Lang (DE 1060) - Naval Cruise Book

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history of lang USS LANG CDE-l06OJ, an escort ship, is the second ship of the fleet to be named in honor of Seaman ,lohn Lang, U. S. Navy. john Lang was born in Curacao, Netherlands West lndies, I7 june I794, and was later a citizen of New Brusnwick, New Jersey. At one time, before the outbreak of war in I8l2, he was impressed into British Naval service which eventually resulted in his arrival in this country. During the War of l8l2, Lang served in' the I8-gun ship, WASP. ln an engagement with the British sloop of war, FROLIC, l8 October l8l2, his ship had her braces shot away. The rest of WASP's rigging was shattered and it was feared that the mast of the WASP would fall and thus enable the FROLIC to get away. While the WASP maneuvered to fire another broadside and board FROLIC, her forecastle swung under the FROLlC's bowsprit. At this time, Seaman John Lang, remembering previous experiences with the British, scrambled over netting and tangled rigging to FROLlC's main deck. His daring act so stirred the crew of WASP, that every available man followed him aboard the FROLIC to clear her decks in hand to hand combat. Both warships had been. dismasted in the fierce fighting. Shortly after FROLIC surrendered to WASP, the 74-gun British frigate POICTIERS loomed on the scene and WASP fell into enemy hands. Later, when prisoners were exchanged in Bermuda, Seaman Lang again returned to the United States Navy to serve on board the captured British frigate MACEDONIAN. He later became a merchant seaman in the West Indies Trade. John Lang .died in Boston, Massachusetts, 20 January l838. A ... ..- .,,s...f-. ..,...,.. ..- . , ,-gp. l l l n l l l 1 l l 1 l l .V--.-.L-H

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mlm All ET' ' mnmfzxasu '--4 Iw- '4' A N' 1 fla-.ri 5!kL..uEg.E,1- :bathe 4 'Llgm-'Lf4..:J4eL....,J.L..f. , i foreword from the captain As the first Commanding Officer of this Ocean Escort, I have had the rare honor to watch her evolve from an inanimate but sophisticated piece of machinery to a United States Warship. It is with great satisfaction that -I can reflect on LANG's many accomplishments in such a short history-fl am struck by the sudden realization of how far we've come, as a ship, as a crew, as men. In the demanding but eventful six months between our departure for the Western Pacific on April I6, I97l and our return to Long Beach on October 24, I97l, LANG steamed over 50,000 miles. Our tour of duty with the U. S. SEVENTH Fleet took us from the tropical regions of the Gulf of Tonkin, Hong Kong and Singapore to foggy climes of the Sea of Japan and to the very agreeable climate of Australia, New Zealand, and the South Pacific Islands. While deployed, LANG typified Destroyer Squadron THIRTY-FIVE's slogan, Ready Response, by performing a variety of duties to which she readily adapted herself. LANG served as transit escort for the attack carrier, USS MIDWAY CCVA-4lJ, enroute to the SEVENTH Fleet, plane guard and PIRAZ CPositive Identification Radar Advisory Zonel escort for the USS MIDWAY and the USS ORISKANY CCVA-34Q in the Gulf of Tonkin, and escort for the USS BAINBRIDGE CDLGN-255 during operations in the Sea of Japan. She also successfully provided gunfire support off the coast of South Viet Nam' near the Demilitarized Zone. It is also noteworthy that despite such a hectic and full schedule, the LANG never missed or delayed in meeting a commitment, nor were there any significant personnel casualties. This impeccable record is testimony to the endurance, devotion to duty, team work and hard work each individual provided during the many long days the LANG spent at sea. r Despite her long periods underway, LANG visited such exotic Far East ports as Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, and Yokosuka, Japan. After successfully completing her final commitment in late September, LANG headed for home. On her way, she visited Brisbane, ALI'StraIia and Auckland, New Zealand, where the men of the LANG served as exemplary representatives of the United States, and made a brief fuel stop at the island of Pago Pago, in American Samoa. The LANG's cruise to the Western Pacific in l97I was markedly successful, yet it was often trying, it was fung it was frustrating, it was satisfying, it was lonely, it was alive and warm . . . but most of all, it was unforgettable. Each of us did his part, we can all be proud of our team of LANGMEN. .L . ,,,..neu.M.s. I i I rot wel Lfofvof I'5V?! feolfffrffffmei

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.V ,l 1 l i i l ul l l ii li I ll li , il i ii ll i i l l l i ! I l I i i ll I in 3 1 .i i. i ii l l 3 il ii I il i. l I. is il l i .l i 1 l l ,l l l l l ir l l I i -m-x-1 f - ' ' The first LANG CDD-3991 was built by the Federal Shipbuilding and Drydocking Company, Kearny, New jersey. Her keel was laid 5 April l937. She was launched 27 August I938 and commissioned in New York Navy- Yard 30 March l939. LANG had a length overall of 34l feetg extreme beam, 35 feet, 6 inches, standard displacement of l,850 tonsg mean draft of I0 feet, 9 inches, a designed speed of 38.5 knots, and a designed complement of 9 officers and Vl75 men. She was originally armed with four 5-inch .38 caliber guns, four .50 caliber anti-aircraft machine guns, and sixteen 2l-inch torpedo tubes. LANG CDD-399JVblazed a spectacular trail through World War ll, sustaining onlygone twoQinch hole in her hull for all her action. LANG participated in nearly every major Pacific campaign and lived up to the name she bore. She encountered the enemy many times., served on numerous patrols, stood guard and escort duties, steamed over mines, rescued the crew of .fthe sinking destroyer O'BRlEN, and saved 33 merchant seamen and three downed pilots from death in the sea. ln the Solomons, Gilberts, Marianas, and Philippines she bore her share and morevof the grim drive toward victory, earning the Philippine Republic's Presidential Unit Citation. Off Okinawa she braved kamikazes and weather for a continuous 92 days. For her efforts she was awarded ll battle stars. After a short but glorious career, LANG was ,decommissioned on October I6, l945.