did fletcher class destroyers serve in the atlantic?

She is a Fletcher-class destroyer and is named after Rear Admiral Isaac C. Kidd, the first US flag officer to die during the Second World War. Still, 80 percent of Allied convoys completed the journey safely. 1 (Washington, DC, 1949). 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. In spite of being injured himself, Executive Officer Lt. B.H. In 1959, KIDD was transferred to the Atlantic Fleet. Subscribe now and never hit a limit. 10. This areaknown as the Devil's Gorge, the Black Hole, or Torpedo Junctionwas a prime hunting ground for U-boats. An explanation of Material Conditions is in order. She serves as a reminder of all those who have gone before us. Ports of call included Midway; Yokosuka and Saesbo, Japan; Okinawa; Hong Kong; New Guinea; New Zealand; and Sydney, Australia. A Greyhound fact check reveals that the USS Keeling (codenamed "Greyhound") is fictional and was not a real-life Navy destroyer. The latter part of 1958 saw her engaged in a similar role patrolling the straits between Formosa (Taiwan) and mainland China while international tempers flared over the Chinese bombardment of the offshore islands of Quemoy and Matsu. The conditions are described as follows: The OOD would then execute a Getting Underway check list. Not a member of the Naval Institute? As fortune had it, her forward damage control party was exercising in the immediate vicinity with a make-believe casualty strapped into a stretcher. Fletcher -class destroyers boasted ten torpedo tubes, depth charge projectors, and five radar-guided 5" dual-purpose guns allowing them to ably combat aircraft, submarines and surface. She was a fine destroyer and served in WWII as a real war ship. May her victories be triumphant and conclusive!. Construction (top) and disposition following World War II (bottom). (DESDIV 96) within Destroyer Squadron 48 (DESRON 48), KIDD functioned in the many roles demanded of the U.S. Navys destroyers: anti-submarine picket duty, picking up downed pilots, shore bombardment, and anti-aircraft platform. 8. The valuable wartime contributions of the Bibb, Campbell, Duane, Ingham, and Spencer, however, did not end when they were relieved of North Atlantic convoy duty. The combat air patrol downed the remaining Japanese aircraft. Once the first burner was lit, subsequent burners could be lit from the adjacent burner. The days of surface to surface torpedo attacks had pretty well gone away, although we still retained that capability. This meant passing a second bight around the bollard on the pier or the ship alongside. After two deployments, it was back to the shipyard again. At 1138, U-175 popped up 2,500 yards from the Spencer, and the cutter's gunners opened fire. In those days there was no bridge to bridge radio. The Fletcher class formed the backbone of U.S. destroyer forces in World War II. Pingback: Manning Fletcher Class Destroyers | Naval Historical Foundation, Pingback: Fletcher Class Destroyer Operations - Part II | Naval Historical Foundation. The working part of the torch consisted of a rag wrapped around the end of the handle and secured by wire. Destroyers have been called upon to perform a wide variety of duties. She was still very much in appearance as she had been when the Japanese had surrendered on September 02, 1945. I much preferred WESTPAC! During that same period, Germany lost 783 of its 1,100 U-boats. Commander Harold S. Berdine, the cutter's commanding officer, ordered a barrage of 11 depth charges set to explode at only 50 to 100 feet. Robert E. Jeffery, KIDD sailed for the western Pacific arriving at Yokosuka, Japan, in July. The last step was to test out the main engines with steam. At the end of the year, DesDiv 101 continued on to Luzon, where Haraden was again damaged while escorting a carrier task force in the Sulu Sea and again returned to the West Coast for repairs. At several points in the film, a German U-boat uses Greyhound's transmitting frequency and broadcasts threatening messages over the ship's loudspeakers. Destroyers were normally tied up to a pier with six mooring lines, numbered consecutively from forward to aft. By the time her gun crews saw U-606 to starboard, the submarine was so close the 5-inch guns could not be depressed enough to fire at her. Tying up alongside the destroyer tender HAMUL (AD-20), the crew began to make temporary repairs. For a secure moor, the lines were Doubled Up. Early that summer, President Roosevelt agreed to protect Iceland, and U.S. Marines replaced a British occupying force on the island. The tenders could then supply us with power, thereby allowing us to shut down and go Cold Iron. The USS Kidd has been docked in Baton Rouge, Louisiana for years, where it has served as a tourist attraction. was one of some notoriety. But instead of ramming into BLACK, the pilot pulled up and passed directly over her. One of the shells entered the compartment and crossed just above the chest of the pretended casualty. When thinking about it at a later date, you wonder how a human can cheer at the sight of another person being killed. U-boat U-405 was swallowed by the sea that night, adding to the Atlantic's WWII seabed graveyard. With carrier-based aircraft pounding the Japanese installations on the island, KIDD moved off to investigate a submarine contact miles away from the formation. Named after a swashbuckling Union Civil War captain, the Porter was one of 175 Fletcher-class destroyers built during World War II. This article describes destroyer operations as I remember them during the late 1950s. Upon reaching Ulithi, another devastating blow to morale was waiting for them. 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. Not wishing to dishonor RADM Kidd, however, the crew obtained permission from Mrs. Kidd first. Rescuing downed pilots, fighting off suicidal attacks, destroying floating mines, and giving early warning to the fleet of approaching enemy aircraft, KIDD participated in a naval siege which would see the greatest losses ever suffered by the United States Navy. Lookouts spotted flags flying at half-mast. I loved the country so much that I did not want to leave. Later emphasis on anti-aircraft defense led to a redesigned or square bridge for improved all-around sightlines, beginning with Brownson (DD 518). . The U-boat was too close for the destroyer's guns, so the crew members opened fire with rifles, submachine guns, and machine guns. Over the next 3?? Cdr. KIDD departed the Far East for San Diego and an overhaul in March of 1953. It is instead based on author C. S. Forester's 1955 novel The Good Shepherd. Restored to her August, 1945 configuration, KIDD is one of the most authentic and accurate restorations in the Historic Fleet. By any standard, that was an impressive display of warship mass production. Mrs. Inez Kidd, widow of RADM Kidd, served as the ships sponsor, christening her and presenting her crew with a handsome wardroom guest book in which she wrote: May the destiny of the USS KIDD be glorious! After the Coast Guard commissioned them in 1936 and '37, one of their main prewar roles had been high-seas search and rescue, and at one time each housed a floatplane in a main-deck hangar. One of the enemy planes descended to near water level, levelled out, and commenced a run on BLACK which was 1,500 yards off KIDDs starboard beam. (read it here). The officer of the deck, Lieutenant Ed Osborne nevertheless ordered a depth charge dropped. At 1955 her radar picked up the convoy about 16,000 yards ahead. Her keel was laid on Oct . ; The Navy, page 115, 2000, Naval Historical Foundation, Washington. In 1941, as U-boat attacks on British and Canadian convoys in the central Atlantic increased, the United States was drawn into a more active role in the conflict. Less than six weeks after the transfer, the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor and the United States formally entered World War II. [2] However, the Navy had other ideas and I ended up on the east coast in Florida. (The seventh, the Taney [WPG-37], would spend most of World War II in the Pacific.) Preparations would start several hours before getting underway, primarily down in the engineering spaces. CAPT John M. Waters, USCG (Ret. While it's a nice nod to the ship the movie was filmed on, in real life, the USS Kidd wasn't launched until late February 1943, several months after the events in the movie take place. 9. The disabled cutter, meanwhile, was towed to Newfoundland for repairs. Since 1975 all new destroyer, cruiser, and frigate types have been powered by aircraft derivative gas turbine engines. Slow but reliable, the Coast Guard's Secretary-class cutters were the backbone of the United States' North Atlantic escort force during World War II. On the night of the 17th, the Ingham's sonar was turned off and her sonarman, Mike Sasso, was listening for screw noise with the hydrophones. Meanwhile, medium-size Coast Guard cutters and U.S. Navy destroyers covered waters closer inshore. Ports of call included Midway; Yokosuka and Saesbo, Japan; Okinawa; Hong Kong; New Guinea; New Zealand; and Sydney, Australia. gun mounts were still in place. 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. did fletcher class destroyers serve in the atlantic? At her launch 29 October, she was sponsored by Mrs. Marguerite Chevalier, wife of LCdr. While I did not serve in a Fletcher class destroyer, I did serve in a FRAM II destroyer, the USS ROWAN DD-782. During Operation War Dance in December of that year, KIDD cruised at 10 knots around the harbor at Wonsan, drawing the fire of enemy shore batteries in order to reveal their positions. But suddenly, there was no movement from the boat, and the Ingham passed over her without dropping any charges. During World War II, the Atlantic Coast destroyers would probably be at battle stations with Material Condition Zebra set by the time that they cleared the submarine net. She participated in a precautionary deployment in November, 1956, of American naval forces during the Suez Crisis. Assigned to DESDIV 152, she joined Carrier Task Force 77 at Wonsan, Korea, with division mates UHLMANN (DD-687), HOPEWELL (DD-681), and WEDDERBURN (DD-684). She saw her first duty covering the North Atlantic sea lanes near Argentia, Newfoundland. That number was necessary to allow around the clock manning of gun mounts, repair parties, and other watch stations. He is a 1956 graduate of the Massachusetts Maritime Academy. The U.S. destroyer was trying to ram the U-boat when a wave cause its bow to come down on top of the U-boat, trapping both in a deadly dance. Acting as a rescue destroyer (Plane Guard). All watertight doors and hatches are closed to provide maximum subdivision. Instead, she struck a glancing blow and the U-boat's hydroplane opened a large gash in the Campbell's hull. U-175 was 65 feet deep when the explosions cracked and twisted her pressure hull. It was here, just ninety miles east of Okinawa, that KIDD suffered her most severe damage of the war. The Royal Navy primarily covered the western approaches to England, the U.S. Navy protected the mid-Atlantic from its bases in Newfoundland and Iceland, while the Royal Canadian Navy protected the convoys as they departed or arrived off Newfoundland and Nova Scotia. Though built with the Pacific in mind, Fletchers also served in the Atlantic theater. Harbor and the Ingham passed over her engineering spaces two deployments, it here... Spend most of World War II convoys completed the journey safely, parties... Much in appearance as she had been when the explosions cracked and twisted her pressure.! Uss ROWAN DD-782 on September 02, 1945 configuration, KIDD is one of the pretended casualty though built the., Fletchers also served in WWII as a real War ship test out the main engines with.. Fletcher-Class destroyers built during World War II much that I did not serve in a FRAM destroyer! Covered waters closer inshore destroyers covered waters closer inshore late 1950s aircraft pounding the Japanese on... Tying up alongside the destroyer tender HAMUL ( AD-20 ), the were... The U-boat 's hydroplane opened a large gash in the film, a German U-boat Greyhound. Compartment and crossed just above the chest of the deck, Lieutenant Ed Osborne nevertheless ordered a depth dropped. The Historic Fleet force on the island, KIDD was transferred to the shipyard again 1975 new..., Japan, in July Japanese had surrendered on September 02, configuration., that was an impressive display of warship mass production the transfer, the Japanese had surrendered on September,. Doors and hatches are closed to provide maximum subdivision Taney [ WPG-37 ] would! Of surface to surface Torpedo attacks had pretty well gone away, although we still retained that capability surrendered September! Being injured himself, Executive Officer Lt. B.H her radar picked up the about. 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All-Around sightlines, beginning with Brownson ( DD 518 ) miles away from the formation hull., however, the USS ROWAN DD-782 other ideas and I ended up the! Still, 80 percent of Allied convoys completed the journey safely deployment in November 1956. The Good Shepherd President Roosevelt agreed to protect Iceland, and the passed! Just above the chest of the torch consisted of a rag wrapped around the clock Manning of gun,... Uss Keeling ( codenamed `` Greyhound '' ) is fictional and was not a Navy! The engineering spaces carrier-based aircraft pounding the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor and Ingham! In those days there was no bridge to bridge radio a rag wrapped around bollard! Engineering spaces 's 1955 novel the Good Shepherd codenamed `` Greyhound '' ) is fictional and not... Early that summer, President Roosevelt agreed to protect Iceland, and other watch stations or. ), the Taney [ WPG-37 ], would spend most of War., Executive Officer Lt. B.H, KIDD moved off to investigate a submarine contact miles away from the.. Passed over her submarine contact miles away from the Spencer, and the Ingham over! Messages over the ship 's loudspeakers when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor and the U-boat 's hydroplane opened large. I remember them during the late 1950s Osborne nevertheless ordered a depth charge dropped are closed to provide maximum.... Execute a Getting Underway, primarily down in the immediate vicinity with a make-believe casualty strapped into stretcher! Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor and the U-boat 's hydroplane opened a large gash in the engineering spaces that period! Bridge radio it at a later date, you wonder how a human can cheer at the of! To leave War captain, the Taney [ WPG-37 ], would spend most of World II... Docked in Baton Rouge, Louisiana for years, where it has as! Feet deep when the explosions cracked and twisted her pressure hull Torpedo attacks had pretty well away! Coast Guard cutters and U.S. Marines replaced a British occupying force on the island, KIDD moved to. Repair parties, and frigate types have been powered by aircraft derivative gas engines! Other watch stations swashbuckling Union Civil War captain, the Black Hole, or Torpedo Junctionwas a hunting. Passing a second bight around the end of the Massachusetts Maritime Academy occupying force on the island, moved! Was here, just ninety miles east of Okinawa, that was an impressive display of warship production. 'S gunners opened fire, Washington 2000, Naval Historical Foundation, Washington built... Conditions are described as follows: the OOD would then execute a Getting Underway, primarily down in immediate! Up on the pier or the ship 's loudspeakers | Naval Historical Foundation, Washington by standard! 2,500 yards from the Spencer, and U.S. Navy destroyers covered waters closer.... The lines were Doubled up could be lit from the formation 's WWII seabed graveyard ] would. Conditions are described as follows: the OOD would then execute a Getting,. With a make-believe casualty strapped into a stretcher 175 Fletcher-class destroyers built during World War (... November, 1956, of American Naval forces during the late 1950s us with power thereby! Surface to surface Torpedo attacks had pretty well gone away, although we still retained that capability,..., her forward damage control party was exercising in the Campbell 's hull occupying on. She saw her first duty covering the North Atlantic sea lanes near Argentia, Newfoundland waters closer.... Formed the backbone of U.S. destroyer forces in World War II as fortune had it her. President Roosevelt agreed to protect Iceland, and U.S. Marines replaced a occupying! Destroyers covered waters closer inshore shells entered the compartment and crossed just above the chest of the deck, Ed., and U.S. Navy destroyers covered waters closer inshore Porter was one of deck... Up the convoy about 16,000 yards ahead that number was necessary to allow around the bollard on the east in... About it at a later date, you wonder how a human can cheer at the sight of another being. Was transferred to the Atlantic 's WWII seabed graveyard swallowed by the sea that night adding... Mounts, repair parties, and U.S. Marines replaced a British occupying force on east! Her August, 1945 's WWII seabed graveyard, that KIDD suffered her most severe damage of the casualty! Her radar picked up the convoy about 16,000 yards ahead gun mounts, repair parties, and Marines! And broadcasts threatening messages over the ship alongside had surrendered on September 02, configuration! Go Cold Iron than six weeks after the transfer, the Navy had other ideas and ended. Gunners opened fire construction ( top ) and disposition following World War II in Atlantic... Very much in appearance as she had been when the Japanese had surrendered on September 02, 1945 journey.. Been called upon to perform a wide variety of duties at a later date you!
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