USS Fechteler (DD-870)
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2007-12-15T07:44:32Z
Fernvale
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{{Wikify|date=September 2007}}
{{otherships|USS Fechteler}}
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!align="center" style="color: white; height: 30px; background: navy no-repeat scroll top left;"|Career
!align="center" style="color: white; height: 30px; background: navy no-repeat scroll top left;"| {{USN flag|(1970)}}
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|Ordered:
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|Laid down:
|[[12 April]] [[1945]]
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|Launched:
|[[19 September]] [[1945]]
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|Commissioned:
|[[2 March]] [[1946]]
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|Decommissioned:
|[[11 September]] [[1970]]
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|Fate:
|scrapped [[28 June]] [[1972]]
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|Struck:
|[[11 September]] [[1970]]
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'''USS ''Fechteler'' (DD-870)''', named for Rear Admiral [[Augustus Francis Fechteler]] USN ([[1857]]–[[1921]]) and/or his son Lieutenant Frank Casper Fechteler (1897-1922), was a [[Gearing class destroyer|''Gearing''-class]] [[destroyer]] laid down by the [[Bethlehem Steel Corporation]] at [[Staten Island]] in [[New York]] on [[12 April]] [[1945]], launched on [[19 September]] 1945 by Miss Joan S. Fechteler granddaughter of Rear Admiral Fechteler and niece of Lieutenant Fechteler, sponsor of the first ''USS Fechteler'' and commissioned on [[2 March]] [[1946]].
''Fechteler'' operated with the [[United States 7th Fleet|Seventh Fleet]] in support of [[United Nations]] Forces during the [[Korean War]], underwent conversion to a [[radar picket]] destroyer from [[1 April]] to [[1 December]] [[1953]], alternated operations along the west coast and in Hawaiian waters with deployments to the western Pacific with the Seventh Fleet, and participated in [[Sea Dragon]] and [[Market Time]] operations, patrolled on search and rescue duties and carried out [[naval gunfire support]] missions during the conflict in [[Vietnam]]. ''Fechteler'' was decommissioned and stricken from the [[Naval Vessel Register]] on [[11 September]] [[1970]] and sold for scrap on [[28 June]] [[1972]].
==History==
Homeported at Norfolk, Va., Fechteler operated with carriers in the Virginia Capes area, and made a brief winter cruise to Argentia, Newfoundland. On 6 January 1947 she sailed from Norfolk for the west coast, and on 26 May sailed from San Diego for her first tour of duty in the Far East. Serving in the occupation, she called at several Chinese ports, as well as at Okinawa, Hong Kong, Yokosuka, and Guam. She returned to San Diego 22 January 1948, to resume west coast training operations.
Fechteler completed a second tour of duty in the Far East in 1949, and in June 1950, when the Korean War broke out, was at sea off San Francisco on exercises. At once she sailed for Pearl Harbor, where she stood by in preparation for the possible spreading of the conflict, and on 14 July returned to San Diego to prepare for Korean service. She served in the Far East on two war-time deployments, the first from 13 November 1950 to 8 August 1951, the second from 23 February 1952 to 29 September 1952. During both of these, she screened TF 77 in its air operations, sailed with the escort and patrol force, and gave bombardment and close gunfire support to the troops ashore.
Fechteler was decommissioned and placed in reserve 1 April 1953, for conversion to a radar picket destroyer. Recommissioned 1 December 1953, she sailed 10 May 1954 for duty in the Far East until 6 September, when she sailed on westward to join the Atlantic Fleet at Newport, arriving 27 October. In addition to participating in the Atlantic schedule of east coast and Caribbean exercises, she also joined in a midshipman cruise in the summer of 1955, voyaging to Malaga, Spain; Plymouth, England; and Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
Once more assigned to the Pacific Fleet, Fechteler sailed from Newport 14 May 1956 for Long Beach, which she reached 28 June. In 1956, 1957-58, 1958-59, and 1960, she cruised in the Far East on duty with the 7th Fleet, serving both on the Taiwan Patrol, and with carrier task forces as a radar warning ship.
Fechteler received five battle stars for Korean War service.
==External links==
*[http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/f2/fechteler-ii.htm DANFS - Fechteler II]
{{Gearing class destroyer}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Fechteler (DD-870)}}
[[Category:Gearing class destroyers]]
[[Category:Cold War destroyers of the United States]]
[[Category:Korean War destroyers of the United States]]
[[Category:Vietnam War destroyers of the United States]]