![Preston file photo [3989] Preston file photo [3989]](/images/ship_preston2.jpg)



Preston (Fletcher-class)
Country | United States |
Ship Class | Fletcher-class Destroyer |
Hull Number | DD-795 |
Builder | Bethlehem San Pedro Shipyard |
Laid Down | 13 Jun 1943 |
Launched | 12 Dec 1943 |
Commissioned | 20 Mar 1944 |
Decommissioned | 15 Nov 1969 |
Displacement | 2,940 tons standard |
Length | 377 feet |
Beam | 39 feet |
Draft | 18 feet |
Machinery | General Electric geared turbines with two screws |
Power Output | 60,000 SHP |
Speed | 35 knots |
Range | 6,500nm at 15 knots |
Crew | 320 |
Armament | 5z127mm/38 guns, 10x40mm AA guns, 7x20mm AA guns, 10x21in torpedo tubes, 6x depth charge posts, 2x depth charge tracks |
Recommissioned | 26 Jan 1951 |
Contributor: C. Peter Chen
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
Preston (Fletcher-class) Operational Timeline
13 Jun 1943Â | The keel of Preston was laid down by Bethlehem Shipbuilding at San Pedro, California, United States. |
12 Dec 1943Â | Preston was launched at San Pedro, California, United States, sponsored by sponsored by Mrs. R. F. Gross. |
20 Mar 1944Â | USS Preston was commissioned into service with Commander Goldsborough S. Patrick in command. |
1 Jul 1944Â | USS Preston departed Pearl Harbor, US Territory of Hawaii. |
17 Jul 1944Â | USS Preston arrived off Guam. |
8 Aug 1944Â | USS Preston arrived at Apra harbor, Guam. |
10 Aug 1944Â | USS Preston departed Apra harbor, Guam for Eniwetok, Marshall Islands. |
29 Aug 1944Â | USS Preston departed Eniwetok, Marshall Islands with Task Force 38. |
6 Sep 1944Â | USS Preston guarded carriers while the carriers launched strikes against Palau Islands. |
7 Sep 1944Â | USS Preston guarded carriers while the carriers launched strikes against Palau Islands. |
8 Sep 1944Â | USS Preston guarded carriers while the carriers launched strikes against Palau Islands. |
15 Sep 1944Â | USS Preston supported the invasion of Palau Islands. |
6 Oct 1944Â | USS Preston set sail with Task Force 38. |
5 Nov 1944Â | USS Preston guarded carriers while the carriers launched strikes against Philippine Islands. |
12 Nov 1944Â | USS Preston guarded carriers while the carriers launched strikes against Luzon, Philippine Islands. |
25 Nov 1944Â | USS Preston guarded carriers while the carriers launched strikes against Luzon, Philippine Islands. |
26 Nov 1944Â | USS Preston guarded carriers while the carriers launched strikes against Luzon, Philippine Islands. |
27 Nov 1944Â | USS Preston guarded carriers while the carriers launched strikes against Luzon, Philippine Islands. |
28 Nov 1944Â | USS Preston guarded carriers while the carriers launched strikes against Luzon, Philippine Islands. |
29 Nov 1944Â | USS Preston guarded carriers while the carriers launched strikes against Luzon, Philippine Islands. |
30 Nov 1944Â | USS Preston guarded carriers while the carriers launched strikes against Luzon, Philippine Islands. |
1 Dec 1944Â | USS Preston guarded carriers while the carriers launched strikes against Luzon, Philippine Islands. |
2 Dec 1944Â | USS Preston guarded carriers while the carriers launched strikes against Luzon, Philippine Islands. |
10 Dec 1944Â | USS Preston guarded carriers while the carriers launched strikes against Luzon, Philippine Islands. |
11 Dec 1944Â | USS Preston guarded carriers while the carriers launched strikes against Luzon, Philippine Islands. |
12 Dec 1944Â | USS Preston guarded carriers while the carriers launched strikes against Luzon, Philippine Islands. |
13 Dec 1944Â | USS Preston guarded carriers while the carriers launched strikes against Luzon, Philippine Islands. |
14 Dec 1944Â | USS Preston guarded carriers while the carriers launched strikes against Luzon, Philippine Islands. |
15 Dec 1944Â | USS Preston guarded carriers while the carriers launched strikes against Luzon, Philippine Islands. |
16 Dec 1944Â | USS Preston guarded carriers while the carriers launched strikes against Luzon, Philippine Islands. |
17 Dec 1944Â | USS Preston guarded carriers while the carriers launched strikes against Luzon, Philippine Islands. |
18 Dec 1944Â | USS Preston guarded carriers while the carriers launched strikes against Luzon, Philippine Islands. |
19 Dec 1944Â | USS Preston guarded carriers while the carriers launched strikes against Luzon, Philippine Islands. |
20 Dec 1944Â | USS Preston guarded carriers while the carriers launched strikes against Luzon, Philippine Islands. |
21 Dec 1944Â | USS Preston guarded carriers while the carriers launched strikes against Luzon, Philippine Islands. |
30 Dec 1944Â | USS Preston departed waters off Philippine Islands for Ulithi, Caroline Islands. |
21 Mar 1945Â | USS Preston departed for Ryukyu Islands. |
24 Mar 1945Â | USS Preston arrived off Kerama Islands, Japan. |
6 Sep 1945Â | USS Preston departed Okinawa, Japan. |
20 Sep 1945Â | Lieutenant Commander John B. Carroll was named the commanding officer of USS Preston. |
24 Sep 1945Â | USS Preston arrived at San Pedro, California, United States. |
24 Apr 1946Â | USS Preston was decommissioned from service and was placed into the Pacific Reserve Fleet. |
26 Jan 1951Â | USS Preston was recommissioned into service. |
26 Jan 1951Â | Commander Frederick D. Riley, Jr. was named the commanding officer of USS Preston. |
9 Jan 1952Â | USS Preston departed the east coast of the United States for the Mediterranean Sea. |
12 Mar 1953Â | Commander Joseph R. Tenanty was named the commanding officer of USS Preston, replacing Commander Ralph S. Stevens, Jr. |
1 Apr 1953Â | USS Preston arrived in northeastern United States. |
20 Dec 1954Â | Commander Ernest R. Peterson was named the commanding officer of USS Preston. |
15 Mar 1956Â | USS Preston departed Narragansett Bay in northeastern United States. |
15 Apr 1956Â | USS Preston arrived at Long Beach, California, United States. |
18 Jul 1959Â | Commander Richard S. Moore was named the commanding officer of USS Preston, replacing Lieutenant Commander Albert M. Sackett. |
7 Oct 1961Â | Commander Anthony J. Kodis was named the commanding officer of USS Preston. |
5 Sep 1963Â | Commander Harry D. Johnston was named the commanding officer of USS Preston |
9 Jul 1965Â | Commander James O. Lyon was named the commanding officer of USS Preston |
15 Jan 1966Â | USS Preston departed Vietnamese waters. |
10 Mar 1967Â | Commander David G. Ramsey was named the commanding officer of USS Preston |
15 Nov 1969Â | 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). |
Photographs
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» 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
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