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Destroyers - Fletcher Class

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  • San Diego lashed togther ...

    Unknown personnel, several Fletcher class DD's are in background, in the middle is USS Hailey DD-556, late 1945 in San Diego.
    Photo courtesy of Linda Ayotte-Messner

    I like this photo... gives a good visual for three Square Bridged Fletchers lashed together in San Diego harbor.
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    • Duty assignments ..... Main Gage board

      Then and now photos of the Main Gage board.

      Engine Room – Each Engine Room required at least four or five watch standers.

      The watch supervisor in the Forward Engine Room (Main Control) was normally a Chief or First Class Petty Officer of the Machinist’s Mate (MM) rating who served as the Engineering Officer of the Watch (EOOW).

      The EOOW was responsible for overall coordination of the engineering plant, including all communications with the bridge.

      ◾ Watch Supervisor (MMOW)* – In charge of the watch.

      ◾Throttleman * – Operated the main engine throttles in response to orders received from the bridge on the EOT. Each engine room controlled its own throttles. But the After Engine Room was subordinate to Main Control in the Forward Engine Room.

      ◾Lower Level Oiler – Attended auxiliary machinery on the lower level of the engine room

      ◾Messenger – Made rounds, took log readings, made coffee, etc.

      ◾Switchboard Electrician* – One required for each operating generator

      ◾Evaporator Operator* (Forward Engine Room only) – Operated the ship’s distilling plant.
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      Last edited by blidgepump; 10 Mar 17,, 05:00.

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      • Disposing of a Fletcher Class DD .....

        Disposing of U.S. Navy ships

        Many Fletcher-class destroyers were commissioned more than once, usually as a result of the Cold War. Once stricken from the Naval Vessel Register, a ship was never again commissioned by the United States Navy. Here is what the U.S. Navy says about the fate of unwanted warships:


        Navy assets must first be stricken from the Naval Vessel Register before they can be disposed.
        Once stricken their disposition can be by several methods:

        •Scrapping
        •Transfer to U.S. Maritime Administration
        •Foreign transfer
        •Experimental/target
        •Donation
        •Historic memorial
        •Transfer to other government/non-government agencies
        •Navy sale

        The high cost of upkeep plus the copious use of asbestos and other toxic materials meant that most Fletchers were scrapped or intentionally sunk; four remain as floating museums (in Boston; Buffalo, New York; Baton Rouge, Louisiana; and near Athens, Greece). Bits and pieces of others are scattered worldwide; for example, one of Hailey’s 5-inch gun turrets is a naval gunnery monument in Brazil, and a 5-inch gun turret from a Chilean Fletcher is displayed in Vińa del Mar.
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        • Sabotage >>>> ?????

          Doing more reading about DD & DDE Fletchers tonight escorting CV's during the 1950's.
          Discovered this passage about the USS Ranger in Wiki and started to wonder if USN ships are often exposed to "Sabotage"?

          Any feedback?



          "On 27 May 1972, she returned to West Coast operation until 16 November, when she embarked upon her seventh WestPac deployment, which had been delayed four months after Navy fireman E-3 Patrick Chenoweth dropped a heavy paint scraper into a main reduction gear, disabling one of the engines. Chenoweth was charged with "sabotage in time of war", and faced 30 years imprisonment, but was acquitted by a general court-martial. Ranger suffered around two dozen acts of sabotage between 7 June 1972 and 16 October 1972, including the damage to the main reduction gear which caused $800,000 ($4.58 million in 2017) in damage and delayed the ship's return to duty off Vietnam."

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          • From Sabotage to Lobster Wars .....

            More discovery of Arleigh Burke's loan of Fletcher DD's to Brazil ...

            Four Brazilian Navy Fletcher - class destroyers and the light cruiser Tamandare (C 12, ex-USS St Louis, CL-49) underway heading northwards in formation, during the so-called Lobster war with France in 1961. The four destroyers are from bottom to top: Paraiba (D 28, ex-USS Bennett (DD-473); Para (D 27, ex-USS Guest, DD-472); Parana (D29, ex-USS Cushing (DD-797) and Pernambuco (D 30,ex-USS Hailey (DD-556). Brazilian Navy photo
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            Last edited by blidgepump; 17 Mar 17,, 04:03.

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            • USS Hailey - refueling ???

              The caption states "Undated, Hailey refueling from the USS ESSex (CV-9) with the USS Enterprise and USS Hornet in the distance."
              This is interpreted as the USS Essex was taking fuel at the same time from an unknown oiler, possibly the USS Platte AO-24... ??
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              • How a 600 psi system works ...

                https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6MnuIHWAWw

                A 101 lesson on a 600 psi steam system.
                I wish the Good Captain ( Desertwo) was alive to critique this video...
                Last edited by blidgepump; 22 Mar 17,, 05:03.

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                • Recommissioning photo ...

                  "Naval Base, Los Angeles, Terminal Island, August 17 1951, Vice Admiral J.L. Hall, Commander, Western Sea Frontier and Commander, Pacific Reserve Fleet, addressing audience and crews and Rear Admiral Burton C. Davis, Commander, Long Beach Groups, Pacific Reserve Fleet. during the re-commissioning of three Navy destroyers.

                  Nearest dock is the U.S.S. Owen, outboard of her U.S.S. Prichett and taken from gun turret of U.S.S. Cushing was the image.

                  Photo courtesy of the USC Libraries Special Collections Doheny Memorial Library, Los Angeles, CA."
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                  • Fitting out crew ....

                    This photo offers the viewer a chance to see the "fitting out crew" for DD-445.
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                    • A transfer ...

                      USS Guest in an alongside activity seen from USS Chenango, 13 April 1945.
                      This illustrates the scene of a transfer underway between the Guest & the Chenango.
                      One has to admire the skill of the helmsman on both ships .

                      79 of the 329 sailors on board this Fletcher class- DD were capture in this photo.
                      Must of been important?
                      Attached Files
                      Last edited by blidgepump; 09 Apr 17,, 03:52.

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                      • Break in the action ...

                        (Washington D.C.)

                        Just when you would think things were strange enough in Washington, I get a call this afternoon asking if I can be at the airport in the morning to fly to D.C. and meet with congressional staff. Seems the elected officials are on Easter break but a "special assignment" has been handed out for staff to work on... maybe I can get to the WNY for an hour or so and do a little more research for the Fletcher thread..... "between assignments" . No the POTUS did not place the call... before you ask.
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                        • Back from Washington ....

                          It's good to be back home from last weeks series of round -robin meetings in D.C.
                          The sad part is that there was no time to visit WNY. The silver lining is that I have a follow up meeting in New York at the end of April.
                          So perhaps a chance ??? to explore some of the Hudson River scene, if I can make the timeline fit. So stay tuned !!!!

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                          • WNY museum may close ????

                            Since the shooting at the WNY a couple of years back security has been extra secure.

                            I enjoyed the open campus style of the WNY similar to what Fort Leavenworth was before 9-11.
                            Sources indicate the relocation of the museum is eminent but as to what location information is very thin.
                            So while we await more news ...here is an Easter Monday photo illustrating the "typical watch" on the bridge of a Fletcher-Class DD.....
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                            • Dd-798 .....

                              As I've recited before .... one of the treats for me with the Fletcher thread is the path of discovery.

                              When I was in Washington last week I met a sailor who served on the USS MONSSEN, a Fletcher Class "Square Bridge" DD.
                              We shared a subway ride on the "Metro" and he wore a DD-798 ball cap. That was enough to kick the door open and ask leading questions.
                              He seemed tickled that someone knew something about the Fletchers and began opening up ... as much as you can on a subway in D.C.
                              As always the visit was too brief, but he provided just enough intrigued for me to begin reading up on the Monssen.

                              So this thread will get diverted for a few days as we explored DD-798.

                              Okay did you notice the anchors missing?
                              Attached Files
                              Last edited by blidgepump; 19 Apr 17,, 03:20.

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                              • Okay, I give in, What the Hell???

                                Click image for larger version

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                                A '16" hole' I get, but in what?
                                In the realm of spirit, seek clarity; in the material world, seek utility.

                                Leibniz

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