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USS Kidd (DD-661)

Coordinates: 30°26′40″N 91°11′29″W / 30.44431°N 91.19151°W / 30.44431; -91.19151
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USS Kidd underway, 1951
History
United States
NameKidd
NamesakeIsaac C. Kidd
BuilderFederal Shipbuilding and Drydock Company
Laid down16 October 1942
Launched28 February 1943
Sponsored byMrs. Isaac C. Kidd
Commissioned23 April 1943
Decommissioned10 December 1946
Recommissioned28 March 1951
Decommissioned19 June 1964
Stricken1 December 1974
Identification
Nickname(s)Pirate of the Atlantic & Pacific
Honors and
awards
See Awards
StatusMuseum ship in Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Badge
General characteristics
Class and typeFletcher-class destroyer
Displacement2,050 tons
Length376 ft (115 m)
Beam39 ft 8 in (12.09 m)
Draft17 ft 9 in (5.41 m)
Propulsion
Speed35 knots (65 km/h; 40 mph)
Range6,500 nmi (12,000 km; 7,500 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph)
Complement329
Armament
  • April 1943-December 1944:
  • February–May 1945:
    • 5 × 5 in (127 mm)/38 caliber guns
    • 10 × 40 mm AA guns (5 x 2)
    • 7 × 20 mm AA guns (7 × 1)
    • 10 × 21-inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes (2 × 5)
    • 6 × K-gun depth charge throwers
    • 2 × depth charge tracks
  • Post-August 1945 and as preserved:
    • 5 × 5 in (127 mm)/38 caliber guns
    • 14 × 40 mm AA guns (3 x 2, 2 x 4)
    • 12 × 20 mm AA guns (6 × 2)
    • 5 × 21-inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes (1 × 5)
    • 6 × K-gun depth charge throwers
    • 2 × depth charge tracks
USS Kidd (DD-661)
Kidd serves as part of the Louisiana Veterans Memorial.
USS Kidd (DD-661) is located in Baton Rouge Downtown
USS Kidd (DD-661)
Location305 South River Road, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Coordinates30°26′40″N 91°11′29″W / 30.44431°N 91.19151°W / 30.44431; -91.19151
Built1943
ArchitectUS Navy
NRHP reference No.83000502[1]
Significant dates
Added to NRHP9 August 1983
Designated NHL14 January 1986[2]

USS Kidd (DD-661), a Fletcher-class destroyer, was the first ship of the United States Navy to be named after Rear Admiral Isaac C. Kidd, who died on the bridge of his flagship USS Arizona during the 1941 Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Admiral Kidd was the first US flag officer to die during World War II and the first American admiral ever to be killed in action.[3] A National Historic Landmark, she is now a museum ship, berthed on the Mississippi River in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and is the only surviving US destroyer still in her World War II configuration. She is one of four remaining Fletcher-class destroyers in the world.

World War II

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Kidd (DD-661) was launched on 28 February 1943 by Federal Shipbuilding & Drydock Co., Kearny, New Jersey, sponsored by Mrs. Isaac C. Kidd, widow of Rear Admiral Kidd. The destroyer was commissioned on 23 April 1943. During her initial cruise to the Brooklyn Naval Shipyards, she sailed across New York Harbor with the Jolly Roger flying from the foremast. Subsequently, during outfitting, her crew adopted the pirate captain William Kidd as their mascot and commissioned a local artist to paint a pirate figure on the forward smokestack.

After shakedown out of Casco Bay, Maine in June, Kidd cruised in the Atlantic and Caribbean escorting large combatant vessels until she departed for the Pacific in August 1943 in company with the battleships Alabama and South Dakota. Arriving at Pearl Harbor on 17 September 1943, she got underway on 29 September, escorting aircraft carriers toward Wake Island for the heavy air attacks conducted on 6 October on Japanese installations located there, returning to Pearl Harbor on 11 October 1943.

Mid-October Kidd was underway with a task force to strike Rabaul and support the Bougainville landings. Upon reaching a strike position south of Rabaul on the morning of 11 November, the task force launched attacks upon Japanese positions on the island. Kidd was ordered to rescue the crew of an aircraft from Essex which had ditched astern of the formation. During this rescue, a group of Japanese aircraft attacked the destroyer; Kidd shot down three attacking aircraft and completed the rescue while maneuvering to dodge torpedoes and bombs. Cmdr. Roby, her commanding officer, received the Silver Star for gallantry during this action. The destroyer returned to Espiritu Santo on 13 November.

Kidd next screened carriers making air attacks on Tarawa during the Gilbert Islands invasion from 19 to 23 November. On 24 November, she spotted 15 low-flying enemy bombers heading toward the heavy ships, gave warning, and shot down two Aichi D3A "Val" dive bombers. After Tarawa was secure, Kidd remained in the Gilbert Islands to support cleanup operations before returning to Pearl Harbor on 9 December.

On 11 January 1944 Kidd sailed for the forward area at Espiritu Santo, then sailed the next day for Funafuti, arriving on 19 January. During the invasion of the Marshall Islands from 29 January to 8 February, Kidd screened heavy ships and bombarded Roi and Wotje, then anchored at Kwajalein 26 February.

Kidd off Roi island on 12 June 1944

From 20 March to 14 April, Kidd guarded an airstrip under construction on Emirau and supported the occupation of Aitape and Hollandia in New Guinea 16 April to 7 May. She fought in the Marianas campaign from 10 June to 8 July and performed shore bombardment at Guam between 8 July and 10 August.

In need of repairs, Kidd sailed for Pearl Harbor, arriving on 26 August 1944. On 15 September, she departed Pearl, reached Eniwetok on 26 September, and arrived at Manus on 3 October. There she became part of the giant Philippines invasion fleet and entered Leyte Gulf on 20 October. Here, she screened the initial landings and provided fire support for soldiers who fought to reconquer the island until she sailed on 14 November for Humboldt Bay, New Guinea, arriving on 19 November. On 9 December Kidd headed toward Mare Island Navy Yard for overhaul and moored at Mare Island on Christmas Day.

Battle of Okinawa

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Kidd sailed 19 February 1945, to join Task Force 58 (TF 58) for the invasion of Okinawa. Trained and battle-wise, Kidd played a key role during the first days of the Okinawa campaign, screening battleships, bombarding shore targets, rescuing downed pilots, sinking floating mines, providing early warning of raids, guarding the heavily damaged aircraft carrier Franklin, and helping to shoot down kamikazes.

While on picket station 11 April 1945, Kidd and her division mates, Black, Bullard, and Chauncey, with the help of Combat Air Patrol, repelled three air raids. That afternoon, a single enemy plane crashed into Kidd, killing 38 men and wounding 55. As the destroyer headed south to rejoin the task group, her fire drove off further enemy planes that were trying to finish her off. Stopping at Ulithi for temporary repairs, she got underway on 2 May for the West Coast, arriving at Hunter's Point Naval Shipyard on 25 May.

On 1 August 1945, Kidd sailed to Pearl Harbor and returned to San Diego, California 24 September 1945 for inactivation. She decommissioned on 10 December 1946 and entered the Pacific Reserve Fleet.

Korean War

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USS Kidd dropping depth charges

When North Korea attacked South Korea, the United States called up a portion of its reserve fleet. Kidd was a part of that call and was recommissioned on 28 March 1951. The destroyer sailed to the Western Pacific on 18 June; and arrived at Yokosuka, Japan on 15 July. She joined Task Force 77 and patrolled off the Korean coast until 21 September, when she sailed for the East Coast of Korea. From 21 October to 22 January 1952, Kidd bombarded targets of opportunity from Wan-Do Island to below Koesong. She then sailed with Destroyer Division 152 to San Diego, arriving on 6 February 1952.

Kidd again got underway for Korea on 8 September 1952; joined the screen of a hunter-killer group near Kojo; and, in November, was back on bombardment missions off North Korea. Shortly after that, truce talks began. Kidd continued to patrol the Korean coast during negotiations. She departed the Far East on 3 March 1953 via Midway and Pearl Harbor and arrived in San Diego for overhaul on 20 March. Once the overhaul was completed, Kidd proceeded to Long Beach, California on 20 April 1953. The next day, the Swedish freighter Hainan collided with Kidd in Long Beach harbor requiring repairs that lasted until 11 May 1953.

Cold War

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With the onset of the Cold War, from late 1953 to late 1959 Kidd alternated between West Pacific anti-Soviet submarine patrols with operations on the West Coast, making stops at Pearl Harbor and various ports in Japan, Okinawa, Hong Kong, and the Philippines. She visited Sydney, Australia, on 29 March 1958 and later that year entered the Taiwan Strait.

Kidd got underway on 5 January 1960 for the East Coast via the Panama Canal, arriving at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on 25 January. From there, she made Naval Reserve training cruises to various East Coast ports. She joined fleet operating forces during the Berlin Crisis in 1961. December 1961 found Kidd patrolling off the Dominican Republic in a "show of force" patrol to provide an element of security in the troubled Caribbean.

Kidd arrived at Norfolk, Virginia on 5 February 1962 and joined Task Force Alfa for anti-submarine warfare (ASW) exercises. On 24 April, she was assigned to the Naval Destroyer School at Newport, Rhode Island. After a cruise to the Caribbean, on 1 July 1962, she resumed Naval Reserve training. Kidd was decommissioned on 19 June 1964, entered the Atlantic Reserve Fleet, and was berthed at the Philadelphia Shipyard.

Preservation

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USS Kidd resting on dry-dock

The Navy set aside three Fletcher-class ships for use as memorials; The Sullivans, Cassin Young, and Kidd. Louisiana congressman William Henson Moore selected Kidd to serve as a memorial for Louisiana World War II veterans. The other Fletcher-class museum ships; The Sullivans in Buffalo, New York; Cassin Young in Boston, Massachusetts; and in Palaio Faliro, Greece, HNS Velos, formerly Charrette.

The port side of the USS Kidd on dry land.

Kidd was towed from Philadelphia and arrived in Baton Rouge on 23 May 1982, where she was transferred to the Louisiana Naval War Memorial Commission. She is now on public view as a museum vessel and hosts youth group overnight encampments. Kidd was never modernized and is the only Fletcher-class museum ship to retain its World War II appearance; she was restored to her August 1945 configuration and armament, culminating on 3 July 1997 when her torpedo tubes were reloaded. Kidd's special mooring in the Mississippi River is designed to cope with the annual change in river depth, which can be up to forty feet. Half the year, she floats as the river rises; the other half, she sits on keel blocks, and her entire hull can be visible as the water is so low.

The USS Kidd being escorted down the Mississippi River from its home to Houma, LA for some much needed repairs.

The long periods Kidd rests above the water on keel blocks is problematic for her hull, as she is affected by nearby river traffic in the Port of Greater Baton Rouge. On 25 April 2024,[4] Kidd began her journey to a shipyard in Houma, Louisiana, for her first major preservation project since her arrival in Baton Rouge. The work will be undertaken by maritime construction firm Thoma-Sea, and include measures to preserve her hull and superstructure. Before Kidd reaches the Thoma-Sea dry dock, she will stop at a private dock to be inspected by the US Coast Guard for sea worthiness before being towed into open water to continue her journey to the Houma shipyard.[5] Restoration of the keel blocks is also planned, to better cope with the changes in river depth.[6][7][8]

Awards

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In 1986 Kidd was designated a National Historic Landmark, as the best-preserved World War II destroyer of her class.[9]

U.S. Navy service awards

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Greyhound movie

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In 2018, Kidd was used as a stand-in for the fictional Fletcher-class destroyer USS Keeling (codenamed Greyhound), from C.S. Forester's novel The Good Shepherd, in its appearance in the book's cinematic adaptation, Greyhound.[10][11] In 2022, Kidd appeared on the Disney+ series National Treasure: Edge of History.[12]

USS Kidd seen from the observation tower of the Louisiana Veterans Museum
Port side of USS Kidd
Port side of USS Kidd on dry land.
Stern of USS Kidd on dry land

Citations

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  1. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. 2 November 2013.
  2. ^ "USS Kidd (Destroyer)". National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. Archived from the original on 22 May 2009. Retrieved 1 February 2008.
  3. ^ "Named for Rear Admiral Isaac C. Kidd". America's Navy. Archived from the original on 5 November 2017. Retrieved 27 May 2015.
  4. ^ https://twitter.com/USSKIDD_DD661/status/1783584327462277477 [bare URL]
  5. ^ "Towed from its Baton Rouge home of 40-plus years, USS Kidd headed for repairs in Houma". 25 April 2024.
  6. ^ Barlow, Jack (19 January 2024). "The USS Kidd will leave Baton Rouge later this year. Here's why, when it will return". The Advocate. Retrieved 20 January 2024.
  7. ^ "USS KIDD to temporarily move to Houma until 2025". The Times of Houma/Thibodaux. 17 January 2024. Retrieved 20 January 2024.
  8. ^ Pellittieri, Raley; Simoneaux, Michael (15 January 2024). "USS Kidd temporarily moving to Houma for restoration". WAFB. Retrieved 20 January 2024.
  9. ^ "NHL nomination for USS Kidd". National Park Service. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
  10. ^ J.D. Simkins (March 2020). "'Greyhound' trailer puts Tom Hanks at the helm of a Nazi-hunting WWII destroyer". Military Times.
  11. ^ Jeremy Krail; Sydney Kern (9 April 2018). "Tom Hanks' WWII drama filming aboard USS Kidd this week". ABC Baton Rouge WBRZ 2. Louisiana Television Broadcasting LLC.
  12. ^ Scheidt, Michael (13 December 2022). "Baton Rouge featured prominently in debuting series called National Treasure: Edge of History". WGNO. Retrieved 4 January 2023.

See also

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References

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