USS John W. Weeks (DD-701)

USS John W. Weeks performing a highline transfer
History
United States
Name:	John W. Weeks
Namesake:	John Wingate Weeks
Builder:	Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Company
Laid down:	17 January 1944
Launched:	21 May 1944
Commissioned:	21 July 1944
Decommissioned:	12 August 1970
Struck:	12 August 1970
Fate:	Sunk as target off Virginia 19 November 1970
General characteristics
Class and type:	Allen M. Sumner-class destroyer
Displacement:	2,200 tons
Length:	376 ft 6 in (114.76 m)
Beam:	40 ft (12 m)
Draft:	15 ft 8 in (4.78 m)
Propulsion:	60,000 shp (45,000 kW) 2 propellers
Speed:	34 kn (63 km/h; 39 mph)
Range:	6,500 nmi (12,000 km; 7,500 mi) at 15 kn (28 km/h; 17 mph)
Complement:	336
Armament:	6 × 5 in (127 mm)/38 cal guns, 12 × 40 mm AA guns, 11 × 20 mm AA guns, 10 × 21 in (533 mm) torpedo tubes, 6 × depth charge projectors, 2 × depth charge tracks

USS John W. Weeks (DD-701), an Allen M. Sumner-class destroyer, was named for John Wingate Weeks, who attained the rank of Rear Admiral. Weeks was elected to the United States House of Representatives where he served until entering the United States Senate in 1913. He became Secretary of War on 4 March 1921.

John W. Weeks was laid down on 17 January 1944 by Federal Ship Building & Dry Dock Co., Kearny, New Jersey. The ship was launched on 21 May 1944; sponsored by Mrs. John W. Davidge, daughter of Secretary Weeks. The ship was commissioned on 21 July 1944, Commander Robert A. Theobald. Jr., in command.

After shakedown out of Bermuda and tests en route to Argentina, the new destroyer departed New York on 10 November 1944, escorting the battleships Missouri, Texas, Arkansas and aircraft carriers Shamrock Bay and Wake Island to the Pacific. She transited the Panama Canal and touched San Francisco, Pearl Harbor, and Eniwetok before joining the 3rd Fleet at Ulithi 27 December.