USS The Sullivans (DD-537) facts for kids
The Sullivans 29 October 1962
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Quick facts for kids History |
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| Name | The Sullivans |
| Namesake | The Sullivan Brothers |
| Builder | Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation at San Francisco |
| Laid down | 10 October 1942 |
| Launched | 4 April 1943 |
| Sponsored by | Mrs. Thomas F. Sullivan |
| Commissioned | 30 September 1943 |
| Decommissioned | 7 January 1965 |
| Stricken | 1 December 1974 |
| Motto | "We Stick Together" |
| Honors and awards |
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| Status | Museum ship |
| Badge | .png) |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Fletcher-class destroyer |
| Displacement | 2,050 long tons (2,080 t) |
| Length | 376 ft 6 in (114.76 m) |
| Beam | 39 ft 8 in (12.09 m) |
| Draft | 17 ft 9 in (5.41 m) |
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| 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 kilometres (9.3 mi) |
| Complement | 336 |
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The Sullivans
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 Location in New York
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| Location | Buffalo and Erie County Naval & Military Park, Buffalo, New York |
| NRHP reference No. | 86000085 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | 14 January 1986 |
| Designated NHL | 14 January 1986 |
The USS The Sullivans (DD-537) was a United States Navy destroyer. This ship was named to honor five brothers from the Sullivan family (George, Francis, Joseph, Madison, and Albert). They all tragically lost their lives when their ship, the USS Juneau, sank during the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal in 1942. This was the largest loss for one American family during World War II. The Sullivans was also the first U.S. Navy ship named after more than one person.
After serving in both World War II and the Korean War, The Sullivans became a training ship. It was taken out of service on January 7, 1965. In 1977, the ship was given to the Buffalo and Erie County Naval & Military Park in Buffalo, New York. Today, it is a museum ship where people can visit and learn about its history.
Contents
Building a Hero Ship
The Sullivans was first called Putnam when its construction began on October 10, 1942. It was built in San Francisco by the Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation. President Franklin D. Roosevelt changed the name to The Sullivans to make it clear that the ship honored all five Sullivan brothers. This new name became official on February 6, 1943.
The ship was launched on April 4, 1943. Mrs. Thomas F. Sullivan, the mother of the five brothers, was the ship's sponsor. This means she officially launched the ship. The Sullivans was ready for duty on September 30, 1943, with Commander Kenneth M. Gentry in charge.
World War II Adventures
Early Missions in 1944
After testing its systems, The Sullivans began its first mission on December 23, 1943. It sailed with other destroyers to Pearl Harbor. In January 1944, the ship joined a large group of warships heading for the Marshall Islands. The Sullivans helped protect aircraft carriers as they launched air attacks on Kwajalein Atoll. These attacks were part of the Battle of Kwajalein.
In February, the ship helped protect carriers during a raid on Truk, a Japanese base. When the carrier Intrepid was hit by a torpedo, The Sullivans helped escort it to safety for repairs. Later, the ship screened carriers during air strikes on the Palaus and New Guinea. During one attack, The Sullivans' guns helped shoot down Japanese planes.
On May 1, 1944, The Sullivans helped bombard Ponape island. It fired at Japanese landing barges. The ship then returned to Majuro for supplies. It continued to protect carriers during raids on Marcus and Wake Islands.
Battles in the Pacific
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In June, The Sullivans screened carriers launching air strikes on Saipan, Tinian, and Guam. During the Battle of Saipan, the ship rescued 31 Japanese sailors whose ship had been sunk. On June 19, during the Battle of the Philippine Sea, The Sullivans' guns helped shoot down a Japanese "Judy" dive bomber.
On July 4, The Sullivans joined a group to bombard Iwo Jima. It fired at planes parked on an airstrip, destroying several. The ship also hit an enemy vessel. For the rest of July, it supported air strikes on Guam and Rota Island.
In September, The Sullivans helped protect carriers attacking Japanese air bases in the Philippines. It also helped defend against Japanese spy planes. Later, while getting repairs, the ship collided with another destroyer during a storm. The Sullivans rescued four men from a sinking boat.
Facing Fierce Attacks
In October, The Sullivans protected carriers during raids on Formosa and the Ryukyus. Japanese planes attacked the American fleet for hours. The Sullivans' crew fired their guns, helping to shoot down several enemy aircraft.
Japanese torpedo planes damaged two cruisers, Canberra and Houston. The Sullivans helped protect these damaged ships. It also rescued 118 sailors from the Houston. Commander Ralph J. Baum received a Silver Star for his leadership during these rescue efforts.
On October 20, The Sullivans supported the Leyte landings in the Philippines. Its guns shot down a Japanese "Oscar" fighter plane. The ship continued to screen carriers and shoot down enemy aircraft throughout November.
Typhoon Cobra and 1945 Missions
In December 1944, The Sullivans faced Typhoon Cobra. This massive storm sank three destroyers and damaged many ships. The Sullivans, with a "lucky shamrock" painted on its funnel, survived without damage. It then helped search for sailors lost from other ships.
In January 1945, The Sullivans screened carriers launching air strikes on Formosa and Luzon. It also took part in a search for Japanese ships in Camranh Bay, Indochina. The ship served on radar picket duty, watching for enemy planes.
In February, The Sullivans covered carriers striking Tokyo and other parts of Japan. It then supported the landings on Iwo Jima. On March 1, the ship destroyed a floating mine near Okinawa.
Kamikaze Attacks
During the Battle of Okinawa in March 1945, The Sullivans guarded carriers. On March 20, while refueling, a kamikaze alert forced the ship to break away. Another kamikaze hit a nearby destroyer, Halsey Powell. The Sullivans rushed to help, sending its medical officer to the damaged ship.
While helping, another kamikaze plane targeted The Sullivans. The ship quickly sped away and fired its guns, causing the plane to miss. The next day, The Sullivans' guns helped shoot down two more Japanese planes.
Kamikaze attacks continued in April and May. On May 11, a kamikaze hit the carrier Bunker Hill. The Sullivans quickly came to help, rescuing 166 sailors who had jumped into the water. Three days later, The Sullivans' guns shot down another kamikaze that attacked the carrier Enterprise. This was its last combat action in World War II.
The Sullivans returned to the U.S. for repairs in July 1945. With the war ending, the ship was taken out of service on January 10, 1946, and placed in the reserve fleet.
Korean War Service
The Sullivans was brought back into service in May 1951 because of the Korean War. It was recommissioned on July 6, 1951. The ship then sailed to its new home port in Newport, Rhode Island.
In October 1952, The Sullivans arrived in Japan and joined Task Force 77 off Korea. Its job was to protect aircraft carriers launching air strikes against enemy supply lines. It also supported United Nations ground forces fighting communist troops.
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In November 1952, The Sullivans supported carriers that launched attacks close to the Soviet base at Vladivostok. Enemy MiG-15 jet fighters approached, but American planes shot down two of them. In December, the destroyer joined United Nations forces blocking the Korean coast. It fired at enemy trains and shore targets to support ground troops.
On Christmas Day 1952, The Sullivans hit a railroad bridge while under enemy fire. Fifty enemy shells missed the ship, but fragments landed on its deck. The ship's return fire destroyed at least one enemy gun position.
The Sullivans left Japan in January 1953, sailing home through many ports around the world. It arrived back in Newport, Rhode Island, on April 11, 1953.
Post-War Operations
Serving the 6th Fleet
After the Korean War, The Sullivans operated from Newport. In 1953, it deployed to the Mediterranean Sea to serve with the 6th Fleet. It returned to Newport in February 1954. For several years, the ship continued to alternate between operations off the U.S. East Coast and deployments to the Mediterranean.
In 1958, The Sullivans supported the landing of Marines in Beirut, Lebanon. This was to help stabilize a tense situation. After this mission, the ship returned to the U.S. for maintenance and training.
In 1959, The Sullivans joined a group focused on hunting submarines. It also took students from the United States Naval Academy on training cruises. Later that year, it deployed to the Mediterranean again.
Training and Rescue Missions
In 1960, The Sullivans helped test new anti-submarine rockets. It also assisted in the rescue of five survivors from a U.S. Air Force plane that crashed off the coast of Florida.
Later in 1960, the ship participated in NATO exercises. It then traveled to Pakistan for joint operations with Pakistani, Iranian, and British warships. After more exercises in the Mediterranean, The Sullivans returned home for Christmas.
In 1961, The Sullivans helped with sea trials for the nuclear submarine USS Abraham Lincoln (SSBN-602). It also took part in training exercises in the Caribbean. In April, the ship prepared to support a Project Mercury space mission. On May 5, 1961, Commander Alan Shepard's capsule splashed down near the carrier Lake Champlain, and The Sullivans was nearby.
Final Years of Service
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From September 1961 to February 1962, The Sullivans underwent a major overhaul. It then became a school ship, used to train naval officers. In October 1962, during the Cuban Missile Crisis, The Sullivans joined U.S. Navy forces blockading Cuba. When the crisis ended, it returned to Newport.
In 1963, the ship continued training officer students. It also helped with investigations after the nuclear submarine USS Thresher (SSN-593) was lost. In April 1964, The Sullivans was transferred to the Naval Reserve Force. Its home port changed to New York City. It conducted training cruises with reserve crews, focusing on anti-submarine warfare.
A Ship Becomes a Museum
The Sullivans earned nine battle stars for its service in World War II and two for the Korean War. On January 7, 1965, The Sullivans was taken out of service for the last time. It remained in reserve until the 1970s.
In 1977, The Sullivans and the cruiser USS Little Rock (CG-4) were given to the Buffalo and Erie County Naval & Military Park in Buffalo, New York. Today, The Sullivans serves as a memorial and a museum ship. Visitors can explore the ship and learn about its important history.
The ship was recognized as a National Historic Landmark in 1986.
Three other Fletcher-class destroyers are also preserved as memorials:
- USS Cassin Young (DD-793) in Boston, Massachusetts
- USS Kidd (DD-661) in Baton Rouge, Louisiana
- Greek destroyer Velos (formerly USS Charrette) in Athens, Greece
Images for kids
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USS Bountiful (AH-9) taking casualties on board from USS Bunker Hill (CV-17) on May 12, 1945. The Sullivans is in the foreground.
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- This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.
- This article includes information collected from the Naval Vessel Register, which, as a U.S. government publication, is in the public domain. The entry can be found here.
- USS The Sullivans (DD-537) at Historic Naval Ships Association
