Hamner (DD 718) - Naval Cruise Book

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HISTORY OF THE HAMNER NAMED IN HONOR OF LIEUTENANT HENRY RAWLINGS HAMNER, USN, A HERO OF WORLD WAR II WHO WAS KILLED IN ACTION OFF OKINAWA WHEN HIS SHIP WAS TAKEN UNDER ATTACK BY JAPANESE KAMIKAZES THE UNITED STATES DESTROYER HAMNER WAS CONSTRUCTED BY THE FEDERAL SHIP BUILDING AND DRYDOCKING COMPANY OF PORT NEWARK NEW JERSEY. LAUNCHED IN NOVEMBER I945 SHE OFFICIALLY BEGAN HER CAREER AS A COMMISSIONED VESSEL OF THE UNITED STATES NAVY AT THE BROOKLYN NAVAL SHIP YARD ON JULY I2 I946. AFTER A SHAKEDOWN CRUISE IN GUANTANAMO BAY CUBA THE HAMNER WAS ORDERED TO THE PACIFIC FLEET VIA THE PANAMA CANAL PRIOR TO THE OUTBREAK OF THE KOREAN WAR THE HAMNER MADE TWO TOURS IN THE FAR EAST IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE NORTH KOREANS INVADED SOUTH KOREA THE HAMNER AS PART OF DESTROYER DIVISION III WAS ORDERED TO KOREAN WATERS LER IDD 7I7I AND USS CHEVALIER IDDR 805I WAS THE SECOND DESTROYER DIVISION TO ARRIVE IN THE COMBAT AREA THIS DIVISION WHICH INCLUDES USS WILTSIE IDD 7I6I, USS THEODORE CHAND-

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I TWO MORVE TOURS IN THE KOREAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS, BOTH OF EIGHT MONTHS DURATION, WERE MADE IN .Aq: I952 AND I953. WHEN THE ARMISTICE WAS SIGNED AND HOSTILITIES CEASED ON JULY 27, I953, THE HAMNER WAS ENGAGED IN FURNISHING FIRE SUPPORT FOR GROUND FORCES ON THE EAST COAST OF KOREA. IN I954 THE HAMNER MADE HER SIXTH TOUR OF THE FAR EAST LEAVING SAN DIEGO IN MARCH AND ARRIVING BACK IN THE STATES ON SEPTEMBER I2TH. FOLLOWING A THREE MONTH YARD OVERHAUL IN LONG BEACH, THE HAMNER ONCE AGAIN RETURNED TO SAN DIEGO WHERE SHE UNDERWENT RUGGED UND- ERWAY TRAINING EXERCISES IN FEBRUARY I955. FOUR MORE MONTHS OF EXER- CISES FOLLOWED BEFORE SHE LEFT AGAIN FOR OVERSEAS ON JUNE 28, I955. AFTER A RELAXING WEEK IN PEARL HARBOR, THE SHIP PROCEEDED TO YOKOSUKA, JAPAN. THE SHIP SPENT THE MONTH OF AUGUST TRAINING IN ANTISUBMARINE WARFARE ,AND MODERN TASK FORCE OPERATIONS. THE HAMNER WAS A PART OF THE VERY FORMIDABLE TASK FORCE 77 DURING THE LATTER HALF OF AUGUST. A WELL DESERVED REST WAS HAD BY ALL WITH' A WEEK IN HONG KONG INSEPTEMBER. FOLLOWING TENDER AVAILABILITY IN SASEBO, THE SHIP ONCE AGAIN HEADED SOUTH, THIS TIME FOR DUTY WITH THE TAIWAN PATROL, KEELUNG AND KAOHSIUNG SERVING AS PORTS OF CALL. THE HAMNER RETURNED TO YOKOSUKA IN THE EARLY DAYS OF NOVEMBER. AFTER TWO WEEKS TENDER AVAILABILITY AT YOKOSUKA THE SHIP SAILED SOUTH TO KOBE, JAPAN FOR FIVE DAYS LIBERTY IN ONE OF THE MOST SCENIC REGIONS OF JAPAN. UPON LEAVNG KOBE THE SHIP PUT IN AT YOKOSUKA ONCE AGAIN TO MAKE FINAL PREPARATIONS FOR HER EASTWARD VOYAGE TO A DECEMBER IITHffDATE IN SAN DIEGO. , f fWIh?'Uff'f 'Mmu w 'w - -W' ff'fH1W'W ' 'nwqmffc-lfffggm-m-uf' ,..-Wf,fmwf,,,,,WN-,-,.,,f., ..,..,,,,,,, , , if , W ,,