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USS Fletcher (DD-445)


Destroyer Warship / Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) Platform [ 1942 ]



The large Fletcher-class of World War 2 was led by USS Fletcher DD-445 herself, operating in active service until 1969.



Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 04/16/2022 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site.

GO TO SPECIFICATIONS [+]
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Destroyer warships were originally drawn up as counters to the "Torpedo Boat" which directly threatened capital ships of the late-19th and early-20th centuries. Indeed the new type of warships were first known as "Torpedo Boat Destroyers" before the group came to be known simply as "Destroyers". Through a period of naval evolution, their design graduated to become one based on speed, maneuverability and range - making them capable of operating independently of the main fighting force or alongside it.

During World War 2 (1939-1945), the Fletcher-class formed the bulk of the muscle making up the USN destroyer force in the Pacific Theater. Again these ships were designed with speed, good inherent endurance and maximum firepower for their displacement and all these qualities were needed when going toe-to-toe against the formidable Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN). The class was led by none other than USS Fletcher (DD-445) herself and the new class followed the Benson-class which served to evolve American "small" shipbuilding some.

Even before the Benson-class had wrapped up its program, the design already showcased limitations as it related to destroyer operations in the deep waters of the Pacific and this led to the design of an improved form which became the succeeding Fletcher group. In all there would be 175 vessels completed in the class and, beyond its service with the USN during World War 2, the group would be operated in foreign hands in the period following. The last examples were not retired until 2001 and these with the Mexican Navy.

USS Fletcher was constructed by Federal Shipbuilding (founded 1917) of Kearny, New Jersey and saw her keel laid down on October 2nd, 1941. She was officially launched to sea on May 3rd, 1942. By this time, the United States was at war with Japan and Germany following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor (Hawaii) on December 7th, 1941. The warship was formally commissioned on June 30th, 1942.

In profile the warship exhibited a twin, inline smoke funnel arrangement found near midships. The bridge superstructure was held forward of this and aft of a pair of turreted gun systems. Nearer the stern lay the secondary superstructure and another three turrets to help provide for a strong broadside attack. As completed, USS Fletcher was given a displacement of 2,100 tons (standard) and a running length of 365.5 feet, a beam of 39.7 feet and a draught of 13.9 feet. Power was from geared steam turbines producing 60,000 horsepower to 2 x shafts. Speeds reached 36 knots in ideal conditions and range was out to 6,500 nautical miles. A crew of 273 were carried.©MilitaryFactory.com
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Armament centered on 5 x 5" (130m) /38 caliber Dual-Purpose (DP) main guns seated in five single-gunned turrets, two forward and three aft of midships. Air defense was handled through 2 x 40mm Bofors Anti-Aircraft (AA) guns as well as 6 x 20mm Oerlikon AA systems. To this was added 10 x 21" (530mm) torpedo tubes, 6 x K-guns and 2 x Depth Charge racks - the latter critical to sub-hunting sorties.

In service for 1942, Fletcher arrived at New Caledonia off the eastern Australian coast during November and was placed immediately into active patrolling and escort duties particularly as the Allies pushed ahead with the Guadalcanal Campaign (August 1942 - February 1943). From there her career saw her participate in many of the major and minor actions of the war including the retaining of the Solomons and the Philippines. She was able to used her gun, close-in and torpedo armament to good effect and claimed several warships, aircraft and submarines fielded by the enemy.

She ended her World War 2 tenure along the American West Coast while on a scheduled overhaul and then placed in Commission-in-Reserve for August 1946. She was officially placed Out-of-Commission in January of the following year. In 1949 she was recommissioned to begin service as an Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) platform and underwent the necessary modifications for the role: the RUR-4 Weapon Alpha rocket launcher replaced the original torpedo tube fit, three of her five twin-gunned main turrets were removed and 4 x 3" guns replaced the original Bofors/Oerlikons. Because of her revised role, her design type was changed from DD-445 to "DDE-445". She joined the 7th Fleet in Pacific Waters in May of 1950.

Tensions on the Korean Peninsula then exploded into Total War to begin the years-long Korean War (1950-1953) of which Fletcher became a veteran of. She arrived in the region in early July 1950 and was part of the force present at the Battle of Inchon (September 10-19, 1950). Her final Southeast Asian tour stop was in November 1953 and from 1954 until 1962 she joined the 7th Fleet wand continued to train crews in the fine art of ASW. She was decommissioned for the last time on October 1st, 1969 and her name was struck from the Naval Register. The stripped hulk of USS Fletcher was sold off in February of 1972.

In all, USS Fletcher was - in a career spanning two major wars - was awarded twenty Battle Stars for service in World War 2 (15) and the Korean Conflict (5). This wartime record alone was not enough to save the storied warship from the scrap heap.©MilitaryFactory.com
Note: The above text is EXCLUSIVE to the site www.MilitaryFactory.com. It is the product of many hours of research and work made possible with the help of contributors, veterans, insiders, and topic specialists. If you happen upon this text anywhere else on the internet or in print, please let us know at MilitaryFactory AT gmail DOT com so that we may take appropriate action against the offender / offending site and continue to protect this original work.
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Specifications



Service Year
1942

Origin
United States national flag graphic
United States

Status
DECOMMISSIONED
Destroyed, Scrapped.
Complement
273
PERSONNEL


Class
Fletcher-class
Number-in-Class
175
VESSELS
Ships-in-Class


USS Fletcher (DD-445); USS Radford (DD-446); USS Jenkins (DD-447); USS La Vallette (DD-448); USS Nicholas (DD-449); USS O'Bannon (DD-450); USS Chevalier (DD-451); USS Saufley (DD-465); USS Waller (DD-466); USS Strong (DD-467); USS Taylor (DD-468); USS De Haven (DD-469); USS Bache (DD-470); USS Beale (DD-471); USS Guest (DD-472); USS Bennett (DD-473); USS Fullam (DD-474); USS Hudson (DD-475); USS Hutchins (DD-476); USS Pringle (DD-477); USS Stanly (DD-478); USS Stevens (DD-479); Halford (DD-480); USS Leutze (DD-481); USS Watson (); USS Philip (); Renshaw (); Ringgold (); Schroeder (); USS Sigsbee (); USS Conway (); USS Cony (); USS Converse (); USS Eaton (); USS Foote (); Spence (); Terry (); Thatcher (); Anthony (); Wadsworth (); Walker (); Brownson (); Daly (); Isherwood (); Kimberly (); Luce (); Abner (); Read (); Ammen (); Mullany (); Bush (); Trathen (); Hazelwood (); Heermann (); Hoel McCord Miller Owen The Sullivans Stephen Potter (); Tingey (); Twining (); Yarnall (); Boyd (); Bradford (); Brown (); Cowell (); Capps (); David W. Taylor (); Evans (); John D. Henley (); Franks (); Haggard (); Hailey (); Johnston (); Laws (); Longshaw (); Morrison (); Prichett (); Robinson (); Ross (); Rowe (); Smalley (); Stoddard (); Watts (); Wren (); Aulick (); Charles Ausburne (); Claxton (); Dyson (); Harrison (); John Rodgers (); McKee (); Murray (); Sproston (); Wickes (); William D. Porter (); Young (); Charrette (); Conner (); Hall (); Halligan (); Haraden (); Newcomb (); Bell (); Burns (); Izard (); Paul Hamilton (); Twiggs (); Howorth (); Killen (); Hart (); Metcalf (); Shields (); Wiley (); Abbot (); Braine (); Erben (); Hale (); Sigourney (); Stembel (); Albert W. Grant (); Caperton (); Cogswell (); Ingersoll (); Knapp (); Bearss (); John Hood (); Van Valkenburgh (); Charles J. Badger (); Colahan (); Dashiell (); Bullard (); Kidd (); Bennion (); Heywood L. Edwards (); Richard P. Leary (); Bryant (); Black (); Chauncey (); Clarence K. Bronson (); Cotten (); Dortch (); Gatling (); Healy (); Hickox (); Hunt (); Lewis (); Hancock (); Marshall (); McDermut (); McGowan (); McNair (); Melvin (); Hopewell (); Porterfield (); Stockham (); Wedderburn (); Picking (); Halsey (); Powell (); Uhlmann (); Remey (); Wadleigh (); Norman Scott (); Mertz (); Callaghan (); Cassin Young (); Irwin (); Preston (); Benham (); Cushing (); Monssen (); Jarvis (); Porter (); Colhoun (); Gregory (); Little (); Rooks ()


National flag of the United States United States
(OPERATORS list includes past, present, and future operators when applicable)
Amphibious Assault
A shallow draught, and other qualities, give this vessel the ability to support amphibious assault operations close-to-shore.
Offshore Bombardment
Offshore bombardment / attack of surface targets / areas primarily through onboard ballistic weaponry.
Offshore Operation
Activities conducted near shorelines in support of allied activities.
Land-Attack
Offshore strike of surface targets primarily through onboard missile / rocket weaponry.
Maritime Patrol
Active patroling of vital waterways and maritime areas; can also serve as local deterrence against airborne and seaborne threats.
Airspace Denial / Deterrence
Neutralization or deterrence of airborne elements through onboard ballistic of missile weaponry.
Fleet Support
Serving in support (either firepower or material) of the main surface fleet in Blue Water environments.


Length
376.2 ft
114.67 m
Beam
39.7 ft
12.10 m
Draught
13.0 ft
3.96 m
Displacement
2,100
tons


Installed Power: 2 x Geared steam turbines developing 60,000 horsepower to 2 x shafts.
Surface Speed
36.0 kts
(41.4 mph)
Range
6,517 nm
(7,500 mi | 12,070 km)


kts = knots | mph = miles-per-hour | nm = nautical miles | mi = miles | km = kilometers

1 kts = 1.15 mph | 1 nm = 1.15 mi | 1 nm = 1.85 km
DD-445:
5 x 5" (127mm) /38 caliber Dual-Purpose (DP) main guns.
4 x 40mm Bofors Anti-Aircraft (AA) guns
6 x 20mm Oerlikon AA guns
10 x 21" (533mm) Torpedo Tubes
2 x Depth Charge Racks

DDE-445:
2 x 5" (127mm) /38 caliber main guns
4 x 3" (76.2mm) /50 caliber guns
1 x RUR-4 Weapon Alpha rocket launcher
2 x Depth Charge Racks


Supported Types


Graphical image of a modern warship turreted deck gun armament
Graphical image of a historical warship turreted main gun armament
Graphical image of an aircraft automatic cannon
Graphical image of aircraft aerial rockets
Graphical image of an aircraft aerial torpedo
Graphical image of a naval depth charge


(Not all weapon types may be represented in the showcase above)
None.


Military lapel ribbon for the Cold War period
Military lapel ribbon for early warship designs
Military lapel ribbon for the Falklands War
Military lapel ribbon for the 1991 Gulf War
Military lapel ribbon for the Korean War
Military lapel ribbon representing modern aircraft
Military lapel ribbon for the Attack on Pearl Harbor
Military lapel ribbon for the Russian Invasion of Ukraine
Military lapel ribbon for the Vietnam War
Military lapel ribbon for the World War 1
Military lapel ribbon for the World War 2


Ribbon graphics not necessarily indicative of actual historical campaign ribbons. Ribbons are clickable to their respective naval campaigns / operations / periods.

Images Gallery



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Image of the USS Fletcher (DD-445)
Image courtesy of the United States Navy image archives.


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