USS Cassin Young facts for kids

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USS *Cassin Young* (DD-793)
History
USS Cassin Young underway on 14 January 1958
United States
Name	Cassin Young
Namesake	Cassin Young
Builder	Bethlehem Shipbuilding
Laid down	18 March 1943
Launched	12 September 1943
Sponsored by	Mrs. Eleanor Young
Commissioned	31 December 1943
Decommissioned	28 May 1946
Recommissioned	8 September 1951
Decommissioned	29 April 1960
Stricken	1 December 1974
Identification	Callsign: NTTH Hull number: DD-793
Honours and awards	See Awards
Status	Museum ship at the former Boston Navy Yard in Boston, Massachusetts.
Badge
General characteristics
Class and type	Fletcher-class destroyer
Displacement	2,050 tons
Length	376.4 ft (114.7 m)
Beam	39.6 ft (12.1 m)
Draft	13.8 ft (4.2 m)
Propulsion	4 oil-fired boilers, 2 geared steam turbines, 2 shafts, 60,000 shp (45,000 kW)
Speed	36.5 knots (67.6 km/h; 42.0 mph)
Range	6,500 nmi (12,000 km; 7,500 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph)
Complement	325
Armament	(as built) 5 × 5 in (127 mm)/38 caliber guns 5 × twin 40 mm AA guns 7 × 20 mm AA guns 2 × quintuple 21 inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes 6 × K-gun depth charge throwers, 2 × depth charge tracks (as preserved) 5 × 5 in (127 mm)/38 caliber guns, 2 × quad 40 mm AA guns 1 × twin 40 mm AA guns 1 × 20 mm AA gun 1 × quintuple 21 in (533 mm) torpedo tubes 2 × torpedo carriages for the Mark 32 torpedo, 2 × Hedgehog ASW mortar, 1 × depth charge track

Boston National Historical Park
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. National Historic Landmark


Location in Massachusetts
Location	Charlestown Navy Yard, Boston, Massachusetts
Built	1943
Architect	Bethlehem Steel Corp.
NRHP reference No.	86000084
Added to NRHP	14 January 1986

The USS Cassin Young (DD-793) is a famous destroyer ship from the United States Navy. It's named after Captain Cassin Young, a brave hero who received the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Sadly, he was killed in battle in 1942.

This ship, a Fletcher-class destroyer, was built by Bethlehem Shipbuilding and officially joined the Navy on December 31, 1943. She played a big part in World War II, including major battles like Leyte Gulf and Okinawa.

After the war, the Cassin Young was taken out of service for a while. But she was called back to duty during the Korean War and served until 1960. Today, she is a special memorial ship in Boston, Massachusetts. You can visit her at the Boston Navy Yard, right across from the historic USS Constitution.

In 1986, the Cassin Young was named a National Historic Landmark. She is one of only four Fletcher-class destroyers still floating today! You can visit the USS Cassin Young for free during certain times of the year at the Boston National Historical Park.

Adventures of the USS Cassin Young
Awards and Honors
Gallery
See also

Adventures of the USS Cassin Young

Early Days and Training (1944)

The Cassin Young arrived at Pearl Harbor in March 1944 to finish her training. Soon after, she joined a huge group of ships called the Fast Carrier Task Force. This powerful group launched air attacks on Japanese bases in places like Truk and Ponape. During these missions, the Cassin Young acted as a picket ship. Her job was to warn the other ships if enemy planes were coming.

She then helped protect escort carriers during the invasion of Saipan in June. Besides warning about enemies, she also fired her guns to support troops on land. She continued these important duties, helping with the invasions of Tinian and Guam until August.

The Cassin Young sailing in 1944

From August to October 1944, the Cassin Young protected carriers as they launched attacks on targets in the Philippines. These attacks were in preparation for a big assault there. On October 14, a Japanese kamikaze plane hit another ship, the cruiser Reno. Five of the Cassin Young's crew members were hurt by machine gun fire during this attack. The Cassin Young helped shoot down several enemy planes.

In October 1944, the ship's group prepared for the Battle of Leyte. On October 24, a Japanese bomb hit the aircraft carrier Princeton. The Cassin Young then joined other ships to attack the Japanese Northern Force. This led to the Battle off Cape Engaño on October 25, where four Japanese carriers were sunk.

World War II Battles (1945)

The Cassin Young kept helping with the fight for Leyte. Her carriers attacked enemy bases in Okinawa, Formosa, and Luzon. In January 1945, she protected carriers during the South China Sea raid. Their planes hit targets in many areas to support the attack on Luzon. After a quick repair, she helped with the Battle of Iwo Jima. She screened ships and helped during the first attack on February 19.

The Battle of Okinawa

The Cassin Young then joined Task Force 54 for the Battle of Okinawa. She sailed from Ulithi on March 22, 1945. First, she protected large ships during a huge bombing before the invasion. Then, she moved closer to shore to help underwater demolition teams prepare the beaches.

On April 1, the invasion day, the destroyer provided fire support for the landing troops. After that, she took on radar picket duty. This meant she would patrol far out to warn of incoming enemy planes. During this battle, the Japanese used many kamikaze attacks. On April 6, the Cassin Young saw her first kamikaze action. She rescued survivors from two nearby destroyers that were sunk.

Kamikaze Attack on April 12

On April 12, a huge wave of kamikazes attacked. The Cassin Young shot down five planes with her guns. But a sixth plane crashed into her front mast, exploding about 50 feet from the ship. Amazingly, only one sailor, Robert Dean Moore, was killed. 58 others were wounded. Even though she was damaged, the Cassin Young made it to Kerama Retto on her own power. After repairs, she returned to Okinawa on May 31 and went back to radar picket duty.

Kamikaze Attack on July 29

The kamikaze attacks continued. On July 28, the Cassin Young's group was attacked again. One destroyer was sunk, and another was badly damaged. The Cassin Young helped shoot down two enemy planes and rescued survivors. The very next day, she was hit for a second time. A low-flying plane struck her right side, hitting her fire control room. There was a huge explosion and a fire. But the crew quickly got the flames under control and got one engine working. Within 20 minutes, the ship was moving towards safety. Twenty-two men were killed, and 45 were wounded. For her brave service during the Okinawa battles, she received the Navy Unit Commendation.

Heading Home and Retirement (1946)

The Cassin Young left Okinawa on August 8 and headed home for repairs. She arrived in San Pedro, California, where she was fully repaired. On May 28, 1946, she was taken out of service and placed in reserve in San Diego.

Back in Action (1951–1960)

The Cassin Young was brought back into service on September 8, 1951. She moved to her new home port in Newport, Rhode Island in January 1952. In September 1952, she went into Dry Dock #1 at the Boston Navy Yard for major repairs and updates. Her weapons were changed, and new radar and electronics were added.

She then took part in training exercises in the Caribbean and off Florida. From September to November 1953, she served with the 6th Fleet in the Mediterranean Sea. In May 1954, she began a trip around the world! This included exercises with the 7th Fleet in the Pacific, patrols off Korea, and visits to many ports. She returned to Newport in November 1954.

Until 1960, she continued training and serving in the Mediterranean. In 1958, she visited ports in northern Europe. During this trip, a problem with her rudder was found. The cost to fix it was too high for an older ship. So, on February 6, 1960, she arrived at Norfolk Naval Shipyard to be taken out of service again. The ship was stored in Philadelphia on April 29, 1960.

Cassin Young arriving in Boston, 1978

A Museum Ship Today (1974–Present)

On December 1, 1974, the Cassin Young was officially removed from the Navy's list of active ships. The U.S. Navy then loaned her to the National Park Service. She was to be kept as a floating memorial ship at the Boston Navy Yard, which is part of the Boston National Historical Park.

She arrived in Boston on June 15, 1978, and opened to the public in 1981. The National Park Service and volunteers help maintain and operate the ship. In 1986, she was listed on the National Register of Historic Places and named a National Historic Landmark. She is a great example of the Fletcher-class destroyer, which was the most common type of destroyer built by the U.S. during World War II.

In July 2010, the Cassin Young closed to the public to go into dry dock for repairs to her hull. She returned to her spot at Pier 1 in May 2013. She moved again briefly for more repairs to her berth, but by September 2013, she was back at her museum home.

Three other Fletcher-class ships are also preserved as memorials: