USS Porter (DD-800)

For other ships with the same name, see USS Porter.
History
United States
Namesake: David Dixon Porter
Builder: Todd Pacific Shipyards, Seattle, Washington
Laid down: 6 July 1943
Launched: 13 March 1944
Commissioned: 24 June 1944
Decommissioned: 10 August 1953
Struck: 1 October 1972
Fate: Sold for scrap, 21 March 1974
General characteristics
Class and type: Fletcher class destroyer
Displacement: 2,050 tons
Length: 376 ft 5 in (114.73 m)
Beam:   39 ft 7 in (12.07 m)
Draft:   13 ft 9 in (4.19 m)
Propulsion:
  • 60,000 shp (45 MW);
  • geared turbines;
  • 2 propellers
Speed: 35 knots (65 km/h)
Range:
  • 6,500 nautical miles at 15 kt
  •   (12,000 km at 30 km/h)
Complement: 329
Armament:

USS Porter (DD-800) was a Fletcher-class destroyer of the United States Navy, the fourth Navy ship named for Commodore David Porter (1780–1843), and his son Admiral David Dixon Porter (1813–1891).

Porter was laid down by the Todd Pacific Shipyards, Inc., Seattle, Wash., 6 July 1943; launched 13 March 1944; sponsored by Miss Georgiana Porter Cusachs; and commissioned 24 June 1944; Commander R. R. Prince in command.

History

After shakedown off San Diego, Calif., Porter sailed for duty off Adak, Alaska 16 September 1944. On 21 November 1944, with Task Force 92 (TF 92), she made an offensive sweep against the Kurile Islands and bombarded enemy military installations on Matsuwa. She made another offensive sweep against the Japanese naval base at Suribachi Wan, Paramushiru, 5 January 1945, and on the night of 18 February bombarded Kurabu Zaki, Paramushiru. On 15 May Porter participated in the first extensive sweep by surface vessels into the Japanese-controlled Sea of Okhotsk, bombarding Suribachi Wan during the retirement. Porter bombarded Matsuma again on 10 and 11 June. On 25 June, during another sweep of the Sea of Okhotsk, Porter encountered a small convoy and sank a 2,000-ton Japanese merchantman with gunfire.

When V-J Day came Porter was undergoing overhaul at Portland, Oreg., where she remained until 1 September. After escorting Enterprise (CV-6) from Seattle to San Francisco, Porter underwent refresher training at San Diego, then steamed for the east coast. On 3 July 1946 Porter was placed out of commission, in reserve, attached to the U.S. Atlantic Reserve Fleet, berthed at Charleston, S.C.

Recommissioned 9 February 1951, Porter served in Korean waters from 18 June to 14 September 1952 with TF 95. A member of the “Trainbusters Club”, she destroyed one North Korean train and damaged 2. She was placed out of commission, in reserve, berthed at Norfolk, Va., 10 August 1953.

Porter was stricken from the Naval Vessel Register 1 October 1972. She was sold 21 March 1974 and broken up for scrap.

Honors

Porter earned one battle star for World War II service and one battle star for Korean War service.

References

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