Fletcher-class (DD-445)
Summary
| Origin country | 🇺🇸 United States |
| Category | Destroyer |
| Subtype | ASM destroyer (World War II) |
| Manufacturer | Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Company, Bath Iron Works, Bethlehem Steel Corporation, Todd Pacific Shipyards |
| Year commissioned | 1942 |
| Current operators | 🇬🇷 Greece |
Description
USS Fletcher (DD/DDE-445) was the lead ship of the Fletcher-class destroyers in the United States Navy, named after Admiral Frank Friday Fletcher. It served during World War II, primarily in the Pacific theater, and was highly decorated with fifteen battle stars for its service in that war and an additional five battle stars for participation in the Korean War.
The destroyer originated from the Federal Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company in Kearny, New Jersey, with its keel laid down on October 2, 1941. The ship was launched on May 3, 1942, sponsored by Mrs. F. F. Fletcher, Admiral Fletcher's widow, and commissioned on June 30, 1942.
The design of the Fletcher-class included an array of weaponry. While specifics of Fletcher's armaments over her service life can vary, Fletcher-class ships typically carried torpedoes, anti-aircraft guns, and dual-purpose guns, making them formidable adversaries against aircraft, submarines, and surface ships.
During World War II, the Fletcher conducted a wide range of missions, including escort duty, patrol, shore bombardment, and rescue operations. It was involved in significant battles and operations such as the Guadalcanal Campaign, where it played a vital role in the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal and the Battle of Tassafaronga. Fletcher continued to provide essential services throughout the Solomons, participating in various landings and supporting troops with bombardments. It also conducted anti-submarine patrols and sank Japanese submarine I-18 in 1943.
In 1944, the Fletcher underwent brief overhaul and training before joining the attack on the Marshall Islands, providing crucial screening for troop transports and engaging in bombardment missions. It continued its service through the invasion of the Philippines, covering landings and providing anti-aircraft fire support. On February 14, 1945, while bombarding Japanese batteries at Los Cochinos Point, the Fletcher sustained a hit, resulting in casualties among her crew, but continued in action and engaged in rescue operations, demonstrating bravery and resilience.
Post-World War II, Fletcher was recommissioned as a specialist in antisubmarine warfare (ASW) after its conversion to an escort destroyer (DDE-445). During the Korean War, it screened carriers and conducted shore bombardment, maintaining active deployment in the western Pacific, participating in several operations, and enforcing peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.
The destroyer operated throughout the Asia-Pacific region with the U.S. 7th Fleet until 1962, taking part in various deployments and exercises, including the evacuation of the Tachen Islands and intensive antisubmarine training.
Fletcher's operational history came to an end when she was decommissioned and stricken from the Naval Vessel Register on August 1, 1969. The ship was later sold for scrap on February 22, 1972.
Among its numerous awards, Fletcher's honors included the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with fifteen battle stars and the Korean Service Medal with five battle stars, among others. It also received citations from the Philippines and Korea. Additionally, Fletcher's legacy crossed into popular culture, making appearances in the films "The Wackiest Ship in the Army" and "Down Periscope."
Technical specifications
| Fletcher | |
|---|---|
| Displacement | 2500 tons |
| Range | 12000 km at 15 knots |
| Crew | 273 members |
| Width | 12.09 m (39.7 ft) |
| Length | 114.73 m (376.4 ft) |
| Propulsion | 4 Babcock & Wilcox steam turbines with a power of 60,000 hp - 2 propellers |
| Armament | 5 127mm guns + 6 to 10 40mm Bofors guns + 7 to 10 20mm AA guns + 10 533mm TLT + 6 7.7mm Browning machine guns + 2 ASM launch rails |
| Maximum speed | 36 knots |