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USS DICKERSON (DD-157 / APD-21)


Flag Hoist/Radio Call Sign - NAFC

CLASS - WICKES (TATTNALL)
Built to Bath plans, built by New York SB., these Wickes versions were
slightly heavier but had a much poorer cruising radius.
Displacement 1,211 Tons, Dimensions, 314' 5" (oa) x 31' 8" x 9' 10" (Max)
Armament 4 x 4"/50, 2 x 3"/23AA, 12 x 21" tt..
Machinery, 24,900 SHP; Direct Drive Turbines with Geared Cruising Turbines, 2 screws
Speed, 35 Knots, Crew 101.
Operational and Building Data
Laid down by New York Shipbuilding on May 25 1918.
Launched March 12 1919 and commissioned September 3 1919.
Decommissioned June 26 1922 and recommissioned May 1 1930.
Converted to High Speed Transport APD-21 August 21 1943.
Dickerson was irreparably damaged by Japanese Kamikaze Attack off Okinawa April 2 1945.
Decommissioned April 4 1945.
Fate Scuttled off Kerama Retto April 4 1945.

58 of her crew were lost and remain on duty.

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Size Image Description Contributed
By
Dickerson 73kPhoto #: NH 77326-KN, Mahlon Dickerson (1770-1853), Secretary of the Navy, 1 July 1834 -- 30 June 1838. Portrait by A.S. Conrad, after J. Vanderlyn. Courtesy of the Navy Art Collection, Washington, D.C. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.Tony Cowart
Dickerson 158kUndated, location unknown.Curt Clark, The Four Stack APD Veterans
Dickerson 118kUndated, USS Biddle (DD-151) and USS Dickerson (DD-157) in drydock.-
Dickerson 161kUndated, location unknown. Photo from the collection of the Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum.Darryl Baker
Dickerson 224kUndated, location unknown. Photo from the collection of the Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum.Darryl Baker
Dickerson 221kUndated, location unknown. Photo from the collection of John Dickey.Ed Zajkowski
Dickerson 134kDestroyers fitting out at New York Shipbuilding Corporation shipyard, Camden, New Jersey,on 8 April 1919. They are (from left to right): Leary (Destroyer # 158; Builder's # 217); Babbitt (Destroyer # 128; Builder's # 213); Dickerson (Destroyer # 157; Builder's # 216); and Jacob Jones (Destroyer # 130; Builder's # 215). Builder's hull numbers are painted in small numerals on the ships' bows. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Photo #: NH 43195.Robert Hurst
Dickerson 98kWickes-class destroyers fitting out at the New York Shipbuilding Corporation shipyard, Camden, New Jersey, May 1919. These ships are (from left to right): Dickerson (Destroyer # 157, builder's hull # 216); Leary (Destroyer # 158, builder's hull # 217); Schenck (Destroyer # 159, builder's hull # 218); Herbert (Destroyer # 160, builder's hull # 219); Brooks (Destroyer # 232, builder's hull # 221); Hatfield (Destroyer # 231, builder's hull # 220); Babbitt (Destroyer # 128, builder's hull # 213) and DeLong (Destroyer # 129, builder's hull # 214). Note triple torpedo tubes on the wharf in the center foreground, and destroyer smokestacks in the lower left. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Photo # NH 42530.Joe Radigan/Robert Hurst
Leary
0515816
131kUSS Leary (DD-158) and Dickerson (DD-157) anchored together in Penobscot Bay, Maine, for the Castine Pageant, 05 August 1920.Dave Wright
Dickerson 109kUSS Dickerson (Destroyer # 157), At anchor, probably in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, circa 1920. USS Schenck (Destroyer # 159) is partially visible in the right background. Collection of Gustave Maurer. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph. Photo #: NH 54510.Robert Hurst
Dickerson 134kUSS Dickerson (DD-157) in San Diego Harbor, California, during the early 1930s. Kane (DD-235) and another DD are moored in the background. Original negative given by Mr. Franklin Moran in 1967. Source: Naval History and Heritage Command, Photo No. NH 64533 Mike Green
Dickerson 153kUSS Dobbin (AD-3), Alongside the dock at Smith's Cove, Seattle, Washington, in company with several destroyers, 4 July 1933. Destroyers in the foreground are, from left to right: USS Schenck (DD-159); USS Dickerson (DD-157); and USS Herbert (DD-160). USS Leary (DD-158) is alongside Dobbin, just astern of the foreground group. USS Tarbell (DD-142) is in the background, partially visible at right. Donation of Franklin Moran, 1967. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Photo #: NH 65013.Robert Hurst

USS DICKERSON DD-157 / APD-21 History
View This Vessels DANFS History Entry
(Located On The hazegray Web Site, This Is The Main Archive For The DANFS Online Project.)

Commanding Officers
Thanks to Wolfgang Hechler & Ron Reeves


CDR Frederick Vallette McNair Jr.    Sep 3 1919 - Oct 24 1919

CDR Walter Browne Woodson    Oct 24 1919 - Nov 15 1920 (Later RADM)

CDR Claude Banks Mayo    Nov 15 1920 - Jun 26 1922

(Decommissioned June 26 1922 - May 1 1930)

CDR John Finley Donelson    May 1 1930 - Jun 8 1932

LCDR Chauncey Rolfe Crutcher    Jun 8 1932 - Apr 21 1934

LCDR Robert Turner Darrow    Apr 21 1934 - Jan 10 1936 

LT Van Fitch Rathbun    Jan 10 1936 - May 9 1939

LT Martin Robert Stone    May 9 1939 - Oct 31 1940 (Later RADM)

CDR John Keane Reybold    Oct 31 1940 - Mar 19 1942 (KIA)

LCDR Francis Edmond Wilson    Mar 19 1942 - Feb 10 1943

LCDR John Robert Cain Jr.   Feb 10 1943 - Aug 11 1944

LCDR Ralph Emerson Lounsbury    Aug 11 1944 - Apr 2 1945 (KIA)

LT Alexander Grant McEwen    Apr 2 1945 - Apr 4 1945 (XOIC) 


Crew Contact And Reunion Information
Contact Name: Curt Clark, Secretary Four Stack APD Veterans
Address: 3384 Grim Ave., San Diego, CA 92104
Phone: 619-282-0971
E-mail: apdsec@cox.net


Note About Contacts.

The contact listed, Was the contact at the time for this ship when located. If another person now is the contact, E-mail me and I will update this entry. These contacts are compiled from various sources over a long period of time and may or may not be correct. Every effort has been made to list the newest contact if more than one contact was found.


Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
NavSource page for the USS Dickerson APD-21
Tin Can Sailors Website
Destroyer History Foundation
Destroyers Online Website
Official U.S.Navy Destroyer Website

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This page was created by Fred Willishaw (ex ARG-4, AS-11 & DD-692) and is maintained by David L. Wright
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Last Updated 17 May 2021