Dyess (DDR 880) - Naval Cruise Book

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flllllll II A-JJ' .14!'i-ff Kiki!! If Z I' The early part of 1950 was spent in the Caribbean Area while underway conducting Carribeo and PORTREX, the latter being the largest peacetime amphibious landing exercise. Spring of 1950 saw her depart for another tour of duty with SIXTH Fleet in the Mediterranean where she visited most of the same ports as on her previous visit and in addition' Augusta, Sicily, Ismir, Turkey, Kavalla, Greece, Menton, France, Phillippvilo, Algeria, and Oran, French Morocco and Lisbon, Portugal. In October after her return to Norfolk' she went to the Norfolk Naval Shipyard for a three month overhaul period and installation of new ASW and Air Defense equipment. In January 1951, the DYESS departed for Guantanamo Bay, Cuba for refresher training, but the six weeks period was cut short when she was ordered back to the states and to special duty with the Air Force. After participating in Airdex Dog, in April, she spent various periods operating out of Norfolk with other ships of the Atlantic Fleet and Independently. , ,.,,A V W 1, On August 4th the DYESS departed Norfolk as a unit of Task Group 86.4 to participate in Mid- shipmen Cruise DOG. This five week underway training period for NROTC midshipmen included target firing at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba and visits to the cruise ports of Halifax, Nova Scotia, New York and Boston. f After a brief period in the Norfolk Naval Shipyard, the DYESS joined the BLUE Forces of Vice Admiral R. B. STUMP for the giant Atlantic Fleet Exercises, the navy's first simulated war games in over a decade. ' - In January 1952 the DYESS sailed from Norfolk for duty with the U. S. Sixth Fleet in the Medi- terranean Sea. During this tour of duty she visited such ports as Oran, Algeriag Augusta Bay, Sicilyg Naples, Italy, Palermo, Sicily, Bastia, Corsica, Leghorn, Italyg Cannes, France, Suda Bay, Creteg Athens, Greeceg Palma, Mallorca and Gibraltar. In May 1952 she returned to Norfolk, Virginia where she underwent a three-month overhaul period. During October-November 1952 the DYESS was scheduled for training at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Departing from Norfolk on' 7 January 1953, DYESS proceeded to the Mediterranean for another period of duty with the Sixth F1-eet. During this time, she participated in Operation Rendez-Vous, a combined NATO operation, including units of the United States Sixth Fleet, the United Kingdom, France, .Ita1y, Turkey, and Greece. STATISTICS STANDARD DISPLACEMENT ,,,.,........... 2250 tons ARMAMENT 4 Six 5 !38 calibre dual purpose guns plus two twin and three OVERALL LENGTH .......--..-------- --------------- 3 90 feet quad 40MM AA mounts. EXTREME -BEAM .,,,,.,,.....,.,,.,,............ ......... 4 1 feet SPEED ,,,,,,.,...,.......... - ...... . .... - ............ 32 plus knots CREW ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, ,,,,,,,,,, ,,..... Q 3 31 Ofiicers and Men i NF Y ',,,4 ,.,.., . . - - h Q, , .,..,N... -,,.--fs-v-,-,-,...f-.-1-x-L-1.H----vm ,,, ,..,.,.....-. ,...,,..,....,....--.-Y.,,,-fi.-I--1 -A A - - ..- .....,,...,N,..,-,-,,.,..-.,.. -Q ..-. 9. - -4- A-M. . . H , M,.,.,..,..-..-.-..'---1-f A-f A, , A-4 1: M ,-E ,,.,,,,,,,,,. .1...,,..., --- -f ... ...W.,.,,, ,,. ...V-...L....,n. -.av W Mfr- M- - -we ..... .,,.....,..--.,.,,.. ..,..s.. ,,L gg-A,

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,H-.,,- -.i,--...,..,.. .., ,. , ,, , , I , D N V .,.,.,e....s,.,-Q M..-... . -A L,-...,..w--..,. K gr A, ,,.,,,,,,,,...,,.,....-...,,.s,.- ...,. ,,,.,,,,,,,f,,., Vi, .,,-r.., .--,. ..-.fsf ajft gg-, 4.pg'.L......---av-if g'. ',,,,.,...,.. -.,,.-,-......-.---.-M-.--f HISTORY OF U. s. s. DYESS CDDR-8801 3 Built by the Orange, Texas Yards of Consolidated Steel Corporation, DYESS 12400-ton Gearing Class Destroyerl slid sideways into the water on 26 January 1945. Sponsoring the ship at the launching ceremonies was Mrs. Aquilla Dyess, wife of the late Lieutenant Colonel Dyess, USMCR, in whose honor the vessel was named. Colonel Dyess was posthumuously awarded the Medal of Honor for conspicuous gallantry above and beyond the call of duty during the capture of Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands. V A On 21 May 1945 the destroyer was accepted by the Navy and commissioned U. S., S. DYESS IDD-8805 with Commander R. L. FULTON, USN, aboard as first commanding officer. The remainder of May was spent in the process of rigging and on 8 June she stood out for shakedown in the area of Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, operating during this time with Task' Force 23. On this assignment crewmen were given extensive training in various shipboard' drills and gunnery teams received vigorous workouts during practice firing. Upon completion of these maneuvers DYESS returned to the States and put in at. Norfolk on 7 July for a post shakedown availability. While in the shipyards the destroyer was outfitted with special radar gear and additional anti- aircraft armament for duties as a picket destroyer. However, by the end of this period the war was over and DYESS never had the chance to prove her mettle. On 21 August she stood out for Guantanamo Bay and '- thence to Culebra, Puerto Rico and during this time the ship underwent refresher training. On 5 September she cleared the Caribbean to put in at Casco Bay, Maine, on the 10th where the vessel reported for duty with Commander Destroyers Atlantic. On 4 October DYESS moved to Annapolis to participate in the' Naval Academy's Centennial Anniversary celebration until the 14th. At that time she got underway for Hampton Roads for a brief stop before running up coast to Philadelphia where she participated in Navy Day activities on the 27th. DYESS steamed to Norfolk on 30 October and reported to Destroyer Squadron Eight and on 7 November she stood out for the Panama Canal, making passage there 11-13 November. After a brief stop at San Diego the ship proceeded to Pearl Harbor, arriving on 28 November to report to Commander Destroyers Pacific. On 10 December she sailed for the Tokyo Bay Area and on the 19th joined with forces under Commander Fifth Fleet. While in this area sh-e participated in a four-day training period with cruisers TOPEKA and DULUTH. Her remaining tour of duty took her to the Marianas, China Coast, the Philippines and Japanese Ports. On 30 November the destroyers retired from the Western Pacific and after a fueling stop at Pearl Harbor, put in at San Diego on 16 December 1945. On '6 January 1946 the vessel cleared for the East Coast via the Panama Canal and Guantanamo Bay, and on the 23rd put in at Norfolk. Destroyer DYESS remained on the East Coast until 6 August when she stood out for the Carib- bean and put in at Trinidad on the 9th to await orders for rendezvous. After making rendezvous with Task Force 84 QFlag in battleship MISSOURIJ the force proceeded to Rio de Janeiro, arriving on 30 August. On 7 September President Harry S. Truman, his family and staff were received aboard the Mighty Mo ' for the return trip. DYESS steamed on escort station during this voyage and on the 19th the force put in at Norfolk, Virginia, where President Truman transferred to the Presidential Yacht WILLIAMSBURG for the overnight run to Washington, D. C., destroyer DYESS going along as official escort. On 29 October 1947 she cleared Newport, Rhode Island, in company' with destroyer LEARY and after a short stay at Argentia, Newfoundland, the units proceeded to Gibraltar for duty with Commander Mediterranean Forces. During her tour of duty in that area, she served as escort for battle carrier MIDWAY Qflying the fiag of Commander .Carrier Division Onel and visited many ports, among them Naples, Trieste, Venice, Italy, Suda Bay and Piraeus in Greece and many others. On 5 February 1.948 DYESS cleared Gibraltar on her return trip to Newport, Rhode Island, arriving the 14th. In February 1948, U. S. S. DYESS was on duty with the Second Atlantic Fleet, Active, operating with Squadron Eight, Destroyer Division 141.

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,,,,A...f -V - - .-qs.-nf w,,..,1 ,,J.g-9,1-.-Vw-'sfff-s-.. -- -' - ' f 1 . , .,. , ..m.n-Ave' X I we , Liv- r 23,97 G : 'R '-g91fp 11' ...nf -'QA-it 'THAT DDR Many ships there are both near and far But none stands out like that DDR So trim and clean like an elegant lady Her name the DYESS , her number 8880 The crew stands by both day and night To keep her trim and ready to 'right The engines are humming a tune which is steady As all of the spaces show they are ready p The bridge signals a full speed ahead The turbines spin faster with the steam they are fed Radarmen, Sonarmen search for a pip While others are swabbing and painting the -ship The cooks and mess cooks get up the chow While rough seas or smooth are cut by her bow The Captain on the bridge gives his commands As order by order is done by all hands Team work is the answer - if there's a job to do As shown on the DYESS with her top-notch crew She pitches and rolls in the deep blue sea Protecting America to keep her free. Author: HEROUART, Louis E., MMFN E DIV , fyffffrrr I Z X 4 - ff f EL Q 4 .ff X .. , . ,. . . --.,-.pw-.-if-v----1