Desron 16 - Naval Cruise Book

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U.S.S. MASSEY (DD-778) The MASSEY is a 2200 ton destroyer. Mrs. Lance E. Massey christened the ship on 12 Sep- tember 1944 in honor of her late husband. Lieu- tenant Commander Lance E. Massey, USN, one of the early heroes of the Pacific War. As the Commander of Torpedo Squadron Three in the Battle of Midway Commander Massey died press- ing home an assault that resulted in the sinking of two Japanese carriers. In February 1945, the MASSEY left the States for Pearl Harbor to join the Pacific Fleet. In the Solomons area the ship took part in the ma- neuvers conducted there prior to the invasion of Okinawa. It was during this period that her gunners first had an opportunity to show what they could do. The ship underwent frequent at- tacks by Kamikaze suicide aircraft, but the com- bination of maneuvering, expert spotting, and able shooting brought her through unscathed. She accounted for nine Kamikaze in all, five of which were shot down in one evening in a brief engagement. With the collapse of organized Japanese resist- ance on Okinawa, most of the destroyers there received new assignments.. The MASSEY re- turned to P.uckner Bay, Okinawa, as part of the screen for a fast carrier task force. This force made the first surface shipping sweeps off the Chine.se Coast ranging from the waters north of Formo.sa to the approaches of Shanghai. At the time of Japanese surrender she was pro- visioning for another .sweep in the China Sea. The MASSEY departed for the East Coast, ar- riving in New York in January 1946. The ship joined Admiral Fechteler ' s squadron for an off icial visit to Valparaiso, Chile, for the ceremonies attending the inauguration of Presi- dent Gonzalez. In August 1947, she was attached to U. S. Naval Forces, Mediterranean and visited the l orts of Gibraltar, La Madralena, Taranto, Trieste, Naples, Pireaus Patras, Kavalla. Suda Bay, and Ixmir. On 6 September 1950, the MASSEY left Nor- folk for duty in the Pacific as part of the re- enforcements that went to Korea from the At- lantic. After her arrival in the Far East, she served with the Advance Force I N Fleet, as Flagship for minesweeping missions. In January 1955, the MASSEY departed Nor- folk again to join the Sixth Fleet for a six months cruise in the INIediterranean. arriving at Oran, Algeria on 19 January 1955. During the cruise, the MASSEY participated in various Sixth Fleet operations in exercises, and visited Malta, Istanbul. Phaleron Bay, Naples, Monaco, Li- vorno, Toulon, Palma, Tangiers and Gibraltar. On 7 May, the MASSEY was detached from the Sixth Fleet and departed Gibraltar for Norfolk, Virginia. T ' pon arrival in Norfolk, the M.ASSEY was once again assigned to HUKLANT and en- gaged in variou. .ASW and type exercises, dur- ing which she called at Lisbon. In July. 1956 the MASSEY under tiie Com- mand of Cdr. F. L. Englander, won the Battle E award for operational readiness and eflficien- cy, making the fourtii such award for the ship.

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U.S.S. ZELLARS (DD-777) The USS ZELLARS (DD-777) was built in Seattle, Washington, at the Todd Pacific Ship- building Yard, and was launched in October, 1944. She was named for LTJG Thomas E. Zel- lars, USN, who died a heroic death in the turret explosion aboard the USS MISSISSIPPI in 1924. The ZELLARS is a representative Sumner Class Destroyer of 2200 tons displacement, with a length of 377 feet. Her main battery consists of six 5-inch guns, with a secondary battery of 3- inch guns. The armament of the ship also in- cludes various anti-submarine weapons. Immediately after being commissioned, the ZELLARS was assigned to the Pacific Fleet, and joined in time to take part in the Okinawa Cam- paign. While participating in a night shore bom- bardment in the campaign, the ZELLARS was attacked by several Kamikaze planes, one of which crashed on board, resulting in extensive loss of life and damage to the ship. On completion of repairs at Long Beach, California, in 1945, the ZELLARS was reassigned to the U. S. Atlan- tic Fleet to take up her peacetime duties. The first peacetime mission of the ZELLARS was that of escorting the new carrier, USS FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT, in the larger ship ' s visit to Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, in 1946. In July of 1947, the ZELLARS began her first tour of European duty, serving in both Northern European and Mediterranean waters, and visit- ing many ports in both areas. Shortly after commencement of hostilities in Korea the ZELLARS was alerted for duty in the Western Pacific. She arrived in Japan in Octo- ber, 1950. and proceeded immediately to Korean waters. Tlie ZELLARS operated on both the east and west coats of Korea, and assisted in the evacuation of Wonson by providing gunfire support for the withdrawing troops. In July, 1951, she i-eturned from Korea and resumed her duties in the Atlantic Fleet. Since that time the ZELLARS has participated in major fleet exercises, has undergone two major overhauls, and has had extensive refresher and type training in the Virginia Capes and Carib- bean areas. Again in April, 1953, she was in European waters, and in January, 1955, she par- ticipated in exercises with the Sixth Fleet and NATO forces in the Mediterranean and Northeni Europe. February of 1956 found her in the Caribbean after which she returned to Norfolk and went into the shipyards until June. Midshipman Cruise Bravo took her to Valencia and Dublin. After spending a short period in the yards she went to Guantanamo Bay. Cuba, for type training. Her last visit to the European waters was in October of 1957 when she participated in NATO operations, which included visits to Holland and Ireland. The ZELLARS flys the pennant of Comman- der Destrover Division 162, Captain Hevdon G. Wells, USN. Commander L. C. Bartlett, USN, is Commanding Officer, having assumed com- mand in July 1957. The ZELLARS has Norfolk, Virginia, as its home port.

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U.S.S. CHARLES S.SPERRY (DD-697) itlif The SPERRY is a 2200 ton destroyer of the SUMNER Class. She was built by the Federal Ship Building and Drydock Company at Kearney, New Jersey, and was commissioned at the Naval Shipyard, Brooklyn, New York, on May 17, 1944. She was named for Rear Admiral Charles S. Sperry, who took command of the Great White Fleet when it left San Francisco in 1908 and brought the fleet the rest of the way around the world. The SPERRY and her sister ships are among the most heavily armed destroyers in the world. With six five-inch guns in twin mounts and six three-inch guns for a secondary battery, she is able to perfoiTn anti-aircraft, surface, and shore fire support missions. In addition, she car- ries five torpedo tubes and is equipped with sub- marine search equipment, depth charges, and hedgehogs for use in anti-submarine warfare. After a period of training, the SPERRY joined Admiral Halsey ' s Third Fleet and participated in air strikes against the Japanese at Formosa, Luzon, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa and is credited with destroying two enemy planes. After the war, the SPERRY was inactivated at Boston for a short time and then sent to New Orleans, Louisiana, to assist in training reserve personnel. In July, 1950, she was ordered to Nor- folk, Virginia, to join Destroyer Squadron Six- teen. On September 6, 1950, she, with the other ships of the squadron, left Norfolk on a high- speed run for Korea. The squadron arrived in Yokosuka, Japan, on October 6 and left almost immediately for the Korean coast. From October to March the SPERRY was a part of every operation against the Reds. Dur- ing this period she was eight-four days out of port in an underway status. The SPERRY par- ticipated in operations at Wonsan and Hungnan and commenced the sieges of Wonsan and Song ' j in. It was at Song ' j in on 23 December 1950 that the SPERRY was hit by three three- inch shells while reconnoitering the harbor. The SPERRY fired over eighty-thousand rounds of five-inch ammunition into enemy teiTitory, de- stroyed two towns, blew up an ammunition dump, destroyed three enemy batteries with three more probables, and scattered numerous enemv troops. In May the SPERRY went into the Norfolk Naval Shipyard once again for a much needed overhaul. On completion of the overhaul in Au- gust, Commander Cary H. Hall. USN, relieved Commander S. H. MacGregor, Jr., USN, as Com- manding Officer, and took the SPERRY to Cuba for six weeks of Refresher Training. She re- turned to Norfolk on October 7, having stopped for liberty in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on the re- turn trip. The next few months were spent in her home port of Norfolk, Virginia, where she engaged in type training. During the leave period she made preparations for her forthcoming cruise to the Mediterranean for duty with the U. S. Sixth Fleet.