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Revision as of 05:43, 7 February 2009 editMagus732 (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users12,509 editsNo edit summary← Previous edit Revision as of 23:10, 22 February 2009 edit undoMagus732 (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users12,509 editsNo edit summaryNext edit →
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{|{{Infobox Ship Begin}} {|{{Infobox Ship Begin}}
{{Infobox Ship Image {{Infobox Ship Image
|Ship image = ] |Ship image=]
|Ship caption = |Ship caption=
}} }}
{{Infobox Ship Career {{Infobox Ship Career
|Hide header = |Hide header=
|Ship country = |Ship country=
|Ship flag = {{USN flag|1945}} |Ship flag={{USN flag|1945}}
|Ship name = |Ship name=
|Ship namesake = |Ship namesake=
|Ship ordered = |Ship ordered=
|Ship builder = |Ship builder=
|Ship laid down = 16 September 1941 |Ship laid down=16 September 1941
|Ship launched = 12 February 1942 |Ship launched=12 February 1942
|Ship commissioned = 15 August 1942 |Ship commissioned=15 August 1942
|Ship reclassified = DMS-29, 15 November 1944 |Ship reclassified=DMS-29, 15 November 1944
|Ship decommissioned=8 November 1945
|Ship struck=28 November 1945
|Ship honours=
|Ship fate=Sold 10 January 1948 and broken up for scrap.
|Ship notes=
}} }}
{{Infobox Ship Career
|Hide header = yes
|Ship decommissioned = 8 November 1945
|Ship struck = 28 November 1945
|Ship honours =
|Ship fate = Sold 10 January 1948 and <br/>broken up for scrap.
|Ship notes =
}}

{{Infobox Ship Characteristics {{Infobox Ship Characteristics
|Hide header = |Hide header=
|Header caption = |Header caption=
|Ship class = |Ship class=
|Ship displacement = 1,630 tons |Ship displacement=1,630 tons
|Ship length = {{convert|348|ft|3|in|abbr=on}} |Ship length={{convert|348|ft|3|in|abbr=on}}
|Ship beam = {{convert|36|ft|1|in|abbr=on}} |Ship beam={{convert|36|ft|1|in|abbr=on}}
|Ship draft = {{convert|11|ft|10|in|abbr=on}} |Ship draft={{convert|11|ft|10|in|abbr=on}}
|Ship propulsion = 50,000 shp (37 MW); <br/> 4 boilers; <br/>2 propellers |Ship propulsion=*4 boilers
*2 propellers
|Ship speed = {{convert|37.4|kn|km/h|0}}
*50,000 shp (37 MW)
|Ship range = 6,500 ]s at 12 kt <br/> (12,000 km at 22 km/h)
|Ship speed={{convert|37.4|kn|km/h|0}}
|Ship complement = 16 officers, 260 enlisted
|Ship range=6,500 ]s @ 12 kt (12,000 km @ 22 km/h)
|Ship sensors =
|Ship EW = |Ship complement=16 officers, 260 enlisted
|Ship sensors=
|Ship armament = 4 × ] (127 mm)/38 caliber ] guns <br/> 4 × ] (2×2) and 7 × ] (5×1) AA guns, <br/> 21 in (53 cm) ]s (1x5; 5 ]s) <br/> 6 × ], <br/> 2 × ] tracks
|Ship notes = |Ship EW=
|Ship armament=4 × ] ]s, 4 × ]s (2×2), 7 × ]s (5×1) , 5 × 21 in (53 cm) ]s (1x5; 5 ]s), 6 × ], 2 × ] tracks
|Ship notes=
}} }}
|} |}
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'''USS ''Butler'' (DD-636)''', a ]-class ], is the only ship of the ] to be named for ] ] ], twice awarded the ]. '''USS ''Butler'' (DD-636)''', a ]-class ], is the only ship of the ] to be named for ] ] ], twice awarded the ].


''Butler'' was launched 12 February 1942 by Philadelphia Navy Yard, sponsored by Mrs. John Wehle, daughter of General Butler; and commissioned 15 August 1942, ] M. D. Matthews in command. ''Butler'' was launched on 12 February 1942 by Philadelphia Navy Yard, sponsored by Mrs. John Wehle, daughter of General Butler; and commissioned on 15 August 1942, ] M. D. Matthews in command.


==Service History== ==Service History==
After undergoing ] trials, ''Butler'' engaged in escort work in the ] and ]. On 14 January 1943 she departed on a trans-Atlantic voyage to ] and thence to ], ]. From there she escorted two ] vessels, ''Richelieu'' and ''Montcalm'', to New York. After overhaul in New York and coastwise ] escort work she set sail for the ] on 8 June. Following training exercises at ] and ], she proceeded to ] whence she departed in July for the ] (9 July12 August). She took part in the pre-invasion bombardment of ] and subsequently served on escort duty throughout the remainder of the operation. She then steamed for New York, arriving 22 August. After undergoing ] trials, ''Butler'' engaged in escort work in the ] and ]. On 14 January 1943, she departed on a trans-Atlantic voyage to ] and thence to ], ]. From there she escorted two ] vessels, ''Richelieu'' and ''Montcalm'', to New York. After overhaul in New York and coastwise ] escort work she set sail for the ] on 8 June. Following training exercises at ] and ], she proceeded to ] whence she departed in July for the ] from 9 July-12 August. She took part in the pre-invasion bombardment of ] and subsequently served on escort duty throughout the remainder of the operation. She then steamed for New York, arriving on 22 August.


''Butler'' was engaged in convoy work and overhaul until 5 May 1944 at which time she stood out for the ] (6 June – 15 July). She screened heavy units of the bombardment group and served at the inshore fire support station during this assault. Between 12 and 30 August she escorted ] ]s taking part in the ]. Shortly thereafter she returned to New York for overhaul. ''Butler'' was engaged in convoy work and overhaul until 5 May 1944 at which time she stood out for the ] from 6 June–15 July. She screened heavy units of the bombardment group and served at the inshore fire support station during this assault. From 12-30 August she escorted ] ]s taking part in ]. Shortly thereafter she returned to New York for overhaul.


After a convoy run to ] in October, ''Butler'' returned to New York (27 October) for conversion to a ]. Reclassified '''DMS-29''' on 15 November, conversion was completed 21 December and she proceeded to ] and joined Mine Squadron 20 (MineRon 20). On 3 January 1945, the ship weighed anchor for ] ''en route'' to ]. Upon completion of extensive training in the ]an area, she sailed to ] and then conducted a pre-invasion sweep around ]. She continued screen and picket duty, splashing many planes, throughout the ] (24 March – 25 May 1945). On 25 May, bombs from a '']'' exploded under ''Butler''{{'}}s keel, killing nine men and blowing out steam lines and flooding the forward fire room causing the loss of all steam and electric power. {{USS|West Virginia|BB-48|2}} stood by ''Butler'' until power was regained, and assisted in driving off two more Japanese planes. After a convoy run to ] in October, ''Butler'' returned to New York on 27 October for conversion to a ]. Reclassified '''DMS-29''' on 15 November, her conversion was completed on 21 December, and she proceeded to ] and joined Mine Squadron 20 (MineRon 20). On 3 January 1945, the ship weighed anchor for ] ''en route'' to ]. Upon completion of extensive training in the ]an area, she sailed to ] and then conducted a pre-invasion sweep around ]. She continued screen and picket duty, splashing many planes, throughout the ] (24 March–25 May 1945). On 25 May, bombs from a '']'' exploded under ''Butler''{{'}}s keel, killing nine men, blowing out steam lines, flooding the forward fire room, causing the loss of all steam and electric power. {{USS|West Virginia|BB-48|2}} stood by ''Butler'' until power was regained, and assisted in driving off two more Japanese planes.


The next day ''Butler'' proceeded to ] for temporary repairs. She arrived in the United States 26 August and was decommissioned 8 November 1945. She was sold 10 January 1948. The next day, ''Butler'' proceeded to ] for temporary repairs. She arrived in the United States on 26 August and was decommissioned on 8 November 1945. She was sold on 10 January 1948.


==Awards== ==Awards==

Revision as of 23:10, 22 February 2009

USS Butler (DD-636) underway
History
Laid down16 September 1941
Launched12 February 1942
Commissioned15 August 1942
Decommissioned8 November 1945
ReclassifiedDMS-29, 15 November 1944
Stricken28 November 1945
FateSold 10 January 1948 and broken up for scrap.
General characteristics
Displacement1,630 tons
Length348 ft 3 in (106.15 m)
Beam36 ft 1 in (11.00 m)
Draft11 ft 10 in (3.61 m)
Propulsion
  • 4 boilers
  • 2 propellers
  • 50,000 shp (37 MW)
Speed37.4 knots (69 km/h)
Range6,500 nms @ 12 kt (12,000 km @ 22 km/h)
Complement16 officers, 260 enlisted
Armament4 × 5 in (127 mm)/38 cal dual purpose guns, 4 × Bofors 40 mm guns (2×2), 7 × Oerlikon 20 mm cannons (5×1) , 5 × 21 in (53 cm) torpedo tubes (1x5; 5 Mark 15 torpedos), 6 × depth charge projectors, 2 × depth charge tracks

USS Butler (DD-636), a Gleaves-class destroyer, is the only ship of the United States Navy to be named for Marine Corps Major General Smedley Butler, twice awarded the Medal of Honor.

Butler was launched on 12 February 1942 by Philadelphia Navy Yard, sponsored by Mrs. John Wehle, daughter of General Butler; and commissioned on 15 August 1942, Lieutenant Commander M. D. Matthews in command.

Service History

After undergoing shakedown trials, Butler engaged in escort work in the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico. On 14 January 1943, she departed on a trans-Atlantic voyage to Casablanca and thence to Dakar, French West Africa. From there she escorted two Free French vessels, Richelieu and Montcalm, to New York. After overhaul in New York and coastwise convoy escort work she set sail for the Mediterranean on 8 June. Following training exercises at Oran and Algiers, she proceeded to Bizerte whence she departed in July for the Allied invasion of Sicily from 9 July-12 August. She took part in the pre-invasion bombardment of Gela and subsequently served on escort duty throughout the remainder of the operation. She then steamed for New York, arriving on 22 August.

Butler was engaged in convoy work and overhaul until 5 May 1944 at which time she stood out for the Invasion of Normandy from 6 June–15 July. She screened heavy units of the bombardment group and served at the inshore fire support station during this assault. From 12-30 August she escorted Royal Navy escort carriers taking part in Operation Dragoon. Shortly thereafter she returned to New York for overhaul.

After a convoy run to Marseilles in October, Butler returned to New York on 27 October for conversion to a high-speed minesweeper. Reclassified DMS-29 on 15 November, her conversion was completed on 21 December, and she proceeded to Norfolk and joined Mine Squadron 20 (MineRon 20). On 3 January 1945, the ship weighed anchor for Naval Station San Diego en route to Pearl Harbor. Upon completion of extensive training in the Hawaiian area, she sailed to Ulithi and then conducted a pre-invasion sweep around Okinawa. She continued screen and picket duty, splashing many planes, throughout the assault on Okinawa (24 March–25 May 1945). On 25 May, bombs from a kamikaze exploded under Butler's keel, killing nine men, blowing out steam lines, flooding the forward fire room, causing the loss of all steam and electric power. West Virginia stood by Butler until power was regained, and assisted in driving off two more Japanese planes.

The next day, Butler proceeded to Kerama Retto for temporary repairs. She arrived in the United States on 26 August and was decommissioned on 8 November 1945. She was sold on 10 January 1948.

Awards

Butler received the Navy Unit Commendation for her service in the Okinawa operation and four battle stars for her World War II service.

References

Public Domain This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.

External links

Gleaves-class destroyers
Other operators
 Republic of China Navy
 Royal Hellenic Navy
 Marina Militare
 Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force
 Turkish Navy
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