USS Fullam
_off_the_Mare_Island_Naval_Shipyard_on_25_July_1943_(19-N-49046).jpg)
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| History | |
|---|---|
 United States | |
| Namesake | William Fullam |
| Builder | Boston Navy Yard |
| Laid down | 10 December 1941 |
| Launched | 16 April 1942 |
| Commissioned | 2 March 1943 |
| Decommissioned | 15 January 1947 |
| Stricken | 1 June 1962 |
| Fate | Sunk as target, 7 July 1962 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Fletcher-class destroyer |
| Displacement | 2,050 tons |
| Length | 376 ft 6 in (114.7 m) |
| Beam | 39 ft 8 in (12.1 m) |
| Draft | 17 ft 9 in (5.4 m) |
| Propulsion | 60,000 shp (45 MW); 2 propellers |
| Speed | 35 knots (65 km/h; 40 mph) |
| Range | 6500 nmi. (12,000 km) at 15 kt |
| Complement | 336 |
| Armament |
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USS Fullam (DD-474) was a Fletcher-class destroyer in the United States Navy during World War II. Fullam was named for Rear Admiral William Fullam (1855-1926).
Fullam was launched 16 April 1942 by Boston Navy Yard; sponsored by Miss Mariana F. Welch, granddaughter of Rear Admiral William Fullam; and commissioned 2 March 1943.
History
Fullam served briefly as an east coast escort, then arrived at
Green Islands
, 30 January. The party was reembarked that night, and the landings in force by New Zealand troops on the Green Islands took place 15 February, as Fullam and her task force provided protective cover.
Through the next 3 months, Fullam continued her patrol, escort, and bombardment missions in the Solomons, joining in the
Marianas. She arrived off Tinian 12 June for the bombardments on Tinian and Saipan which began the next day and continued until the landings of 15th. Ordered west to search for an enemy task force known to be moving into position to oppose the landings, Fullam rejoined the carrier task force 19 June as the Battle of the Philippine Sea opened. During this 2-day engagement, she joined in the general firing which combined with fighter actions brought down the vast majority of the Japanese
naval aviation as an effective element in the war. Completing her assignment in the Marianas with duty screening the cruisers bombarding Guam as well as firing on targets there herself, Fullam departed the Marianas 10 August for Eniwetok.
After training at Guadalcanal, Fullam sortied from Port Purvis 6 September 1944 for the assault on the
Noa (APD-24) collided, Noa sinking in 6 hours, and Fullam being badly damaged. Despite this, Fullam not only rescued all of Noa's men, but also carried out daily shore bombardment and night harassing fire, as well as covering the work of underwater demolition teams, as Peleliu was assaulted, then sailed for temporary repairs at Manus
and a west coast overhaul.
Fullam returned to
escort carrier
's flight deck, forcing many of her men over the side. Three were saved by the destroyers, who stood by as Sangamon extinguished the huge fire.
From 13 May 1945, Fullam was assigned to antisubmarine patrol and antiaircraft fire support off
Aleutians until entering Puget Sound Naval Shipyard
13 November.
In March 1946 she sailed south to San Diego, where she was placed out of commission in reserve 15 January 1947.
Honors
Fullam received seven
battle stars
for World War II service.
References
- This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.
External links
Shipwrecks and maritime incidents in September 1944 | |
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| Shipwrecks |
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| Other incidents |
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Shipwrecks and maritime incidents in 1962 | |
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| Shipwrecks |
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| Other incidents |
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