USS Picking (DD-685)

History

United States
Name:	Picking
Namesake:	Sherwood Picking
Builder:	Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation, Staten Island, N.Y.
Laid down:	24 November 1942
Launched:	1 June 1943
Commissioned:	21 September 1943
Decommissioned:	6 September 1969
Struck:	1 March 1975
Fate:	sunk as a target, 27 February 1997
General characteristics
Class and type:	Fletcher-class destroyer
Displacement:	2,050 tons
Length:	376.4 ft (114.7 m)
Beam:	39.6 ft (12.1 m)
Draft:	13.8 ft (4.2 m)
Propulsion:	60,000 shp (45,000 kW); 2 propellers
Speed:	38 kn (70 km/h; 44 mph)
Range:	6,500 nmi (12,000 km; 7,500 mi) at 15 kn (28 km/h; 17 mph)
Complement:	329
Armament:	5 × 5 in (127 mm)/38 cal. guns 10 × 40 mm AA guns, 7 × 20 mm AA guns, 10 × 21 inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes

USS Picking (DD-685), a Fletcher-class destroyer, was a ship of the United States Navy named for Sherwood Picking (1890–1941), a submarine commander during World War I.

Picking (DD–685) was laid down on 24 November 1942 by Bethlehem Steel Co., Inc., Staten Island, N.Y.; launched on 1 June 1943; sponsored by Mrs. Sherwood Picking; and commissioned on 21 September 1943, Commander Raymond S. Lamb in command.

Following shakedown off Bermuda, Picking proceeded via the Panama Canal to Dutch Harbor, Alaska, where she arrived 28 December 1943 to serve with the North Pacific Fleet, Destroyer Squadron 49. She bombarded Paramushiro, Kuriles, 4 February 1944, Matsuwa Island, Kuriles, 13 June, and Paramushiro again 26 June. In August she steamed to San Francisco, California for upkeep, and then to Hawaii, arriving Pearl Harbor on the 31st where she joined the 3rd Fleet. Escorting attack transports, she arrived at Manus Island 3 October.

Assigned to the 7th Fleet, she screened for the southern landings on Leyte 20 October. While escorting unloaded transports bound for Hollandia, New Guinea, she splashed one plane 24 October. Upon news of the Battle off Samar Island, Picking rushed to provide protection. She and Hale splashed one plane on 25 October. After the Battle for Leyte Gulf, she escorted Mount Olympus and Auriga to Manus Island and returned to Leyte 20 November to protect Allied convoys bringing reinforcements.