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USS FECHTELER (DD-870 / DDR-870)


Flag Hoist/Radio Call Sign - NBHA

Tactical Voice Radio Call Sign (circa 1968) - SOAP BOX

CLASS - GEARING As Built.
Displacement 3460 Tons (Full), Dimensions, 390' 6"(oa) x 40' 10" x 14' 4" (Max)
Armament 6 x 5"/38AA (3x2), 12 x 40mm AA, 11 x 20mm AA, 10 x 21" tt.(2x5).
Machinery, 60,000 SHP; General Electric Geared Turbines, 2 screws
Speed, 36.8 Knots, Range 4500 NM@ 20 Knots, Crew 336.
Operational and Building Data
Laid down by Bethlehem Steel,Staten Island NY April 12 1945.
Launched September 19 1945 and commissioned March 2 1946.
Completed FRAM upgrade December 1963.
Decommissioned (?).
Stricken September 11 1970.
Fate Sold June 28 1972 to Zidell Explorations Inc., Portland, OR and broken up for scrap.

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Size Image Description Contributed
By
Fechteler 103kAugustus Francis Fechteler, born in Prussia 1 September 1857, was a member of the Naval Academy class of 1877. His distinguished career of service in important posts included command of the 2d, 6th and 7th Divisions of the Atlantic Fleet, the Norfolk Navy Yard, and the 5th Naval District. He was awarded the Navy Cross for exceptionally meritorious service in duty of great responsibility as Commander of the 6th Division and the Norfolk Navy Yard during World War I. Rear Admiral Fechteler died at the Naval Operating Base, Hampton Roads, Va., 26 May 1921.Bill Gonyo
Fechteler 150kUndated, post FRAM I Upgrade-
Fechteler 78kUndated, location unknown.John San Marco
Fechteler 255kUndated, location unknown.Richard Miller BMCS USNR RET.
Fechteler 119kUndated, location unknown.Richard Miller BMCS USNR RET.
Fechteler 123kUndated, location unknown.Richard Miller BMCS USNR RET.
Fechteler 136kUndated, location unknown.Richard Miller BMCS USNR RET.
Fechteler 40k1946, location unknown from the collection of Harold Charles Taylor, EM1/c.Gail Taylor
Fechteler 52k1946, location unknown from the collection of Harold Charles Taylor, EM1/c.Gail Taylor
Fechteler 38k1946, location unknown from the collection of Harold Charles Taylor, EM1/c.Gail Taylor
Fechteler 34k1946, location unknown from the collection of Harold Charles Taylor, EM1/c.Gail Taylor
Fechteler 247kFebruary 15 1954, location unknown.Ed Zajkowski
Fechteler 120kFechteler as seen from the USS William C. Lawe (DD-763) circa 1955-1956.Bob Bush
Fechteler 123kSan Francisco June 13 1957.Robert M. Cieri/Frank Muth
Fechteler 98kSan Diego, CA 1958.Marc Piché
Lofberg 98kCirca 1959-1962, photo by Robert Parrott crewman of the USS Midway (CVA-41).John Parrott
Lofberg 165kCirca 1964, location unknown.Wolfgang Hechler
Fechteler 30kThis and the next two images were taken from the HMAS Hobart by Steve Haidle during Operation Sea Dragon off the coast of North Vietnam in the Spring of 1967.Steve Haidle
Fechteler 29kAs above.Steve Haidle
Fechteler 45kAs above.Steve Haidle
Fechteler 60kSubic Bay, The Philippines late May-early June 1967. The USS Jason (AR-8), HMAS Hobart (D-39), USS Allen M. Sumner (DD-692) and USS Fechteler (DD-870).Frank Goetz
Fechteler 59kUSS Procyon (AF-61) replenishes the destroyer USS Fechteler (DD-870) off Vietnam in 1969. U.S. Navy photo from the USS Ticonderoga (CVA-14) 1969 cruise book.Robert Hurst
Fechteler 66kShip's patch.Mike Smolinski
Fechteler 92kShip's patch.Mike Smolinski

USS FECHTELER DD-870 / DDR-870 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 Albert Aloysius Wellings    Mar 2 1946 - ?
CDR Ruben Eli Wagstaff    1947 - ?
CDR Edward Stelzner Manown May 13 1950 - Jan 13 1952
CDR Frank Grime Jr.    Jan 13 1952 - ?
CDR Arthur Herbert Damon Jr.    1955 - 1956
CDR Wallace Lee Talbot Jr.    1956 - 1958
CDR James McNett Blakeman    1958 - ?
CDR John Jerome Herrick    May 1962 - Mar 1963
CDR William Albert Myers III    Mar 1963 - Jul 9 1965 (Later RADM)
CDR Robert Dewey Duncan    Jul 9 1965 - Apr 7 1967
CDR Maurice Gene White    Apr 7 1967 - ?
CDR Laurence Albert Dwyer    ? 1969 - ?

Crew Contact And Reunion Information

Contact Name: Darrell Penberthy
Address:
Phone:
E-mail: dlppen@aol.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
Tin Can Sailors Website
Destroyer History Foundation
Destroyers Online Website
Official U.S.Navy Destroyer Website

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