NavSource Main Page FAQ Contact us Search NavSource

Waving US Flag

NavSource Naval History
Photographic History of the United States Navy
DESTROYER
ARCHIVE

USS ORDRONAUX (DD-617)


Flag Hoist/Radio Call Sign - NBSW

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.July 25 1942
Launched November 9 1942 and commissioned February 13 1943.
Decommissioned March 27 1946.
Stricken July 1 1971.
Fate Sold March 16 1973 to Luria Brothers, NYC, for $91,833.50 and scrapped in Kearney, NJ.

Click On Image
For Full Size Image
Size Image Description Contributed
By
Ordronaux 26kJohn Ordronaux, born 16 December 1778 at Nantes, Brittany, France, was one of the most successful privateersmen of the War of 1812. At the outbreak of the war, he commanded the French privateer Marengo and on 28 October 181:3, he took command of the American privateer Prince Be Neufchatel, which was fitted out in France. Captain Ordronaux made his first cruises in her in the English and Irish Channels capturing some 30 prizes. His greatest accomplishment took place, in the fall of 1814, off Boston. Prince De Neufchatel, with a prize in tow, was sighted by the British frigate Endymion, which gave chase. Becalmed that night, the British commenced a boat attack. After several attempts, despite fierce defense, they succeeded in boarding the prize, and were driving back the Americans, when Captain Ordronaux seized a lighted match and threatened to blow up the ship if his men retreated further. The Americans rallied and within 20 minutes the remaining British cried for quarter. With only eight of his men uninjured, Captain Ordronaux returned to Boston, turned over his command and became part owner of Prince De Neufchatel. Captain John Ordronaux died at Cartagena, Colombia in 1841.Bill Gonyo
Ordronaux 82kArtist's conception of the Ordronaux 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
Ordronaux 31kUndated, location unknown.Ed Palen, Y1c 1943-1946
Ordronaux 140kPort bow view, off Boston, 13 February 1943. National Archives photo 19-N-42147Chet Morris / Mike Green
Ordronaux 221kBoston Harbor on February 28 1943.David Buell
Ordronaux 183kUSS Ordronaux (DD-617) underway off Boston, Massachusetts on 28 February 1943. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval History and Heritage Command. Photo #: NH 107217.Robert Hurst
Ordronaux 81kAs seen from the USS MacKenzie (DD-614), the USS Ordronaux (DD-617) and HMS Dido (37) are underway after departing Naples on May 18, 1944. The ships successfully supported British Army units west of Gaetta, Italy by bombarding German gun positions, ammunition dumps and roads west of Gaetta. Source: Imperial War Museum Admiralty Official Collection, by Oulds, D.C. (Lt), Photo No. © IWM (A 23708).Mike Green
Ordronaux 63kThe USS Ordronaux (DD-617), as seen from the USS MacKenzie (DD-614) on May 18, 1944 west of Gaetta. Both destroyers are making smoke to screen the HMS Dido (37) while the British cruiser is bombarding the area west of Gaetta, Italy in support of British Army units. Source: Imperial War Museum Admiralty Official Collection, by Oulds, D.C. (Lt), Photo No. © IWM (A 23712).Mike Green
Ordronaux 88kUSS MacKenzie (DD-614) and USS Ordronaux (DD-617) at thirty knots making smoke and circling the HMS Dido (37), in response to German shore fire directed at the British cruiser. Source: Imperial War Museum Admiralty Official Collection, by Oulds, D.C. (Lt), Photo No. © IWM (A 23710).Mike Green
Ordronaux 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
Ordronaux 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
Ordronaux 174kLeft-to-right are USS Parker (DD-604), USS Meade (DD-602), USS Ordronaux (DD-617), and USS Hobby (DD-610) as seen in a 1970 nest at the Orange, Texas Inactive Ship Facility. This is an incidental view to a series of photos of USS Hobby's first reunion, with an uncommon chance of all four wearing the larger bow numerals. Photo is by Joe Buya, courtesy of Ray and Betty Simons.John Chiquoine
Click here to view the DOD Sealed Bid Offering of March 2 1973 for the Ordronaux.
Click here to see additional image(s) of this ship on our Orange, Texas Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility (ISMF) Special Feature page

USS ORDRONAUX DD-617 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 Robert A. (Steve) Brodie Jr.    Feb 13 1943 - Jan 7 1944 (Later RADM)

CDR Jonathon Leopold Warren Woodville Jr.    Jan 7 1944 - Mar 27 1946 (Later RADM)


Crew Contact And Reunion Information

Contact Name: Ed Palen
Address:
Phone: 716-532-3912
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 Ordronaux Website
Tin Can Sailors Website
Destroyer History Foundation
Destroyers Online Website
Official U.S.Navy Destroyer Website

Back To The Main Photo Index To The Destroyer Index Page


Comments and Suggestions about this page, E-mail DestroyerInfo
Problems and site related matters, E-mail Webmaster

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 03 September 2017