USS Fletcher (DD-445)

Fletcher underway in the 1960s
History
United States
Name	Fletcher
Namesake	Admiral Frank F. Fletcher
Builder	Federal Shipbuilding, Kearny, New Jersey
Laid down	2 October 1941
Launched	3 May 1942
Commissioned	30 June 1942
Decommissioned	15 January 1947
Reclassified	DDE-445 on 26 March 1949
Recommissioned	3 October 1949
Decommissioned	1 October 1969
Reclassified	DD-445 on 30 June 1962
Stricken	1 October 1969
Identification	Hull symbol:DD-445 Hull symbol:DDE-445 Code letters:NEBG
Honors and awards	15 × battle stars WWII 5 × battle stars Korean War
Fate	Sold 22 February 1972 and scrapped
General characteristics
Class and type	Fletcher-class destroyer
Displacement	2,100 long tons (2,134 t) (standard) 2,924 long tons (2,971 t) (max)
Length	376 ft 5 in (114.73 m) oa
Beam	39 ft 08 in (12.09 m)
Draft	13 ft 9 in (4.19 m) (max)
Installed power	60,000 shp (45,000 kW)
Propulsion	geared turbines 2 × screws
Speed	36 knots (67 km/h; 41 mph)
Range	6,500 nmi (12,000 km) at 15 kn (17 mph; 28 km/h)
Complement	273 officers and enlisted
Armament	5 × single (127 mm)/38 caliber Dual-purpose guns 2 × 40 mm (1.6 in) Bofors anti-aircraft guns 6 × 20 mm (0.79 in) Oerlikon anti-aircraft cannons 10 × 21-inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes, 6 x K-guns, 2 x depth charge racks
General characteristics
Armament	2 × 5 in/38 caliber 2 x twin 3 in/50 caliber 1 x Weapon Alpha 2 x depth charge racks

USS Fletcher (DD/DDE-445), named for Admiral Frank Friday Fletcher, was the lead Fletcher-class destroyer, and served in the Pacific during World War II. She received fifteen battle stars for World War II service, and five for Korean War service.

Fletcher was laid down by the Federal Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company, Kearny, New Jersey, on 2 October 1941. She was launched on 3 May 1942; sponsored by Mrs. F. F. Fletcher, widow of Admiral Fletcher; and commissioned on 30 June 1942.^[1]