USS Owen: Difference between revisions
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==1945== |
==1945== |
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Following the [[Battle of Luzon|Luzon assault]], the carrier force's sorties into the South and East China Seas were stepped up. The ships and planes repeatedly blasted installations from [[Saigon]] to the [[Ryu-kyu- Islands|Ryukyus]] and frequently sailed north to raid Japan's industrial heart. On 19–21 February 1945, the force supported the assault in Iwo Jima, then steamed west again to pound the [[Kanto- region|Tokyo plain]]. By mid-March, an intensified raiding campaign against the Ryukyus and Japan was well underway, preparing the way for an invasion force. |
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On 19 March, an enemy dive bomber penetrated the screen to score a direct hit on {{USS|Franklin|CV-13|2}} Following rescue operations, ''Owen'' was detached, with others, to escort the damaged carrier back to Ulithi. |
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''Owen'' departed Ulithi 5 April for her last operation. For the next 53 days she screened TG 58.2 as it provided air cover for forces fighting the [[battle of Okinawa]] and raided [[Kyu-shu-]]. On 28 May, she departed the intensely disputed Okinawan combat area. Sailing south, she anchored in Leyte Gulf until 20 June, when she set a homeward course. She arrived at San Francisco, California 9 July and was there when the war ended. |
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==Post-war service== |
==Post-war service== |
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Revision as of 23:02, 22 April 2010
,_USS_Owen_(DD-536)_and_USS_Miller_(DD-535)_at_the_Mare_Island_Naval_Shipyard,_California_(USA),_on_29_August_1945.jpg)
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| History | |
|---|---|
 US | |
| Namesake | Elias K. Owen |
| Builder | Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation, San Francisco, California |
| Laid down | 17 September 1942 |
| Launched | 21 March 1943 |
| Commissioned | 20 September 1943 |
| Decommissioned | 27 May 1958 |
| Stricken | 15 April 1973 |
| Fate | sold for scrap, 27 November 1973 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Fletcher-class destroyer |
| Displacement | 2,050 tons |
| Length | 376 ft 6 in (114.7 m) |
| Beam | 39 ft 8 in (12.1 m) |
| Draft | 17 ft 9 in (5.4 m) |
| Propulsion | 60,000 shp (45 MW); 2 propellers |
| Speed | 35 knots (65 km/h) |
| Range | 6500 nmi. (12,000 km) @ 15 kt |
| Complement | 329 |
| Armament |
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USS Owen (DD-536), a Fletcher-class destroyer, was a ship of the United States Navy named for Elias K. Owen.
Owen (DD–536) was laid down 17 September 1942 by the Bethlehem Steel Corp., San Francisco, California; launched 21 March 1943; sponsored by Mrs. Hope Owen; and commissioned 20 September 1943, Comdr. R. W. Wood in command.
Owen, assigned to Destroyer Squadron 52 (DesRon 52), completed shakedown off California and training in Hawaii in time to join the Fast Carrier Task Force (then called TF 58, as it was then part of the 5th Fleet) for Operation Flintlock. Operating with the carriers throughout most of World War II, she escorted them to their objectives; screened them as they launched dive bombing, straffing, and torpedo attacks; and covered them as they retired.
1944
WTF
1945
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Post-war service
Assigned to the 19th Fleet (Pacific Reserve Fleet), Owen decommissioned 10 December 1946 and was berthed at San Diego. She remained there until reactivated during the Korean Conflict. She recommissioned 17 August 1951, becoming flagship of DesDiv 282, and reported for duty with the Atlantic Fleet in November. Cold weather operations in the North Atlantic in early 1952 were followed by overhaul at Charleston Naval Shipyard and training operations in the Caribbean.
On 7 January 1953, she sailed, with her division, for the Far East. Steaming via the Panama Canal, she arrived at Sasebo, Japan, 12 February; joined the 7th Fleet; and immediately commenced operations off the embattled Korean peninsula. Owen divided her five months tour with the United Nations Force between the fast carriers (TG 77) and the Blockade and Escort Force (TF 95). With the former, her operations were similar to her World War II missions—screening and plane guard. With the latter, she patrolled from Wonsan to Chongjin and acted as flagship for the Yong Do and Wonsan Defense and Blockade Units. Defense of friendly islands, coastal patrol, shore bombardment to silence enemy batteries and impede their transport and communications activities, and mine destruction were included in these assignments.
On 26 June, Owen departed Sasebo to return to NS Norfolk via the Suez Canal. Completing her round-the-world voyage 22 August, she remained on the east coast until January 1954. A 3 month Mediterranean deployment followed, after which she returned to spend the remainder of the year in the western Atlantic.
In January 1955, she was transferred to the Pacific Fleet, arriving at Long Beach on 26 January. On reporting, her division was redesignated DesDiv 192. From 1955 to 1958, the destroyer alternated EastPac training operations and shipyard overhauls with WestPac tours. In December 1957, she returned from her last 7th Fleet deployment and reported for inactivation at Mare Island Naval Shipyard. She decommissioned 27 May 1958 and was again berthed in California as a unit of the Pacific Reserve Fleet, berthed at Stockton.
Owen was stricken 15 April 1973, sold 27 November 1973, and broken up for scrap.
Honors
Owen earned 9 battle stars during World War II; 2 during the Korean Conflict.
References
This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.
