William V Pratt (DLG 13) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 7 text:

Biograph U.S.S. W. V. PRATT Pratt is named after Admiral William V. Pratt, USN, who served as Commander-in-Chief of the United States Fleet H929-19301 and Chief of Naval Operations 11930-19335, until his retirement. President Roosevelt recalled Admiral Pratt to duty in 1941, in the months pre- ceding Pearl Harbor, to work out a system of carrier protection for Atlantic convoys men- aced by U-boats. After retiring again in 1941, Admiral Pratt ioined the staff of Newsweek writing as an analyst of naval affairs. ln 1946 Admiral Pratt left the Newsweek staff, re- tiring to his home in Belfast, Maine, where he died at the age of 88. Admiral Pratt was the possessor of numerous citations and medals. Most notable among his medals are the Army Distinguished Service Medal, the Navy Distinguished Service Medal, and the French Legion of Honor. Upon his first retirement in 1933, he received a commendatory letter from the Secretary of the Navy, which reads in part: Your career in the active naval service extending over a period of forty-seven years has included many activities within the varied scope of the naval profession .... Your conduct as Chief of Na- val Operations .... has been distinguished by sound and original thinking as well as vigor- ous action and has greatly contributed to the welfare of the service...These and all the duties which have been assigned to you have been discharged competently, ably, and to the fullest satisfaction of the service...

Page 6 text:

,74 .Q 'f if

Page 8 text:

Details Concerning the William V. Pratt Pratt is specifically designed with the speed, endurance and sealceeping qualities re- quired to carry out her mission. Her maximum horsepower is 85,000, her top speed: over 30 kts. No midget, she displaces 5600 tons, is 5'l2 feet long, 52 feet wide, has a draft of 'l7 feet and carries 2'l officers and 335 enlisted men. I Armed to the teeth for a variety of enemies, surface, sub-surface, and air, she carries advanced all-weather Terrier missiles, the latest long range Sonar, the Anti-Submarine Rocket QASROCD , plus conventiona to-date modular CIC equipped with the latest radars and detec- l S and 3 inch rapid fire guns and homing torpedoes. The Pratt sports an up- tion equipment. Her communications installation is furnished with modern radio equipment for reliable message handling at long and short ranges. Navigationally up-to-date also, Pratt has LORAN lLong Range Navigationi and TACAN QTactical Air Navigationj facilities. The engineering plant is an automated, 1200 lb. steam propulsion system incorporating the latest innovations in propulsive machinery. Moderne air conditioned living and messing spaces, with a four-channel entertainment speaker system, round out the picture of this powerful new ship.