Jan 28, 2023
Destroyer USS Fletcher (DD-445)
©Artwork by George Watts
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Destroyer USS Fletcher (DD-445)
©Artwork by George Watts
“USS Fletcher (DD-445) undergoing inclining tests at Federal Shipbuilding, 26 June 1942. Official USN photo.”
(Source)
“USS Fletcher (DD-445) at anchor in Purvis Bay, Florida Island, Solomons, while serving in Task Force 31. Photo taken 26 March 1943.”
(NHHC: NH 53915)
“USS Fletcher (DD-445) at anchor in Purvis Bay, Florida Island, Solomon Islands, on 26 March 1943.”
(NHHC: NH 53916)
Fletcher and Arizona
My USS Arizona and Fletcher models sitting proudly together. The Arizona was my first ship, as well as the first model I completed. Unfortunately shortly after it was completed it was knocked down and damaged. My eleven-year-old self did his best to fix it, but the spars had broken and there wasn’t much I could do. It’s not my best work, but I’m still proud of how she came out.
Day one of my USS Fletcher model build. About two hours of work went into putting the hull together. The only things that are missing from the hull are the anchors and the propellor protectors on the side that helped protect them in the event of a collision. The hardest part was getting the black load line straight. I had lines to guide me, but my hands aren’t good with fine details. 30 minutes in, my Dad imparted some wise words that came from model building when he was younger than I am now: use tape. Still is a bit uneven, but much better than what it was. I can always come back and redo the line if it keeps bugging me. Tomorrow I’m going to finish the hull and start working on the deck and superstructure. The USS Fletcher was the lead ship of her class of 175 destroyers. She was armed with 5 5-inch dual purpose cannons (could shoot surface and air targets), ten torpedoes tubes split up into 2 banks of torpedoes, and over twenty AA guns of varying caliber. The Fletcher served until the late sixties, and the last ship of her class was decommissioned in 2001 from the Mexican navy. Four ships survive as museum ships, three in the US, and one in Greece.
(via https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2VBdt-C_How)
“Ships of Task Force 18 in Tulagi Harbor, Solomon Islands, shortly before departing hurriedly to avoid the large-scale Japanese air attack that marked the beginning of the I Operation, 7 April 1943. Photographed from USS Fletcher (DD-445). USS Aaron Ward (DD-483) is partially visible at left. She was fatally damaged in this air attack and sank near Tulagi during salvage attempts. Light cruiser in center is USS Honolulu (CL-48). USS St. Louis (CL-49) is behind her, to the right, with a Fletcher-class destroyer beyond.”
(NHHC: NH 97810)