did fletcher class destroyers serve in the atlantic?

But by 1956 they were more appropriately assigned to the Ops Department. Length: 90.5 ft., Beam: 40.9 ft., Click on image to enlarge. I was a radioman aboard this ship. Posted by ; On . One reason for this was that it kept me involved in the operational picture. This practice no longer exists today. 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. Some went on to serve during the Korean War and into the Vietnam War.. Sailed on the required 2 week cruise with the port of call Vancouver, Canada. He was a trained surgeon graduating from Wake Forest and Duke Medical Schools. Thus there were two groups of 2,100-tonners: one-third (58) were high- or round-bridge ships; two-thirds, (117) were low- or square-bridge ships. The 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. Postwar, the remainder were decommissioned and put into reserve. In fact, they served almost exclusively in the Pacific Theater of Operations during World War II, during which they accounted for 29 Imperial Japanese Navy submarines sunk. Some went. The U.S. The Fletcher-class destroyer was a class of destroyers that were used extensively by the United States Navy during World War II. Boatswains Mates (BM) This was generally considered to be the senior enlisted rating in the navy, a tradition probably handed down from the days of sail. Two of the three destroyers were sunk, but not until they had inflicted serious damage on their opponents. Electricians Mates (EM) Were responsible for the entire ships electrical and distribution systems including all power and lighting equipment. Four ships have been preserved as museum ships, although only Kidd was never modernized and retains her WWII configuration: Warning: Display title "Fletcher class destroyer" overrides earlier display title "Fletcher-class destroyer". Displacement: 2600 tons. I loved the country so much that I did not want to leave. Phil, the Morrison and Luce were sister ships and often worked together. All records of boiler water treatment and fuel usage were kept in an office referred to as the Oil Shack. 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. These 1,630-ton destroyers were originally manned by 18 officers and 220 men who served the four 5-inch 38-caliber dual purpose guns, 40mm and 20mm automatic AA guns, and five 21-inch torpedo tubes, with side-throwing K-guns and stern tracks . The CS rating who was responsible for the dry provisions and refrigerated storerooms was referred to as the Jack of the Dust. The only rating in this division was the Gunners Mate (GM). But with these exceptions, the basic procedures for getting a destroyer underway have not changed a great deal from what I have described. Although built with the Pacific in mind, the Fletchers also served in the Atlantic theatre. 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. The Fletcher class was a class of destroyers built by the United States during World War II.The class was designed in 1939, as a result of dissatisfaction with the earlier destroyer leader types of the Porter and Somers classes. A new ahead-throwing weapon called Weapon Alpha was installed in many of the ships. A whole bunch of information is conveyed very concisely. 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. But that is particularly necessary in wartime because it greatly simplifies the training program. 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. But by 1956 that responsibility had been transferred to the Chief Engineer. This was mitigated somewhat due to deployment in the Pacific. The iconic silhouette of a Fletcher is well known to any students of World War II naval history. He is assisted by personnel of the Quartermaster (QM) rating. In April 1914 he led the landing forces at Vera Cruz Mexico, receiving the Medal of . I did not like this practice and I always made sure that more experienced officers were assigned to these duties when I became a commanding officer myself. Is this Fire Controlman? During this time 39 were refitted, reducing their overall main armament and the number of torpedo tubes. All three American museum ships have been designated as National Historic Landmarks. He was normally seated at the opposite end of the wardroom table from the Captain, where it was convenient for everyone to glare at him. As these articles say, access was from a deck hatch and a ladder. The class was designed in 1939, as a result of dissatisfaction with the earlier destroyer leader types of the Porter and Somers classes. 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. If you have questions, please contact the Naval Institute via email at member@usni.org or by phone at 800-233-8764. He is a 1956 graduate of the Massachusetts Maritime Academy. ; The Navy, page 115, 2000, Naval Historical Foundation, Washington. The engine room and fire room supervisors would man their stations. If the ship was designated as a flagship, accommodations were provided on board for the Commodore and his staff. [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. After a year on board they were advanced to the grade of Seaman (SN), from which they could strike for assignment to other ratings. It is set when a ship is in the harbor. 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. or Ensign in the Supply Corps. It was a very diverse division that was comprised of several ratings. I am a retired Merchant Chief Engineer (Steam). He currently holds the title of Chief Marine Engineer at Marine Design Dynamics. A special thanks to friends: T@ker, Lilkiki and SVKSniper for their indispensable advice and . Fletcher-class destroyer - Wikipedia. The Fletcher class was the first generation of destroyers designed after the series of naval treaties that had limited ship designs heretofore. Christened USS Fletcher, she carried over several design features from the earlier classes, such as a rounded pilot house. Facilities were provided for collection, display, evaluation, and dissemination of information and making appropriate recommendations to the command (and in some cases Weapons Control). The RD ratings stood watch in the Combat Information Center (CIC). From the 1958 Halsey Powell cruise book. Most were assigned to the Deck Force. It was fascinating to see the gear reduction transmission (?) The peacetime manning was 14 officers and 236 enlisted men. NHF has decommissioned and is no longer accepting new members or donations. Three have been preserved as museum ships in the U.S. and one in Greece. The three destroyers were later converted to the normal Fletcher-class configuration. As such, the questions were of how many guns, torpedoes, and depth charges were seen as desirable. There were 3 K-guns on each side. The destroyer USS Saufley (DD 465) of the US Navy. George W. Stewart is a retired US Navy Captain. This group was responsible for all general hull fittings such as watertight doors and hatches, ventilation system closures, general plumbing, etc. Named after a swashbuckling Union Civil War captain, the Porter was one of 175 Fletcher-class destroyers built during World War II. Went active in 1969. 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). All rights reserved. In 1941, the US Navy began building a fleet of large destroyers, its first design to rival the Japanese "special type" destroyers that had first entered service more than a decade before. 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. 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. Early Fletcher-class ships had a closed round bridge, which was later changed to the square bridge type to give better visibility. This alteration was not a success in service and was not repeated. Ship Servicemen (SH) Served as laundry men and operated the ships store and barber shop. 175 were produced, more than any other class, and they were built by shipyards across the United States. [6], Fletchers were also much less top-heavy than previous classes, allowing them to take on additional equipment and weapons without major redesign. Stewards (SD) Ran the Wardroom Mess and provided valet service for the officers. One Petty Officer was designated as the Oil King. 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. All fittings marked with a black X are kept closed at all times and opened only for temporary access. The Sullivans played a large role in World War II and the . About 12 of the enlisted men were Chief Petty Officers. They did not stand regular watches but they were the people you called when something failed to operate properly. Radarman (RD) This was a new rating that was established during World War II. [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. All fittings with a black Y are closed and only opened for protection. The Commanding Officer (CO) of a destroyer under peacetime conditions is normally a Commander with 15 to 18 years of commissioned service. Though built with the Pacific in mind, Fletchers also served in the Atlantic theater. The Chief Engineer bears responsibility for operation of the ships engineering plant, electrical generation and distribution, auxiliary machinery, and interior communications. If you have questions, please contact the Naval Institute via email at member@usni.org or by phone at 800-233-8764. The class was designed in 1939, as a result of dissatisfaction with the earlier destroyer leader types of the Porter and Somers classes. 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. 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 . 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Ran the Wardroom Mess and provided valet service for the dry provisions and refrigerated storerooms was to! And put into reserve called when something failed to operate properly was fascinating to see the gear transmission. Also served in the Atlantic theater changed a great deal from what i have described water and.
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