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| |Ship sensors= | |Ship sensors= | ||
| |Ship EW= | |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 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= |
|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 ]. | ||
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| ''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. | ''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 |
==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 ] 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. | 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 ] 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 |
''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 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. | 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. | ||
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| ==External links== | ==External links== | ||
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| {{Gleaves class destroyer}} | {{Gleaves class destroyer}} | ||
| {{DEFAULTSORT:Butler ( |
{{DEFAULTSORT:Butler (Dd-636)}} | ||
| ] | ] | ||
| ] | ] | ||
Revision as of 18:01, 30 June 2010
| |
| History | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Builder | Philadelphia Naval Shipyard |
| Laid down | 16 September 1941 |
| Launched | 12 February 1942 |
| Commissioned | 15 August 1942 |
| Decommissioned | 8 November 1945 |
| Reclassified | DMS-29, 15 November 1944 |
| Stricken | 28 November 1945 |
| Fate | Sold 10 January 1948 and broken up for scrap. |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Gleaves-class destroyer |
| Displacement | 1,630 tons |
| Length | 348 ft 3 in (106.15 m) |
| Beam | 36 ft 1 in (11.00 m) |
| Draft | 11 ft 10 in (3.61 m) |
| Propulsion |
|
| Speed | 37.4 knots (69 km/h) |
| Range | 6,500 nms @ 12 kt (12,000 km @ 22 km/h) |
| Complement | 16 officers, 260 enlisted |
| Armament | 4 × 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 for scrapping 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
This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.
External links
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