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USS FORREST ROYAL (DD-872)


Flag Hoist/Radio Call Sign - NBHE

Tactical Voice Radio Call Sign (circa 1968) - HARDGROVE

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; Westinghouse 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 June 8 1945.
Launched January 17 1946 and commissioned June 29 1946.
Completed FRAM upgrade April 1962.
Decommissioned March 22 1971.
Stricken February 1 1973.
To Turkey March 27 1971, renamed Adatepe.
Fate Stricken and scrapped in 1993.
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For Full Size Image		 Size Image Description Contributed
By
Royal
Midshipman

Royal
Rear Admiral 		62k




46k		Forrest Beton Royal was born on 10 February 1893 in New York City. He graduated from the United States Naval Academy with the class of 1915. Service in increasingly important posts afloat and ashore prepared him for his role as commander of Amphibious Group Six in the assaults on Leyte, Luzon, Mindanao, and Borneo during the Philippines campaign in the War in the Pacific (1944-1945). His planning and execution of these important assignments was recognized with the Distinguished Service Medal, and the posthumous award of a Gold Star in lieu of a second Distinguished Service Medal. Rear Admiral Royal died of a heart attack on board his flagship USS Rocky Mount (AGC-3) on 18 June 1945.Robert M. Cieri/Bill Gonyo
Royal 177kBuilders Plate.Bill Gonyo
Royal 84kUndated, location unknown.William H. Schaffer Sr.
Royal 55kUndated, location unknown. Photo by R.M. Scott, from "Jane's Fighting Ships 1959-60."Robert Hurst
Royal 111kUndated, location unknown.Richard Miller BMCS USNR RET.
Royal 79kUndated, location unknown.Richard Miller BMCS USNR RET.
Royal 188kA Midshipman, Carl Swanson, is seen being transferred from the USS Wright (CVL-49) to the USS Forrest Royal (DD-872) during highline practice circa 1949. US Navy and Marine Corps Museum/Naval Aviation Museum, Photo No. 1996.488.009.002.Mike Green
Royal 204kUSS Forrest Royal (DD-872) being refueled by the USS Cabot (CVL-28) sometime between 1949-1952 when the Cabot was serving as a training carrier at Pensacola, Florida. US Navy and Marine Corps Museum/Naval Aviation Museum, Photo No. 1991.291010.Mike Green
Royal 119kPort visit at Bar Harbor, Maine, August 1951. From collection of Raymond Strout.Jonathan Eno
Royal 150kUSS Forrest Royal (DD-872) at sea, Sept. 13, 1951. NAS Pensacola photo NA9-28838, Boston National Historical Park Collection, NPS Cat. No. BOSTS-11152-28838.Stephen P. Carlson, Boston NHP, Charlestown Navy Yard.
Royal 322kWith the USS Forrest Royal (DD-872) in the background, An SNJ-SC Texan crashes during 1953 carrier qualifications aboard the USS Monterrey (CVL-26). US Navy and Marine Corps Museum/Naval Aviation Museum, Photo No. 1996.488.014.005.Mike Green
Royal 199kA North American SNJ-SC Texan crashes during carrier qualification off the training carrier USS Monterey (CVL-26) in 1953. The destroyer USS Forrest Royal (DD-872) is visible in the background. U.S. Navy National Museum of Naval Aviation photo # 1996.488.014.010.Robert Hurst
Royal 136kNavy photo 634269 dated February 24 1954. From the collection of CDR Thomas B. Ray (USS Essex CV-9).Chris Stanley
Royal 121kUSS Forrest Royal (DD-872) being refueled by USS Antietam image # 0587257 is shown arriving off Mayport, Florida, as the new training carrier in 1957. The crew is forming "Hi Jax" on deck to greet the training base Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Florida. The planes are still of her anti-submarine air group, Douglas AD-5W Skyraiders next to the island and Grumman S2F-1 Trackers aft. Photo from U.S. Navy Naval Aviation News June 1957.Robert Hurst
Royal 185kRefueling in the Norwegian Sea on September 22 1957.Tommy Trampp
Royal 110kUSS Essex (CVA-9) and USS Forrest Royal (DD-872), circa 1958.M. Edward "Hollywood" Arnold USN IC2
Royal 178kUSS Essex (CVA-9) and the Forrest Royal in Cape Town, South Africa in 1958.Tom Martin
Royal 177kAs above.Tom Martin
Royal 121kLocation unknown, circa 1959.Marc Piché
Royal 123kJune 1959 on the Detroit River.John Covert/Bill Chaplin
Royal 78kUSS Forrest Royal (DD-872) in Boston Harbor, Mar. 1962, following FRAM modernization. Boston Naval Shipyard photo ASF 1947(L)3-62, Boston National Historical Park Collection, NPS Cat. No. BOSTS-11152-1947.Stephen P. Carlson, Boston NHP, Charlestown Navy Yard.
Royal 69kUSS Forrest Royal (DD-872) in Boston Harbor, May 1962, following FRAM modernization. Boston Naval Shipyard photo ASF3921(L)5-62, Boston National Historical Park Collection, NPS Cat. No. BOSTS-11152-3921.Stephen P. Carlson, Boston NHP, Charlestown Navy Yard.
Royal 49kUSS Forrest Royal (DD-872) in Boston Harbor, May 1962, following FRAM modernization. Boston Naval Shipyard photo, Boston National Historical Park Collection, NPS Cat. No. BOSTS-11152-3926.Stephen P. Carlson, Boston NHP, Charlestown Navy Yard.
Royal 57kAs above, BOSTS-11152-3927.Stephen P. Carlson, Boston NHP, Charlestown Navy Yard.
Royal 78kLocation unknown, May 1962.Robert M. Cieri
Royal 85kNorfolk, July 1964© Richard Leonhardt
Royal 106kComing alongside the USS Allen M. Sumner (DD-692) during Operation Sea Dragon off the coast of North Vietnam, Spring 1967.Eric Bollin, USS Allen M. Sumner Reunion Association
Royal 131kView from the USS Hancock (CVA-19) while the Forrest Royal was alongside refueling in April 1967 off the coast of Vietnam.Charles Dehnert
Royal 155kAs above.Charles Dehnert
Royal 171kAs above.Charles Dehnert
Royal 202kView of Forrest Royal during a high line personnel transfer to the USS Hancock (CVA-19) in April of 1967, off the coast of Vietnam.Charles Dehnert
Royal 205kAs above.Charles Dehnert
Royal 177kAs above.Charles Dehnert
Royal 202kAs above.Charles Dehnert
Royal 31kSummer 1969, Charlotte Amalie, US Virgin Islands, Forrest Royal at the top.R. Scott Noble, CAPT, USNR (Ret.)
Royal 79kShip's patch.M. Edward "Hollywood" Arnold USN IC2
Royal 57kShip's patch.Mike Smolinski
On Turkish Service
Royal 39kUndated, location unknown.Murat Kurtulmus
Royal 29kUndated, location unknown.Yucel M.Umar, CPO (Ret.) Turkish Navy
Royal 27kUndated, location unknown.Yucel M.Umar, CPO (Ret.) Turkish Navy
Royal 25kUndated, location unknown.Yucel M.Umar, CPO (Ret.) Turkish Navy
Royal 91kUndated, location unknown. From the collection of Murat Esbahoglu, MCPO (Ret.) Turkish Navy.Yucel M.Umar, CPO (Ret.) Turkish Navy
Royal 177kUndated, location unknown.Cüneyt Demir
Royal 130kUndated, location unknown.Cüneyt Demir
Royal 103kUndated, location unknown.Cüneyt Demir
Royal 49kUndated, location unknown.Cüneyt Demir
Royal 188kUndated, location unknown.Cüneyt Demir
Royal 241kUndated, location unknown.Cüneyt Demir
Royal 229kUndated, location unknown. USS Keppler (Turkish 355) and USS Forrest Royal (Turkish 353).Cüneyt Demir
Royal 34kUndated, location unknown. Firing from 5"/38 Mount 51.Cüneyt Demir
Royal 172kUndated, location unknown.Yucel M.Umar, CPO (Ret.) Turkish Navy
Royal   Royal  

Royal   Royal   Royal   Royal
Undated, location unknown.		Yucel M.Umar, CPO (Ret.) Turkish Navy
Royal 69kUSS Harwood DD-861(D354 Kocatepe), USS Forrest Royal DD-872 (D353 Adatepe) and USS Razorback SS-394 razorback (S336 Muratreis) during the Turkish flag raising ceremonies on March 27 1971.Cüneyt Demir
Royal 83kAs above.Cüneyt Demir
Royal 54kcirca 1972, location unknown.Cüneyt Demir
Royal 125kArriving at Genoa on May 27 1973.Carlo Martinelli
Royal 75kAs above.Carlo Martinelli
Royal 135kAs above.Carlo Martinelli
Royal 186kAs above.Carlo Martinelli
Royal 203kAt Genoa, Italy between May 27 1973 and May 30 1973 along with the USS Charette (DD-581) as the Greek D-16.Carlo Martinelli
Royal 103kDeparting Genoa on May 30 1973.Carlo Martinelli
Royal 91kTCG Adatepe (D-353) during Deniz Kurdu Exercises in the Aegean Sea, 1976.Yucel M.Umar, CPO (Ret.) Turkish Navy
Royal 15kThe Turkish Adatepe (ex-USS Forrest Royal, DD-872) closing to refuel from RFA Grey Rover, Mediterranean, May 1986.Yucel M.Umar, CPO (Ret.) Turkish Navy
Royal 78kThe Turkish Adatepe (ex-USS Forrest Royal, DD-872) in the Mediterranean during May 1986.Yucel M.Umar, CPO (Ret.) Turkish Navy
Royal 87kUSS Hugh Purvis (DD-709)/TCG D-356 Zafer, German built Köln Class D-360 Gelibolu/FGN Karlsruhe and TCG D-353 Atepe/USS Forrest Royal (DD-872) at Ailaga Ship Dismantling Facilities in Izmir, turkey during 1994.Cüneyt Demir
Royal 90kShip's plaque.Yucel M.Umar, CPO (Ret.) Turkish Navy
USS FORREST ROYAL DD-872 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 James Maurice Clute    Jun 29 1946 - Aug 15 1947
CDR Henry Calvin Spicer Jr.    Aug 15 1947 - Aug 12 1949
CDR Clifton Wharton Flenniken Jr.    Aug 12 1949 - Jul 21 1950
CDR Orville Owen (Ollie) Liebschner    Jul 21 1950 - Aug 15 1951
CDR Robert Grant Bywater    Aug 15 1951 - Oct 3 1952
CDR Joseph Smith Phillips    Oct 3 1952 - Apr 2 1954
LCDR John Dennis Shea Jr.    Apr 2 1954 - May 1 1954
CDR Judson Charles Doyle    May 1 1954 - Jul 30 1956
CDR John Theodore Oleksy    Jul 30 1956 - May 16 1958
CDR John James Creamer    May 16 1958 - Dec 29 1959
CDR Raymond Irving Clayton    Dec 29 1959 - May 10 1961
LCDR Robert Wright Etcher    May 10 1961 - Mar 22 1962
CDR Hilmon Eugene Walters Jr.    Mar 22 1962 - Aug 5 1963
CDR James Allan Beaubouef    Aug 5 1963 - Jul 30 1965
CDR William Desmond Chattleton    Jul 30 1965 - Aug 24 1967
CDR William Bernet Latham    Aug 24 1967 - Oct 10 1969
CDR Charles Welford Fox Jr.    Oct 10 1969 - Mar 3 1971 (Later VADM)
LCDR Edward Francis Kellogg    Mar 3 1971 - Mar 22 1971
Crew Contact And Reunion Information
Contact Name: Ronald Larsen
Address: 1240 Franklin St., Wisconsin Rapids, WI 54494
Phone: (715)423-8905
E-mail: mosbyusn@wctc.net
Next reunion: Charleston, SC, 19-22 June 2014

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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