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USS CHAMPLIN (DD-601)


Flag Hoist/Radio Call Sign - NBQG

CLASS - BENSON As Built.
Displacement 2395 Tons (Full), Dimensions, 348' 4"(oa) x 36' 1" x 13' 2" (Max)
Armament 4 x 5"/38AA, 6 x 0.5" MG, 10 x 21" tt.(2x5).
Machinery, 50,000 SHP; Bethlehem Turbines, 2 screws
Speed, 35 Knots, Range 6500 NM@ 12 Knots, Crew 208.
Operational and Building Data
Laid down by Bethlehem Steel Quincy, Mass. January 31 1942.
Launched July 25 1942 and commissioned September 12 1942.
Decommissioned January 31 1947.
Stricken January 2 1971.
Fate Sold May 8 1972 and broken up for scrap.

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Size Image Description Contributed
By
Champlin 67kBorn in Kingston, R.I., 17 November 1789, Stephen Champlin entered the Navy as a sailing master 22 May 1812. He commanded the schooner Scorpion in her capture of the British Little Belt during the Battle of Lake Erie, and later in the War of 1812 was wounded when his ship was taken on Lake Huron. Retired in 1855, Captain Champlin was later promoted to Commodore on the retired list, and died in Buffalo, N.Y., 20 February 1870. Picture from the Pictorial Field-Book of the War of 1812.Bill Gonyo
Champlin 82kArtist's conception of the Champlin as she appeared in World War II 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
Champlin 106kCharleston, SC circa 1942.Mike Mohl
Champlin 108kCharleston, SC circa 1942.Mike Mohl
Champlin 33kLaunching July 25 1942 at Quincy.Ron Reeves
Champlin 56kSea trials of Quincy, MA in September 1942.Marc Piché/Steven N. Anastasion
Champlin 18kThe funeral services for Commander John J. Shaffer, CO, USS Champlin (DD 601), who was wounded by "friendly" fire on April 7, 1944, while his ship and USS Huse (DE 145) were attacking U-856 as part of TU 27.6.1. Both destroyers were operating with USS Croatan (CVE 25), and the U-boat, a Type IX C/40, was sunk. Commander Shaffer and three others wounded when a 20mm projectile fro mthe port bridge 20mm gun detonated upon impact with the lid of an open ready ammo box, spraying shrapnel across the bridge. The cut-out cam had been designed with the ready box closed. Shaffer died of his wounds on the 8th, and was buried at sea the next day. Fabio Peña
Champlin 357kUSS Champlin (DD-601) departing Navy Yard Boston, Massachusetts on 16 October 1944, with the crew at quarters. This Benson class destroyer is painted in a reversed version (port side pattern applied to starboard side) of Camouflage Measure 32 Design 3D as prepared for Gleaves class ships. See Photo # 80-G-172884 for the relevant camouflage drawing. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval History and Heritage Command. Photo #: NH 107211.Robert Hurst
Champlin 37kBow view of USS Champlin (DD-601) departing Navy Yard Boston, Massachusetts on 16 October 1944.
National Archives photo 80-G-382730, courtesy of C. Lee Johnson, usndazzle.com.
Mike Green
Champlin 131kPhoto #: 80-G-354884, USS Black Hawk (AD-9) with six destroyers alongside, probably at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, in July 1945. The destroyers are (from left to right): USS Hawkins (DD-873); USS Ordronaux (DD-617); USS Boyle (DD-600); USS Champlin (DD-601); USS Swanson (DD-443); and USS Franks (DD-554). Note the personnel boat in the foreground, heading for a landing stage alongside Black Hawk's bow. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.Tony Cowart
Champlin 122kUSS Black Hawk (AD-9) with six destroyers alongside, probably at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, in July 1945. The destroyers are (from left to right): USS Hawkins (DD-873); USS Ordronaux (DD-617); USS Boyle (DD-600); USS Champlin (DD-601); USS Swanson (DD-443); and USS Franks (DD-554). Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.Tony Cowart

USS CHAMPLIN DD-601 History
View This Vessels DANFS History entry at the Naval History & Heritage Command website

Commanding Officers
Thanks to Wolfgang Hechler & Ron Reeves


CDR Charles Leroy Melson    Sep 12 1942 - Jan 28 1944 (Later VADM)

CDR John Jackson Shaffer III    Jan 28 1944 - Apr 7 1944

LT Robert Louis Baughan Jr.    Apr 7 1944 - Apr 19 1944

CDR Francis Edward Fleck Jr.    Apr 19 1944 - May 22 1945 (Later RADM)

CDR Francis Clyde Rydeen    May 22 1945 - Mar 21 1946

LCDR Cary Albert Baldwin    Mar 21 1946 - Jan 31 1947


Crew Contact And Reunion Information

Contact Name: William D. Gustin
Address:
Phone:
E-mail: wdgustin@gmail.com -or- photos@usschamplin.com


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 Champlin (DD-601) Website
Tin Can Sailors Website
Destroyer History Foundation
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
All pages copyright NavSource Naval History
Last Updated 22 March 2018