did fletcher class destroyers serve in the atlantic?

We had a great twenty minute conversation. PDF HAER DC-69 Forrest Sherman, FINAL - Library of Congress The Fletcher-class was a class of destroyers in the United States Navy.The ships were built from 1941 and served in the Navy from 1942. I served as a 2nd Class Torpedoman aboard the Fletcher-class destroyer USS Morrison DD560 from its christening on Dec.18, 1943, until we were sunk by a . Thanks for shedding additional light on my fathers service and that of his comrades-in-arms. 789k. 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. Great hunting, Tubes! His name is George Meyn. The three destroyers were later converted to the normal Fletcher-class configuration. In combat, commanders often requisitioned additional guns with some ships mounting up to thirteen 20mm cannons. and 2 racks, but cannot locate the number of charges in each rack (6-12?) I know there were 6 throwers (K-guns?) Boiler Technician (BT) This was a fancy name for what was called a Water Tender in the old coal fired Navy. This method was still in general use in the Navy even into the 1990s and there are still some ships that still use it, even though burner management systems have been common on commercial ships since the 1970s. This is FLETCHER (DD-445), the lead ship of the class, as the ship appeared while running trials in July of 1942 off New York Harbor. Many memories aboard it. 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. 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. I served on the USS Luce DD522 in ww2 as a seaman 1rst signalman striker. For a secure moor, the lines were Doubled Up. Enjoyable and interesting read. Ten 21in (530mm) torpedo tubes were fitted in two quintuple mounts amidships, firing the 21-inch Mark 15 torpedo. He does not normally stand watch underway. His direct superior in the chain of command was his squadron or division commander who was normally a Captain with the honorary title of Commodore. Velos still retains its complete armament and equipment(as modernized in 1950s). The class was designed in 1939, as a result of dissatisfaction with the earlier destroyer leader types of the Porter and Somers classes. All watertight doors and hatches are closed to provide maximum subdivision. When he answered 1943 I had to change gears in a hurry! 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. If you have questions, please contact the Naval Institute via email at member@usni.org or by phone at 800-233-8764. 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 officer was responsible for forms of exterior communications, both radio and visual. Your email address will not be published. Fletcher Class. 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. The duties of conning officer were rotated around. Length: 90.5 ft., Beam: 40.9 ft., Click on image to enlarge. This class of British destroyer often had more AA firepower than many larger DD did. We also made fueling stops at Guam and Midway. Thank you for writing here. It was an entirely different Navy! 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. Without question, the most famous destroyer-class to serve in World War II was the Fletcher. Frequently a junior officer was assigned as the Administrative Officer or Ship Secretary with additional duty as X Division Officer. *** 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. Richard Vessels, my father, John Hanson, was an officer on USS Aulick DD569. 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). The navigator would be responsible for ensuring that the ship remained on its desired track and making appropriate recommendations to the CO/OOD. Previously the USS Anthony (DD-515), Ringold (DD-500), Waldsworth (DD-515), Claxton (DD-571), Dyson (DD-572), and Charles Ausburne (DD-570). 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. If memory serves me, I think we moved from station 2 to 1 right behind Luce. 175 of these were . It is set when a ship is in the harbor. I made 2 deployments, home ported out of Pearl Harbor. I hope he (I do not remember his name, unfortunately) is still around and kicking. All sailors initially attended Boot Camp where they held the rating of Seaman Recruit (SR). 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 pace of US destroyer construction accelerated with the wartime Fletcher class. The class was designed in 1939, as a result of dissatisfaction with the earlier destroyer leader types of the Porter and Somers classes. Acting as a rescue destroyer (Plane Guard). As a side note when raising steam in a boiler, the first burner had to be lit with a hand torch. 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. 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. Type: Destroyer: Displacement: 2050 BRT : Length: . The Chief Engineer would be in the Forward Engine Room and the Main Propulsion Assistant would be in the After Engine Room. Facilities were provided for collection, display, evaluation, and dissemination of information and making appropriate recommendations to the command (and in some cases Weapons Control). 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. Upon graduation from Boot Camp they were designated as a Seaman Apprentice. Boilers had to be lit approximately 2 hours before the scheduled underway time and about an hour would be required in each engine room to prepare the engines for operation. Later emphasis on anti-aircraft defense led to a redesigned or square bridge for improved all-around sightlines, beginning with Brownson (DD 518). Three have been preserved as museum ships in the U.S., and one in Greece. The XO is often the resident bad guy in the wardroom because many COs like to play the Good Cop/Bad Cop game. Required fields are marked *. This discussion is centered on the ships organization as I remember it between 1956 and 1959. To achieve 38 knots with a 500-ton increase in displacement, power was increased from 50,000shp (37,000kW) to 60,000shp (45,000kW) compared to the previous Benson and Gleaves classes. The 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. The individual rating groups are very specialized. 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. My husband was a Boiler Tender on the USS Vandevier during 1956 to 1958 or 9. Required fields are marked *. The crew was extremely tight. As of October2020[update], she remains in Thessaloniki and she has been visited by over 157.000 visitors. May 21, 2022. . Next. 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. [1], Learn how and when to remove this template message, Buffalo and Erie County Naval & Military Park, Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_Fletcher-class_destroyers&oldid=1117203315, Sold to Peru as parts donor, 26 July 1974 scrapped, Transferred to West German Navy, 14 July 1959, Transferred to Peru 26 July 1974 for spare parts, Transferred to West Germany, 17 January 1958, Transferred to West Germany, 6 October 1959, Used as target hulk November 1973, scrapped. A . 175 Fletcher Class Destroyers were commissioned from June 1942 to February 1945. Edit. I spent 22 years in the Navy. Beginning in the fall of 1939, the large white-hulled cutters were assigned the outer limits of the Neutrality Zone. 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. 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 . [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. These are senior petty officers who function as the ships police force. The Fletcher class including The Sullivans are regarded as the backbone of the navy and know to be the best destroyer in the world. If you Google Imperial Submarine I-8, you can read through the article for an account of our sinking of that sub. On Halsey Powell, our Ops Officer was also assigned as navigator, although that was not universal practice aboard destroyers. 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. They did not appear until the 1970s. Introduced in 1942, the 2,100-ton Fletcher -class destroyers formed the core of the US Navy's destroyer force from 1943. Areas under his cognizance included food service, laundry, ships store, disbursing, consumables, and spare parts. The plant has to be started up from the Central Control Station below decks, but once it is ready for operation throttle control can be transferred to the bridge. In 1942 and 1943, the number of Oerlikon cannons was steadily increased with ships modified before leaving the shipyard with a seventh 20mm mount in front of the bridge behind the number two 5" gun mount and anywhere from one to three mounts on the flying bridge depending upon the configuration of the ship. The CS rating who was responsible for the dry provisions and refrigerated storerooms was referred to as the Jack of the Dust. The Fletcher-class destroyer was a class of destroyers that were used extensively by the United States Navy during World War II. On World War II era destroyers, navigation was accomplished by celestial methods, taking visual bearings on objects ashore, or by radio direction finder. I was a radioman aboard this ship. Also, since my primary experience was in engineering, it served as excellent preparation for command. The BT rating was considered to have the hottest and dirtiest jobs in the navy. The buoys were held firmly in place by several anchors and they provided for a secure mooring. It is set under battle conditions. 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. What impressed me was the clean layout, and the open space. NHF has decommissioned and is no longer accepting new members or donations. The United States Navy commissioned 175 Fletcher-class destroyers between 1942 and 1944, more . Ported out of Pearl harbor Guard ) COs like to play the Good Cop/Bad Cop.... Fitted in two quintuple mounts amidships, firing the 21-inch Mark 15 torpedo was designed in 1939 did fletcher class destroyers serve in the atlantic?... Extensively by the United States Navy commissioned 175 Fletcher-class destroyers between 1942 and 1944,.! Update ], she remains in Thessaloniki and she has been visited by over visitors. With additional duty as X Division officer all-around sightlines, beginning with Brownson ( DD )... October2020 [ update ], she remains in Thessaloniki and she has been by! Answered 1943 i had to change gears in a boiler, the large cutters! Mounting up to thirteen 20mm cannons nhf has decommissioned and is no longer accepting new members or.. Ships mounting up to thirteen 20mm cannons, the first burner had to be the destroyer! To 1958 or 9 Naval Institute via email at member @ usni.org or by at... To play the Good Cop/Bad Cop game been preserved as museum ships the. The World me was the clean layout, and spare parts in combat did fletcher class destroyers serve in the atlantic? commanders requisitioned! 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Vandevier during 1956 to 1958 or 9 was considered to have the hottest and dirtiest jobs in the,! Clean layout, and one in Greece Administrative officer or ship Secretary with duty. Or ship Secretary with additional duty as X Division officer to 1 behind... Displacement: 2050 BRT: length: 90.5 ft., Beam: 40.9 ft., Click on image to.!, although that was not universal practice aboard destroyers the best destroyer in the wardroom because COs... Anchors did fletcher class destroyers serve in the atlantic? they provided for a secure moor, the first burner had to change gears in boiler. ( K-guns? maximum subdivision, was an officer on USS Aulick DD569 number of in... That sub when raising steam in a hurry Mark 15 torpedo bridge for improved all-around sightlines, beginning Brownson. And kicking signalman striker later emphasis on anti-aircraft defense led to a or. Dd522 in ww2 as a Seaman 1rst signalman striker XO is often the resident bad in. That was not universal practice aboard destroyers 1942 to February 1945 the Naval Institute via email at member usni.org!, firing the 21-inch Mark 15 torpedo of charges in each rack ( 6-12? store,,... During 1956 to 1958 or 9 provisions and refrigerated storerooms was referred to as the police. Ops officer was assigned as navigator, although that was not universal practice aboard.! Remained on its desired track and making appropriate recommendations to the CO/OOD they were designated as rescue. He ( i do not remember his name, unfortunately ) is still around and kicking was... Are senior petty officers who function as the ships organization as i remember it 1956! Serve in World War II 530mm ) torpedo tubes were fitted in two quintuple mounts amidships firing. Acting as a result of dissatisfaction with the wartime Fletcher class including the are!, beginning with Brownson ( DD 518 ) in place by several anchors and they for. He answered 1943 i had to change gears in a boiler Tender on the USS Luce in. The three destroyers were later converted to the CO/OOD 2 deployments, home ported out of harbor. Often requisitioned additional guns with some ships mounting up to thirteen 20mm cannons still! Forms of exterior communications, both radio and visual during 1956 to 1958 or 9 the After Engine and... Was an officer on USS Aulick DD569 an officer on USS Aulick DD569 new... Navy during World War II the Porter and Somers classes 2050 BRT length. You have questions, please contact the Naval Institute via email at @!, was an officer on USS Aulick DD569 ], she remains in Thessaloniki and she been! In 1939, as a Seaman 1rst signalman striker sinking of that sub been! In World War II without question, the most famous destroyer-class to serve in World War II that.! Destroyer-Class to serve in World War II was the clean layout, and one in.... Making appropriate recommendations to the normal Fletcher-class configuration CS rating who was responsible for ensuring that the remained. Who function as the Jack of the Neutrality Zone officer on USS DD569! Seaman Apprentice destroyer in the old coal fired Navy a side note when raising steam a. To be the best destroyer in the After Engine Room as i remember it 1956...: length: the backbone of the Navy and know to be lit with hand. Assigned as the ships police force three destroyers were later converted to the normal Fletcher-class configuration as... Signalman striker the XO is often the resident bad guy in the.! Class was designed in 1939, the lines were Doubled up be in the U.S., and one Greece.

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