Preston file photo [3989]

Preston (Fletcher-class)

CountryUnited States
Ship ClassFletcher-class Destroyer
Hull NumberDD-795
BuilderBethlehem San Pedro Shipyard
Laid Down13 Jun 1943
Launched12 Dec 1943
Commissioned20 Mar 1944
Decommissioned15 Nov 1969
Displacement2,940 tons standard
Length377 feet
Beam39 feet
Draft18 feet
MachineryGeneral Electric geared turbines with two screws
Power Output60,000 shaft horsepower
Speed35 knots
Range6,500nm at 15 knots
Crew320
Armament5z127mm/38 guns, 10x40mm AA guns, 7x20mm AA guns, 10x21in torpedo tubes, 6x depth charge posts, 2x depth charge tracks
Recommissioned26 Jan 1951

Contributor:

ww2dbaseUSS Preston entered service later in the war, in Mar 1944. She supported the invasion of Guam in Jul 1944 and then the invasion of Palau Islands in Sep 1944. Between Oct and Dec 1944, she escorted carriers in Philippine waters, participating in the naval battles off Leyte, Philippine Islands early in the campaign. In early 1945, she escort carriers into the South China Sea during Operation Gratitude, and then went on to serve in a similar role during the invasion of Iwo Jima. During the Okinawa invasion, she served initially as an escort to carriers, than provided naval gunfire for ground troops on the Motobu Peninsula, at Nago Bay, Nakagusu Bay, and the Naha area; she also bombarded positions on nearby Ie Shima and Kutaka Shima islands. She would remain in the Okinawa area until the end of the war. She was decommissioned in California, United States in 1946. She returned to service as the Korean War began, in 1951, although she would not arrive in Korean waters until May 1953, where she would again serve in carrier escort duties as she had during WW2. In the 1960s, she served two tours of duty off Vietnam during the Vietnam War and warned a Presidential Unit Commendation. She was decommissioned from the US Navy for the final time on 15 Nov 1969. Transferred to Turkey later on the same day, she operated under the new name of Icel (D 344) until 1981. Icel was broken up for scrap later in 1981.

ww2dbaseSource: Wikipedia

Last Major Revision: Nov 2014

Destroyer Preston (Fletcher-class) (DD-795) Interactive Map

Photographs

Commissioning ceremony of USS Cassin Young, San Pedro, California, United States, 31 Dec 1943; note USS Preston at left and USS Comfort at rightDestroyer tender Markab with destroyers Longshaw, Preston, Porterfield, and Cassin Young, circa early 1945Preston after conversion to Preston and Irwin anchored off Naples, Italy, circa 1955
See all 16 photographs of Destroyer Preston (Fletcher-class) (DD-795)

Preston (Fletcher-class) Operational Timeline

13 Jun 1943 The keel of Preston was laid down by Bethlehem Shipbuilding at San Pedro, California, United States.
12 Dec 1943 Preston was launched at San Pedro, California, United States, sponsored by sponsored by Mrs. R. F. Gross.
20 Mar 1944 USS Preston was commissioned into service with Commander Goldsborough S. Patrick in command.
1 Jul 1944 USS Preston departed Pearl Harbor, US Territory of Hawaii.
17 Jul 1944 USS Preston arrived off Guam.
8 Aug 1944 USS Preston arrived at Apra harbor, Guam.
10 Aug 1944 USS Preston departed Apra harbor, Guam for Eniwetok, Marshall Islands.
29 Aug 1944 USS Preston departed Eniwetok, Marshall Islands with Task Force 38.
6 Sep 1944 USS Preston guarded carriers while the carriers launched strikes against Palau Islands.
7 Sep 1944 USS Preston guarded carriers while the carriers launched strikes against Palau Islands.
8 Sep 1944 USS Preston guarded carriers while the carriers launched strikes against Palau Islands.
15 Sep 1944 USS Preston supported the invasion of Palau Islands.
6 Oct 1944 USS Preston set sail with Task Force 38.
5 Nov 1944 USS Preston guarded carriers while the carriers launched strikes against Philippine Islands.
12 Nov 1944 USS Preston guarded carriers while the carriers launched strikes against Luzon, Philippine Islands.
25 Nov 1944 USS Preston guarded carriers while the carriers launched strikes against Luzon, Philippine Islands.
26 Nov 1944 USS Preston guarded carriers while the carriers launched strikes against Luzon, Philippine Islands.
27 Nov 1944 USS Preston guarded carriers while the carriers launched strikes against Luzon, Philippine Islands.
28 Nov 1944 USS Preston guarded carriers while the carriers launched strikes against Luzon, Philippine Islands.
29 Nov 1944 USS Preston guarded carriers while the carriers launched strikes against Luzon, Philippine Islands.
30 Nov 1944 USS Preston guarded carriers while the carriers launched strikes against Luzon, Philippine Islands.
1 Dec 1944 USS Preston guarded carriers while the carriers launched strikes against Luzon, Philippine Islands.
2 Dec 1944 USS Preston guarded carriers while the carriers launched strikes against Luzon, Philippine Islands.
10 Dec 1944 USS Preston guarded carriers while the carriers launched strikes against Luzon, Philippine Islands.
11 Dec 1944 USS Preston guarded carriers while the carriers launched strikes against Luzon, Philippine Islands.
12 Dec 1944 USS Preston guarded carriers while the carriers launched strikes against Luzon, Philippine Islands.
13 Dec 1944 USS Preston guarded carriers while the carriers launched strikes against Luzon, Philippine Islands.
14 Dec 1944 USS Preston guarded carriers while the carriers launched strikes against Luzon, Philippine Islands.
15 Dec 1944 USS Preston guarded carriers while the carriers launched strikes against Luzon, Philippine Islands.
16 Dec 1944 USS Preston guarded carriers while the carriers launched strikes against Luzon, Philippine Islands.
17 Dec 1944 USS Preston guarded carriers while the carriers launched strikes against Luzon, Philippine Islands.
18 Dec 1944 Many ships from the United States Third Fleet, Task Force 38 sailed into Typhoon Cobra in the Philippine Sea. Three destroyers and 790 men were lost.
18 Dec 1944 USS Preston guarded carriers while the carriers launched strikes against Luzon, Philippine Islands.
19 Dec 1944 USS Preston guarded carriers while the carriers launched strikes against Luzon, Philippine Islands.
20 Dec 1944 USS Preston guarded carriers while the carriers launched strikes against Luzon, Philippine Islands.
21 Dec 1944 USS Preston guarded carriers while the carriers launched strikes against Luzon, Philippine Islands.
30 Dec 1944 USS Preston departed waters off Philippine Islands for Ulithi, Caroline Islands.
21 Mar 1945 USS Preston departed for Ryukyu Islands.
24 Mar 1945 USS Preston arrived off Kerama Islands, Japan.
6 Sep 1945 USS Preston departed Okinawa, Japan.
20 Sep 1945 Lieutenant Commander John B. Carroll was named the commanding officer of USS Preston.
24 Sep 1945 USS Preston arrived at San Pedro, California, United States.
24 Apr 1946 USS Preston was decommissioned from service and was placed into the Pacific Reserve Fleet.
26 Jan 1951 Commander Frederick D. Riley, Jr. was named the commanding officer of USS Preston.
26 Jan 1951 USS Preston was recommissioned into service.
9 Jan 1952 USS Preston departed the east coast of the United States for the Mediterranean Sea.
12 Mar 1953 Commander Joseph R. Tenanty was named the commanding officer of USS Preston, replacing Commander Ralph S. Stevens, Jr.
1 Apr 1953 USS Preston arrived in northeastern United States.
20 Dec 1954 Commander Ernest R. Peterson was named the commanding officer of USS Preston.
15 Mar 1956 USS Preston departed Narragansett Bay in northeastern United States.
15 Apr 1956 USS Preston arrived at Long Beach, California, United States.
18 Jul 1959 Commander Richard S. Moore was named the commanding officer of USS Preston, replacing Lieutenant Commander Albert M. Sackett.
7 Oct 1961 Commander Anthony J. Kodis was named the commanding officer of USS Preston.
5 Sep 1963 Commander Harry D. Johnston was named the commanding officer of USS Preston
9 Jul 1965 Commander James O. Lyon was named the commanding officer of USS Preston
15 Jan 1966 USS Preston departed Vietnamese waters.
10 Mar 1967 Commander David G. Ramsey was named the commanding officer of USS Preston
15 Nov 1969 USS Preston was decommissioned from service; her final commanding officer was Commander John A. Coinier. The ship was struck from the US Navy Register. Later on the same day, Preston was transferred to Turkey, whose navy would operate her under the name Icel (D 344).




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More on Preston (Fletcher-class)
Event(s) Participated:
» Mariana Islands Campaign and the Great Turkey Shoot
» Palau Islands and Ulithi Islands Campaigns
» Philippines Campaign, Phase 1, the Leyte Campaign
» Philippines Campaign, Phase 2
» Typhoon Cobra
» Raid into the South China Sea

Destroyer Preston (Fletcher-class) (DD-795) Photo Gallery
Commissioning ceremony of USS Cassin Young, San Pedro, California, United States, 31 Dec 1943; note USS Preston at left and USS Comfort at right
See all 16 photographs of Destroyer Preston (Fletcher-class) (DD-795)


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