Nicholas (DDE 449) - Naval Cruise Book

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USS NICHOLAS DDE-449 RECE-ZSIVW JAN 8 15260 NAVY DEPARTMENT LIBRARY cl llg h ff hlp h Y

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.,, J uss NicHoLAs QDDE-4491 The USS NICHOLAS was commissioned on 4 June T942 at the Navy Yard, Boston, Massachusetts, and was the first Fletcher class destroyer to ioin the fleet. Three months later she was participating in her first battle in the Guadalcanal theater. Thereafter she saw continuous action in the Asiatic-Pacific Area, earning sixteen battle stars in operations including Leyte, Luzon, Manila Bay-Bicol, Hollandia, Borneo, Okinawa, New Guinea and Gilbert Islands. Her proudest moment occured on 6 July I943. The task group of which she was a part made contact with enemy surface vessels. Resulting action was the Battle of Kula Gulf, during which the Cruiser USS HELENA was sunk. The NICHOLAS rescued 29I HELENA survivors taking enemy ships under gunfire and torpedo fire during the rescue operations. For her exploits this night the NICHOLAS was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation. In January, I947, the ship was inactivated and placed in the U.S. Pacific Fleet, remaining there until her conversion to an Escort Destroyer. On I9 February I95I, the NICHOLAS was recommissioned. For the next two years she took part in the Korean confiict and Formosa Straits patrol. - This trip to WestPac makes the seventh trip to the Far East in recent years. Her primary iob is anti-submarine warfare, and as such, she finds continuous operations with HUK groups while deployed. In addition, these trips provide the NICHOLAS team with a chance to visit foreign countries, observe their customs, and know their people. The NICHOLAS is named after the first commissioned officeriof the United States Marine Corps, Major Samuel Nicholas. She is home ported in Pearl Harbor and operates as part of Destroyer Division TWO FIFTY TWO.