Ex - USS Hull (DD-945) Sunk On April 7, 1998     Commissioned on July 3,1958, USS Hull, a Forrest Sherman-class ship, was one of the last destroyers designed and built with an all-gun configuration. As the USN test ship for the experimental Mk 71 8-inch/55 major caliber lightweight gun from 1975 to 1979, Hull was the only destroyer ever to mount an 8-inch gun. The veteran of 20 Vietnam combat patrols made her final sacrifice on April 7, 1998 not in the breaker's yard, but in the eastern Pacific Ocean as a testbed in the development of new weapons employment tactics. She served her country well.

Last Day

From: "Claude Lumpkin" [email protected] Subject: USS Hull (DD945) Date: Tue, 5 Aug 1997 20:20:51 -0400 Richard, Here's some more info on Hull from my 1967-1968 cruise book: 2nd Division ("My Guys"): GMG1 Warren Groat (I misspelled his last name in my earlier message) GMG1 Edward Collins GMG3 Frank Acedo SN Patrick McAleer GMG3 Billy Joe Liles GMG2 Richard Vaughn GMG2 Robert Jeans SN Andrew Rice (KIA, Mobile Riverine Force, 1969) SN Wayne Coffin GMG3 Renn Allsman SN John Double SN Michael Caitham GMG3 Larry Warwick GMG1 Richard Burton SN Phillip Browne GMG3 Harry Hubbard GMG3 Freddy Herleman GMG2 John Shiplette GMG2 Dale Waite GMG3 Michael Wilborn, SN Joseph Stark

The Fifth Ship of the Fleet to Bear the Name     USS Hull (DD-945) was built by Bath Iron Works Corporation, Bath Maine. Her Keel was laid on 9 December 1956. She was launched on 10 August 1957 under the sponsorship of Mrs. Albert G. Mumma and delivered to Boston Naval Shipyard where she was commisioned on 3 July 1958.     Hull represents the last of the "pure" destroyer-type ships built by the United States. Designed for versatility, the feature that made the destroyer the "work horse" of the American Fleet during two world wars, Hull has the capability to carry out a variety of missions with profound effectiveness.     Her multi-purpose, rapid-fire gun mounts are capable of destroying enemy bunkers and artillery sites several miles inland while at the same time throwing up a curtain of flak against an attacking aircraft.     Long range air and surface radars warn of approaching danger long before it becomes visible to the human eye.     Modern sonar equipment searches the ocean depths for hostile submarines which, once detected, become vulnerable targets for the destroyer's high-speed, homing torpedoes.     Hull's Combat Information Center collects and disseminates up-to-the-minute tactical information, while her Communications Center links the ship to a world-wide radio network.     The ship has modern habitability features for her crew including air-conditioning, a ship's store, post office, barber shop, laundry and well-equipped galley, enabling her to remain at sea for extended periods of time. A Decade of Service     Hull arrived at her homeport of San Diego on 13 October 1958 joining the Pacific Fleet as a member of Destroyer Sqaudron One. Between 1959 and 1962 the destroyer made three deployments to the Western Pacific. She patrolled the Formosa Straits and other areas in the South China Sea expressing American proptection of Southeast Asian Countries in their fight against communism.     As the introduction of offensive missiles into Cuba precipitated another Cold War crisis, Hull sailed from San Diego in October 1962 to escort amphibious forces to the Canal Zone to strengthen American defenses and show her determination to resist any intrusion into the Western Hemisphere.     In April 1965 and again in August 1966 the ship crossed the vast Pacific to carry out gunfire missions off the coast of South Vietnam. She also patrolled the Gulf of Tonkin as a search and rescue ship coordinating the rescue of numerous downed pilots and recovering one American flyer herself.     On 19 January 1968 the veteran destroyer began her third and most recent Vietnam deployment. Conducting shore bombardment missions along the south coast and in the Demilitarized Zone, Hull poured over 25,000 rounds of five-inch ammunition into enemy strongholds and destroyed or damaged over 220 structures and bunkers. On seven occasions North Vietnamese gunners in the DMZ took her under fire, but in each instabnce she managed to escape damage while directing a barrage of her own fire at the attacking batteries. As a rsult of her performance during this deployment, the ship was awarded the Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation.

Photo courtesy [email protected]

From: "cj" [email protected] Subject: USS Hull DD945 Date: Tue, 16 Feb 1999 20:42:56 -0800     I recently discovered this page and dug out some old photos. I served onboard the Hull from early 1959 until my discharge in July of 1962. Went onboard as a seaman and left as a ETR2. I would like to be added to the crew list.     The attached photo labled USS Salmon was taken thru the periscope by a fellow I work with. We didn't know each other until 35+ years later. It really is a small world. Thanks Chuck Johnson

Date: Sat, 20 Feb 1999 02:37:30 -0800 From: John DeGrazia [email protected] Subject: USS Hull     Hello! And thank you for your attention to the Hull www page!!! I served aboard her for almost a year about 1980. I made nearly all of the second to last west-pac on Hull. In those days there were more liberty cruises than warship deployments. But we sure made work out of having fun. The [first] picture is from Hong Kong Harbor. I would love to see it with the other fine pictures you have chosen for the www site. The other is of the Hull and another ship. I can't remember the other ships name but we were the farthest one. They are both moored in that gigantic drydock in Sasebo Japan. The one that had the caisson towed out to sea to be sunk as a requirement for the peace treaty ending WWII. You can get an idea of just how big that dry dock is in this shot, and imagine why they would want to render it inoperable. Thanks Again John DeGrazia Hong Kong Sasebo

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