USS Radford (DD-446) facts for kids
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USS Radford (DD-446)
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Quick facts for kids History |
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 United States |
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| Name | Radford |
| Namesake | Rear Admiral William Radford |
| Builder | Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Company |
| Laid down | 2 October 1941 |
| Launched | 3 May 1942 |
| Commissioned | 22 July 1942 |
| Decommissioned | 17 January 1946 |
| Recommissioned | 17 October 1949 |
| Decommissioned | 10 November 1969 |
| Stricken | 10 November 1969 |
| Motto | HUK King |
| Fate | sold October 1970 for scrap |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Fletcher-class destroyer |
| Displacement | 2,050 tons |
| Length | 376 ft 5 in (114.73 m) |
| Beam | 39 ft 7 in (12.07 m) |
| Draft | 17 ft 9 in (5.41 m) |
| Propulsion |
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| Speed | 38 knots (70 km/h; 44 mph) |
| Range | 6,500 nmi (12,000 km; 7,500 mi) at 15 kn (28 km/h; 17 mph) |
| Complement | 329 officers and enlisted |
| Armament |
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The USS Radford (DD-446) was a powerful destroyer ship in the United States Navy. It was named after Rear Admiral William Radford. This ship was part of the Fletcher-class destroyer class, known for being very strong and useful during wartime.
The Radford first started service in 1942 during World War II. It also played a role in the Korean War and the Vietnam War. After many years of service, the ship was taken out of service in 1969. It was then sold for scrap in 1970.
Contents
Building and Early Missions
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The Radford was built by the Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Company. This company was located in Kearny, New Jersey. The ship's construction began on October 2, 1941. It was officially launched on May 3, 1942. Edith Matthes, who was Radford's granddaughter, launched the ship. The Radford was then officially ready for duty on July 22, 1942.
World War II Service
The Radford took part in several important battles during World War II. These included the Battle of Kula Gulf and the Battle of Kolombangara in July 1943. The ship was very active in fighting against Japanese forces.
One of its most famous missions was rescuing 468 survivors. These were sailors from the cruiser USS Helena. The Helena had been sunk during the Battle of Kula Gulf. For this brave rescue, the Radford received a special award called the Presidential Unit Citation.
Later, on November 25, 1943, the Radford found and sank the Japanese submarine I-19. This was a big achievement because the I-19 had previously sunk two other US Navy ships.
In December 1944, the Radford was helping to free Luzon in the Philippines. During this time, it was damaged by a Japanese mine. Even with the damage, the ship continued its important work. The Philippine government also gave the Radford a Presidential Unit Citation for its efforts. After the war, the ship was taken out of service on January 17, 1946. It was then kept in reserve in San Francisco.
Korean and Vietnam Wars
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The Radford was brought back into service on October 17, 1949. It then joined the United States Seventh Fleet. This fleet supported United Nations forces during the Korean War. After the fighting stopped in 1953, the Radford spent its time operating along the US west coast. It also made yearly trips to the western Pacific Ocean with the Seventh Fleet.
In 1960, the Radford went through a major upgrade. This was called the Fleet Rehabilitation and Modernization (FRAM II) overhaul. It happened at the Pearl Harbor Navy Yard.
In March 1965, the Radford was sent to the South China Sea. It helped other destroyers with naval duties that were growing quickly. From 1965 to 1969, the Radford was active in the Vietnam War. It took part in operations like "Sea Dragon" and "Market Time." It also helped with search and rescue missions. The ship provided naval gunfire support (NGFS) by firing its guns at targets on land.
In July 1966, the Radford began another tour in the western Pacific. During this time, it hunted for enemy submarines. It also protected aircraft carriers in the Gulf of Tonkin. The ship had two turns doing NGFS missions. It also patrolled near Taiwan. The Radford acted as a forward lookout for other ships in the South China Sea. It even escorted support units for President Lyndon B. Johnson during his trip to Southeast Asia. The ship returned to Pearl Harbor in December 1966.
Final Years and Retirement
The Radford was taken out of service for the last time in San Francisco. This happened just a few months after its 1969 tour in the western Pacific. It was removed from the Naval Vessel Register on November 10, 1969. The ship was sold to be scrapped in October 1970.
Interestingly, the Radford had one last adventure. While being towed from Vallejo, California, to a scrap yard in Portland, Oregon, it broke free from its tug. The ship led its tug on a 34-mile chase towards the Oregon coast. This chase lasted all day before the Radford was finally caught.
Awards and Recognition
The USS Radford received many awards for its service.
- It earned twelve battle stars for its actions in World War II.
- It also received two Presidential Unit Citations for World War II.
- For the Korean War, it earned five battle stars.
- For the Vietnam War, it received four battle stars.
- The ship was also given the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal.
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There used to be a museum dedicated to the USS Radford. It was called the USS Radford National Naval Museum. This museum was located in Newcomerstown, Ohio. It had many items related to the ship. These included photos, uniforms, and displays about the Radford and its history.
The museum closed in 2011. Its collection was then moved to the USS Orleck Naval Museum. This museum is in Lake Charles, Louisiana.
This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.
See also
In Spanish: USS Radford (DD-446) para niños
