Fanning (FF 1076) - Naval Cruise Book

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Lieutenant Nathaniel Fanning Nathaniel Fanning, the ship ' s namesake, istarted his career on the oceans as a privateer conducting commerce-raiding cruises against the British before the Revolutionary War. He quickly worked his way up to prizemaster and was shortly there after taken prisoner by the British during an unsuccessful raid. After spending over a year in prison, he was released and travelled to the French Port of L ' Orient. There he served under John Paul Jones as a midshipman aboard the BON HOMME RICHARD. During the battle between the RICHARD and H.M.S. SERAPIS of the Flamborough Head in September of 1779, Fanning was appointed captain of the main top. After the battle, Jones cited Fanning as one cause among the promi- nent in obtaining victory. Fanning went on to command the French pri- vateer COUNT DE GUICHEN and the French brig RANGER. He was instrumental in the U.S. Navy ' s dominance over the Atlantic. USS FANNING ' s History The original USS FANNING (DD-37) helped monitor U-boat traffic off the east coast of the U.S. at the beginning of World War I. With the USS JASON in October of 1916 she participated in experiments that helped pioneer modern refueling at sea techniques that now allow the U.S. Navy great flexibility of movement and the ability to stay at sea for extended periods of time. After the United Staes entered the war, FAN- NING operated with USS NICHOLSON (DD-52) and was responsible for sinking the German sub- marine U-58, the only U-boat sunk during World War I. After the war, she was sold for scrap and her name was struck from the Navy List on 28 June, 1934. A second USS FANNING (DD-385) was commis- sioned in October of 1937. During World War II, FANNING operated with USS ENTERPRISE and Task Force 8 engaging enemy surface ships and submarines. She participated in operations against Japan at Guadalcanal, the Solomons, Kwajalein, Eniwetok, and Luzon in support of the amphibious landings at Leyte. FANNING saw action at Iwo Jima where she sank three cargo ships and a Japanese patrol boat in the San Bernadino Strait. She spent the remainder of the war on patrol per- forming escort duties and search and rescue oper- ations for downed pilots. FANNING received four battle stars and the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation for her efforts during World War II.

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G ¥ ¥ oKifff FANNING INSIGNIA The Central Figure of the insignia is the shield from the Fanning Fam- ily Coat of Arms, chosen to honor Lieutenant Nathaniel Fanning, USN. Permission to use the Fanning Coat of Arms was generously granted by Mrs. Robert H. Lanthrop of Old Lyme, Connecticut, the great-great- great granddaughter of Lieute ' nant Fanning and sponsor of FF-1076. The five-point star above the shield is used in heraldry to denote the third in a family line, and signifies that USS FANNING FF-1076 is the third ship to bear the name. The anchors and chains symbolize the Naval Service and serve to per- manently link the ship ' s name with her service. The word INDOMITABLE was chosen because it is considered to be the one word that best describes the distinguished careers and funda- mental attributes of Nathaniel Fanning and the two previous ships that so proudly carried his name.

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