USS Kidd (DD-661) facts for kids
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USS Kidd underway, 1951
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Quick facts for kids History |
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 United States |
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| Name | Kidd |
| Namesake | Isaac C. Kidd |
| Builder | Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Company |
| Laid down | 16 October 1942 |
| Launched | 28 February 1943 |
| Sponsored by | Mrs. Isaac C. Kidd |
| Commissioned | 23 April 1943 |
| Decommissioned | 10 December 1946 |
| Recommissioned | 28 March 1951 |
| Decommissioned | 19 June 1964 |
| Stricken | 1 December 1974 |
| Identification |
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| Nickname(s) | Pirate of the Atlantic & Pacific |
| Honors and awards |
See Awards |
| Status | Museum ship in Baton Rouge, Louisiana |
| Badge | _insignia,_in_the_1960s_(NH_64750-KN).png) |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Fletcher-class destroyer |
| Displacement | 2,050 tons |
| Length | 376 ft (115 m) |
| Beam | 39 ft 8 in (12.09 m) |
| Draft | 17 ft 9 in (5.41 m) |
| Propulsion |
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| Speed | 35 knots (65 km/h; 40 mph) |
| Range | 6,500 nmi (12,000 km; 7,500 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph) |
| Complement | 329 |
| Armament |
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USS Kidd (DD-661)
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_in_Baton_Rouge,_Louisiana_(USA),_on_26_February_2015.jpg)
Kidd serves as part of the Louisiana Veterans Memorial.
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 Location in Baton Rouge Downtown
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| Location | 305 South River Road, Baton Rouge, Louisiana |
| Built | 1943 |
| Architect | US Navy |
| NRHP reference No. | 83000502 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | 9 August 1983 |
| Designated NHL | 14 January 1986 |
The USS Kidd (DD-661) is a famous Fletcher-class destroyer from the United States Navy. It was named after Rear Admiral Isaac C. Kidd. Admiral Kidd was the first American admiral to die in battle during World War II. He was killed during the 1941 Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.
Today, the USS Kidd is a museum ship in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. It is special because it is the only surviving US destroyer that still looks like it did during World War II. It is also one of only four Fletcher-class destroyers left in the world.
Contents
World War II Service
The Kidd (DD-661) was built by Federal Shipbuilding & Drydock Co. in Kearny, New Jersey. It was launched on February 28, 1943. Mrs. Isaac C. Kidd, the admiral's widow, was the ship's sponsor. The destroyer officially joined the Navy on April 23, 1943.
During its first trip, the Kidd sailed with a Jolly Roger flag flying. This is a pirate flag! The crew even adopted the famous pirate William Kidd as their mascot. They had an artist paint a pirate on the front smokestack.
After training, the Kidd escorted larger ships in the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea. In August 1943, it headed to the Pacific Ocean. It arrived at Pearl Harbor on September 17, 1943.
The Kidd then helped escort aircraft carriers. These carriers launched air attacks on Japanese bases at Wake Island in October 1943.
Battles in the Pacific
In mid-October, the Kidd joined a group of ships to attack Rabaul. This was to support the Bougainville campaign. On November 11, 1943, the ship rescued the crew of a downed aircraft. While doing this, Japanese planes attacked the Kidd. The destroyer shot down three enemy planes. It also dodged torpedoes and bombs. Its commanding officer, Cmdr. Roby, received an award for his bravery.
The Kidd next protected carriers during the Gilbert Islands invasion. This happened from November 19 to 23. On November 24, it spotted 15 enemy bombers flying low. The Kidd warned other ships and shot down two "Val" dive bombers. After these battles, the Kidd returned to Pearl Harbor.
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In 1944, the Kidd helped with several invasions. It guarded an airstrip on Emirau Island. It also supported landings in New Guinea and fought in the Marianas campaign. The ship also fired its guns at targets on Guam to help ground troops.
After needing repairs, the Kidd sailed back to Pearl Harbor. It then joined a large fleet for the Philippines invasion. The ship entered Leyte Gulf on October 20. It helped protect the first landings and supported soldiers fighting to take back the island.
Battle of Okinawa
The Kidd sailed on February 19, 1945, to join the invasion of Okinawa. This was a very important battle. The Kidd played a big role. It protected battleships, fired at targets on shore, and rescued pilots. It also helped shoot down kamikaze planes. Kamikazes were Japanese planes that tried to crash into Allied ships.
On April 11, 1945, a single enemy plane crashed into the Kidd. This attack killed 38 sailors and wounded 55. As the damaged destroyer moved away, its guns drove off more enemy planes. The Kidd went to Ulithi for temporary repairs. Then, it sailed to the West Coast for more serious repairs.
On August 1, 1945, the Kidd sailed to Pearl Harbor. It returned to San Diego in September 1945 to be taken out of service. The ship was officially decommissioned (taken out of active duty) on December 10, 1946. It then became part of the reserve fleet.
Korean War Service
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When the Korean War began, the United States brought some of its reserve ships back into service. The Kidd was one of these ships. It was recommissioned on March 28, 1951. The destroyer sailed to Japan and then joined a task force off the Korean coast.
From October 1951 to January 1952, the Kidd fired its guns at targets along the East Coast of Korea. It then returned to San Diego.
The Kidd went back to Korea on September 8, 1952. It continued to patrol and bombard targets off North Korea. The ship stayed there during the peace talks. It left the Far East on March 3, 1953, and arrived in San Diego for maintenance.
Cold War Service
After the Korean War, the Kidd served during the Cold War. From 1953 to 1959, it patrolled the Western Pacific. Its job was to look for Soviet submarines. It made stops in Japan, Okinawa, Hong Kong, and the Philippines.
In 1960, the Kidd moved to the East Coast of the United States. It was used for Naval Reserve training cruises. In 1961, it joined active fleet operations during the Berlin Crisis. In December 1961, the Kidd patrolled near the Dominican Republic. This was to show American presence in the Caribbean.
The Kidd was assigned to the Naval Destroyer School in Newport, Rhode Island, in 1962. It continued training exercises. The ship was decommissioned again on June 19, 1964. It then joined the Atlantic Reserve Fleet.
Preservation as a Museum
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The Navy decided to save three Fletcher-class ships as memorials. The Kidd was chosen to be a memorial for Louisiana's World War II veterans. The other two are the The Sullivans in Buffalo, New York, and the Cassin Young in Boston, Massachusetts. There is also a fourth Fletcher-class museum ship in Greece.
The Kidd was towed to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, arriving on May 23, 1982. It became a museum ship. It is open to the public and even hosts overnight camps for youth groups. The Kidd is special because it was never updated after World War II. It still looks exactly like it did in August 1945.
The Kidd has a unique way of staying in the Mississippi River. The river's depth changes a lot each year. For half the year, the ship floats. For the other half, it rests on special blocks. This means you can see its entire hull when the water is low.
Because it rests on blocks for long periods, the Kidd's hull can be affected by nearby river traffic. In April 2024, the Kidd began a journey to a shipyard in Houma, Louisiana. This is for its first major repair project since it arrived in Baton Rouge. The work will help preserve its hull and upper parts.
Awards and Recognition
In 1986, the Kidd was named a National Historic Landmark. This means it is a very important historical site. It was recognized as the best-preserved World War II destroyer of its kind.
- Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with eight battle stars
- World War II Victory Medal
- China Service Medal
- National Defense Service Medal with service star
- Korean Service Medal with four battle stars
- Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
- Philippine Presidential Unit Citation
- Korean Presidential Unit Citation
- Philippine Liberation Medal
- United Nations Korea Medal
- Korean War Service Medal (South Korea)
Greyhound Movie Appearance
In 2018, the Kidd was used in the movie Greyhound. It played the role of a fictional destroyer called USS Keeling (codenamed Greyhound). This movie was based on the novel The Good Shepherd. In 2022, the Kidd also appeared in the Disney+ series National Treasure: Edge of History.
Images for kids
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USS Kidd seen from the observation tower of the Louisiana Veterans Museum.
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Port side of USS Kidd.
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Port side of USS Kidd on dry land.
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Stern of USS Kidd on dry land.
See also
