Destroyers - Fletcher Class

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Cradle .....

The cradle built allowing the Kidd's hull to rest during the Mississippi River's low stage provides several benefits...

Allows the tourist, ( like me ) to view the entire ship !
Provides a built in dry docking schedule 2X a year....

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Long lance torpedo .....

The New Georgia offensive, Circa 1943, had two task force each formed around four light cruisers and a squadron of new 2,100 DD's under the command of W.L. (Pug) Ainsworth and the other under A.S. (Tip) Merrill.

Over a two week period nightly operations resulted in battles at Kula Gulf & Kolombangara in which the IJN "Long Lance torpedo" cost Ainsworth another four cruisers, one sunk, three damaged. Ainsworth was embarrassed and wrote to ADM. Nimitz, "No one knows the fallacy of chasing *** torpedo boats with cruisers better than I".

The dissection of a beached "Long Lance" revealed how lethal these weapons were, thus outweighing the risk of putting CL's in jeopardy.
"To the delight of destroyer men, this meant that the Solomon campaign was about to become a pure DD fight." Dave Newcomb, US Destroyers 1934-45

Thus the Little Beavers and 31-Knot Burke begin to take the war to the IJN.

[Albany Rifles]

Thus the Little Beavers and 31-Knot Burke begin to take the war to the IJN.

One of the most badass groups to ever serve the US Navy!

[blidgepump]

Nifty ships....

Thus the Little Beavers and 31-Knot Burke begin to take the war to the IJN.

One of the most badass groups to ever serve the US Navy!

And the ships they commanded were kick a---, too!

[Albany Rifles]

And the ships they commanded were kick a---, too!

I may have been an Infantry Officer but I know you cannot separate a Sailor from his Ship!!!

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Embedded turth ....

I may have been an Infantry Officer but I know you cannot separate a Sailor from his Ship!!!

Yes sir that is the truth! Our modest veteran's memorial here in the Midwest draws sailors from across the nation to visit just the anchor and bell from their ship.

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Sailors and officers at Sea .....

From the Fletcher thread.... a Merry Christmas to all the Sailors and Officers at sea this holiday weekend.

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compare ---

The condition of two (2) different Superheaters on Fletcher class -DD's.

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Boiler comparison ...

Comparison of two (2) boilers in the fire room of The Sullivans ( unrestored ) and the Cassin Young (restored).
Care to attention and detail is evident ....

[blidgepump]

XO's cabin ....

Photo's of the Captain's cabin previously published on this thread illustrate the furnishings that come with the rank.
Not many photo's appear on the XO's furnishings. So to provide some real life examples enjoy the following pictures taking during the tour of the Cassin Young. The artifacts displayed are accurate down to the copyright dates of the books seen on the shelf and the charts on the desk. The XO's cabin even has a radio, too!

[Pacfanweb]

Comparison of two (2) boilers in the fire room of The Sullivans ( unrestored ) and the Cassin Young (restored).
Care to attention and detail is evident ....

Wow, looks like they could actually think about operating the Cassin Young's with a little work. The Sullivans...not so much.

[blidgepump]

Unrestored v Restored

Wow, looks like they could actually think about operating the Cassin Young's with a little work. The Sullivans...not so much.

I may of lead thread followers down the wrong path with the imagines comparing the two DD's.
The Sullivans does have a restored "Aft fire room".... that is maintained by a group of dedicated volunteers.

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Midship conning station.....

Fletcher DD's were completed with three (3) stations to steer the ship.

The bridge, amidships and emergency steering...

AS always I'd prefer the bridge, though the amidships station would provide the wind in your face opportunity...

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Sky Buddy receiver ....

A gift that an XO might be able to afford in his quarters is a Sky Buddy Radio built by Hallicrafters.
A multiband radio allowing listening pleasure to the broadcast while at port or maybe at sea.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJdo7S7nYzo

Demo video of a Sky Buddy

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Destroyer Tender.....

Discovered this interesting tidbit about the USS Prairie, a Destroyer Tender.
USS Prairie (AD–15) was a 16,500 ton Dixie-class destroyer tender built just before the start of World War II for the U.S. Navy.
The Dixie class was a popular class of tender usually anchored in sheltered locations to service DD squadrons.