USS Fechteler (DD 870)

- formerly DDR 870 -
- decommissioned -

USS FECHTELER was one of the GEARING - class destroyers and the second ship in the Navy to bear the name. Converted to a radar picket destroyer in 1953, she was reclassified DDR 870 on April 9, 1953. In 1963 FECHTELER received the FRAM I modernization and her designation was reverted to DD 870. Both decommissioned and stricken from the Navy list on September 11, 1970, the FECHTELER was sold for scrapping on June 28, 1972.

General Characteristics:	Awarded: 1943
	Keel laid: April 12, 1945
	Launched: September 19, 1945
	Commissioned: March 2, 1946
	Decommissioned: September 11, 1970
	Builder: Bethlehem Steel Co., Staten Island, N.Y.
	FRAM I Conversion Shipyard: Long Beach Naval Shipyard, Long Beach, CA.
	FRAM I Conversion Period: 1963 - December 1963
	Propulsion system: four boilers, General Electric geared turbines; 60,000 SHP
	Propellers: two
	Length: 391 feet (119.2 meters)
	Beam: 41 feet (12.5 meters)
	Draft: 18.7 feet (5.7 meters)
	Displacement: approx. 3,400 tons full load
	Speed: 34 knots
	Aircraft after FRAM I: two DASH drones
	Armament after FRAM I: one ASROC missile launcher, two 5-inch/38 caliber twin mounts, Mk-32 ASW torpedo tubes (two triple mounts)
	Crew after FRAM I: 14 officers, 260 enlisted

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Crew List:

This section contains the names of sailors who served aboard USS FECHTELER. It is no official listing but contains the names of sailors who submitted their information.

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USS FECHTELER Cruise Books:

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About the Ship's Name:

USS FECHTELER is the second ship named after Rear Admiral Augustus F. Fechteler (1867-1921) and Lt. Frank C. Fechteler, his younger son (1897-1922).

Augustus Francis Fechteler, born in Prussia 1 September 1857, was a member of the Naval Academy class of 1877. His distinguished career of service in important posts included command of the 2d, 6th and 7th Divisions of the Atlantic Fleet, the Norfolk Navy Yard, and the 5th Naval District. He was awarded the Navy Cross for exceptionally meritorious service in duty of great responsibility as Commander of the 6th Division and the Norfolk Navy Yard during World War I. Rear Admiral Fechteler died at the Naval Operating Base, Hampton Roads, Va., 26 May 1921.

His son, Frank Casper Fechteler, born 8 July 1897 in San Rafael, Calif., was a member of the Naval Academy class of 1918, ordered to duty in 1917. He served in PADUCAH through World War I, and after the war was trained as an aviator. His last duty was in USS LANGLEY (CV 1). While preparing to compete in the Pulitzer Trophy Race of 1922, Lieutenant Fechteler was killed in an airplane crash near Detroit 18 September 1922.

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History of USS FECHTELER:

USS FECHTELER was launched 19 September 1945 by Bethlehem Steel Co., Staten Island, N.Y.; sponsored by Miss Joan S. Fechteler, sponsor of the first FECHTELER; and commissioned 2 March 1946, Commander A. A. Wellings in command. She was re-classified DDR-870, 9 April 1953.

Homeported at Norfolk, Va., FECHTELER operated with carriers in the Virginia Capes area, and made a brief winter cruise to Argentia, Newfoundland. On 6 January 1947 she sailed from Norfolk for the west coast, and on 26 May sailed from San Diego for her first tour of duty in the Far East. Serving in the occupation, she called at several Chinese ports, as well as at Okinawa, Hong Kong, Yokosuka, and Guam. She returned to San Diego 22 January 1948, to resume west coast training operations.

FECHTELER completed a second tour of duty in the Far East in 1949, and in June 1950, when the Korean War broke out, was at sea off San Francisco on exercises. At once she sailed for Pearl Harbor, where she stood by in preparation for the possible spreading of the conflict, and on 14 July returned to San Diego to prepare for Korean service. She served in the Far East on two war-time deployments, the first from 13 November 1950 to 8 August 1951, the second from 23 February 1952 to 29 September 1952. During both of these, she screened TF 77 in its air operations, sailed with the escort and patrol force, and gave bombardment and close gunfire support to the troops ashore.

FECHTELER was decommissioned and placed in reserve 1 April 1953, for conversion to a radar picket destroyer. Recommissioned 1 December 1953, she sailed 10 May 1954 for duty in the Far East until 6 September, when she sailed on westward to join the Atlantic Fleet at Newport, arriving 27 October. In addition to participating in the Atlantic schedule of east coast and Caribbean exercises, she also joined in a midshipman cruise in the summer of 1955, voyaging to Malaga, Spain; Plymouth, England; and Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

Once more assigned to the Pacific Fleet, FECHTELER sailed from Newport 14 May 1956 for Long Beach, which she reached 28 June. In 1956, 1957-58, 1958-59, and 1960, she cruised in the Far East on duty with the 7th Fleet, serving both on the Taiwan Patrol, and with carrier task forces as a radar warning ship.

In the spring of 1963 FECHTELER entered the Long Beach Naval Shipyard to undergo Fleet Rehabilitation and Modernization MK 1 (FRAM I) conversion. After completion in December 1963, she was redesignated DD 870 again.

On 5 May 1964 FECHTELER departed Long Beach for WestPac as a member of Destroyer Squadron 19, "The Greyhounds". During her 7-month deployment FECHTELER served with Task Force 77, fast carrier attack groups, supporting operations in Vietnam and on Taiwan Patrol. She received the Navy Unit Commendation for Gulf of Tonkin operations 2-5 August, was awarded the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal and received commendation from the Chief of Naval Operations upon her return for special operations off the coast of California.

FECHTELER departed Long Beach on 10 July 1965, again with Destroyer Squadron 19, to meet the increasing requirements of the Seventh Fleet in Southeast Asia. During this tour she served with TF 77's carrier striking groups, as a Naval Gunfire Support Ship in South Vietnam, and as Harbor Defense Ship in DaNang, South Vietnam. On 13 January 1966 FECHTELER departed from WestPac arriving at Long Beach 1 February.

From 8 July to 17 October FECHTELER underwent a shipyard overhaul at Long Beach Naval Shipyard followed by Refresher Training from 24 October until 3 December. On 25 February 1967 the destroyer departed for WestPac where she served twice on the "gunline" off South Vietnam, supported two amphibious landings, participated in Operation Sea Dragon, and spent 6 weeks on Northern Search and Rescue Station. FECHTELER returned to Long Beach after this successful WestPac tour on 25 August 1967.

FECHTELER received five battle stars for Korean War service.

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USS FECHTELER Image Gallery:

After FRAM I Conversion:

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