We were forward deployed to Yokosuka, Japan as part of DESRON 15. Storekeeper (SK) Responsible for ensuring that the required quantities of spare parts and consumables were on board and maintaining the required records. This was a very prestigious assignment and these Petty Officers generally lorded it over the junior non-rated sailors in the division. Sailors in this division were responsible for operation and maintenance of all of the ships armament and stowage of ammunition except for torpedoes and anti-submarine weaponry. My previous article (read Part 1 here) gave an overview of the U.S. Navys highly successful Fletcher class destroyer. The class was designed in 1939, as a result of dissatisfaction with the earlier destroyer leader types of the Porter and Somers classes. Destroyers Fletcher class. Once the first burner was lit, subsequent burners could be lit from the adjacent burner. Named after a swashbuckling Union Civil War captain, the Porter was one of 175 Fletcher-class destroyers built during World War II. 624-628. While some changes had taken place since 1945, most of the procedures were carryovers from World War II. As of 3/10/2016, to the best of our knowledge, at ages 92 and 96 only two of us are still alive. For this reason, all sailors of the Boiler Technician (BT) rating were meticulous about carrying a book of matches around with them at all times. These differences will be described as we go along. Several destroyer classes of the IJN were able to reload their torpedo tubes, at least partially: The Fubuki class had 9 torpedo tubes in 3 triple mounts, carry. Some naval historians will tell you that the Fletcher class destroyer was the most successful ship of World War 2 . As soon as the last line was taken in, the boatswains pipe would sound and the announcement would be made Underway, Shift Colors. Commissioned; Brazilian Navy : K (1) 1922 - 1922 : Marcilio Dias (3) 1943 . Some went on to serve during the Korean War and into the Vietnam War.[2]. I hope youre still here. All Rules of the Road situations were handled by whistle signals. The days of surface to surface torpedo attacks had pretty well gone away, although we still retained that capability. [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. The Executive Officer is the person who is responsible for making things happen. Naval officers are required to pay for their own meals. I had a great time with the locals in Vancouver and also remember the near collision. 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. 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. The Executive Officer (XO) is the second in command on the ship. 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. Very helpful article to sort out naval manning. Fletcher-class destroyer - Wikipedia. The last step was to test out the main engines with steam. 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. During World War II, these functions had belonged to the Chief Engineer. 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. If there was ever any doubt about who was responsible for a piece of equipment on the ship, it belonged to the Chief Engineer. Copyright 2011-2022 Naval Historical Foundation. Later emphasis on anti-aircraft defense led to a redesigned or square bridge for improved all-around sightlines, beginning with Brownson (DD 518). 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. But most of the other wartime functions still remained. / toronto gift show august 2022 / did fletcher class destroyers serve in the atlantic? Underway operations will be described in the next section. 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. Again being promoted to Rear Admiral he later took over command of battleship divisions in the Atlantic Fleet. The peacetime manning was 14 officers and 236 enlisted men. Normally half of the sailors in this division would be assigned to each space. Although built with the Pacific in mind, the Fletchers also served in the Atlantic theatre. Upon graduation from Boot Camp they were designated as a Seaman Apprentice. Thank you! On Halsey Powell, our Ops Officer was also assigned as navigator, although that was not universal practice aboard destroyers. Email bmi2group@yahoo.com The BT rating was responsible for operation and maintenance of the ships boilers and all associated equipment in the two fire rooms. They followed exactly the same path but they were only assigned to the Engineering Department. Did we know each other? The Chief Engineer would be in the Forward Engine Room and the Main Propulsion Assistant would be in the After Engine Room. . Transportation was by a combination of ships boats and private water taxis. Introduced in 1942, the 2,100-ton Fletcher -class destroyers formed the core of the US Navy's destroyer force from 1943. While aboard the Morrison my fellow TM and I dropped 2 patterns set for 350 and sunk the Japanese premier submarine, the Imperial I-8. The ships Master at Arms force reports directly to the Executive Officer. 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. The US Navy Destroyers represented the formidable industrial effort consented by the United States to win the war on two oceans. This alteration was not a success and was not repeated. As these articles say, access was from a deck hatch and a ladder. 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 . A special thanks to friends: T@ker, Lilkiki and SVKSniper for their indispensable advice and . While in the Atlantic we were part of a group that escorted the Queen Mary from the coast of Ireland to Halifax Winston Churchill and Admiral King were aboardhistory. 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. Did any Fletcher class destroyers serve in the Atlantic? 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. [11][12][13], In 2018, Kidd was used as the filming location for the fictional USS Keeling DD-548 (codenamed Greyhound), from C.S. Type: Destroyer: Displacement: 2050 BRT : Length: . On the return trip we had to avoid the collision between the Oil Tanker and a Philippine Merchant ship . On Nov. 13, 1942, the USS Juneau light cruiser was torpedoed and sunk by a Japanese submarine. She was a rough riding ship with a crew of dedicated men. The Fletcher-class destroyer was a class of destroyers that were used extensively by the United States Navy during World War II. The lowest numbered Fletcher was the USS FLETCHER (DD445), although the USS NICHOLAS (DD449) was the first ship commissioned on June 4, 1942. All wardroom officers had to take their turn at crypto duty, which involved going into the crypto shack, setting up the crypto machine by inserting a set of rotors corresponding to the date and time, and typing out the message. The list is divided by navy, then ordered by commissioned date of each class (oldest first). Machinery Repairman (MR) were in charge of the Machine Shop. 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. Velos still retains its complete armament and equipment(as modernized in 1950s). All wardroom provisions had to be purchased from the General Mess or other sources ashore. 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. Posted on . Nineteen Fletchers were lost during World War II. Three (Pringle, Stevens and Halford) were built with aircraft catapults after deletion of the rear torpedo tube mount and the number 3 5-inch gun mount. Interior Communications Electricians (IC) were responsible for all interior communications equipment including telephone, indicating and alarm systems, announcing systems, and the ships gyro compass. With the introduction of radar, another useful method became available when the ship was within radar range of shore. Some went on to serve during the Korean War and into the Vietnam War. I was lucky enough to tour the USS Kidd shortly after she was docked for display in Baton Rouge, LA. We had a great twenty minute conversation. Transferred to Hellenic Navy, 27 September 1962, Transferred to Hellenic Navy, 21 August 1959, Transferred to West Germany, 12 April 1960, Transferred to West Germany, 16 December 1959, Transferred to West Germany, 17 February 1960, Transferred to Hellenic Navy, 16 June 1959, Transferred to Hellenic Navy, 15 September 1959, Transferred to Hellenic Navy, 9 February 1960, Transferred to South Korea, 15 November 1968, Transferred to the Republic of Korea, 27 April 1968, Museum ship at the former Boston Navy Yard in Boston, Massachusetts, This page was last edited on 20 October 2022, at 13:05. Aboard destroyers, these were all Lieutenants billets. Regardless of who it was, it was very important for him to announce I have the Conn so that all bridge personnel would know who to take their orders from. Stuber: 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. Authorized for fiscal year 1941, construction of the first ships was already under way when the United States entered the war. I know there were 6 throwers (K-guns?) But by 1956 they were more appropriately assigned to the Ops Department. 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. The United States Navy commissioned 175 Fletcher-class destroyers between 1942 and 1944, more than any . The class was designed in 1939, as a result of dissatisfaction with the earlier destroyer leader types of the Porter and Somers classes. 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. between the turbine and the shaft it appeared that there was a temperature gauge built into every section. 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]. Below this level, the ship was organized into departments. Ten 21in (530mm) torpedo tubes were fitted in two quintuple mounts amidships, firing the 21-inch Mark 15 torpedo. 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. [5], 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. This group was responsible for all general hull fittings such as watertight doors and hatches, ventilation system closures, general plumbing, etc. This is how I met my wife. But he had a good deal of responsibility. My father, Jack Marlowe, was a Torpedoman 2nd class on the USS Terry, DD513. They did not stand regular watches but they were the people you called when something failed to operate properly. Machinists Mate (MM) This rating was responsible for the operation and maintenance of all of the equipment in the two main engine rooms. Some went on to serve during the Korean War and into the Vietnam War.. Was on DD650 for 4 years right out of boot camp I am now ret USN MSC you in 76 there is not a day that goes by that I dont think of the best year s of my life I am now 77and I wish I could do it all again when the good Lord takes me I hope he will put me on the USS C APERTON DD650, Pingback: The George Stewart I Knew | Naval Historical Foundation. Would like if at all possible to get pictures of C.I.C on my ship USS Conway DDE 507.I was on the Conway from 1954 to 1956, I served on the USS Hopwell DD681 in 61-62 .. United States naval ship classes of World War II. Some went on to serve during the Korean War and into the Vietnam War. Normally he was a non-watchstander and he was usually provided with at least one full time assistant. [3] The Allen M. Sumner and Gearing classes were Fletcher derivatives. The Fletcher class was a class of destroyers built by the United States during World War II. These sailors were generally referred to as non-rated personnel and they could be assigned duties in any of the non-engineering divisions. 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. The Commanding Officer (CO) of a destroyer under peacetime conditions is normally a Commander with 15 to 18 years of commissioned service. During their service life, many . I know what than meant -some snipe had to record temperature readings on a clipboard form every few hours, to make sure a bearing was not overheating. Often he was assigned additional duties as Chief Master at Arms (The ships head policeman). Boiler Technician (BT) This was a fancy name for what was called a Water Tender in the old coal fired Navy. 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. It was an honor to serve on Fletchers as the brave sailors of WWII. These 175 flush-deck "2,100 . The Fletcher class (named for Admiral Frank F. Fletcher) was the largest class of destroyer ordered and was also one . Sailed on the required 2 week cruise with the port of call Vancouver, Canada. 789k. Went active in 1969. She was my first, and my favorite ship. It was the largest class of destroyer ordered, and was also one of the most successful and . This was to have a great impact upon my own career in the navy. [4] They could cover the vast distances required by fleet actions in the Pacific. The Fletcher class destroyers had a wartime complement of 329 personnel. 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. And some of the movie was able to be filmed aboard the museum ship USS Kidd, a Fletcher class vessel . Prior to reading this book, I had not fully appreciated the fact that even after the Fletcher class became operational, the majority of destroyer operations in the Atlantic theater continued to be conducted by the pre-war classes, as the majority of Fletchers were deployed to the Pacific as soon as they became available, and their successors . 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. After World War II he also picked up responsibility for Damage Control and blow decks hull maintenance from the First Lieutenant. As well as other tasks, most of the ships served on weather station patrols, monitoring conditions in specific areas of the Atlantic. Anti-submarine armament was two racks for 300-pound (140kg) depth charges at the stern and six K-gun 300-pound depth charge throwers amidships. Built for speed and capability, USS Cassin Young engaged in seven Pacific battles in World War II, survived two Kamikaze hits, and served another full decade beyond her expected lifetime. By 1956 the Operations Officer had evolved into the principle adviser to the CO as to operational matters. Construction (top) and disposition following World War II (bottom). 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. He was always on call when the ship was underway. I dont know if a topic on this unit exist, so I start this, even because I really like it. For a secure moor, the lines were Doubled Up. The crew was extremely tight. Fred Edwards, Destroyer Type Desk, Bureau of Ships, 1942, quoted in Holland, Rear Admiral W. J., Jr., USN (Ret), ed. The Chief Engineer would write Lighting Off Orders to be carried out by the duty section. It was a very diverse division that was comprised of several ratings. A new ahead-throwing weapon called Weapon Alpha was installed in many of the ships. 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 class was designed in 1939, as a result of dissatisfaction with the earlier destroyer leader types of the Porter and Somers classes. One my ships was USS OBannon DD-450 , the most decorated destroyer of WWII. Previously the USS Anthony (DD-515), Ringold (DD-500), Waldsworth (DD-515), Claxton (DD-571), Dyson (DD-572), and Charles Ausburne (DD-570). A . All Destroyer classes. The Chief Gunners Mate (GMC) normally acted as a roving troubleshooter. 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. They did not appear until the 1970s. Gunnery Officer Or Gun Boss was responsible for operation and maintenance of all of the ships armament plus all matters relating to deck seamanship. Wikimedia Commons photos. In 1941, the US Navy began building a fleet of large destroyers, its first design to rival the Japanese "special type" destroyers that had first entered service more than a decade before. Four Fletchers have been preserved on public display. This article describes destroyer operations as I remember them during the late 1950s. 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. While 19 were lost and six damaged beyond repair, 44 earned ten or more service stars, 19 were awarded the Navy Unit Commendation and 16 received the Presidential Unit Citation. Essentially what this meant was for the first team to take their assigned stations for getting underway. [6], Fletchers were also much less top-heavy than previous classes, allowing them to take on additional equipment and weapons without major redesign. I was one of the 97 survivors of 357 aboard ship. He does not normally stand watch underway. Three have been preserved as museum ships in the U.S., and one in Greece. On many smaller ships, he usually doubles as the ships navigator. The Fletcher class was a class of destroyers built by the United States during World War II. They were also to carry no less than five 5in (127mm) guns and ten deck-mounted torpedo tubes on the centerline, allowing them to meet any foreign design on equal terms. [10] Typically, Babcock & Wilcox boilers and General Electric geared steam turbines were equipped, although other designs and manufacturers were probably used to maximize the rate of production. His principal assistants were the Main Propulsion Assistant (MPA) and Damage Control Assistant (DCA). Some SAs were sent through advanced schooling for a particular rating and came aboard as Designated Strikers such as GMSN, RMSN, etc. or Ensign in the Supply Corps. USS Halsey Powell backs away from a pier in Subic Bay. But the onset of the Korean War in 1950 . Civilian vessels have always had much smaller crews and made far greater use of automation and labor saving devices. Since his retirement from active naval service in 1986 he has been employed in the ship design industry where he has specialized in the development of concept designs of propulsion and powering systems, some of which have entered active service. In my new novel Through Waters Deep, Ens. or the number in each thrower. did fletcher class destroyers serve in the atlantic? Actually this provided for a good deal of camaraderie between ships in the division as we all got to know each other and trade experiences. The next order would be to Take in the Brow. 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. At this point, we were underway. There, the earliest ones saw action in the nighttime surface battles in the Solomon Islands, many fought at Leyte and all completed in time for fleet screening and shore bombardment assignments and the notorious anti-kamikaze radar picket duty at Okinawa. 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. Most COs rarely took the conn themselves but acted more as a teacher and overall safety observer. Introduced in 1942, the 2,100-ton Fletcher-class destroyers formed the core of the US Navys destroyer force from 1943. Posted by ; On . They were also to carry no fewer than five 5in (127mm) guns and ten deck-mounted torpedo tubes on the centerline, allowing them to meet any foreign design on equal terms. He was a member of the original crew and served as the Medical Officer. The class was designed in 1939, as a result of dissatisfaction with the earlier destroyer leader types of the Porter and Somers classes. Bennett (DD 473) lays stack and chemical smoke in the Shortland Islands, 1944. off Korea in the 1950s and some even off Vietnam in the 60s, she was condemned in 2010 as a derelict and hazard to navigation and scrapped in 20102011. Of course, ships today are fitted with Global Positioning (GPS), Electronic Chart Display (ECDIS) and other more advanced equipment. Your email address will not be published. First Division provided the majority of the bridge watch standers and the gun crews. Fletchers had a design speed of 38 knots, armed with five 5" guns in single mounts and carrying 10 21" torpedo in twin quintuple centerline mounts. The Fletcher class was the first generation of destroyers designed after the series of naval treaties that had limited ship designs heretofore. Length: 90.5 ft., Beam: 40.9 ft., Click on image to enlarge. Your email address will not be published. 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. Supply officers were all referred to as Pork Chops because of the shape of their insignia. As a side note when raising steam in a boiler, the first burner had to be lit with a hand torch. Forester's novel The Good Shepherd, in her appearance in the book's 2020 cinematic adaptation, Greyhound. That number was necessary to allow around the clock manning of gun mounts, repair parties, and other watch stations. The ship had to approach very carefully directly into the current and hold itself in position during this process. In the Fletcher class, the boilers produced steam at 650 psi with a final steam temperature of 850F, and supplied the steam to a twin screw installation producing 60,000 shp. Richard Vessels, my father, John Hanson, was an officer on USS Aulick DD569. Your email address will not be published. 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. On some ships a junior officer is assigned as navigator. 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. In combat, commanders often requisitioned additional guns with some ships mounting up to thirteen 20mm cannons. [10] No design can be perfect and the Fletchers were no exception. Petroleum/Chemical plant operations dept.. A good profession. Ships of the Fletcher destroyer class Name Hull no. Eventually, eleven shipyards launched 175 ships over the next 32 monthsthe most numerous class of destroyer completed by any navy. boeing 777 300er thai airways business class; drink driving police procedure. Some went. 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. Thanks for shedding additional light on my fathers service and that of his comrades-in-arms. 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. Throughout the course of World War II, the number of anti-aircraft weapons increased resulting in five twin-40mm Bofors guns plus seven 20mm weapons by 1945. Next. Required fields are marked *. I am the USS EATON DD/DDE510 REUNION ASSOC. 175 ships . Here in Charlestown, this navy yard built . 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).). I had been transferred before the sinking a stroke of luck. During both of my XO tours, I served as navigator. 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. This duty normally fell to the most junior three Ensigns in the wardroom. while Ross's book is about just one ship that served from 1942 to 1965. 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). Spare parts and consumables were on board and maintaining the required records the peacetime manning was officers! Machinery Repairman ( MR ) were in charge of the Machine Shop 21-inch Mark 15 torpedo the onset the..., in her appearance in the Brow pier in Subic Bay their assigned stations for getting underway Japan... 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Later emphasis on anti-aircraft defense led to a redesigned or square bridge for improved all-around sightlines, beginning with (... Complete armament and equipment ( as modernized in 1950s ) Officer was also one the 97 survivors 357! Coal fired Navy War and into the Vietnam War. [ 2 ] Off Orders to purchased... Practice aboard destroyers built by the United States during World War II weapon Alpha installed! Swashbuckling Union Civil War captain, the first burner had to be carried out the! Result of dissatisfaction with the advent of missiles, the lines were Doubled up usually as! Was by a combination of ships boats and private water taxis was in. Road situations were handled by whistle signals installed in many of the shape of their insignia pay their! S book is about just one ship that served from 1942 to 1965 in! Their own meals the last step was to test out the Main engines with steam captain, lines! 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