Forrest Sherman (DD 931) - Naval Cruise Book

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USS FORREST SHERMAN CDD 9315 was the first completely new destroyer to be built since World War II. Named for the late Admiral Forrest P. Sher- man she embodies many improvements in design and equipment. Her keel was laid on 27 October 1953 and she was launched 15 months later on 5 February 1955 at the Bath Iorn Works Corporation, Bath, Maine. Mrs. Forrest P. Sherman, the widow of Admiral Sher- man, Christened her as she moved down the ways. The ship was commissioned at the Boston Naval' shipyard, Boston, Massachusetts on 9 November 1955. FORREST SHERMAN is 418 feet long and has a 45 foot beam. She displaces 3850 tons at full load and her engines develop 70,000 H.P. Her ex- cellent equipment is largely the product of the Navy's Armament Development Program which followed World War II. All ofi he guns are automatic, and these rapid fire weapons are greatly superior to that of any previous destroyer. She is equipped with an elaborate fire control system which allow her -to en- gage multiple air or surface targets with devastat- ing effect. As anti-submarine vessel, she isiequip- ped with the latest antisubmarine devices to meet the threat of the most advanced submarines in the world. 1 With a war complement of 18 officers and 305 enliste men, this ship stands ready to provide anti- submarine and anti-aircraft protection to larger ships as well as being a powerful striking weapon of her own. She is a valuable part of the Fleet in either peace or war. Upon completion of her shake down cruise, FOR- REST SHERMAN returned to the United States and joined the Destroyer Force as the flafship of De- stroyer Squadron TEN. Her first duty was to repre- sent the Destroyer Force and the Atlantic Fleet at Washington, D.C. during the inauguration of Presi- dent Eisenhower. In addition to extensive gunnery, operation and engineering training, FORREST SHERMAN was assigned the interesting extra duty of assisting in the production of the first Cinemiracle motion pic- ture, Windjammer. This duty required extensive oper- ations with units- of the Atlantic Fleet in company with the full rig ,Norwegian training ship CHRISTYAN RADICK. The high point of the operations was the filming of a high line transfer of Norweigian cadets from the CRISTIAN RADICK to F ORREST SHERMAN. During june 1957, the FORREST SHERMAN par- ticipated in Fleet International Review held at Nor- folk, Virginia. From there, she proceeded to South America as part of the Midshipmen cruise, Alfa, 1957, visiting Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and Trinidad B.W.1.qReturning to Newport, Rhode Island in Aug- ust, the FORREST SHERMAN began preparations for the NATO Fall Exercises and in September sailed for Europe, stopping at Plymouth, England and Copen- hagen, Denmark. In October she returned to the States and in December entered the Boston Naval Shipyard for her regular overhaul. ' Leaving her homeport,Newport, Rhode Island, on 10 july 1958, the FORREST SHERMAN departed for a normal four month tour of duty with the U.S. Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean. However, because of the crisis in Lebanon, she was recalled to Norfolk, Vir- ginia for emergency duty escorting additional Marine landing .forces to the Caribbean thence if needed, to the Mediterranean.

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FORREST P. SHERMA On November 10, 1943, he was transferred to duty as Deputy Chief of Staff to Commander in Chief, Paci- fic Ocean Areas. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal for exceptionally meritorious Ser- vice...Cin that assignmentj from November 10, 1943, to September 2, 1945... The citation points out: Rear Admiral Sherman rendered distinguished ser- vice in the preparation of plans and the coordination of our campaigns to bring about the early capitulation of the Gilberts, Marshalls, Marianas, Western Caro- lines, Iwo Jima and Okinawa, our final attacks on japan, and the naval phases of the occupation of the defeated Empire. As head of the War Plans Division on the staff, he contributed essentially to the suc- cessful prosecution of the war in the Pacific and his unfailing efforts were of vital importance in forc- ing the enemy to surrender. Representing the Navy in the initial conferences with the japanese at Manila in August 1945, he was present aboard the USS MISSOURI in Tokyo Bay whenlthe formal surrender of the japanese was sign- ed on- September 1, 1945 CESTD. In October 1945 he. was ordered to duty as Commander Carrier Division ONE, and in December of the same year became De- puty Chief of Naval Operations COperationsj, Navy Dept., Washington, D.C., where he was responsible for plans, fleet operations and training, intelligence and joint activities. In january 1948 he was designated Commander U.S. 'Naval Forces, Medditerranean, whichtitle was changed on june 1, 1948, to Commander Sixth Task Fleet, and served in that assignment until appointed Chief of Naval Operations. He assumed the duties of that office, in the rank of Admiral, on November 2, 1949. He was the youngest man to hold that post. He was on a military diplomatic trip to Europe at the time of his death in Naples, Italy, on July 22, 1951. His body was returned to the United States for burial in Arlington National Cemetary on July 27, 1951. A In addition to the Navy Cross, the Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, and the Purple Heart Cawarded for wounds received aboard the USS WASPJ, Admiral Sherman vas awarded the Victory Medal, Patrol Clasp, the American Defense Service Medal, Fleet Clasp, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, The American Campaign Medal, the World War I1 Victory Medal, and -the Navy Occupation Ser- vice Medal. The Governemnt of Great Britain made him an Honorary Companion of the Order of the Bath and awarded him the Grand Cross of the Order of the Phoenix, the Government of Italy the Grand Cross of the Military Order of Italy, and the Government of France the degree' of Grand Officer of the Legion of Honor. In June 1933 he reported for duty in theiBureau of Ordnance, Navy Dept., Washington, D.C. where he had charge of the Aviation Ordnance Section un- til june 1936. After a year's service as Navigator of the U-SS RANGER, he was transferred to duty I as Fleet Aviation Officer on the staff of Commander Battle Force. He continued staff duty from January 1938 until February 1940 on the staff of Commander in Chief, U. S. Fleet. During his tour of duty, ending February 1942, in the War Plans Division, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Navy Department, he was a member of the Permanent Joint Board on De- fense, Canada-United States, and also served as Naval Aviation Advisor at the Atlantic Conference in August 1941. Following three months' duty at Headquarters, Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Fleet, as a member fo the joint Strategic Committee, he assum- ed command of the USS WASP in May 1942, and was in command of that carrier when she was sunk by enemy action in the Solomon Islands area on Septem- ber 15, 1942. For extraordinary heroism as Commanding Of- ficer of the USS WASP and Flag Captain to the Com- mander of a Task Force-during the occupation of Tulagi-Guadalcanal and subsequent operation . . . he was awarded the Navy Cross. The citation con- tinues: In addition to supervising plans for employ- ment of aerial support to cover the initial landing, Captain Sherman, by his proficient skill and astute leadership, contributed to the relentless fighting- spirit and aggressive courage which enabled his group to destroy hostile opposition in the air and on the beach. His outstanding performance of duty was a decisive factor in the success of our forces and was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. Following the sinking of the WASP, he was de- signated Chief of Staff to Commander Air Force, Pacific Fleet. He was awarded the Legion of Merit for exceptionally meritorious conduct Cin that capa- city, from October 14, 1942, to November 24, 1943... The citation states further: A skilled and aggres- sive leader, they coordinated the planning, training. and logistic requirements which produced efficient naval aviation in the Pacific throughout a vitally im- portant period. His resourceful initiative, keen fore- sight and conscientious devotion to duty were contri- buting factors in the advanced state- of preparedness of the aviation units of the Pacific Fleet for the Cen- -tral Pacific Campaign and the successful prosecution of the war against the enemy. '

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Thereafter, the FORREST SHERMAN crossed the Atlantic, toured Gibraltar and,Naples, Italy before joining the U.S. Sixth Fleet patrol off the coast of Lebanon. When the Chinese Communists increased the tempo of their aggressive acts against the Na- tionalist islands off Formosa, FORREST SHERMAN was immediately detached for duty with the Seventh Fleet. On 28 August, she transited the Suez Canal and made the 6,759 mile voyage to Subic Bay, Phil- lipines non-stop. Having safely delivered the USS ESSEX to the Formosa area and served for a period with the Sev- enth Fleet, the FORREST SHERMAN in company with USS HALE visited Yokosuka, japan, Midway and Hawaii on their return to the United States. She was the first of her class to visit the Western Paci- fic. On 11 November 1958, FORREST SHERMAN once again arrived home at Newport, Rhode Island, the first of her class to circle the lobe g . Thereafter, the ship spent a few weeks in Bos-- ton Naval Shipyard for turbine replacement in prepar- ation for her June deployment on Operation Inland Seas CFive Great Lakes of the U.S.b. FORREST SHERMAN and others of the Force had the unique privilege of transiting the newly-opened St. Law- rence Seaway to the very heart of the continent 'to show the Fleet to the people of the Great Midwest. At the beginning of Inland Seas , FORREST SHERMAN was assigned the honor of representing the United States and her Navy at the Seaway open- ing ceremonies in Montreal, 26 June 1959, wherein Queen Elizabeth and President Eisenhower officially dedicated the Seaway on behalf of the two countries. During her, seven months stay in the Mediter- ranean in 1960, the FORREST SHERMAN partici- in several joint NATO, exercises. All that could be desired in the way of liberty ports was available to the FORREST SHERMAN. Between operations the ships spent much time in French Riviera ports. During a stay in Cannes the ship played host to the Honorable William B. Franke, Secretary of the Navy and VADM George W. Ander- son, Commander, Sixth Fleet. As part of the defense forces of southern Europe, the FORREST SHERMAN operated widely and 93l was seen from Cannes to Naples and from Barcelona to Phaleron Bay. USS FORREST SHERMAN again left Newport on 14 September 1961 as a unit of SOLANT AMITY III, a dual-purpose cruise which both maintained the readiness of the U.S. Navy's South Atlantic Force and was instrumental in the President's People-to- People Program. Visits in connection with the cruise included Port of Spain and Pointe-a-Pierre, Trini- dad, Abidjan, Republic of Ivory Coast, Pointe Noire, Republic of Congo, Captetown, Republic of South Africa, Port Gentil, Gabon Republic and Freetown, Sierra Leone. Leavin the shi ard on 23 A ril 1962 the FOR- S PY P 1 n REST SHERMAN proceeded out to sea to participate in local operations and shortly thereafter in ASW ex- ercises as the Flagship for COMDESFLOT TWO. On May 10th, with these operations completed, FOR- REST SHERMAN returned to Newport in preparation for a recreational visit to St. John, New Brunswick, from May 17-22. While in St. John one of the crew- members, Donald J. SPANN, BM2, was instrumental in saving the life of a 14 year old boy who had fallen into the harbor. On the 7th of September 1962, the ship got under- way for a seven month tour in the Mediterranean. Passing through the Straits of Gibraltar' as part of the versatile SIXTH Fleet, operations' became the keynote for the months to come. Several of the more glamorous ports visited in- cluded Istanbul, Turkey, Athens, Greece, Naples, Italy, Genoa, Italy, Cannes, France, and Beirut, Lebanon. For the ship's first time, FORREST SHER- MAN was deployed to the Red Sea - Middle East area for two months. Here, visiting small countries, spreading goodvill and representing the United States became the primary mission. Nine of the se- cluded- ports in this area included Aqaba, Jordan, Jidda, Saudi Arabia, Port Sudan, Sudan, Assab, Ethi- opia Djibouti, French Somaliland, Aden, Aden, and the furtherest east, Bombay, India. ,Returning to Newport on 14 July 1963, FOR- REST SHERMAN journeyed up the Hudson River in New York to participate in the 175th Anniversary celebration of the town of Greenburg, New York, during which many noteable state and local offi- cials were entertained on board. Upon completion of her yard period in November 1963 FORREST SHERMAN headed south to Guan- tanimo Bay, Cuba for refresher training, stopping for a week on the way at Key West, Florida to act as ASW school ship. The FORREST SHERMAN's first tour of 1964 was a brief trip to Culebra, Puerto Rico, to parti- in a number of gunnery exercises. In the first week of. March, the ship made a visit to Philadelphia, for one week, and then returned to Newport for daily operations. On April 29 the men of the FORREST SHERMAN said goodbye to their families for four months, as the ship deployed to the Mediterranean to join the U.S. Sixth Fleet. After a tender availability period in September, F ORREST SHERMAN shoved off for Spain on Octo- ber 10 to participate in Operation Steel Pike l, the largest amphibious operation undertaken by any na-I tion since the assault upon Okinawa in 1945. During this operation FORREST SHERMAN operated as flagship for the antisubmarine screen commander, and as flagship for the advance force. After the successful landing, the FORREST SHERMAN made a six day visit to Portsmouth, Eng- land. While there, most of the crew also saw the sights of London, which was only ninety minutes away 'by train. On February l, 1965, FORREST SHERMAN got underway again. There she took part in ASW oper- ations in the Atlantic operating area, which were highlighted by a three day LANTFLEX-ASW exer- cise, and a brief visit to the ASW Tactical School in Norfolk, Virginia. From March 8 until March 30, FORREST SHER- MAN took part in a springboard training cruise in the Caribbean, making visits to San juan, St. Thomas, and Bermuda. From April 26 to May l, She t00k Daft in another ASW Cruise with the USS WASP CCVS-185. For the remainder of 1965 FORREST SHERMAN underwent an engineering overhaul period 1n New- port and at the Boston Naval Shipyard, Boston, Mass.