Velos still retains its complete armament and equipment(as modernized in 1950s). This meant passing a second bight around the bollard on the pier or the ship alongside. The duties of conning officer were rotated around. This was far in advance of the standard 300 psi/40,000 shp plant for the Emergency class boats, but by one of those odd quirks of fate, in 1930 HMS Acheron was given 500 . Does anyone have information I can get from on of his mates during that time. The Damage Control Assistant (DCA) was in charge of R Division. The Fletcher-class destroyer was the first generation of destroyers to be designed after the series of Naval Treaties that had limited ship designs heretofore. 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 Japanese kamikaze on May 4,1945. Postwar, the remainder were decommissioned and put into reserve. Normally half of the sailors in this division would be assigned to each space. How many depth charges did a Fletcher-class carry during WWII? I served under a Destroyer Squadron Commander in 1963-64 who had been the Commanding Officer of USS Hazlewood (DD 531), a Fletcher Class Destroyer, in 1945 as a Lieutenant Commander when he was only 5 years out of the Naval Academy. Many of the ships were sold to other navies during the mid-1950s, including: Any remaining were broken up in the 1970s. Supply officers were all referred to as Pork Chops because of the shape of their insignia. On some ships a junior officer is assigned as navigator. Gunnery Officer Or Gun Boss was responsible for operation and maintenance of all of the ships armament plus all matters relating to deck seamanship. This group normally had one or more qualified welders assigned. If there was ever any doubt about who was responsible for a piece of equipment on the ship, it belonged to the Chief Engineer. It was always stressed that the XO should also be kept informed on operational issues. They also were much less top heavy than the previous classes, allowing them to take on additional equipment and weapons without major redesign. Edit. Fred Edwards, Destroyer Type Desk, Bureau of Ships, 1942, quoted in Holland, Rear Admiral W. J., Jr., USN (Ret), ed. There were 175 of them built during World War II. At the time scheduled in the plan of the day, the boatswains pipe would whistle and the word would be passed Now set the Special Sea and Anchor Detail. Went to a Target store (Plantation, FL) to pick up some stuff, and outside I saw an older gentleman with a USS Kidd T-shirt. This was to have a great impact upon my own career in the navy. [5][not in citation given] In a massive effort, the Fletcher-class ships were built by shipyards across the United States and, after World War II ended, many were sold to the very countries they had fought against: Italy, Germany, and Japan, as well as other navies, where they would go on to have even longer, distinguished careers. The Conning Officer could be the CO, XO, or OOD. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 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. I know there were 6 throwers (K-guns?) These are senior petty officers who function as the ships police force. Four Fletchers have been preserved on public display. The class was designed in 1939, as a result of dissatisfaction with the earlier destroyer leader types. Often he was assigned additional duties as Chief Master at Arms (The ships head policeman). 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. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Upon graduation from Boot Camp they were designated as a Seaman Apprentice. Quartermaster (QM) The only reason these people were assigned to this division aboard. 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. Signalman (SM) These people stood watch on the signal bridge. I spent 22 years in the Navy. Transportation was by a combination of ships boats and private water taxis. During World War II, these functions had belonged to the Chief Engineer. Keeping in mind that the Fletcher class destroyer would primarily serve in the Pacific theatre where the sea wasn't as rough as in the Atlantic, designers optimized the shape and layout of the ship for the much calmer waters of the Pacific by employing a so called "flush deck" construction as opposed to the traditional "forecastle . List of Fletcher-class destroyers and their dispositions. Compared to earlier classes built for the United States Navy, the Fletchers carried a significant increase in lethal firepower, including anti-aircraft (AA) weapons and increased armor plating; this contributed to greater displacement and overall weight and height increase. A whole bunch of information is conveyed very concisely. 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. As a lower class midshipman at Mass Maritime Academy, we were all required to carry them. He was also normally assigned as the custodian of classified publications and the crypto facility. But by 1956 that responsibility had been transferred to the Chief Engineer. Though built with the Pacific in mind, Fletchers also served in the Atlantic theater. 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. 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. Petroleum/Chemical plant operations dept.. A good profession. "German Navy Fletcher-Class, USS DD-515 Anthony. I was a Reservist out of the old Reserve Center (airplane hanger) in Long Beach. About once per quarter we would be assigned an availability alongside a Destroyer Tender for routine repairs. These conditions are established by closing the appropriate fittings such as valves, hatches, and watertight doors. Torpedoman (TM) Responsible for operation and maintenance of the ships torpedoes, depth charges, and Hegehogs. Some went on to serve during the Korean War and into the Vietnam War.. 25 . It was the ubiquitous FLETCHER class destroyer, ASW escort in the Atlantic, screening ship for the fast carrier task forces in the Pacific, night fighter of the "Little Beavers." and . Some SAs were sent through advanced schooling for a particular rating and came aboard as Designated Strikers such as GMSN, RMSN, etc. Is this Fire Controlman? Machinists Mate (MM) This rating was responsible for the operation and maintenance of all of the equipment in the two main engine rooms. She was my first, and my favorite ship. George W. Stewart is a retired US Navy Captain. [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. We usually had 2 or 3 Chief Machinists Mates (MMC) assigned. yet they served all over the North Atlantic. 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. I assumed all destroyers had a least one medical officer aboard. So the next order was Single up all lines. After a year on board they were advanced to the grade of Seaman (SN), from which they could strike for assignment to other ratings. Radioman (RM) Responsible for all electronic means of exterior communications. Went active in 1969. (read it here). NHF has decommissioned and is no longer accepting new members or donations. In the interest of reduced manning levels, did the Radiomen copy fleet broadcast via teletype instead of morse? A Pacific Fleet destroyer operated on a two year cycle in those days. Construction (top) and disposition following World War II (bottom). One Petty Officer was designated as the Oil King. Sailed on the required 2 week cruise with the port of call Vancouver, Canada. 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. I was lucky enough to tour the USS Kidd shortly after she was docked for display in Baton Rouge, LA. He was always on call when the ship was underway. This was a very prestigious assignment and these Petty Officers generally lorded it over the junior non-rated sailors in the division. The engine room and fire room supervisors would man their stations. Built in 1943 in San Pedro, California, she is one of 175 Fletcher-class destroyers built during World War II. Three have been preserved as museum ships in the U.S., and one in Greece. They had the fortune of catching American production at the right moment becoming "the" destroyer design, and only Fletcher-class derivatives, the Sumner and Gearing classes, would follow it. But he had a good deal of responsibility. Originally conceived as a failed design for a light fleet cruiser, the Tribals evolved into fast, powerful destroyers, with greater emphasis on guns over torpedoes than previous destroyers, in response to new designs by Japan . All sailors initially attended Boot Camp where they held the rating of Seaman Recruit (SR). On Halsey Powell, our Ops Officer was also assigned as navigator, although that was not universal practice aboard destroyers. . 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. By VJ Day, 67 Sumners55 destroyers and 12 destroyer-minelayer conversionsplus 45 ships of a lengthened production variant, initially referred to as the 2,200-ton long hull class and later as the Gearing class. 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). Your email address will not be published. The U.S. My husband was a Boiler Tender on the USS Vandevier during 1956 to 1958 or 9. The A Gang took care of the steering gear, heating and ventilation systems (now also air conditioning), deck machinery, laundry and galley equipment, refrigeration systems, and probably some other things that I have forgotten. But at least one other type ship also played a powerful role for the U.S. Navy in World War II. Stewards (SD) Ran the Wardroom Mess and provided valet service for the officers. [4] They could cover the vast distances required by fleet actions in the Pacific. First (Deck), Second (Guns), and Fox (Fire Control, Sonar, and Anti-Submarine Armament). Ratings assigned to the division included: Second Division, USS Halsey Powell, from 1959-1960 Cruise Book. But they still have a ways to go to catch up to their Merchant Marine contemporaries. The U.S. Posted on . 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. The Fletcher-class was a class of destroyers built by the United States during World War II. ARCHIVIST and would very much be interested in reading any articles/blogs about the USS EATON. (My papers had been submitted but not received for 1st Class TM before we were sunk.) He currently holds the title of Chief Marine Engineer at Marine Design Dynamics. Compared to earlier designs, the Fletchers were large, allowing them to absorb the addition of two 40mm Bofors quadruple mount AA guns as well as six 20mm Oerlikon dual AA gun positions. 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. found: Wikipedia, May 10 2010: under Fletcher class destroyer (the Fletcher class were a class of destroyers built by the United States during World War II; some went on to serve during the Korean War and into the Vietnam War; the United States Navy commissioned 175 Fletcher class destroyers between 1942 and 1944; they were built by shipyards across the United States and many were sold to the . [6] Compared to earlier classes built for the Navy, they carried a significant increase in anti-aircraft weapons and other weaponry, which caused displacements to rise. These three destroyers were later converted to the regular Fletcher-class configuration. The Fletcher class was a class of destroyers built by the United States during World War II. The Fletcher class (named for Admiral Frank F. Fletcher) was the largest class of destroyer ordered and was also one . The Fletcher class destroyer came about in 1939 when the US Navy sought to create a superior new design addressing poor aspects found in previous destroyers. 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. In this article I will attempt to describe how a World War II Destroyer was manned and organized. The long-range Fletcher-class ships performed every task asked of a destroyer, from anti-submarine warfare and anti-aircraft warfare to surface action. Some went on to serve during the Korean War and into the Vietnam War. Meanwhile, the Navy continued looking ahead. 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. Naval Documents of the American Revolution, - Naval Documents of the American Revolution, Manning Fletcher Class Destroyers | Naval Historical Foundation, Fletcher Class Destroyer Operations - Part II | Naval Historical Foundation, The George Stewart I Knew | Naval Historical Foundation, A History of the Naval Historical Foundation. . 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. They did not stand regular watches but they were the people you called when something failed to operate properly. The Steering Gear room (After Steering) would be manned. Displacement: 2600 tons. As well as other tasks, most of the ships served on weather station patrols, monitoring conditions in specific areas of the Atlantic. The nine ships came from three yards as follows: Capps (DD 550), David W. Taylor (DD 551), Evans (DD 552) and John D. Henley (DD 553), the first four 2,100-tonners built by Gulf Shipbuildinground-bridge ships . Ten 21in (530mm) torpedo tubes were fitted in two quintuple mounts amidships, firing the 21-inch Mark 15 torpedo. The individual rating groups are very specialized. If the ship was designated as a flagship, accommodations were provided on board for the Commodore and his staff. 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. I introduced myself, and asked him when he had been on the ship. In September 1941, it requested studies for a destroyer with greater anti-aircraft capability. Those sailors who chose the engineering path were designated as Fireman Recruit, Fireman Apprentice, and Fireman. The Fletcher class destroyers had a wartime complement of 329 personnel. did fletcher class destroyers serve in the atlantic? That number was necessary to allow around the clock manning of gun mounts, repair parties, and other watch stations. My wifes first comment when I took her around the ship for the first time was You mean that you start all of this up with a match?. The conditions are described as follows: The OOD would then execute a Getting Underway check list. I am so sorry I never had a discussion with him about his experiences and what he did, before he died when I was 14. They were versatile and highly standardized, to the point as producing only four wartime classes of 50+ up to 180 ships, the Bensons, Fletcher, Sumner and Gearing, completed by the numerous "peacetime classes" from 1934 to 1940 and the WW1-era famous "four . I hope youre still here. Copyright 2011-2022 Naval Historical Foundation. [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. This is how I met my wife. I dont know if a topic on this unit exist, so I start this, even because I really like it. 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. It was the largest class of destroyer ordered, and was also one of the most successful and . The other rated BMs were generally assigned individual sections of the ship to maintain. LTJG George Stewart from the 1958 USS Halsey Powell Cruise Book. 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. 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. [11] charity photographer jobs borderlands 2 how to spend eridium harmony of the seas itinerary december 2021. did fletcher class destroyers serve in the atlantic? In general, the statement that the military spends its time in peacetime preparing to fight the previous war has some merit. The Fletcher-class destroyer was a class of destroyers that were used extensively by the United States Navy during World War II. The Navy started my lifes work e.g. Laid down beginning in 1941, all 175 Fletchers were completed between June 1942 and February 1945, launched an average of 212 days after keel laying and commissioned after an average of 152 days more or 364 days totalnearly 10 per cent faster than the repeat Bensons and Gleaves that preceded them. Radio direction finders were eventually replaced by Loran A. Composite by Coffee or Die Magazine. Also that only 3/8 of steel separated the entire compartment from the ocean. The Fletchers had a design speed of 38 knots (70km/h; 44mph) and a principal armament of five 5-inch (127mm) guns in single mounts with ten 21-inch (530mm) torpedo tubes in two quintuple centerline mounts. There was a big hole in one of the ships. Interior Communications Electricians (IC) were responsible for all interior communications equipment including telephone, indicating and alarm systems, announcing systems, and the ships gyro compass. The USS KIDD (DD-661) is a Fletcher-class destroyer, the six hundred sixty-first destroyer built by the United States Navy. Also, since my primary experience was in engineering, it served as excellent preparation for command. Fletcher Class. All watertight doors and hatches are closed to provide maximum subdivision. I was aboard the Morrison when we started at radar picket station 11 and moved into station 1, nicknamed coffin corner where we were sunk. 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 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 next step depended on how we were moored. Normally the crew stood duty on one day out of every three. From there we were ready to go. Naval officers are required to pay for their own meals. did fletcher class destroyers serve in the atlantic? OK, first of all - the reason for the Fletcher class' size is because the US Navy wanted a destroyer with the same main armament as preceding classes (pretty much all of the mass produced destroyers had five 5-inch guns and ten 21-inch torpedo tubes); with the same speed (37 knots); and a similar range (5,000 nmi at 15 knots) as those ships . 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. There were 3 K-guns on each side. This was mitigated somewhat due to deployment in the Pacific. Obviously they were the people who were most likely to take heat from the other crew members for their efforts, or lack thereof. Fire Control Technician (FT) Responsible for operation and maintenance of all of the ships gunfire control systems including fire control radar, computer, and electrical transmission systems. The design parameters were in the form of the armaments desired of the next destroyer. He served on the John Rodgers (DD-574) during the Pacific theater campaigns. Can you point me toward a source for a crew roster of that time period? The Fletcher class was a class of destroyers built by the United States during World War II. 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. With the introduction of radar, another useful method became available when the ship was within radar range of shore. While some changes had taken place since 1945, most of the procedures were carryovers from . 175 of these were . [4] The Allen M. Sumner and Gearing classes were Fletcher derivatives. Underway operations will be described in the next section. NHF members are being converted to members of the Naval Institute. The class was designed in 1939, as a result of dissatisfaction with the earlier destroyer leader types of the Porter and Somers classes. The Operations Officer billet did not specifically exist at the beginning of World War II. The United States Navy commissioned 175 Fletcher-class destroyers between 1942 and 1944, more . It is set when a ship is in the harbor. 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. 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. or the number in each thrower. He was a radioman on the ship for about a year, and transferred to another ship before the USS Kidd was hit by a kamikaze.the sailor I was talking to lost a few friends in that attack. YOKE is an intermediate level of protection that is set when the ship is under normal underway cruise conditions. This is the third in a series of articles by Captain Stewart detailing the technical specifications, manning, and operations of the U.S. Navys Fletcher class destroyers. The Chief Gunners Mate (GMC) normally acted as a roving troubleshooter. References: Bauer and Roberts, Friedman, Raven, Hearn. 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. The navigator would be responsible for ensuring that the ship remained on its desired track and making appropriate recommendations to the CO/OOD. 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. Most COs rarely took the conn themselves but acted more as a teacher and overall safety observer. Destroyers were normally tied up to a pier with six mooring lines, numbered consecutively from forward to aft. This was mitigated by deployment to the Pacific Ocean, which is relatively calm compared to the Atlantic.[9]. It was a slow day, and a lot of the safety procedures were not formally set up yet, so me and another engineer friend were able to tour the forward engine room. 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. Your email address will not be published. I made six month WESTPAC deployments in 1957 and 1958. He died back in 1986. On deck it was necessary to disconnect all shore services, pick up the ships boats, remove rat guards, and a variety of other actions, including preparing an anchor for dropping in an emergency. town of marcellus ny tax collector; did fletcher class destroyers serve in the atlantic? Under these conditions, a commissioned CIC Watch Officer (CICWO) was assigned. 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.[1]. 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. Acting as a member of a screen as part of a carrier task group against air, surface, and subsurface attack. This division included: OI Division, USS Halsey Powell, from 1958 Cruise Book, (NOTE: Later on the name of the rating was changed from Radarman (RD) to Operations Specialist (OS).). . Engineers were always referred to as Snipes. This term originated in the British Navy when a visiting Admiral said that the engine room on a battleship resembled a snipe marsh. Fifty-one were further modified beginning in 1945, replacing the forward torpedo tubes and midships 40mm twin Bofors with quad mounts for a total of 14 barrels, and the seven 20mm singles with six 20mm twins. Required fields are marked *. He currently holds the title of Chief Marine Engineer at Marine Design Dynamics. Radarman (RD) This was a new rating that was established during World War II. 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. 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 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. [1] Postwar, the remainder were decommissioned and put into reserve. Eventually, eleven shipyards launched 175 ships over the next 32 monthsthe most numerous class of destroyer completed by any navy. 1 LCdr. The ship was the first of the Fletcher-class destroyers that were built during World War II. The Fletcher-class was a class of destroyers built by the United States during World War II. Civilian vessels have always had much smaller crews and made far greater use of automation and labor saving devices. Hoel was the first to go after suffering 44 direct hits from shells ranging from 5 inch to 14 inch. 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