USS Franks (DD-554)
 |
|
| History | |
|---|---|
 United States
|
|
| Name: | Franks |
| Namesake: | William Joseph Franks |
| Builder: | Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corporation |
| Laid down: | 8 March 1942 |
| Launched: | 7 December 1942 |
| Commissioned: | 30 July 1943 |
| Decommissioned: | 31 May 1946 |
| Struck: | 1 December 1972 |
| Fate: | Sold for scrapping, 1 August 1973 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | Fletcher-class destroyer |
| Displacement: | 2,050 tons |
| Length: | 376 ft 6 in (114.76 m) |
| Beam: | 39 ft 8 in (12.09 m) |
| Draft: | 17 ft 9 in (5.41 m) |
| Propulsion: | 60,000 shp (45,000 kW); 2 propellers |
| Speed: | 35 knots (65 km/h; 40 mph) |
| Range: | 6,500 nmi (12,000 km) at 15 kn (28 km/h) |
| Complement: | 336 |
| Armament: |
|
USS Franks (DD-554), a World War II-era Fletcher-class destroyer in the service of the United States Navy, was named after Medal of Honor recipient Acting Master's Mate William Joseph Franks.
Franks was launched on 7 December 1942 by Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corporation, Seattle, Washington; sponsored by Mrs. Martha F. W. Carr, a cousin of Acting Master's Mate Franks, and commissioned on 30 July 1943, Lieutenant Commander N. A. Lidstone in command.
Franks arrived at Pearl Harbor 25 October 1943 to prepare for the invasion of the Gilbert Islands, for which she sortied 10 November. She screened escort carriers providing air cover for the Tarawa landings, then patrolled off Betio until 27 December, returning then to Pearl Harbor for a brief repair period. The destroyer was underway once more 22 January 1944 with the Southern Attack Force for the invasion of Kwajalein, during which she patrolled against submarines, as well as closing Ebeye Island for reconnaissance and bombardment. Again she replenished at Pearl Harbor, between 18 February and 4 March, then sailed for convoy and patrol duty in the Solomon Islands, arriving at Purvis Bay 15 March.
Targets for Franks' reconnaissance and bombardment missions in March and April 1944 included Mussau, north of New Ireland; Kapingamaringi; and Bougainville. In May, screening minelayers in Buka Passage, Franks and Haggard contacted, attacked, and sank the Japanese submarine I-176 on 16 May. Returning to the central Pacific the next month, Franks joined in the preinvasion bombardment of Guam from 12 July, and gave fire support to the assault troops who landed there 21 July. After replenishing at Eniwetok, Franks sailed back to the South Pacific to prepare for the invasion of the Palaus, off which she arrived 15 September. She served as screen and fighter-director ship, then covered the occupation of Ulithi 23 September.
...
Wikipedia