Eversole (DD 789) - Naval Cruise Book

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and food is aboard to provide the ship for 60 days without replenishment. In March of 1962. the EVERSOLE returned to Bremerton for commence- ment of FRAM MARK I overhaul. FRAM is the governmental term for Fleet Rehabilitation and Modernization program, the conversion which adds 8 to 10 years to the useful life of a destroyer. After entering the shipyard, the en- tire superstructure aft of the forward stack was removed. Included in the removal were all the 3 50 cal. guns, all the fire control directors with the exception of the Mark 37 Director a- bove the bridge, the 5 38 cal. gun mount on the 01 level forward, the hedge-hog mounts, the torpedo launch- ing system amidships, and the depth- charge racks on the fantail. During the ten month yard period, every piece of equipment that would be staying aboard was torn down, inspected, and repaired or replaced. The latter part of 1962 and spring of 1963 saw the EVERSOLE taking shape as one of the best sub-killers in the fleet. Homing torpedo tubes were mounted forward. ASROC, a rocket assisted anti-submarine torpedo sys- tem, was added amidships. This weapon allows the ship to attack enemy craft from a distance where counter- attack by the submarine is least likely. Also added to the after part of the ship is the hangar, control station and flight deck for DASH, the Drone Anti- submarine Helicopter. The unmanned aircraft is capable of dropping homing torpedoes at great distances from the ship by remote control in all kinds of weather. Here again, the advantage of extended range of attack is given our ship while minimizing the threat to it. 63

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USS EVERSOLE (DD-789) was commissioned on May 19, 1946 in Todd Pacific Shipyard, Seattle, Washington, and is a second naval vessel named in honor of Lieutenant (junior grade) John Thomas Eversole, USN. Lieutenant Eversole was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross for extraordinary heroism as a torpedo plane pilot in action against the Japanese in the Battle of Midway on June 4, 1942. The first EVERSOLE (DE-404) partici- pated in the battles of Samar Island and Leyte Gulf, She was sunk by the Japanese in action off San Bernardino Straits on October 19, 1944. Following commissioning, the new EVERSOLE was outfitted at the U.S. Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, Washing- ton, and then underwent shakedown and training in the Southern California operation area. After the outbreak of hostilities in Korea, EVERSOLE spent two extended tours of action against the North Korean forces. Since that time, EVERSOLE has steamed in the waters of the Western Pacific on nine other cruises. The ship operates as a unit of Destroyer Squadron TWENTY- THREE. This is the LITTLE BEA- VERS Squadron which gained fame under Admiral Arleigh (31 knot) Burke during World War II. Statistics-wise, the EVERSOLE has an overall length of 390 ft., 6 in., and a maximum width of 40 ft., 11 in. Fully loaded it displaces approximate- ly 3450 tons. It is capable of speeds in excess of 30 knots, and at economi- cal cruising speeds can travel over 6000 miles before refueling. The ship ' s generators can produce enough electricity to provide lighting for a city of 10,000 people. Our present crew consists of 18 officers and 250 enlisted men, and enough fresh meat 62

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CRUISE BOOK STAFF EDITOR: Ltjg Nichols Co-Editor: Ens Heine Ens Skoog Ens Newlon Photographer: Beech, S.G. Historian; Close, L.J. Cartoonist: Bader.R.E. Typist: wooden, G.D. Publicity: Gordon, M. J. Johnson, W.G. Sales: Cosper, S.B. Letts, W.H. from top, ccw,: Operations Dept. sub-comm; Weapons Dept. sub-comm.; entire committee; Supply Dept. sub- comm; Engineering Dept. sub-comm 64