I am the USS EATON DD/DDE510 REUNION ASSOC. A fleet destroyer will normally have all three major department head billets filled by a Lieutenant Commander or fairly senior Lieutenant. These are senior petty officers who function as the ships police force. 2 Friedman, Norman, U.S. Destroyers, an illustrated design history, page 111, 1982, United States Naval Institute, Annapolis, MD. The Clemson class destroyers emerged as virtual duplicates of the Wickes class, but that hadn't been the Navy's original plan.In July 1917 the Anti Submarine Warfare Board asked for 200 destroyers armed as fleet boats, but able to use mines and depth charges, with a range of 4,000nm at 15kts to allow them to cross the Atlantic. 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. The United States Navy commissioned 175 Fletcher-class destroyers between 1942 and 1944, more than any other destroyer class, and . 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. While some changes had taken place since 1945, most of the procedures were carryovers from . Richard Vessels, my father, John Hanson, was an officer on USS Aulick DD569. Great series of articles!. Thank you for writing here. Stuber: 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. . ZEBRA is the highest level of protection. Ship Servicemen (SH) Served as laundry men and operated the ships store and barber shop. Admiral's flag is flying from the yardarm. He was responsible for reading and interpreting all operation orders (OP-Orders) and determining what the ship was supposed to do next. 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. An explanation of Material Conditions is in order. 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. Velos is the only vessel still in commission. The US Navy Destroyers represented the formidable industrial effort consented by the United States to win the war on two oceans. 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. He died back in 1986. Some went. 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]. On some ships a junior officer is assigned as navigator. Posted by ; On . My dad (Richmond Thomas (RT) Ezzell) was on the TAYLOR DD468 during WWII .Saw at the foot of his grave today another marker with his name, ship, and I suppose rating FC. My uncle was also a TM2 aboard the USS Terry. Essentially what this meant was for the first team to take their assigned stations for getting underway. 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 buoys were held firmly in place by several anchors and they provided for a secure mooring. Supply Department ratings included: Supply Department, USS Halsey Powell, from 1959-1960 Cruise Book. But at least one other type ship also played a powerful role for the U.S. Navy in World War II. I was one of the 97 survivors of 357 aboard ship. If there was ever any doubt about who was responsible for a piece of equipment on the ship, it belonged to the Chief Engineer. One Petty Officer was designated as the Oil King. In Greece, the former Charrette, renamed Velos (Arrow), is a popular attraction. 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. But by 1956 that responsibility had been transferred to the Chief Engineer. US Navy image 19-N-31790. Destroyers Fletcher class. This article describes destroyer operations as I remember them during the late 1950s. Radioman (RM) Responsible for all electronic means of exterior communications. In later years with the advent of missiles, the title of this billet became Weapons Officer. The Gunnery Department aboard Halsey Powell included three divisions, i.e. Wikimedia Commons photos. The class was designed in 1939, as a result of dissatisfaction with the earlier destroyer leader types of the Porter and Somers classes. His principal assistants were the Main Propulsion Assistant (MPA) and Damage Control Assistant (DCA). Shipfitter (SF) and Damage Controlmen (DC) comprised the Damage Control gang on the ship. Some went on to serve during the Korean War and into the Vietnam War.[2]. The only ports we got to visit during my deployments were Yokosuka and Sasebo in Japan, Hong Kong, Kaoshung Taiwan, and Subic Bay in the Philippines. However the department heads were directly answerable to the CO for all purely operational matters relating to their departments. 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. Displacement: 2600 tons. [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. That number was necessary to allow around the clock manning of gun mounts, repair parties, and other watch stations. If you Google Imperial Submarine I-8, you can read through the article for an account of our sinking of that sub. If you have questions, please contact the Naval Institute via email at member@usni.org or by phone at 800-233-8764. The wartime philosophy was essentially that manpower was cheaper than technology. Commissioned; Brazilian Navy : K (1) 1922 - 1922 : Marcilio Dias (3) 1943 . 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. All sailors initially attended Boot Camp where they held the rating of Seaman Recruit (SR). 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. Interior Communications Electricians (IC) were responsible for all interior communications equipment including telephone, indicating and alarm systems, announcing systems, and the ships gyro compass. Fletcher Class. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Composite by Coffee or Die Magazine. There were 39 casualties and extensive damage in the after part of the ship. As of October2020[update], she remains in Thessaloniki and she has been visited by over 157.000 visitors. 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 group was also responsible for all fire fighting and dewatering equipment. This organization sounds very complex to the outsider. did fletcher class destroyers serve in the atlantic? The Fletcher class including The Sullivans are regarded as the backbone of the navy and know to be the best destroyer in the world. The Aulick was at station 15 which was not far from stations 1 and 2. Frequently a junior officer was assigned as the Administrative Officer or Ship Secretary with additional duty as X Division Officer. However the Supply Officer served as the permanent mess caterer, a place where he frequently took a lot of heat. The seven single 20mm guns were replaced with six twin mounts (four amidships and two on the fantail. The Conning Officer could be the CO, XO, or OOD. did fletcher class destroyers serve in the atlantic? 175 ships . 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. Chief or First Class petty officers of this rating were normally assigned to Engineering Officer of the Watch (EOOW) duties in the Forward Engine Room where they were directly responsible for the operation of the engineering plant during their watch. United States naval ship classes of World War II. In my previous two articles (read Part 1 here, read Part 2 here) I gave technical and manning overviews of the U.S. Navys highly successful Fletcher class destroyer. This discussion is centered on the ships organization as I remember it between 1956 and 1959. 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. Nineteen Fletchers were lost during World War II; six more were damaged, evaluated as constructive total losses, and not repaired. "German Navy Fletcher-Class, USS DD-515 Anthony. This made it necessary to fill the Gunnery and Engineering Officer Billets with on board fleet-ups, usually in the grade of Lieutenant (jg). i was a radarman on the Hopewell from 65through 67. East Coast deployments tended to be much better because ports in the Mediterranean are much closer together than in the Far East and there never were as many potential shooting situations over there that demanded that we be underway for prolonged periods. During this era, no other class of destroyer had more ships built. Others carried trainable Hedgehogs. Fireman (FN) and Fireman Apprentice (FA) These non rated men were assigned at the discretion of the Chief Engineer. Destroyers have been called upon to perform a wide variety of duties. This group was responsible for all general hull fittings such as watertight doors and hatches, ventilation system closures, general plumbing, etc. During both of my XO tours, I served as navigator. Technical information. In June and July 1943, two more twin Bofors mounts were added in place of the 20mm cannons in front of and below the bridge, giving a total of ten. 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. Required fields are marked *. First (Deck), Second (Guns), and Fox (Fire Control, Sonar, and Anti-Submarine Armament). As a side note when raising steam in a boiler, the first burner had to be lit with a hand torch. Petroleum/Chemical plant operations dept.. A good profession. 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. 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. I made 2 deployments, home ported out of Pearl Harbor. But most of the other wartime functions still remained. There were 175 of them built during World War II. Some SAs were sent through advanced schooling for a particular rating and came aboard as Designated Strikers such as GMSN, RMSN, etc. Preparations would start several hours before getting underway, primarily down in the engineering spaces. It is set under battle conditions. [3] The Allen M. Sumner and Gearing classes were Fletcher derivatives. 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. or the number in each thrower. ARCHIVIST and would very much be interested in reading any articles/blogs about the USS EATON. It was an honor to serve on Fletchers as the brave sailors of WWII. Nineteen were lost during World War II; six more were damaged and not repaired. As the first big ships to appear and because there were so many of them, however, the Fletchers are remembered as the signature US Navy destroyer class of the Pacific war. Naval Documents of the American Revolution, - Naval Documents of the American Revolution, Fletcher Class Destroyer Operations | Naval Historical Foundation, Life on a Fletcher Class Destroyer in the 1950's | Naval Historical Foundation, A History of the Naval Historical Foundation. He served on the John Rodgers (DD-574) during the Pacific theater campaigns. Some went on to serve during the Korean War and into the Vietnam War. With this modification, the Oerlikon cannons were rearranged and their number was standardized at seven; four amidships and three in a heart-shaped mount on the fantail. I served on the USS Luce DD522 in ww2 as a seaman 1rst signalman striker. We also made fueling stops at Guam and Midway. But by 1956 they were more appropriately assigned to the Ops Department. The Chief Engineer would be in the Forward Engine Room and the Main Propulsion Assistant would be in the After Engine Room. He is a 1956 graduate of the Massachusetts Maritime Academy. He is a 1956 graduate of the Massachusetts Maritime Academy. The working part of the torch consisted of a rag wrapped around the end of the handle and secured by wire. Most were assigned to the Deck Force. Category page. 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. The Executive Officer (XO) is the second in command on the ship. The Fletcher class was the first generation of destroyers designed after the series of naval treaties that had limited ship designs heretofore. In April 1914 he led the landing forces at Vera Cruz Mexico, receiving the Medal of . Went active in 1969. A Liberty Ship or T-2 Tanker of the same era had a crew of about 40 people, plus a naval armed guard. Although built with the Pacific in mind, the Fletchers also served in the Atlantic theatre. 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. The class was designed in 1939, as a result of dissatisfaction with the earlier destroyer leader types of the Porter and Somers classes. This browser for the U.S. Navy in World War II in this browser for the next time i comment be! Several anchors and they provided for a particular rating and came aboard designated... Boiler, the first burner had to be lit with a hand.! Additional duty as X Division Officer carryovers from ) 1943 tours, i as! For a particular rating and came aboard as designated Strikers such as watertight doors and,. Mounts, repair parties, and not repaired the rating of Seaman Recruit ( SR ) also. 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Of our sinking of that sub from 1959-1960 Cruise Book six more were and!
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