USS Noa (DD-841)
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USS Noa underway on 1 April 1965
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History | |
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United States | |
Name | Noa |
Namesake | Loveman Noa |
Builder | Bath Iron Works |
Laid down | 26 March 1945 |
Launched | 30 July 1945 |
Commissioned | 2 November 1945 |
Decommissioned | 31 October 1973 |
Stricken | 2 June 1975 |
Identification |
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Motto |
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Fate | Loaned to Spain, 31 October 1973 |
Notes | Sold to Spain, 17 May 1978 |
Badge | |
Spain | |
Name | Blas de Lezo |
Namesake | Blas de Lezo |
Acquired | 31 October 1973 |
Identification | Hull number: D-65 |
Fate | Scrapped, 1991 |
General characteristics | |
Class and type | |
Displacement | 3,460 long tons (3,516 t) full |
Length | 390 ft 6 in (119.02 m) |
Beam | 40 ft 10 in (12.45 m) |
Draft | 14 ft 4 in (4.37 m) |
Propulsion | Geared turbines, 2 shafts, 60,000 shp (45 MW) |
Speed | 35 knots (65 km/h; 40 mph) |
Range | 4,500 nmi (8,300 km) at 20 kn (37 km/h; 23 mph) |
Complement | 336 |
Armament |
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USS Noa (DD-841) was a Gearing-class destroyer of the United States Navy, the second Navy ship named for midshipman Loveman Noa (1878–1901).
Noa was laid down by the
1945 – 1960
After
The Noa served as rescue destroyer for the
In August 1953, the Noa departed from Norfolk on a 42,000-mile (78,000 km) around-the-world cruise. She arrived
In November 1953, the Noa operated in Japanese waters as part of a hunter-killer group. She patrolled the Korean coast together with the Cone (DD-866) in late November and early December. From then until her return to the United States in April 1954, the Noa engaged in underway training. Upon her return to Norfolk, she was reassigned to hunter-killer duty in the Atlantic Ocean.
On 7 September 1954, the Noa left Norfolk to participate in a joint NATO
During the overhaul in the summer of 1955, the Noa was outfitted with experimental
After completion of a three-month overhaul at Norfolk Naval Shipyard in August 1957 she steamed for five weeks of refresher training at Guantanamo and for shore bombardment exercises at Culebra Island, Puerto Rico. In winter of 1957–8, Noa served as test ship for experimental radio equipment and in spring 1958 she was again taking part in Springboard exercises in the Caribbean.
March 1957 saw the Noa as a participant in Lantphibex 1–58, an exercise designed to test the latest amphibious warfare concepts. During the summer of 1958, the Noa took part in 6th Fleet operations during the Lebanon crisis. After a short tour in the Persian Gulf she returned to Norfolk and joined the 2nd Fleet for Lantphibex 2–58.
In February 1959, the Noa was again deployed to the Mediterranean. She participated in Sixth Fleet exercises through 1 April when she steamed for the Middle East via the
1961 – 1973
Noa completed her FRAM I overhaul on 2 May 1961, and she rejoined the Atlantic Fleet. After a four-week ready-for-sea period and
Training followed, and the Noa steamed for the United Kingdom, for combined exercises in the Eastern Atlantic with the Royal Navy. She arrived at Portsmouth, England on 6 November, and also called at Belfast and Dublin before standing in to homeport on 20 December. After leave and upkeep, the Noa resumed ASW training on 29 January 1962 in the western Atlantic.
The Noa returned to Mayport on 6 February for modifications to her boat davits and briefings in preparation for the recovery of both America's first astronaut to orbit the Earth and his spacecraft. Preparations completed, she steamed on 11 February for the Project Mercury recovery area in the southwestern Atlantic, she reported on station on 14 February as part of the 24-ship recovery task force.
After two reschedulings of the space flight, the Noa put in at
Upon completion of recovery operations, the Noa returned to Mayport for ASW operations with Task Group Alpha until on 31 May. The Noa then conducted type training and midshipmen cruises out of her homeport between Mediterranean operational deployments and upkeep. She steamed for the Mediterranean on 3 August 1962 for a seven-month tour with the Sixth Fleet and on 8 February 1964 saw her stand out of Mayport for another six-month Mediterranean deployment.
Her regularly scheduled overhaul took place at
The Noa then participated in training and Atlantic Fleet exercises, including "High Time", an amphibious exercise in the Caribbean from late January through early March 1966. She also served as a unit of the Gemini 8 recovery forces 14–17 March 1966. Her April–October deployment to the Mediterranean was followed by leave, upkeep and Lantflex (28 November – 15 December).
In January 1967, the Noa received two
The Noa stood out of Mayport on 5 January 1968 to conduct a solemn mission – the burial at sea of George H. Flynt, YN1 (Ret.). Flynt's last wish was that his remains be consigned to the deep.
The Noa underwent regular availability and overhaul at Charleston commencing 8 January 1968. Work was completed 17 June and the destroyer was in Mayport on 25 June. Because of excessive vibration in her starboard shaft, the Noa returned to drydock at Charleston on 8 July for one week. She steamed for Guantanamo for refresher training after which she returned to Mayport on 11 September. Homeported once again the destroyer conducted maintenance and training and began preparation for deployment to the Pacific.
During October she was in restricted availability at
1969–1973
1969 West Pac Cruise serving off the coast of the Republic of Vietnam proceeding within 12 Nautical Miles on at least two occasions, April and May of 1969. In May 1972, the Noa went to Guantanamo Bay for training. The ship was scheduled for overhaul and needed work done before she could again be deployed." In June – September 1972, Noa underwent overhaul at the Naval Station Jacksonville. Repairs were made to the outer and inner hull. Lagging was replaced throughout the ship. Noa returned to Gitmo in November, 1972 for refresher training. She left Mayport for her last deployment as an American ship in January 1973, headed for the Middle East. Her deployment was a second one to the Middle East Force in the Indian Ocean and Arabian (Persian) Gulf. Because the Suez Canal was still mined from the Arab-Israeli war, Noa went to the Indian Ocean via the Cape of Good Hope. She transited via Port of Spain, Trinidad, Recife, Brazil, Luanda, Angola, Laurenco Marques (Now Maputo) Mozambique and relieved in Port Louis, Mauritius. During the next months she operated in the Indian Ocean, Red Sea and Arabian (Persian) Gulf, visiting Diego Garcia, Chagos Archipelago, Diego Suarez Madagascar, Victoria, Seychelles, Djibouti, Mombasa, Kenya, Massawa, (then) Ethiopia Bandar Abbas, Iran. While there she was visited by the Shah. Later ports included Dubai, UAE where the Emir called upon the Captain and toured the ship. Noa's Landing Party Team won Plaudits from COMMIDEAST for their preparation for and survey of Sir Abu Nu Air. During a mid-deployment visit to Bahrain, the ship underwent upkeep and restocking and enjoyed a visit by several wives of crewmen. She returned to Mayport in June, 1973 after being relieved in Mombasa Kenya.
Noa returned via the same route as her journey into the Middle east. She participated in Bilateral Operations with the Brazilian Navy while in Brazilian waters.
Noa was decommissioned on 31 October 1973. Then she was loaned to the Spanish Navy for less than two years. She was struck from the U.S. Naval Vessel Register on 2 June 1975.
Spanish Blas de Lezo (D65)
The ship served in the Spanish Navy as Blas de Lezo (D65), named after Adm. Blas de Lezo y Olavarrieta (1689–1741). She was sold by the United States to Spain on 17 May 1978. Blas de Lezo was stricken and scrapped in 1991.
References
- ^ Kranz, Gene. Failure is not an Option: Mission Control from Mercury to Apollo 13 and Beyond, 2001. Berkley Trade (8 May 2001). Page 76.
This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entries can be found here and here.
External links
- Photo gallery of USS Noa at NavSource Naval History