USS William C. Lawe (DD-763)
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| History | |
|---|---|
 United States
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| Name: | USS William C. Lawe |
| Namesake: | William C. Lawe |
| Builder: | Bethlehem Steel Co., San Francisco, California |
| Laid down: | 12 March 1944 |
| Launched: | 21 May 1945 |
| Commissioned: | 18 December 1946 |
| Decommissioned: | 1 October 1983 |
| Struck: | 1 October 1983 |
| Honors and awards: |
2 battle stars (Vietnam) |
| Fate: | Sunk as a target, 14 July 1999 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | Gearing-class destroyer |
| Displacement: | 3,460 long tons (3,516 t) full |
| Length: | 390 ft 6 in (119.02 m) |
| Beam: | 40 ft 10 in (12.45 m) |
| Draft: | 14 ft 4 in (4.37 m) |
| Propulsion: | Geared turbines, 2 shafts, 60,000 shp (45 MW) |
| Speed: | 35 knots (65 km/h; 40 mph) |
| Range: | 4,500 nmi (8,300 km) at 20 kn (37 km/h; 23 mph) |
| Complement: | 336 |
| Armament: |
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The third USS William C. Lawe (DD-763) was a Gearing-class destroyer of the United States Navy, named for aviation metalsmith third class (AM3c) William C. Lawe (1910–1942), who was killed on June 4, 1942, as a member of Torpedo Squadron 8 (VT-8) in the Air Battle of Midway.
William C. Lawe (DD-763) was laid down on 12 March 1944 by the Bethlehem Steel Co., San Francisco, California; launched on 21 May 1945; sponsored by Mrs. Nancy Lee Lawe; and commissioned on 18 December 1946, Commander George R. Lee in command.
After commissioning, William C. Lawe requested an extended fitting-out period due to the failure of the starboard reduction gear. On 29 January 1947, the ship returned to the Bethlehem Steel Co. for repairs. Lawe reported to San Diego, California for shakedown on 28 March 1947 and continued operations in the San Diego and San Francisco areas until 9 October when she set course for Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The destroyer remained at Pearl Harbor for three months. She then departed on 16 January 1948, together with three other destroyers and aircraft carrier Valley Forge, for an around-the-world cruise for training and goodwill purposes. The ship returned to San Diego on 12 June 1948 after a five-month cruise in which the ship had steamed over 46,000 nautical miles (85,000 km).
For the next 18 months, William C. Lawe conducted local operations in the San Diego area with periods of upkeep and repair at San Francisco. In October 1949, the destroyer received word of assignment to the Atlantic Fleet and, on 5 October, proceeded to her new home port at Newport, Rhode Island, via the Panama Canal. During the same month, she left Newport to join in Second Task Fleet cold weather operations in the Arctic region. Lawe returned to Newport, Rhode Island, on 21 November 1949 and remained at her new home port for the remainder of the year.
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