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
Struck:	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
Status:	Broken up for scrap
General characteristics
Class and type:	Fletcher-class destroyer
Displacement:	2,100 long tons (2,100 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 kn (41 mph; 67 km/h)
Range:	6,500 nmi (12,000 km) at 15 kn (17 mph; 28 km/h)
Complement:	273 officers and enlisted
Armament:	5 × single 5 in (130 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 in (530 mm) torpedo tubes, 6 x K-guns, 2 x depth charge racks
General characteristics
Armament:	2 x 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, with Lieutenant Commander William M. Cole in command.

Fletcher arrived at Nouméa, New Caledonia on 5 October 1942 from the east coast, and at once began escort and patrol duty in the Guadalcanal operation, bombarding Lunga Point on 30 October. Sailing from Espiritu Santo 9 November to cover the landing of reinforcements on the embattled island, she joined in driving off a heavy enemy air attack on the transports 12 November, splashing several enemy aircraft. This was the opening phase of the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, a 3-day air and surface action. Fletcher played an important part in the surface action off Guadalcanal 13 November, firing guns and torpedoes in the general melee which sank two Japanese destroyers and damaged the fast battleship Hiei, later sent to the bottom by carrier and Marine aircraft.