_at_sea_c1945.jpg) | |
| History | |
|---|---|
 United States | |
| Name | USSBurns (DD-588) |
| Namesake | Hugh Otway Burns |
| Builder | Charleston Navy Yard |
| Laid down | 9 May 1942 |
| Launched | 8 August 1942 |
| Sponsored by | Mrs. Harry L. Smith |
| Commissioned | 3 April 1943 |
| Decommissioned | 25 June 1946 |
| Stricken | 1 November 1972 |
| Fate | Sunk as a target, 20 June 1974 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type | Fletcher-classdestroyer |
| Displacement | 2,050 tons |
| Length | 376 ft 6 in (114.76 m) |
| Beam | 39 ft 8 in (12.09 m) |
| Draft | 17 ft 9 in (5.41 m) |
| Propulsion | 60,000 shp (45,000 kW) × 2 propellers |
| Speed | 35 kn (65 km/h; 40 mph) |
| Range | 6,500 nmi (12,000 km; 7,500 mi) at 15 kn (28 km/h; 17 mph) |
| Complement | 329 |
| Armament |
|
USSBurns (DD-588), was aFletcher-classdestroyer, the second ship of theUnited States Navy to be named forCaptainHugh Otway Burns (1775–1850), aprivateer in theWar of 1812.
Hugh Burns waslaunched 8 August 1942 byCharleston Navy Yard; sponsored by Mrs. Harry L. Smith, great-granddaughter of Captain Hugh Burns; andcommissioned 3 April 1943.
Burns arrived atPearl Harbor 17 September 1943 and after a few weeks of training, embarked upon an outstandingWorld War II career. Between October 1943 and July 1945, with the exception of a stateside yard period (February–April 1945),Burns participated in the following operations, acting as anti-submarine escort, picket ship, fighter director ship, and aircraft rescue ship:
On 30 January 1944, after picking up three downed American aviators,Burns was offUjae Atoll en route to rejoin her task group when she came upon a smallJapaneseconvoy. During the ensuing 34-minute battle she succeeded in sinking all four Japanese vessels, a small cargo ship, a mediumtanker, and two small, either cargo or escort, ships.
Shortly thereafterBurns, as a unit of Task Group 50.9 (TG 50.9), took part in a surface action offTruk,Caroline Islands (17 February 1944). She assisted in sinkingKatori at 07°45' N. 151°20' E., and a trawler before being ordered to track down and dispose of theCH-24, which was accomplished at 1655 in 07°24' N., 150°30' E. Six Japanese survivors were rescued.
After the cessation of hostilitiesBurns remained in the Far East on occupation duty until December 1945. During this period she operated in theYellow Sea supporting the occupation ofKorea andChina. She departed theWestern Pacific 29 December 1945 and arrived atSan Francisco 8 January 1946. She then reported to the 19th Fleet for inactivation and was placed out of commission in reserve 25 June 1946 atSan Diego.
Burns was stricken from theNaval Vessel Register 1 November 1972, and sunk as a target 20 June 1974.
Burns received 11battle stars for her World War II service.
This article incorporates text from thepublic domainDictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be foundhere.
Shipwrecks and maritime incidents in 1974 | |
|---|---|
| Shipwrecks |
|
| Other incidents |
|
