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USS PRINGLE (DD-477)


Flag Hoist/Radio Call Sign - NUMG

CLASS - FLETCHER As Built.
Displacement 2924 Tons (Full), Dimensions, 376' 5"(oa) x 39' 7" x 13' 9" (Max)
Armament 4 x 5"/38AA, 2 x 40mm, 6 x 20mm AA, 5 x 21" tt.(1x5), aircraft catapult.
Machinery, 60,000 SHP; Allis Chalmers Turbines, 2 screws
Speed, 38 Knots, Range 6500 NM@ 15 Knots, Crew 273.
Operational and Building Data
Laid down by Charleston Navy Yard July 31 1941.
Launched May 2 1942 and commissioned September 15 1942.
Fate Sunk by Japanese Kamikaze Aircraft off Okinawa April 16 1945.
62 of her crew were lost with the ship and remain on duty.

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Size Image Description Contributed
By
Pringle 52kJoel Roberts Poinsett Pringle, born in Georgetown, S.C., 4 February 1873, was appointed to the Naval Academy in 1888, and commissioned Ensign in 1894. Attaining the rank of Vice Admiral in 1932, his commands included Perkins; Dixie; Flotilla 2, Destroyer Force, Atlantic Fleet; Melville; Idaho; Naval War College; Battleship Division 3, Battle Force; and Battleships; Battle Force. For his service during World War I he was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal for exceptionally meritorious service in a duty of great responsibility as commanding officer, Melville and Chief of Staff, Destroyer Flotillas, European Waters. He died at San Diego, Calif., 25 September 1932. Photo from the Naval Historical Center.Bill Gonyo
Pringle 82kArtist's conception of the Pringle as she appeared after original construction by the renowned graphic illustrator John Barrett with the text written by naval author and historian Robert F. Sumrall. Their company Navy Yard Associates offers prints of most destroyers, destroyer escorts, submarines and aircraft carriers in various configurations during the ship's lifetime. The prints can be customized with ship's patches, your photograph, your bio, etc. If you decide to purchase artwork from them please indicate that you heard about their work from NavSource.Navy Yard Associates
Pringle 78kArtist's conception of a cutaway view of the Pringle by the renowned graphic illustrator John Barrett with the text written by naval author and historian Robert F. Sumrall. Their company Navy Yard Associates offers prints of most destroyers, destroyer escorts, submarines and aircraft carriers in various configurations during the ship's lifetime. The prints can be customized with ship's patches, your photograph, your bio, etc. If you decide to purchase artwork from them please indicate that you heard about their work from NavSource.Navy Yard Associates
Pringle 44kUndated newspaper clipping, location unknown.Jason R. Martin
Pringle 227kUSS Pringle (DD-477) keel laying at Charleston Navy Yard, South Carolina on July 31 1941.Mike Mohl
Pringle 133kUS Navy Yard, SC May 2 1942. Sponsor, Mrs. John D. H. Kane, christens USS Pringle. Aide to Commandant, Lt (jg) Morris, Assists.Mike Mohl
Pringle 244kUS Navy Yard, Charleston, SC. May 2 1942. Spectators' section at launching ceremonies of USS Stanly (DD 478) and USS Pringle (DD 477).Mike Mohl
Pringle 190kUS Navy Yard, Charleston, SC. May 2 1942. Rear Admiral W. H. Allen making opening remarks in connection with Stanly and Pringle launching ceremonies.Mike Mohl
Pringle 119kUSS Pringle (DD-477) off Charleston Navy Yard, South Carolina on 25 November 1942. Intended to carry a seaplane, she has an aircraft-handling boom. But no catapult has been installed. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval History and Heritage Command. Photo #: NH 107408.Robert Hurst
Pringle   Pringle   Pringle   Pringle
USS Pringle November 25 1942 in Charleston being converted into an aircraft-carrying destroyer. Note that the catapult is not installed in these photos.
Robert Hurst/David Buell
Pringle 114k'Fletcher' class destroyer USS Pringle (DD-477) underway sometime in December 1942, location unknown. Note that she is fitted with a catapult, which replaced the after torpedo tubes and No.3 gun turret. Note also that the forward turrets have their top hatches open.John N. Egeland, Jr.
Pringle 147kThis 25 April 1943 photo taken off Pearl Harbor shows the USS Pringle (DD-477) after her catapult was removed and she was returned to Fleet destroyer configuration. The Pringle at this time has three twin 40mm gun mounts, one on the fantail, and 10-20mm guns.Rick E. Davis
Pringle 207kApril 25 1943 off Pearl Harbor.Ed Zajkowski
Pringle 215kUSS Pringle (DD-477) off Pearl Harbor. Photo received by Bureau of Ships in July 1943. Source: United States National Archives, Photo No. 19-N-48619.Mike Green
Pringle 149kUSS Pringle (DD-477) in Purvis Bay, Florida Island, Solomons, in August 1943. Photographed from USS Nicholas (DD-449). Source: United States National Archives, Photo No. 80-G-56826.Mike Green
Pringle 64kThe USS Pringle (DD-477) was upgraded in September-October 1944 to the standard five twin 40mm gun mounts and seven 20mm guns as seen in this 16 October 1944 photo at Hunters Point NY.Rick E. Davis
Pringle 86kAs above.Rick E. Davis
Pringle 181kUSS Pringle (DD-477) photographed circa 1945. Source: United States National Archives, Photo No. 80-G-1012680.Mike Green
Pringle 254kUSS Pringle alongside oiler USS Taluga 14 April 1945 in the Okinawa anchorage, days before she was lost. From the Ltjg Lloyd Lavack collection of USS Taluga.Tommy Trampp
Pringle 152kUSS Pringle coming alongside USS Taluga in the Okinawa anchorage, 14 April 1945. From the Ltjg Lloyd Lavack collection of USS Taluga.Tommy Trampp
Pringle 153kUSS Pringle at Okinawa April 15 1945 as seen from Taluga.Tommy Trampp

USS PRINGLE DD-477 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

LCDR Harold Oscar (Swede) Larson    Sep 15 1942 - Apr 1943 (Later VADM)
CDR George DeMetropolis    Apr 1943 - May 29 1944 (Later RADM)
LCDR John Lawrence (Stretch) Kelley Jr.    May 29 1944 - Apr 16 1945

Crew Contact And Reunion Information

Contact Name: William L. Herman
Address: 1427 Woodbridge Road, Baltimore MD 21228-1120
Phone: (410) 788-5829
E-mail: None


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
USS Pringle website
USS Pringle oral history report at NHC
Tin Can Sailors Website
Destroyer History Foundation
Destroyers Online Website
Official U.S.Navy Destroyer Website

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