Desron 16 - Naval Cruise Book

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U.S.S. HUNTINGTON (DD-781) flnLr rrsjw:! ■■ 1 In more than a decade of service to the coun- try, the U.S.S. ROBERT K. HUNTINGTON (DD-781) has seen action in both peace and war, and has covered a large part of the globe — from Japan to Turkey, and from the Arctic Circle to Australia. Among the high spots of the HUNT- INGTON ' S career have been her presence at the signing of the Japanese surrender at the close of World War II, and at the first atomic bomb tests at Bikini Atoll. The ship was made possible through the war bond purchases of the citizens of Rock Island, 111., and was built at the Todd Pacific Shipbuild- ing Company in Seattle, Wash. Commissioned in March 1945, this destroyer is one of the more powerful heavy destroyers, developed as a result of wartime experience with the earlier types. With a displacement of 2200 tons, the HUNT- INGTON carries an armament of six 5 38 cali- ber dual purpose guns, and three 40 mm anti- aircraft machine gun mounts. Her steam powered engines produce 60,000 horse-power, providing the ship with a maximum speed of about 35 knots. The HUNTINGTON is named in honor of ROBERT K. HUNTINGTON, Airman Third class, who lost his life at the battle of Midway, in 1942, where he was a crew member of a tor- pedo plane attached to the carrier YORKTOWN. The wartime service of the HUNTINGTON was limited to the closing days of the second World War, when she operated with a fast car- rier task force off the Japanese Coast. When the battleship MISSOURI entered Tokyo Bay at the close of the war to receive the surrender of the Japanese Government, the HUNTINGTON was a member of the vital screening force which was guarding against a last-minute sneak at- tack by a desperate enemy. It was fitting that this ship, a part of the mod- ern post-war Navy, also played an important part in Operation CROSS-ROADS— the first atomic bomb test in Bikini Lagoon. As one of the destroyers in the Radiological Patrol, the HUNTINGTON witnessed the air burst from a considerable distance, and the more spectatular underwater blast from the comparatively close range of ten miles. Prior to entering the Norfolk Naval Shipyard for a three month overhaul, the ship had the privilege of participating in a unique event. The situation was brought about during the HUNT- INGTON ' S visit to New York City where on the morning of 16 Februaiy 1957 the rai-e sight of a Fleet Admiral ' s five star being raised to tlie truck of a destroyer was seen aboard the HUNTINGTON. This action initiated the cere- monies honoring Admiral William Halsey, one of our great wartime leaders. Among those present were the noted Statesman, Harold Stas- sen, and the actor-producer Robert Montgomery, both men having served in the Navy during Worid War II.

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. U.S.S. INGRAHAM (DD-694) Three destroyers of the U. S. Navy have been named in honor of Captain Duncan Nathaniel Ingraham, who served in both the Union and Confederate Navies. He was born in Charles- ton, South Carolina, on 6 December 1802. Ap- pointed as Midshipman in 1812 at the age of ten ; he was commissioned in 1815. While in com- mand of the sloo])-of-war ST. LOUIS in the Mediterranean in 1853, the Austrian consul at Smyi-na detained a Hungarian who had declared in New York his intention of being a U. S. citi- zen. When tliis man was confined in an Austrian ship, Captain Ingraham interceded and was later voted thanks and a medal by Congress. Captain Ingraham served as Chief of the Bureau of Ord- nance and Hydi-()grai hy of the Navy Department from 1856 until 1860, when he resigned from the U. S. Navy to enter the Confederate States Navy in the same rank and in an equivalent as- signment. He died at the age of 89 in Charles- ton on 16 October 1891. This, the third USS INGRAHAM (DD-694), was built by the Federal Shipbuilding and Dry- dock Company, Kearney, New Jersey, where she was launched on 16 January 1944, and commis- sioned on 10 Marcli 1944. Mrs. George Ingraham Hutcliinson again acted as sponsor. The ship is a destroyer of the SUMNER (DD-692) Class, with length of 376 feet ; beam 60 feet ; draft 14 feet, 5 inches; displacement, 2200 tons; speed 34 knots and armament of six 5 38 caliber duel purpose guns ; six 3 50 caliber guns and a 21 quintuple tube torpedo mount. ■WJPS.L K ' ' r9M Following a shakedown cruise in the Bermuda area, she reported to the Pacific Fleet for duty with Task Force 38 58, screening the carriers during their strike in the Western Pacific. On 21 March the INGRAHAM departed for the Okinawa Gunto operations. After serving on various radar picket stations, INGRAHAM was assigned to Station ONE between the Ryuk- yus and Kvushu on 1 Mav, in companv with the MORRISON (DD-560), LCS ' s 21, 22 and 31, and LCM(r) 194. On 5 Mav the formation was attacked by approximately fifty Japanese planes. During the ensuing action the LSM(r) 194 was hit and sunk, and the MORRISON was hit by four planes and also sunk. The INGRAHAM shot down two planes and assisted in shooting down tliree more, before five planes made a coordinat- ed attack on her. Four of these were shot down, but the fifth, crashed her deck on the port side, it ' s bomb exploding in the generator room. Casualties were 15 dead and 36 wounded. With only one gun operative, and the deck clearing water by only five feet, the ship ' s crew battled the flames, until a rescue tug came to her aid 30 minutes later. Follow temporary repairs in the area, she proceeded to Hunter ' s Point, Cali- fornia, for a complete yard overhaul. The big 694 on the bow is a familiar sight the world over. INGRAHAM is one of the very few World War II ships in the U. S. Fleet today which has never been placed in the reserve (in- , e) fleet.

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CDR. Henry J. Cappello U. S. Navy U. S. S. Huntington (DD-781) Commanding Officer CDR. Lewis C. Bartlett U. S. Navy U. S. S. Zellars (DD-777) Commanding Officer nanding Off CDR. John S. Oiler Jr. U. S. Navy U. S. S. Sumner (DD-692) Commanding Officer CDR. Charles C. Roberts Jr U. S. Navy U. S. S. Ingraham (DD-694) Commanding Officer T