Introduced in the early 1940s and serving well after WW2 with other nations, few ships ever managed to gain such a. If we were backing out of a slip you would hear a prolonged blast on the whistle. In September 1941, it requested studies for a destroyer with greater anti-aircraft capability. The class was designed in 1939, as a result of dissatisfaction with the earlier destroyer leader types of the Porter and Somers classes. (read it here). I know there were 6 throwers (K-guns?) It was the largest class of destroyer ordered, and was also one of the most successful and . The *Fletcher class* was a class of destroyersbuilt by the United States during World War II. Sonarman (SO) Responsible for operation and maintenance of the ships sonar. The United States Navy commissioned 175 Fletcher-class destroyers between 1942 and 1944, more . Due to the increasing threat from kamikaze attacks, beginning in July 1945 some ships returning to the United States for refits received further anti-aircraft modifications, replacing the forward set of torpedo tubes with gun platforms housing two quadruple 40mm guns (for a total of eighteen). From there we were ready to go. 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. For a secure moor, the lines were Doubled Up. A Naval vessel had three conditions of damage control readiness, X-RAY, YOKE, and ZEBRA. . 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. 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. 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. They also were much less top heavy than the previous classes, allowing them to take on additional equipment and weapons without major redesign. Destroyers, dubbed "tin cans" because of their lack of armor . If you have questions, please contact the Naval Institute via email at member@usni.org or by phone at 800-233-8764. The U.S. 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. 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 class was designed in 1939, as a result of dissatisfaction with the earlier destroyer leader types. There were 175 of them built during World War II. The group was also responsible for all fire fighting and dewatering equipment. The actual hookup was made by detaching one of the anchor chains from its anchor and passing it down to the mooring crew on the buoy, who would then connect it to a shackle. Under these conditions, a commissioned CIC Watch Officer (CICWO) was assigned. 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. A . The Conning Officer could be the CO, XO, or OOD. These differences will be described as we go along. The BT rating was responsible for operation and maintenance of the ships boilers and all associated equipment in the two fire rooms. He is a 1956 graduate of the Massachusetts Maritime Academy. I have found photos of DD-574 online, but cant find a crew roster for 1943-1946. The Operations Officer billet did not specifically exist at the beginning of World War II. Meanwhile, the Navy continued looking ahead. Heres how to join! Essentially what this meant was for the first team to take their assigned stations for getting underway. The ship was the first of the Fletcher-class destroyers that were built during World War II. 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. But most of the other wartime functions still remained. Many of the ships were sold to other navies during the mid-1950s, including: Any remaining were broken up in the 1970s. All Rules of the Road situations were handled by whistle signals. He currently holds the title of Chief Marine Engineer at Marine Design Dynamics. 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. Posted on . 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. There were some differences in the way that the ships were organized in 1956 and the way that they were organized during the war. 175 were produced, more than any other class, and they were built by shipyards across the United States. She was a fine destroyer and served in WWII as a real war ship. The class was designed in 1939, as a result of dissatisfaction with the earlier destroyer leader types of the Porter and Somers classes. He is assisted by personnel of the Quartermaster (QM) rating. 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 United States Navy commissioned 175 Fletcher-class destroyers between 1942 and 1944, more than any other destroyer class, and . 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. The Auxiliary Group (A Gang) was comprised of Machinists Mates (MM) and Enginemen (EN). My father, Jack Marlowe, was a Torpedoman 2nd class on the USS Terry, DD513. However, the Navy had other ideas and I ended up on the east coast in Florida. . The conditions are described as follows: The OOD would then execute a Getting Underway check list. Some went on to serve during the Korean War and into the Vietnam War. These 175 flush-deck "2,100 . The cycle would start at the end of a shipyard overhaul, in our case at the Long Beach Naval Shipyard. ; The Navy, page 115, 2000, Naval Historical Foundation, Washington. Military Wiki is a FANDOM Lifestyle Community. USS The Sullivans (DD-537) The USS Sullivans was a long-range, large destroyer used for anti-submarine warfare, anti-aircraft warfare, and surface action. This was mitigated somewhat due to deployment in the Pacific. Thanks for shedding additional light on my fathers service and that of his comrades-in-arms. Most Non-Designated Strikers were assigned to the Deck Force where they spent much of their time standing bridge watches underway, engaged in seamanship evolutions, or chipping paint. The lowest . Ratings assigned to the division included: Second Division, USS Halsey Powell, from 1959-1960 Cruise Book. The class was designed in 1939, as a result of dissatisfaction with the earlierdestroyer leader types. 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. In September 2019 its crew took her to Thessaloniki for a short 3-month stay. Both books have a table of . Communications had previously been a stand alone department and electronics repair had belonged to the Chief Engineer. Fred Edwards, Destroyer Type Desk, Bureau of Ships, 1942, quoted in Holland, Rear Admiral W. J., Jr., USN (Ret), ed. Destroyers were normally tied up to a pier with six mooring lines, numbered consecutively from forward to aft. 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. The ships chosen in 1955 were destroyers of the Fletcher class, transferred in 1958, 1959 and 1960. stevens funeral home pulaski, va obituaries. Three have been preserved as museum ships in the U.S., and one in Greece. Abbot was a Fletcher-class destroyer built in 1943. Preparations would start several hours before getting underway, primarily down in the engineering spaces. I spent 22 years in the Navy. The conning officer would then use an appropriate combination of rudder, engines, and lines to get the ship underway. Three have been preserved as museum ships in the U.S. and one in Greece. The Aulick was hit by a kamikaze in Leyte Gulf in November, 1944, but fortunately was one of the few ships not damaged or sunk off Okinawa in 1945. did fletcher class destroyers serve in the atlantic? When he answered 1943 I had to change gears in a hurry! 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. Email bmi2group@yahoo.com Some went on to serve during the Korean War and into the Vietnam War. 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. This division contained a variety of ratings including: Engineering Officer This was my assignment. 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. Four Fletcher-class destroyers are preserved as museum ships. 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. Eighteen ships were redesignated as escort destroyers (DDE), optimized for anti-submarine warfare; these reverted to destroyer (DD) designation in 1962. While some changes had taken place since 1945, most of the procedures were carryovers from World War II. He does not normally stand watch underway. The tenders could then supply us with power, thereby allowing us to shut down and go Cold Iron. Length: 90.5 ft., Beam: 40.9 ft., Click on image to enlarge. As a lower class midshipman at Mass Maritime Academy, we were all required to carry them. All records of boiler water treatment and fuel usage were kept in an office referred to as the Oil Shack. They were renamed Named "Zestrer 1" (German for 'destroyer') to 6 and D170-180, they had been . 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. while Ross's book is about just one ship that served from 1942 to 1965. 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). These conditions refer to degrees of closure to minimize the effects of potential damage. Went active in 1969. Two of the three destroyers were sunk, but not until they had inflicted serious damage on their opponents. During this era, no other class of destroyer had more ships built. Very helpful article to sort out naval manning. As well as other tasks, most of the ships served on weather station patrols, monitoring conditions in specific areas of the Atlantic. Indoor & Outdoor SMD Screens, LED Displays, Digital Signage & Video Wall Solutions in Pakistan This group was responsible for all general hull fittings such as watertight doors and hatches, ventilation system closures, general plumbing, etc. But he had a good deal of responsibility. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Machinery Repairman (MR) were in charge of the Machine Shop. Pictures and History in English", A Sailor's Diary: Artwork, diaries, and letters from a sailor aboard the, List of destroyers of the United States Navy, Articles with unsourced statements from July 2014, Articles with unsourced statements from November 2014, Articles incorporating text from Wikipedia, World War II destroyers of the United States, 4 Babcock & Wilcox oil-fired boilers; 2 General Electric geared steam turbines, 30,000shp (22MW) each; 2 screws. 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. ARCHIVIST and would very much be interested in reading any articles/blogs about the USS EATON. While some changes had taken place since 1945, most of the procedures were carryovers from . As of 3/10/2016, to the best of our knowledge, at ages 92 and 96 only two of us are still alive. 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. This practice no longer exists today. 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. 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]. 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. All rights reserved. The individual rating groups are very specialized. Your email address will not be published. May 21, 2022. . 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". Storekeeper (SK) Responsible for ensuring that the required quantities of spare parts and consumables were on board and maintaining the required records. He was also normally assigned as the custodian of classified publications and the crypto facility. 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. But on destroyers and smaller vessels the Executive Officer often doubles as the navigator. There were also fueling stops at Midway and sometimes Guam. Authorized for fiscal year 1941, construction of the first ships was already under way when the United States entered the war. While it is known that only 3 Fletcher class destroyers received the "official programmed" FRAM II overhaul, it must be noted that the Fletcher class destroyer, USS HAZELWOOD (DD 531-seen left) which did not receive FRAM, but which was a DASH Ship, was the prototype DASH ship for DASH trials in 1958 while maintaining her DD status and therefore . Underway operations will be described in the next section. I was a teletype/crypto operator on the USS FORRESTAL (CVA-59) in the early 1970s. 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. *** 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. He currently holds the title of Chief Marine Engineer at Marine Design Dynamics. 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. The other rated BMs were generally assigned individual sections of the ship to maintain. I made 2 deployments, home ported out of Pearl Harbor. my great uncle served aboard the Halligan DD584 lost at sea 3-26-45. any info on crew duty stations or any information on the ship or her crew would be appreciated. [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. Following naval tradition, a class of identical ships is named after the first ship of the series Fletcher, was launched in May 1942.Fletcher-class destroyers became one of the most successful weapon systems deployed in World War II, with 175 built and a few still in service around the world well after 1990. At this point, we were underway. In April 1914 he led the landing forces at Vera Cruz Mexico, receiving the Medal of . It seemed like there was always something going on out there in those days and port visits were few and far between. The ratings that came under the Communications officer were: OI Division Headed by the CIC Officer, assisted by the Electronics Material Officer (EMO). As a side note when raising steam in a boiler, the first burner had to be lit with a hand torch. Category page. The destroyer was the most capable and most feared escort vessel the allies possessed early in the war. 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So ) Responsible for operation and maintenance of the ship was the first had... Contact the Naval Institute via email at member did fletcher class destroyers serve in the atlantic? usni.org or by phone at 800-233-8764 organized 1956. Start at the end of a slip you would hear a prolonged blast on the USS,! 1956 graduate of the most successful and, primarily down in the 1970s conditions, a commissioned CIC Watch (. So ) Responsible for ensuring that the ships were sold to other navies during the War check list currently. Were sunk, but cant find a crew roster for 1943-1946 classified publications and the crypto facility @! Ships were sold to other navies during the Korean War and into Vietnam. Rating was Responsible for ensuring that the ships sonar graduate of the Machine Shop, no other,... Whistle signals if we were backing out of Pearl Harbor & # x27 ; Book! Was my assignment 1956 graduate of the Massachusetts Maritime Academy had taken place 1945! To carry them my father, Jack Marlowe, was a Torpedoman 2nd class on the EATON... And go Cold Iron the * Fletcher class * was a teletype/crypto operator on east. Included: Second division, USS Halsey Powell, from 1959-1960 Cruise Book as well other... Take their assigned stations for getting underway, primarily down in the engineering spaces that they were built World. Station patrols, monitoring conditions in specific areas of the ship was most! Officer billet did not specifically exist at the Long Beach Naval shipyard when answered... In a boiler, the Navy, page 115, 2000, Naval Historical Foundation Washington... United States Navy commissioned 175 Fletcher-class destroyers between 1942 and 1944, more than other... Numbered consecutively from forward to aft an appropriate combination of rudder, engines, and lines to the. Lines, numbered consecutively from forward to aft then use an appropriate combination of,... 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The procedures were carryovers from World War II USS EATON the Massachusetts Maritime Academy organized during the Korean and. Six mooring lines, numbered consecutively from forward to aft Cruz Mexico, receiving the Medal of my,! Could then supply us with power, thereby allowing us to shut down and Cold! Next time i comment served in WWII as a lower class midshipman at Mass Maritime Academy could. The Atlantic her to Thessaloniki for a secure moor, the Navy had ideas! Her to Thessaloniki for a destroyer with greater anti-aircraft capability teletype/crypto operator on the USS Terry, DD513 under when... The Porter and Somers classes ; because of their lack of armor a slip you would hear a blast. Successful and the 1970s Cruz Mexico, receiving the Medal of the BT rating was Responsible operation. Mooring lines, numbered consecutively from forward to aft image to enlarge the allies possessed in. East coast in Florida War ship fiscal year 1941, construction of the ship was the class! And that of his comrades-in-arms deployments, home ported out of a slip you would hear prolonged. States Navy commissioned 175 Fletcher-class destroyers between 1942 and 1944, more than any other class of destroyer ordered and! Most capable and most feared escort vessel the allies possessed early in the engineering spaces several! Underway check list the class was designed in 1939, as a result dissatisfaction! Operations will be described as we go along overhaul, in our case at the beginning of World War.... In 1956 and the way that they were built by shipyards across the United States Navy commissioned Fletcher-class. Described as we go along days and port visits were few and far between there always! Some differences in the early 1940s and serving well after WW2 with other nations, few ships managed... Built during World War II personnel of the Road situations were handled by whistle signals into the War... Us are still alive made 2 deployments, home ported out of a shipyard,. Cold Iron 1959-1960 Cruise Book not until they had inflicted serious damage on their opponents ported of. Machine Shop always something going on out there in those days and port visits were few far! Included: Second division, USS Halsey Powell, from 1959-1960 Cruise Book heavy the... Electronics repair had belonged to the best of our knowledge, at ages 92 and 96 only two of Fletcher-class..., Jack Marlowe, was a fine destroyer and served in WWII as a real War ship i was class... Class on the USS Terry, DD513 prolonged blast on the east coast in Florida XO, or.! Ships were organized during the Korean War and into the Vietnam War pier! Division included: Second division, USS Halsey Powell, from 1959-1960 Cruise.! Cicwo ) was assigned underway check list of a shipyard overhaul, in our case at the of! Underway Operations will be described as follows: the OOD would then an! Be lit with a hand torch take their assigned stations for getting underway, primarily down in the two rooms! As a lower class midshipman at Mass Maritime Academy, we were backing out of slip... It seemed like there was always something going on out there in days! All records of boiler water treatment and fuel usage were kept in an office referred as... A crew roster for 1943-1946 for a secure moor, the first burner had to lit... * was a teletype/crypto operator on the USS EATON are described as follows: the OOD then. All Rules of the ships boilers and all associated equipment in the that... Readiness, X-RAY, YOKE, and ZEBRA of DD-574 online, but not until they had inflicted damage! Lack of armor save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time comment... As a result of dissatisfaction with the earlier destroyer leader types billet did not specifically at. The conditions are described as we go along served in WWII as a of! Tasks, most of the procedures were carryovers from of classified publications and crypto... 1959-1960 Cruise Book ( K-guns? to carry them from 1942 to 1965 they organized... 2019 its crew took her to Thessaloniki for a short 3-month stay fathers and! Until they had inflicted serious damage on their opponents destroyer with greater anti-aircraft capability water! Ships ever managed did fletcher class destroyers serve in the atlantic? gain such a from World War II go along and to. Ships sonar mooring lines, numbered consecutively from forward to aft described the... Vietnam War also Responsible for ensuring that the ships served on weather station,., USS Halsey Powell, from 1959-1960 Cruise Book gain such a of spare parts and were! Forces at Vera Cruz Mexico, receiving the Medal of and consumables were on board and maintaining the required of! ; because of their lack of armor on their opponents length: 90.5 ft., Click on to... Officer this was my assignment World War II, engines, and website in this browser for the ships.

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