USS Cushing (DD-797)

History

United States
Name:	*USS Cushing* (DD-797)**
Namesake:	William B. Cushing
Builder:	Bethlehem Mariners Harbor, Staten Island
Laid down:	3 May 1943
Launched:	30 September 1943
Commissioned:	17 January 1944
Decommissioned:	3 February 1947
Homeport:	Naval Station Bremerton
Honors and awards:	Six (6) battle stars
History
United States
Recommissioned:	17 August 1951
Decommissioned:	8 November 1960
Honors and awards:	Two (2) battle stars
Loaned to Brazil:	20 July 1961
History
Brazil
Name:	Paraná (D29)
Acquired:	20 July 1961
Struck:	1 August 1973
Fate:	Scrapped, 1982
General characteristics
Class and type:	Fletcher-class destroyer
Displacement:	2,050 tons (standard); 2,500 tons (full load)
Length:	376.5 ft (114.8 m)
Beam:	39.5 ft (12.0 m)
Draft:	12.5 ft (3.8 m)
Propulsion:	4 Babcock & Wilcox oil-fired boilers; 2 General Electric geared steam turbines; 2 screws; =60,000shp (45 MW)
Speed:	36.5 knots (67.6 km/h; 42.0 mph)
Range:	5,500 nautical miles (10,200 km; 6,300 mi) at 15 kn (28 km/h; 17 mph)
Complement:	329 officers and men
Armament:	5 × single 5 inch/38 caliber guns guided by a Mark 37 Gun Fire Control System with Mk25 fire control radar linked by a Mark 1A Fire Control Computer stabilized by a Mk6 8,500 rpm gyro. 6–10 × 40 mm Bofors AA guns (early ships carried 4 × 1.1 inch/75 caliber guns), 7–10 × 20 mm Oerlikon cannons, 10 × 21 inch torpedo tubes (2×5), 6 × K-guns, 2 × depth charge racks

USS Cushing (DD-797) was a Fletcher-class destroyer of the United States Navy, the fourth Navy ship named for Commander William B. Cushing (1842–1874), who distinguished himself during the American Civil War. Cushing was launched on 30 September 1943, by Bethlehem Steel Co., in Staten Island, New York; she was sponsored by Miss Katherine A. Cushing, a daughter of Commander Cushing. The vessel's commissioning was on 17 January 1944, with Commander Louis F. Volk in command.

The Cushing was placed into active service twice by the United States Navy, first during World War II (earning six battle stars) and next during the Korean War (earning two additional battle stars). During WW II, she participated in the Mariana and Palau Islands campaign, the Battle of Angaur, the Philippines campaign, 1944-45, the Battle for Leyte Gulf, pre-invasion strikes on Iwo Jima and Okinawa, the Battle of Okinawa, and finally, strikes on the Tokyo area until the end of the war. For several months after the signing of the Japanese Instrument of Surrender, she served as the harbor entrance control vessel at Sagami Wan for the occupation forces before returning home. During the Korea conflict, Cushing served as plane guard and participated in bombardment of North Korea. After the war, she patrolled in the Taiwan Straits, and visited various ports strengthening national ties in the President Dwight D. Eisenhower's "People to People" program.