USS Turner Joy facts for kids
_underway_at_sea_on_9_May_1964_(NH_98257).jpg) |
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Quick facts for kids History |
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 United States |
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| Namesake | Charles Turner Joy |
| Ordered | 27 January 1956 |
| Builder | Puget Sound Bridge and Dredging Company |
| Laid down | 30 September 1957 |
| Launched | 5 May 1958 |
| Acquired | 27 July 1959 |
| Commissioned | 3 August 1959 |
| Decommissioned | 22 November 1982 |
| Stricken | 13 February 1990 |
| Motto |
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| Fate | Donated as a museum and memorial to the Bremerton Historic Ships Association and berthed at Bremerton, Washington on 10 April 1991. |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Forrest Sherman-class destroyer |
| Displacement |
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| Length | 407 ft (124 m) waterline, 418 ft (127 m) overall |
| Beam | 45 ft (14 m) |
| Draft | 22 ft (6.7 m) |
| Propulsion | 4 × 1,200 psi (8.3 MPa) Babcock & Wilcox boilers, Westinghouse steam turbines; 70,000 shp (52 MW); 2 × shafts |
| Speed | 32.5 knots (60.2 km/h; 37.4 mph) |
| Range |
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| Complement | 15 officers, 218 men |
| Armament |
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The USS Turner Joy (DD-951) was a destroyer ship in the United States Navy. It was one of 18 ships in the Forrest Sherman-class destroyer class. The ship was named after Admiral Charles Turner Joy.
Commissioned in 1959, the Turner Joy spent its entire time serving in the Pacific Ocean. It played a big role in the Vietnam War, especially during the Gulf of Tonkin Incident. After being taken out of service in 1982, it became a museum ship in Bremerton, Washington.
Contents
Building and Launching the Ship
The Turner Joy was built by the Puget Sound Bridge and Dredging Company in Seattle. Its construction started on 30 September 1957. The ship was launched on 5 May 1958. Mrs. C. Turner Joy, the admiral's wife, was the sponsor for the launch. The ship officially joined the Navy on 3 August 1959.
Early Missions Before the Vietnam War
After some initial training and a trip to Central and South American ports, the Turner Joy began its duties in early 1960. It served as a lead ship for Destroyer Squadron 13 and Destroyer Division 131. Its home base was Long Beach, California.
The ship often worked with the aircraft carrier USS Hornet in exercises to find and fight submarines. In May 1960, it sailed to the western Pacific Ocean. It helped with air-sea rescue near the Mariana Islands for President Dwight D. Eisenhower's trip to Asia.
In July 1960, the ship was involved in a tense situation near Taiwan. The Chinese shelled islands like Quemoy and Matsu. The Turner Joy patrolled the Taiwan Strait to show America's support for its allies. After more exercises near Japan, the ship returned to Long Beach in November 1960.
For the next year and a half, the Turner Joy underwent major maintenance and took part in many exercises along the California coast. In 1962, it sailed to the Far East again, joining the Template:U.S. 7th Fleet for exercises with allied navies in areas like the Sea of Japan and the South China Sea. It returned to the United States in June 1962 and continued training until 1964.
Vietnam War Operations
The Turner Joy became famous for its role in the Gulf of Tonkin Incident in August 1964. After this event, the ship continued its duties in the South China Sea. It returned to Long Beach in October and then had a three-month maintenance period.
In July 1965, the ship went back to the Pacific for more duty. It served as an escort for the aircraft carrier USS Coral Sea. In September, it moved to the Gulf of Thailand to provide naval gunfire support. This meant using its large guns to help American and South Vietnamese troops fighting on land.
During one mission in September, a 5-inch shell accidentally exploded. This damaged a gun, sadly killing three sailors and injuring three others. The ship had to leave the combat zone for repairs in the Philippines. After fixing the damage, the Turner Joy returned to duty, including more gunfire support off South Vietnam.
In 1966, the ship continued its patrols and plane guard duties with carriers. It also took part in a midshipman training cruise, visiting places like Pearl Harbor and Seattle. Later that year, it prepared for another tour in the western Pacific.
The ship's fourth deployment to the western Pacific included three tours off the coast of Vietnam. In December 1966, it began shore bombardments in support of ground troops. In February 1967, it provided gunfire support in the I Corps zone of South Vietnam.
In March 1967, the Turner Joy joined Operation Sea Dragon off the coast of North Vietnam. This operation aimed to stop enemy supplies moving by water and land. On 7 April, while firing at enemy boats, the ship was hit by a North Vietnamese shore battery. The hit damaged the ship and injured a sailor. Despite the damage, the ship stayed on duty.
After repairs in the Philippines, the Turner Joy visited Australia and New Zealand in May 1967. These visits were part of the 25th anniversary celebration of the Battle of the Coral Sea. The ship returned to Long Beach in June and underwent more maintenance and training.
In March 1968, the Turner Joy began its fifth deployment to the Far East. For five months, it continued naval gunfire support for troops in South Vietnam and "Sea Dragon" patrols off North Vietnam. It also visited various ports for supplies and rest. The ship returned to Long Beach in September 1968.
After a major overhaul, the ship resumed training in 1969. In November, it sailed to the Orient again. It provided gunfire support off South Vietnam and acted as a plane guard for aircraft carriers. The ship returned to Long Beach in June 1970.
In 1971, the Turner Joy had another deployment to the 7th Fleet. It continued gunfire support duties and plane guard services. It also visited Australia and New Zealand again before returning home in August.
In February 1972, the ship underwent a big overhaul, getting new guns and engine upgrades. In December, it sailed to the Far East for what would be its last tour of duty in the Vietnam War. It provided gunfire support for 28 days. The USS Turner Joy fired the very last naval gunfire round of the war on 28 January 1973, just seconds before the ceasefire began.
After the ceasefire, the ship participated in Operation End Sweep, helping to clear American mines from around Haiphong harbor. It also took part in anti-submarine exercises. In June 1973, the ship returned to the United States.
After the Vietnam War
In 1974, the Turner Joy began its first peacetime deployment to the western Pacific in a decade. It conducted operations with the aircraft carrier USS Ranger and visited Indonesia. It returned to San Diego in October 1974.
The ship continued operations and training along the California coast in 1975. In September, it sailed for its 11th deployment, which turned into a tour of duty in the Indian Ocean. It visited Singapore and Sri Lanka and participated in "Midlink," a large exercise with British, Iranian, and Pakistani navies. This exercise involved practicing many naval tactics, like fighting submarines and aircraft.
"Midlink" ended in November 1975. The Turner Joy returned to the Philippines and then continued routine operations and exercises in the South China Sea and the Sea of Japan. It also visited ports in Taiwan and Japan. In March 1976, the ship headed back to the United States, arriving in San Diego in April.
In July 1976, the Turner Joy made history by steaming up the San Joaquin River to Stockton, California, for the city's Bicentennial celebrations. It was the first large warship to visit Stockton.
Due to its long service and delayed maintenance, the ship had some engine problems in 1976. After extensive repairs, it went on a goodwill cruise in 1979-1980, visiting Hawaii, the Philippines, Hong Kong, Singapore, Australia, and New Zealand. It also conducted sea trials with the Australian and New Zealand navies.
What Happened to the Ship
In 1982, the Navy decided to retire the Turner Joy and other ships of its class. They said it would cost too much to modernize them compared to the benefits of keeping them in service.
The Turner Joy was officially taken out of service on 22 November 1982. It was removed from the Naval Vessel Register on 13 February 1990. The Bremerton Historic Ships Association then acquired the ship. After being refurbished, the Turner Joy opened to the public in 1992 as a museum ship in Bremerton, Washington.
See also
In Spanish: USS Turner Joy (DD-951) para niños
