes. Because the ship had eight gun mounts and only about a dozen Gunners Mates, most of the personnel manning the gun crews and magazines were actually deck seamen. 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 .. If there was ever any doubt about who was responsible for a piece of equipment on the ship, it belonged to the Chief Engineer. Deployments were six months in length followed by a six month period in the US, about half of which was spent underway in various fleet exercises off the West Coast. The Fletcher-class destroyer was a class of destroyers that were used extensively by the United States Navy during World War II. The Fletcher-class was a class of destroyers built by the United States during World War II. On many smaller ships, he usually doubles as the ships navigator. All records of boiler water treatment and fuel usage were kept in an office referred to as the Oil Shack. 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. Manage all your favorite fandoms in one place! 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. [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. With the outbreak of the Korean War many were returned to active duty. The class was designed in 1939, as a result of dissatisfaction with the earlier destroyer leader types of the Porter and Somers classes. 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 . NHF members are being converted to members of the Naval Institute. Of course, ships today are fitted with Global Positioning (GPS), Electronic Chart Display (ECDIS) and other more advanced equipment. He currently holds the title of Chief Marine Engineer at Marine Design Dynamics. while Ross's book is about just one ship that served from 1942 to 1965. The design parameters were the armaments desired of the next destroyer. This article describes destroyer operations as I remember them during the late 1950s. 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 . There were 175 of them built during World War II. Composite by Coffee or Die Magazine. Heres how to join! The ship had to approach very carefully directly into the current and hold itself in position during this process. 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 US Navy Destroyers represented the formidable industrial effort consented by the United States to win the war on two oceans. Pingback: Manning Fletcher Class Destroyers | Naval Historical Foundation, Pingback: Fletcher Class Destroyer Operations - Part II | Naval Historical Foundation. 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]. Boiler Technician (BT) This was a fancy name for what was called a Water Tender in the old coal fired Navy. The Chief Engineer bears responsibility for operation of the ships engineering plant, electrical generation and distribution, auxiliary machinery, and interior communications. [5][not in citation given] In a massive effort, the Fletcher-class ships were built by shipyards across the United States and, after World War II ended, many were sold to the very countries they had fought against: Italy, Germany, and Japan, as well as other navies, where they would go on to have even longer, distinguished careers. LTJG George Stewart from the 1958 USS Halsey Powell Cruise Book. 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. OK, first of all - the reason for the Fletcher class' size is because the US Navy wanted a destroyer with the same main armament as preceding classes (pretty much all of the mass produced destroyers had five 5-inch guns and ten 21-inch torpedo tubes); with the same speed (37 knots); and a similar range (5,000 nmi at 15 knots) as those ships . did fletcher class destroyers serve in the atlantic? [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. The USS The Sullivans (DD-537), a Fletcher -class destroyer, pictured here in 1962 was named in their honor. This practice no longer exists today. Some went on to serve during the Korean War and into the Vietnam War. That number was necessary to allow around the clock manning of gun mounts, repair parties, and other watch stations. During World War II, these functions had belonged to the Chief Engineer. The preparations for getting underway have been simplified a great deal as it is not necessary to start the engines until sea detail has been set. Much of this philosophy was a carry over from the days of sailing ships. Deployments to the Far East could be pretty tedious and they involved long periods at sea, as much as a month at a time. 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. raddish kids recipes; . Ships office personnel such as Yeoman (YN) and Personnelmen (PN) and the ships Postal Clerk (PC) are assigned to this division. Therefore the functions of the Communications Officer, CIC Officer, and Electronic Material Officer (EMO) were all brought under the Operations Officer. Any help would be appreciated. He is assisted by personnel of the Quartermaster (QM) rating. First Division provided the majority of the bridge watch standers and the gun crews. 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. Most were assigned to the Deck Force. 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. An explanation of Material Conditions is in order. As a lower class midshipman at Mass Maritime Academy, we were all required to carry them. About 12 of the enlisted men were Chief Petty Officers. and by the end of 1946 the entire Fletcher class except for a few training ships had been mothballed and placed in reserve. Destroyers have been called upon to perform a wide variety of duties. Previously the USS Anthony (DD-515), Ringold (DD-500), Waldsworth (DD-515), Claxton (DD-571), Dyson (DD-572), and Charles Ausburne (DD-570). Meanwhile, medium-size Coast Guard cutters and U.S. Navy destroyers covered waters closer inshore. 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. They did not stand regular watches but they were the people you called when something failed to operate properly. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Without question, the most famous destroyer-class to serve in World War II was the Fletcher. The class was designed in 1939, as a result of dissatisfaction with the earlierdestroyer leader types. did fletcher class destroyers serve in the atlantic? This article describes destroyer operations as I remember them during the late 1950s. 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. These sailors were generally referred to as non-rated personnel and they could be assigned duties in any of the non-engineering divisions. Fletcher Class. We also made fueling stops at Guam and Midway. 175 Fletcher Class Destroyers were commissioned from June 1942 to February 1945. 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. 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. Facilities were provided for collection, display, evaluation, and dissemination of information and making appropriate recommendations to the command (and in some cases Weapons Control). There were some differences in the way that the ships were organized in 1956 and the way that they were organized during the war. 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. However the Supply Officer served as the permanent mess caterer, a place where he frequently took a lot of heat. 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 rights reserved. Essentially what this meant was for the first team to take their assigned stations for getting underway. Introduced in the early 1940s and serving well after WW2 with other nations, few ships ever managed to gain such a. While there are books that will go into more detail, these articles are a great introduction to the systems and crewing of a WWII fighting ship that did not have the luxury of avoiding going into harms way. Fred Edwards, Destroyer Type Desk, Bureau of Ships, 1942, quoted in Holland, Rear Admiral W. J., Jr., USN (Ret), ed. Again, the terms is and was are used interchangeably in this article. I was a teletype/crypto operator on the USS FORRESTAL (CVA-59) in the early 1970s. All rights reserved. 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. 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. found: Wikipedia, May 10 2010: under Fletcher class destroyer (the Fletcher class were a class of destroyers built by the United States during World War II; some went on to serve during the Korean War and into the Vietnam War; the United States Navy commissioned 175 Fletcher class destroyers between 1942 and 1944; they were built by shipyards across the United States and many were sold to the . 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. [4] They could cover the vast distances required by fleet actions in the Pacific. 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. They also were much less top heavy than the previous classes, allowing them to take on additional equipment and weapons without major redesign. This alteration was not a success in service and was not repeated. The ship was named to honor Admiral Frank Friday Fletcher, who received the Medal of Honor for his leadership during the Mexican-American War. $0.00. 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. I have been interested in the Fletcher class ships for several years now and your articles are fascinating. 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. As a side note when raising steam in a boiler, the first burner had to be lit with a hand torch. With the outbreak of the Korean War many were returned to active duty. 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. 175 were produced, more than any other class, and they were built by shipyards across the United States. Storekeeper (SK) Responsible for ensuring that the required quantities of spare parts and consumables were on board and maintaining the required records. Indoor & Outdoor SMD Screens, LED Displays, Digital Signage & Video Wall Solutions in Pakistan They did not appear until the 1970s. My husband was a Boiler Tender on the USS Vandevier during 1956 to 1958 or 9. Nineteen Fletchers were lost during World War II. Category page. 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 whole bunch of information is conveyed very concisely. The conditions are described as follows: The OOD would then execute a Getting Underway check list. At least one GM was assigned to each mount as the Mount Captain and another would be in charge of loading operations. As soon as the last line was taken in, the boatswains pipe would sound and the announcement would be made Underway, Shift Colors. The CS rating who was responsible for the dry provisions and refrigerated storerooms was referred to as the Jack of the Dust. Built in 1943 in San Pedro, California, she is one of 175 Fletcher-class destroyers built during World War II. The Fletcher design permitted significant increases over preceding classes in hull, armament, machinery, ammunition, stores and fuel bunkerage. 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. The design parameters were in the form of the armaments desired of the next destroyer. The Fletcher class (named for Admiral Frank F. Fletcher) was the largest class of destroyer ordered and was also one . He functions as the administrator of the ship and has overall responsibility for all personnel on board. While I did not serve in a Fletcher class destroyer, I did serve in a FRAM II destroyer, the USS ROWAN DD-782. The U.S. Technical information. During World War II this rating was called Pharmacists Mate. The Fletcher class (named for Admiral Frank F. Fletcher) was the largest class of destroyer ordered, and was also one of the most successful and popular with the destroyer men themselves. Three have been preserved as museum ships in the U.S., and one in Greece. 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). As with other previous U.S. flush deck destroyer designs, seagoing performance suffered to a degree. Here in Charlestown, this navy yard built . The Executive Officer is the person who is responsible for making things happen. The iconic silhouette of a Fletcher is well known to any students of World War II naval history. Destroyers were normally tied up to a pier with six mooring lines, numbered consecutively from forward to aft. Sailors in this division were responsible for operation and maintenance of all of the ships armament and stowage of ammunition except for torpedoes and anti-submarine weaponry. 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. Enjoyable and interesting read. My father, Jack Marlowe, was a Torpedoman 2nd class on the USS Terry, DD513. All fittings marked with a black X are kept closed at all times and opened only for temporary access. Postwar, the remainder were decommissioned and put into reserve. The next step depended on how we were moored. Radio direction finders were eventually replaced by Loran A. He was a member of the original crew and served as the Medical Officer. 789k. Fletcher-class destroyer - Wikipedia. I served on this ship during my reserve time in 1966-67 with fond memories of a great crew and a fine old ship that still preformed as it did when new. 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. 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. One Petty Officer was designated as the Oil King. My own ship, the USS Halsey Powell (DD 686) had been struck by a Kamikaze while escorting the carrier USS Hancock (CV 19) off Okinawa in 1945. Machinery Repairman (MR) were in charge of the Machine Shop. Hopefully, it will provide some insight as to the duties performed by individual crew members during the war. The Fletcher class was a class of destroyers built by the United States during World War II. Phil Becker, my father, John Hanson, was an officer on USS Aulick DD569. The working part of the torch consisted of a rag wrapped around the end of the handle and secured by wire. 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. A lot more information is available on the bridge from GPS, Electronic Chart Displays (ECDIS), etc. and 2 racks, but cannot locate the number of charges in each rack (6-12?) 2 Friedman, Norman, U.S. Destroyers, an illustrated design history, page 111, 1982, United States Naval Institute, Annapolis, MD. 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. The growth in the design was in part answer to the question that always dogged U.S. Navy designs, that being the long range required by operations in the Pacific Ocean. The seven single 20mm guns were replaced with six twin mounts (four amidships and two on the fantail. The Chief Engineer would write Lighting Off Orders to be carried out by the duty section. There were three major operational departments i.e., Operations, Gunnery and Engineering. On Halsey Powell, our Ops Officer was also assigned as navigator, although that was not universal practice aboard destroyers. 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. The class was designed in 1939, as a result of dissatisfaction with the earlier destroyer leader types of the Porter and Somers classes. Seaman/Seaman Apprentice (SN/SA) This takes some explanation. ZEBRA is the highest level of protection. 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. The class was designed in 1939, as a result of dissatisfaction with the earlier destroyer leader types of the Porter and Somers classes. 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. If the ship was designated as a flagship, accommodations were provided on board for the Commodore and his staff. The peacetime manning was 14 officers and 236 enlisted men. Sonarman (SO) Responsible for operation and maintenance of the ships sonar. Not a member of the Naval Institute? My first assignment in the Navy was Engineering Officer of USS Halsey Powell (DD 686), a Fletcher class destroyer, and my experiences on that ship form the basis for this series on Fletchers. 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. All wardroom officers had to take their turn at crypto duty, which involved going into the crypto shack, setting up the crypto machine by inserting a set of rotors corresponding to the date and time, and typing out the message. Acting as a rescue destroyer (Plane Guard). Posted by ; On . [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. Regardless of rank, the Commanding Officer was always referred to as Captain. He bears total responsibility for the ship and had commensurate authority over everyone on board. Three have been preserved as museum ships in the U.S. and one in Greece. He is a 1956 graduate of the Massachusetts Maritime Academy. Forester's novel The Good Shepherd, in her appearance in the book's 2020 cinematic adaptation, Greyhound. There were 39 casualties and extensive damage in the after part of the ship. Pingback: Fletcher Class Destroyer Operations | Naval Historical Foundation, Pingback: Life on a Fletcher Class Destroyer in the 1950's | Naval Historical Foundation. [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. The pace of US destroyer construction accelerated with the wartime Fletcher class. Military Wiki is a FANDOM Lifestyle Community. Early Fletcher-class ships had a closed round bridge, which was later changed to the square bridge type to give better visibility. In February 1943, the fantail-mounted Bofors was removed and one twin mount was placed on each side of the aft funnel, bringing the total number of 40mm to six. It was also one of the most successful and popular with their crews. The BT rating was responsible for operation and maintenance of the ships boilers and all associated equipment in the two fire rooms. Bob Crocker BT2 66-71. They were responsible for visual communications between ships by flashing light, flaghoist, or semaphore. 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. It was fascinating to see the gear reduction transmission (?) As of 3/10/2016, to the best of our knowledge, at ages 92 and 96 only two of us are still alive. A Liberty Ship or T-2 Tanker of the same era had a crew of about 40 people, plus a naval armed guard. 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. 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). Went to a Target store (Plantation, FL) to pick up some stuff, and outside I saw an older gentleman with a USS Kidd T-shirt. The navigator would be responsible for ensuring that the ship remained on its desired track and making appropriate recommendations to the CO/OOD. There were also fueling stops at Midway and sometimes Guam. A special thanks to friends: T@ker, Lilkiki and SVKSniper for their indispensable advice and . Thanks for shedding additional light on my fathers service and that of his comrades-in-arms. 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. I served on 2 Fletchers as BT during Vietnam. 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. 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. Commissioned; Brazilian Navy : K (1) 1922 - 1922 : Marcilio Dias (3) 1943 . Three are in the United States and one is in Greece, although only Kidd retains her World War II configuration. Two of the three destroyers were sunk, but not until they had inflicted serious damage on their opponents. 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 buoys were held firmly in place by several anchors and they provided for a secure mooring. I am a retired Merchant Chief Engineer (Steam). Often he was assigned additional duties as Chief Master at Arms (The ships head policeman). In April 1914 he led the landing forces at Vera Cruz Mexico, receiving the Medal of . Did we know each other? Fox Division This division was headed by either the Fire Control Officer or Anti-Submarine Officer, whoever was senior. All Rules of the Road situations were handled by whistle signals. 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 Auxiliary Group (A Gang) was comprised of Machinists Mates (MM) and Enginemen (EN). (My papers had been submitted but not received for 1st Class TM before we were sunk.) 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 During World War II, the commanding officer was frequently a Lieutenant Commander with far less experience. Under these conditions, a commissioned CIC Watch Officer (CICWO) was assigned. She was my first, and my favorite ship. 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. Ships of the Fletcher destroyer class Name Hull no. You mentioned the Radiomen being responsible for teletype and old fashioned morse code key. Some went on to serve during the Korean War and into the Vietnam War. OC Division Headed by the Communications Officer. 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. 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. The class was designed in 1939, as a result of dissatisfaction with the earlier destroyer leader types. 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. He currently holds the title of Chief Marine Engineer at Marine Design Dynamics. 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. Ship Servicemen (SH) Served as laundry men and operated the ships store and barber shop. The ships chosen in 1955 were destroyers of the Fletcher class, transferred in 1958, 1959 and 1960. 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. The Fletcher class was a class of destroyers built by the United States during World War II. However, the Navy had other ideas and I ended up on the east coast in Florida. 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). [11][12][13], In 2018, Kidd was used as the filming location for the fictional USS Keeling DD-548 (codenamed Greyhound), from C.S. YOKE is an intermediate level of protection that is set when the ship is under normal underway cruise conditions. I was that close to walking by him and into the store, but decided to ask him to if he had toured the ship (and gotten the shirt in the gift shop). In those days there was no bridge to bridge radio. She was a rough riding ship with a crew of dedicated men. But he had a good deal of responsibility. He has passed on and I need information for a claim with the VA. 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. Next. Also, since my primary experience was in engineering, it served as excellent preparation for command. Abbot was a Fletcher-class destroyer built in 1943. The lowest numbered Fletcher was the USS FLETCHER (DD445), although the USS NICHOLAS (DD449) was the first ship commissioned on June 4, 1942. It was an honor to serve on Fletchers as the brave sailors of WWII. 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. 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. The crew was extremely tight. Upon graduation from Boot Camp they were designated as a Seaman Apprentice. [6], Fletchers were also much less top-heavy than previous classes, allowing them to take on additional equipment and weapons without major redesign. Jim Avery serves on a fictional Gleaves-class destroyer, the USS . The class was designed in 1939, as a result of dissatisfaction with the earlier destroyer leader types of the Porter and Somers classes. Radarman (RD) This was a new rating that was established during World War II. 175 of these were . Email bmi2group@yahoo.com The Chief Boatswains Mate (BMC) was expected to be the most capable seaman on board. The *Fletcher class* was a class of destroyersbuilt by the United States during World War II. It is set under battle conditions. A Pacific Fleet destroyer operated on a two year cycle in those days. 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. But that is particularly necessary in wartime because it greatly simplifies the training program. Some went on to serve during the Korean War and into the Vietnam War. Also asked was at what point would the design grow large enough to become a torpedo target instead of a torpedo delivery system. About once per quarter we would be assigned an availability alongside a Destroyer Tender for routine repairs. 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. The ship was the first of the Fletcher-class destroyers that were built during World War II. For a secure moor, the lines were Doubled Up. The Federal-built units were delivered to the Navy without a medium anti-aircraft gun atop the aft deckhouse position. 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. Some went on to serve during the Korean War and into the Vietnam War.[2]. Machinists Mate (MM) This rating was responsible for the operation and maintenance of all of the equipment in the two main engine rooms. I assumed all destroyers had a least one medical officer aboard. i was a radarman on the Hopewell from 65through 67. United States naval ship classes of World War II. 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. Fireman (FN) and Fireman Apprentice (FA) These non rated men were assigned at the discretion of the Chief Engineer. Authorized for fiscal year 1941, construction of the first ships was already under way when the United States entered the war. Copyright 2011-2022 Naval Historical Foundation. ; The Navy, page 115, 2000, Naval Historical Foundation, Washington. This discussion is centered on the ships organization as I remember it between 1956 and 1959. The group was also responsible for all fire fighting and dewatering equipment. But with these exceptions, the basic procedures for getting a destroyer underway have not changed a great deal from what I have described. Obviously they were the people who were most likely to take heat from the other crew members for their efforts, or lack thereof. [3] The Allen M. Sumner and Gearing classes were Fletcher derivatives. In fact, they served until 1971 in the United States and in the Mexican Navy until 2001. They were renamed Named "Zestrer 1" (German for 'destroyer') to 6 and D170-180, they had been . 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. Many of the ships were sold to other navies during the mid-1950s, including: Any remaining were broken up in the 1970s. Described as perfect fighting destroyers, Fletchers, as built, were powerfully armed (five (5) 5-inch guns and ten (10) 21-inch torpedo tubes), fast (36 knots), amenable to wartime modifications, and extremely resilient in battle. After a year on board they were advanced to the grade of Seaman (SN), from which they could strike for assignment to other ratings. Transferred to Argentina, 14 August 1961. Transportation was by a combination of ships boats and private water taxis. [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. 175 ships . My father, Charles Ross Duncan, Sr. served on the USS Kimberly from 1943 thru 1945 in the Pacific. Communications had previously been a stand alone department and electronics repair had belonged to the Chief Engineer. 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. 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. Ten 21in (530mm) torpedo tubes were fitted in two quintuple mounts amidships, firing the 21-inch Mark 15 torpedo. If you have questions, please contact the Naval Institute via email at member@usni.org or by phone at 800-233-8764. 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. It was a very diverse division that was comprised of several ratings. The lowest . Fortunately, the Aulick was one of the few ships not damaged or sunk off Okinawa in 1945. The ships Hospital Corpsman (HM) also normally reported directly to the Executive Officer. A total of 175 Fletcher Class Destroyers were commissioned between 4 June 1942 and 22 February 1945. The class was designed in 1939, as a result of dissatisfaction with the earlier destroyer leader types. Displacement: 2600 tons. I was lucky enough to tour the USS Kidd shortly after she was docked for display in Baton Rouge, LA. The need for a separate department responsible for the collection, display, and dissemination of combat information and intelligence became apparent as further use was made of radar and the establishment of a Combat Information Center (CIC) as the central nerve center on the ship. Length: 90.5 ft., Beam: 40.9 ft., Click on image to enlarge. Fittings marked with a Red Z, Black Y, and Black Z are all closed. This division was responsible for all deck seamanship evolutions such as anchoring, mooring, boat operation and handling, and lastly, topside appearance. A new ahead-throwing weapon called Weapon Alpha was installed in many of the ships. The Fletcher-class destroyers were built by the United States during World War II. As these articles say, access was from a deck hatch and a ladder. About four months after Fletcher joined the fleet, she . 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. Thanks for sticking your neck out for us youngsters. These differences will be described as we go along. Also that only 3/8 of steel separated the entire compartment from the ocean. 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. I hope youre still here. During this era, no other class of destroyer had more ships built. Areas under his cognizance included food service, laundry, ships store, disbursing, consumables, and spare parts. 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 . Several destroyer classes of the IJN were able to reload their torpedo tubes, at least partially: The Fubuki class had 9 torpedo tubes in 3 triple mounts, carry. 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. After two deployments, it was back to the shipyard again. 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. We usually had 2 or 3 Chief Machinists Mates (MMC) assigned. [10] Typically, Babcock & Wilcox boilers and General Electric geared steam turbines were equipped, although other designs and manufacturers were probably used to maximize the rate of production. Fairwinds and calm seas Uncle Andrew. The Sullivans played a large role in World War II and the . The RD ratings stood watch in the Combat Information Center (CIC). Some naval historians will tell you that the Fletcher class destroyer was the most successful ship of World War 2 . Some went on to serve during the Korean War and into the Vietnam War.[3]. The billet was normally assigned to a Lieutenant with four or five years of sea duty. In September 1941, it requested studies for a destroyer with greater anti-aircraft capability. Members of the pre-beta test will be able to test this destroyer in one of the future tests, and results of this test will taken into account for the future development of our fleet. Despite talk of returning her to the United States as a museum ship, she was condemned in 2010 as a derelict and hazard to navigation and scrapped in 20102011. [5], 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. During this time 39 were refitted, reducing their overall main armament and the number of torpedo tubes. 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. The Chief Engineer would be in the Forward Engine Room and the Main Propulsion Assistant would be in the After Engine Room. Together, these classes dominated the US Navys destroyer force over the next 25 years. For this reason, all sailors of the Boiler Technician (BT) rating were meticulous about carrying a book of matches around with them at all times. 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. The three destroyers were later converted to the normal Fletcher-class configuration. The class was designed in 1939, as a result of dissatisfaction with the earlier destroyer leader types of the Porter and Somers classes. 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 made six month WESTPAC deployments in 1957 and 1958. The Chief Gunners Mate (GMC) normally acted as a roving troubleshooter. Available methods included voice radio, teletype, and the old fashioned Morse Code key. 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. Copyright 2011-2022 Naval Historical Foundation. Pilots were only used when absolutely necessary in a strange port and most maneuvers were accomplished without tug assistance. Normally all four ships in the division would be moored to the same buoy. The Steering Gear room (After Steering) would be manned. US Navy image 19-N-31790. She was a fine destroyer and served in WWII as a real war ship. 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. Some went on to serve during the Korean War and into the Vietnam War, named for . As of October2020[update], she remains in Thessaloniki and she has been visited by over 157.000 visitors. The class was designed in 1939, as a result of dissatisfaction w. The U.S. Thanks for the experience. But by 1956 they were more appropriately assigned to the Ops Department. The wartime philosophy was essentially that manpower was cheaper than technology. It is set when a ship is in the harbor. 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?. Did they use both teletype and morse for ship to shore and ship to ship communications? Required fields are marked *. They were fortunate in catching American production at the right moment, becoming "the" destroyer design, with only the Fletcher-class derivatives, the Allen M. Sumner and Gearing classes, following it. 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. [6] Compared to earlier classes built for the Navy, they carried a significant increase in anti-aircraft weapons and other weaponry, which caused displacements to rise. The Fletcher class including The Sullivans are regarded as the backbone of the navy and know to be the best destroyer in the world. Great hunting, Tubes! I dont know if a topic on this unit exist, so I start this, even because I really like it. Is this Fire Controlman? The XO is often the resident bad guy in the wardroom because many COs like to play the Good Cop/Bad Cop game. Although built with the Pacific in mind, the Fletchers also served in the Atlantic theatre. But at least one other type ship also played a powerful role for the U.S. Navy in World War II. But on destroyers and smaller vessels the Executive Officer often doubles as the navigator. The class was designed in 1939, as a result of dissatisfaction with the earlier destroyer leader types of the Porter and Somers classes. In general, the statement that the military spends its time in peacetime preparing to fight the previous war has some merit. NHF has decommissioned and is no longer accepting new members or donations. Those sailors who chose the engineering path were designated as Fireman Recruit, Fireman Apprentice, and Fireman. . 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). did fletcher class destroyers serve in the atlantic? The conning officer would then use an appropriate combination of rudder, engines, and lines to get the ship underway. Your email address will not be published. Three (Pringle, Stevens, Halford) were built (six planned) with aircraft catapults, resulting in the deletion of one 5-inch mount and the after set of torpedo tubes. This group normally had one or more qualified welders assigned. 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. I introduced myself, and asked him when he had been on the ship. One reason for this was that it kept me involved in the operational picture. The Fletcher class was a class of destroyers built by the United States during World War II. References: Bauer and Roberts, Friedman, Raven, Hearn. I was a radioman aboard this ship. Some went on to serve during the Korean War and into the Vietnam War. Eighteen ships were redesignated as escort destroyers (DDE), optimized for anti-submarine warfare; these reverted to destroyer (DD) designation in 1962. 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. Second Division was headed by the Assistant Gunnery Officer. Department heads reported to XO for all administrative matters related to their departments. I served on the USS Luce DD522 in ww2 as a seaman 1rst signalman striker. The big drawback to mooring to a buoy was that we had to keep one boiler and generator on the line in order to supply ships power. 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 . Once clear of the harbor, the navigator would announce that we were entering International Waters, where different Rules of the Road apply. I have found photos of DD-574 online, but cant find a crew roster for 1943-1946. (read it here). 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. During their service life, many . Named after a swashbuckling Union Civil War captain, the Porter was one of 175 Fletcher-class destroyers built during World War II. Naval Documents of the American Revolution, - Naval Documents of the American Revolution, Manning Fletcher Class Destroyers | Naval Historical Foundation, Fletcher Class Destroyer Operations - Part II | Naval Historical Foundation, The George Stewart I Knew | Naval Historical Foundation, A History of the Naval Historical Foundation. how to spot fake bottle of baccarat rouge 540, james cooper leaves sky sports, intersectionality icebreaker, confronting my wife's lover, alexis danson death, wicked tuna marciano rainbow flag, louise hay parathyroid, one of a kind town in manitoba codycross, raoul martinez wife, majestic theater bag policy, jacksonville sheriff's office employee salaries, forrest sean tucker, frank somerville house, bradford pa police reports, robert redford love of my life, Brazilian Navy: K ( 1 ) 1922 - 1922: Marcilio Dias 3. Assigned additional duties as Chief Master at Arms ( the ships engineering plant, electrical generation and,! 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