USS Fletcher (DD-445)

USS Fletcher (DD-445)

For other ships of the same name, see USS Fletcher.

Career
Class and type:	Fletcher-class destroyer
Namesake:	Admiral Frank F. Fletcher
Laid down:	2 June 1941
Launched:	3 May 1942
Commissioned:	30 June 1942
Reclassified:	DDE-445 on 26 March 1949
Decommissioned:	1 August 1969
Struck:	1 August 1969
Honours and awards:	15 battle stars for World War II service, 5 for Korean War service
Fate:	Sold for scrap 22 February 1972
General characteristics
Displacement:	2,100 tons
Length:	376 ft 3 in (114.68 m)
Beam:	39 ft 8 in (12.09 m)
Draft:	13 ft (4.0 m)
Propulsion:	Steam turbines, 60,000& shp (45 MW) 2 propellers
Speed:	36 knots (41 mph; 67 km/h)
Complement:	273 officers and enlisted
Armament:	As built: 5 x127mm 5 in/38 caliber (5×1), 4 × 1.1 inch (28 mm)/75 guns (1×4), 6 × Oerlikon 20 mm cannons (6×1), 10 × 21 in torpedo tubes (2x5; 10 Mark 15 torpedos), 6 x K-guns, 2 x depth charge racks After conversion to DDE: 2 x 5 in/38 caliber (2×1), 4 x 3 in/50 caliber (2×2), 1 x Weapon Alpha, 2 x depth charge racks

USS Fletcher (DD/DDE-445), named for Admiral Frank Friday Fletcher, was the lead Fletcher-class destroyer, and served in the Pacific during World War II. She received fifteen battle stars for World War II service, and five for Korean War service.

Fletcher was laid down by the Federal Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company, Kearny, New Jersey, on 2 October 1941. She was launched on 3 May 1942; sponsored by Mrs. F. F. Fletcher, widow of Admiral Fletcher; and commissioned on 30 June 1942, with Lieutenant Commander William M. Cole in command.