U.S.S. JENKINS
AND
U.S.S. BUCHANAN
LAUNCHING
JUNE 21, 1942

THE WHITEHEAD & HOAG CO.
NEWARK, N.J.
BUTTONS, BADGES, NOVELTIES AND SIGNS

USS Jenkins (DD-447)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Career

Namesake: Thortan A. Jenkins
Builder: Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Company
Laid down: 27 November 1941
Launched: 21 June 1942
Commissioned: 31 July 1942
Decommissioned: 1 May 1946
Reclassified: DDE-447, 2 January 1951
Recommissioned: 2 November 1951
Decommissioned: February 1969
Struck: 2 July 1969
Fate: Sold for scrap, 17 February 1971

General characteristics

Class and type: Fletcher class destroyer
Displacement: 2,100 tons
Length: 376 ft. 4 in. (114.7 m)
Beam: 39 ft. 5 in. (12.0 m)
Draft: 13 ft. (4.0 m)
Propulsion: 60,000 shp (45 MW); geared turbines; 2 propellers
Speed: 36 knots (67 km/h)
Range: 6,500 nautical miles at 15 kt (12,000 km at 30 km/h)
Complement: 273 officers and enlisted
Armament: 5 - 5 in (127 mm)/38 guns, 10 - 40 mm AA guns, 7 - 20 mm AA guns, 10 - 21 in. torpedo tubes, 6 depth charge projectors, 2 depth charge tracks.

USS Jenkins (DD-447) was a World War II era Fletcher class destroyer in the service of the United States Navy, the second ship named after Rear Admiral Thortan A. Jenkins. Jenkins was laid down by Federal Shipbuilding & Drydock Co., Kearny, New Jersey, 27 November 1941; launched 21 June 1942; sponsored by Mrs. Marion Parker Embry; and commissioned 31 July 1942, Lieutenant Commander H. F. Miller in command.

History

After a training period during the summer of 1942, Jenkins departed Casco Bay, Maine, 24 October as escort to a convoy headed for the North African campaign. She screened heavy ships during the shore bombardment, as the attack force arrived off Casablanca 8 November. Following the successful assault, the destroyer returned to New York 19 November to prepare for action in the Pacific.

Arriving at Nouméa, New Caledonia 4 January 1943, she immediately began escort and patrol duty among the Solomon Islands and in the Coral Sea. Her first Pacific landing operation began 29 June, when she joined other units in supporting the invasion of New Georgia Island. Jenkins splashed several enemy planes, as the Japanese fought back with considerable air strength.

Assigned to Rear Adm. Walden L. Ainsworth's Task Group 36.1, Jenkins departed Tulagi 5 July and steamed up the Slot to intercept a Japanese destroyer and transport force carrying reinforcements to Kolombangara. Radar detected the enemy during mid-watch; and during the Battle of Kula Gulf 6 July, American gunfire sank one destroyer and drove another ashore. Enemy torpedoes sank U.S.S. Helena (CL-50). Following this operation, Jenkins was dispatched 18 July to a position 100 miles south of Santa Cruz Island to assist damaged seaplane tender U.S.S. Chincoteague (AVP-24). Although under attack from enemy bombers, the destroyer escorted Chincoteague back to Espiritu Santo.

During the next 4 months Jenkins engaged in escort duty, training exercises, and preparations for the Gilbert Islands campaign. She joined the screen of Rear Adm. Arthur W. Radford's Northern Carrier Group which bombed Makin and Tarawa during the landings 15 November. Then the destroyer sailed with the carrier force to attack Kwajalein and Wotje in the Marshalls on 4 December. During these raids the carrier U.S.S. Lexington (CV-16) was hit by a torpedo, and Jenkins was assigned to escort her back to Pearl Harbor where she arrived 9 December.

Jenkins departed Hawaii 25 January 1944 with a tanker unit to fuel fast carriers and ships covering the Marshall Islands campaign. She operated with the refueling group through February, and conducted shore bombardment on Bougainville during March. She departed Seeadler Harbor 20 April to rendezvous with Task Force 77 for amphibious operations at Hollandia and Aitape. The landings took place 22 April, and their successful conclusion gave American Pacific forces another base from which to unleash further attacks on remaining enemy held islands. After escort duty and ASW patrols, Jenkins made a search in early June to thwart any attempt by the Japanese to reinforce their Biak garrison. She then covered and provided shore bombardment for the invasions of Noemfoor, Sansapor, and Morotai, as well as patrolling and escorting reinforcements for these operations throughout the summer.

Jenkins once again departed Manus, Admiralties, 12 October for the Leyte invasion scheduled 20 October. Upon arrival, the destroyer was assigned to radar picket duty, from which she performed fighter director duties. As other units of the fleet were decisively defeating the enemy fleet in the historic Battle for Leyte Gulf, Jenkins continued her services on the picket station until 27 November.

On 28 December Jenkins sortied from Aitape to provide close cover for the Luzon Attack Force. After receiving some damage from the enemy shore battery, the destroyer returned to Leyte 12 January 1945. Ten days later she departed to assist in hunter killer operations in the Lingayen Gulf area. She remained on ASW patrol until proceeding to cover minesweeping and shore bombardment on Corregidor 13 February. She continued to support the landings in the islands, giving valuable fire support and ASW assistance until late April.

She departed Subic Bay 24 April to cover minesweeping and amphibious operations in the Celebes Sea off Borneo. Jenkins struck a mine off Tarakan Island 30 April and sailed into Subic Bay for repairs. On 18 June she sailed for the United States to complete repairs, arriving San Pedro, California 8 July. She remained on the West Coast through the duration of the war. The battle scarred destroyer decommissioned at San Diego, California 1 May 1946.

The outbreak of the Korean conflict necessitated additional naval strength to maintain America's worldwide commitments. Jenkins recommissioned as DDE-447 on 2 November 1951 under the command of Commander C. F. McGivern. She departed San Diego 25 February 1952 for a training period at Pearl Harbor. Upon completion of training, she arrived Japan 12 June; and during the summer she operated with Task Force 77 which furnished air support for the ground forces in Korea. She also engaged in patrol duties off Korea and Taiwan before returning to her home port Pearl Harbor 5 December.

She operated out of Pearl until 10 November 1953 when she sailed for another Far Eastern tour. This cruise was highlighted by Korean and Formosan patrols before returning to Pearl Harbor 15 June. From 1954 through 1963, Jenkins sailed annually to the Far East for peacekeeping operations with the 7th Fleet. In her 1958 deployment the 7th Fleet was on ready alert, as the Chinese Communists commenced harassment of the Chinese Nationalist islands of Quemoy and Matsu.

During the sixties the 7th Fleet deployments were of greater importance because of the Communist insurgency in Laos and Vietnam. For the greater part of 1964 and 1965, Jenkins operated out of Pearl Harbor. Jenkins sailed for the Far East 9 February 1966 and on the 21st was assigned to gunfire support duty and effectively shelled enemy troop concentrations to assist Marine fighting in Vietnam. But for breathers in the Philippines and Japan, she continued this duty until returning to Pearl Harbor 22 July. Jenkins operated in Hawaiian waters until entering U.S. Naval Shipyard at Pearl Harbor 11 September for a major overhaul which was completed early in 1967. The destroyer then prepared for another deployment in the war zone. Jenkins received 14 battle stars for World War II service and 1 star for Korean War service.

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U.S.S. Buchanan (DD-484)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Career (USA)

Name: Buchanan
Laid down: 11 February 1941
Launched: 22 November 1941
Commissioned: 21 March 1942
Decommissioned: 28 April 1948
Fate: Transferred to Turkey, 28 April 1949
Struck: 7 June 1949

Career (Turkey)

Name: Gelibolu
Acquired: 28 April 1949
Struck: 1976
Fate: Scrapped, 1976

General characteristics

Displacement: 1,630 tons
Length: 348 ft. 3 in. (106.1 m)
Beam: 36 ft. 1 in. (11.0 m)
Draft: 11 ft. 10 in. (3.6 m)
Propulsion: 50,000 shp (37 MW); 4 boilers; 2 propellers
Speed: 37.4 knots (69 km/h)
Range: 6,500 nautical miles at 12 kt (12,000 km at 22 km/h)
Complement: 16 officers, 260 enlisted
Armament: 5 - 5 in (127 mm) DP guns, 6 - 0.5 in. (12.7 mm) guns, 6 - 20 mm AA guns, 10 - 21 in (53 cm) torpedo tubes, 2 - depth charge tracks.

U.S.S. Buchanan (DD-484), a Gleaves class destroyer, was the 2nd ship of the United States Navy to be named for Franklin Buchanan, who was an officer in the U.S. Navy who became an admiral in the Confederate Navy during the American Civil War. Buchanan (DD-484) was launched 22 November 1941 by Federal Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., Kearny, New Jersey; sponsored by Miss Hildreth Meiere, great-granddaughter of Admiral Buchanan; and commissioned 21 March 1942, Lieutenant Commander R. E. Wilson in command.

Buchanan got underway for the Pacific 28 May 1942. She played an effective role in the landings at Guadalcanal and Tulagi (7 - 9 August) and on 9 August she was present during the Battle of Savo Island and rescued many survivors of U.S.S. Astoria (CA-34), U.S.S. Quincy (CA-39), U.S.S. Vincennes (CA-44), and H.M.A.S. Canberra, sunk during the battle. In September she escorted the U.S.S. Wasp (CV-7) and other units to Noumea, New Caledonia. Shortly there after, as part of TF 64.2, Buchanan assisted in the occupation of Funafuti Island in the Ellice Islands.

On the night of 11 - 12 October, as a unit of TG 64.2 Buchanan took part in the Battle of Cape Esperance. On 12 November the destroyer was damaged during the initial stages of the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal when she was accidentally hit by U.S. naval gunfire. She suffered the loss of five of her crew and had to withdraw from the action. After undergoing repairs, she was assigned to convoy escort duty until February 1943.

After leave in Sydney, Australia, Buchanan joined the screen of TF 15. On 30 April 1943, while screening in convoy, the ship ran aground off the southern coast of Guadalcanal and, after jettisoning heavy gear and ammunition, she was eased off the reef by three tugs. She proceeded to Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides, for repairs. Repairs completed, she participated in the New Georgia Group operations (30 June - 13 July) and while under heavy attack she effectively bombarded the enemy shore batteries during the invasion of Rendova. She participated in the bombardment of Munda (12 July) and the Battle of Kolombangara (13 July). Buchanan was damaged when she collided with Woodworth (DD-460) during the latter engagement and retired to Noumea for repairs. During the ensuing months, Buchanan convoyed ships to Noumea, Espiritu Santo, and Guadalcanal. She participated in the Treasury-Bougainville operation (1-11 November), taking part in the Rabaul and Buka-Bonis strikes. Next, as a unit of TF 38, she bombarded Shortland Island and Bougainville (8 and 13 January 1944). On 22 January, while going to the rescue of the torpedoed oiler Cache (AO-67), Buchanan hunted down and sank the Japanese submarine RO-37 in 11°47 S 164°17 E.

During February the destroyer participated in various phases of the Bismarck Archipelago operation (15 February - 1 March). She covered the Green Island landings and took an active part in the bombardment of Kavieng, Rabaul, and New Ireland before steaming to the United States to undergo a yard overhaul at Mare Island.

Upon completion of overhaul and refresher training Buchanan returned to the Pacific and served with the transport screen during the assault and capture of the southern Palaus (6 September - 14 October 1944). She next participated in the strikes against Luzon between 14 and 16 December. On 18 December she was damaged by a typhoon in the Philippine Sea. Upon completion of repairs, she engaged in attacks on Luzon, Formosa, and the China coast (6 - 16 January 1945) in support of the Luzon operation. During the remainder of World War II she participated in the Iwo Jima invasion (15 February-5 March), Okinawa operation and supporting 3rd and 5th Fleet raids (16 March-30 June); as well as the 3rd Fleet operations against Japan (10 July -15 August 1945).

On 29 August she entered Tokyo Bay escorting South Dakota (BB-57). On 1 September she carried Fleet Admirals Nimitz and Halsey from their respective flagships to Yokohama where they met with General MacArthur and then returned them to the fleet. The following day she carried General MacArthur to Missouri (BB-63) where he accepted the Japanese surrender and then returned him to Yokohama. She remained on occupation duty in the Far East until 8 October and then departed for San Francisco where she arrived 20 October. Buchanan steamed to Charleston, South Carolina for pre-inactivation overhaul and went out of commission in reserve there 21 May 1946.

Buchanan was recommissioned 11 December 1948 at Charleston and underwent shakedown and refresher training with a nucleus Turkish crew aboard. On 29 March 1949 she got underway for Gölcük, Turkey, where she was turned over to the Turkish Navy on 28 April 1949. Buchanan received the Presidential Unit Citation and 16 battle stars for her World War II service. TCG Gelibolu (D346) The destroyer served in the Turkish Navy as TCG Gelibolu (D346) until retired in 1976.