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USS Black
USS Black
USS Black
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USS Black (DD-666), Steaming at sea, c. 1968.
History
United States
NamesakeHugh David Black
BuilderFederal Shipbuilding and Drydock Company, Kearny, New Jersey
Laid down14 November 1942
Launched28 March 1943
Commissioned21 May 1943
Decommissioned26 September 1969
Stricken26 September 1969
FateSold for scrap, 17 February 1971
General characteristics
Class & typeFletcher-class destroyer
Displacement2,050 tons
Length376 ft 6 in (114.7 m)
Beam39 ft 8 in (12.1 m)
Draft17 ft 9 in (5.4 m)
Propulsion
  • 60,000 shp (45,000 kW)
  • 2 propellers
Speed35 knots (65 km/h; 40 mph)
Range6500 nm at 15 kn (12,000 km at 28 km/h)
Complement329
Armament

USS Black (DD-666) was a Fletcher-class destroyer of the United States Navy.

Namesake

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Hugh D. Black

Hugh David Black was born on 29 June 1903 in Oradell, New Jersey. He was appointed to the United States Naval Academy in 1922, graduated in 1926, and served on board USS Richmond, mainly in the Far East, between 1926 and 1928. During the next few years, he was an officer on board the battleship USS New York, the gunboat USS Asheville and the destroyers USS Parrott, USS Rizal and USS Montgomery. Lieutenant (junior grade) Black was assigned to the Naval Training Station, San Diego, California, in 1933 then served on board the destroyer USS Upshur and from 1935 to 1938 commanded the minesweeper USS Lark.

Lieutenant Black had duty with the Navy's Bureau of Navigation, in Washington, D.C., in 1938 and attended Harvard University for two years, beginning mid-1938. He was executive officer of the new destroyer USS Benson in 1940 into 1941. In March 1941, he took command of the destroyer USS Jacob Jones. Lieutenant Commander Black was killed when Jacob Jones was sunk by the German submarine U-578 on 28 February 1942.

Construction and commissioning

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Black was launched 28 March 1943 by Federal Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., Kearny, N.J.; sponsored by Frances Marie Black, née Frykholm, widow of Lieutenant Commander Black; and commissioned 21 May 1943.

Service history

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World War II

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Black proceeded to Pearl Harbor, via San Diego, Calif., and reported for duty on 15 November 1943. Shortly thereafter, she steamed to Tarawa and was assigned screening duty off Tarawa Lagoon entrance. She continued this duty until 22 January 1944, with occasional diversion as escort for transports to the 180th meridian. On 15 January 1944 she rescued 22 survivors of two downed patrol aircraft 50 miles (95 km) south of Jaluit.

After seeing her first combat during the invasion of Majuro Atoll, Marshall Islands (29 January–8 February 1944), Black rendered fine service in

The destroyer then returned to San Francisco, Calif. for repairs which lasted until February 1945.

Repairs completed, she sailed to Ulithi where, upon arrival on 13 March, she reported to the Fast Carrier Task Force (then TF 58) for duty. Between 17 March and 30 May Black participated in the 5th and 3rd Fleet raids in support of the Okinawa operation. After a period of rest and upkeep at Leyte Gulf, Black took part in the 3rd Fleet operations against Japan (10 July – 15 August 1945) and, on 15 August, the day Japan agreed to surrender, was present during one of the Pacific War's final kamikaze attacks.

After the cessation of hostilities Black remained off Japan assisting in the occupation until 1 September when, as a unit of TF 72, she departed with the occupation forces for Inchon, Korea. She served in the Far East on occupation duty until 10 November 1945, when she left Tsingtao, China, for the United States. Upon arrival, Black reported for inactivation and was placed out of commission in reserve on 5 August 1946 at Long Beach, Calif.

1951-1969

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Black was recommissioned on 18 July 1951 and reported to the Atlantic Fleet. She participated in type and fleet operations along the eastern seaboard and in the Caribbean until 10 January 1953 when she departed Norfolk, Va. for the Pacific, via the Panama Canal, on a round-the-world cruise. She arrived off the coast of Korea on 4 March and two days later commenced harassing fire on the beach. Black continued her Korean operations until 4 June 1953.

On 9 June, Black departed for Norfolk, via the Suez Canal, arriving on the east coast 6 August. Until January 1955, she conducted type training, fleet operations, and plane guard duties along the east coast and in the Caribbean. In January 1955 Black transferred to the Pacific Fleet arriving at Long Beach 26 January.

Over the next decade and a half, Black regularly crossed the great ocean to take her place as a unit of the 7th Fleet, serving as an aircraft carrier escort, taking part in antisubmarine warfare exercises, patrolling in the Taiwan Strait and visiting ports throughout the Far East. Her tenth, eleventh, twelfth, and thirteenth post-World War II Western Pacific deployments, beginning in early 1965, included Vietnam War service. Among her duties during this time were early participation in Operation Market Time coastal patrol and interdiction operations, providing naval gunfire support for forces ashore and screening carriers as they took the war to the North Vietnamese enemy.

Black's last overseas cruise ended in July 1969. She was decommissioned in late September of that year and sold for scrapping in February 1971.

Awards

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Black (DD-666) earned six battle stars for World War II service, two battle stars during the Korean conflict, and three battle stars for Vietnam service for a total of 11 battle stars.

References

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Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

USS Black

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
USS Black (DD-666) was a Fletcher-class destroyer in the United States Navy, commissioned during World War II and serving through the Korean and Vietnam Wars until its decommissioning in 1969. Laid down on 14 November 1942 at Kearny, New Jersey, by the Federal Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Company, Black was launched on 28 March 1943 and commissioned on 21 May 1943 under the command of Lieutenant Commander Jack McGinnis. During World War II, the ship participated in key Pacific campaigns, including the invasions of Tarawa in November 1943, Kwajalein in February 1944, Guam in July 1944, Leyte in October 1944, and Okinawa in April 1945, where it endured intense kamikaze attacks while serving as a radar picket and carrier escort. Notable actions included rescuing downed airmen near Jaluit Atoll in January 1944 and providing gunfire support during amphibious landings. In the post-war era, underwent modernization and recommissioned in 1951, deploying to Korean waters in February 1953 to conduct shore bombardments against North Korean positions, earning two battle stars for its service. During the , it patrolled the in February 1965 and supported operations at from 1965 to 1969, contributing to and earning three additional battle stars. Overall, received six battle stars for actions, reflecting its extensive combat role across three major conflicts. The ship was decommissioned on 26 September 1969 and stricken from the , ultimately sold for scrap on 17 February 1971.

Background

Namesake

Lieutenant Commander Hugh David Black was born on 29 June 1903 in . He was appointed to the from his home state on 20 June 1922, graduating with the class of 1926 and receiving his commission as an ensign on 3 June 1926. Early in his career, Black served aboard several vessels, including the light cruiser USS Richmond from 1926 to 1928, the battleship USS New York, the gunboat USS Asheville, and the destroyer USS Parrott. He later commanded the minesweeper USS Lark from 1935 to 1938, served as an instructor in the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps at Harvard University from 1938 to 1940, and acted as executive officer of the destroyer USS Benson from July 1940 to April 1941. Black assumed command of the destroyer USS Jacob Jones on 21 March 1941 and was promoted to lieutenant commander on 18 July 1941, conducting neutrality patrols and convoy escorts in the Caribbean and North Atlantic. On the morning of 28 1942, while on anti-submarine patrol off the coast near Cape May, USS Jacob Jones, under Black's command, was struck by two or three from the German submarine U-578. The first torpedo exploded the after aft of the bridge, and the second struck forward of the fantail, causing catastrophic damage; the ship sank within 45 minutes, with her depth charges detonating afterward and claiming additional lives among those in the water. Black went down with his ship alongside 130 other crew members, leaving only 11 survivors who were rescued after enduring exposure in the winter sea. He was declared dead following the sinking. The Fletcher-class destroyer USS Black (DD-666) was named in honor of Lieutenant Commander Black to commemorate his leadership and sacrifice in one of the earliest U.S. naval losses following America's entry into in December 1941.

Design and characteristics

The USS Black (DD-666) was a member of the , a versatile warship design that emphasized speed, maneuverability, and multi-role capabilities for fleet operations during . These ships had a light displacement of 2,050 long tons and a full load displacement of 2,924 tons, allowing for robust endurance in extended patrols. The hull measured 376 feet 6 inches in overall length, with a beam of 39 feet 8 inches and a draft of 13 feet 9 inches at full load, providing a stable platform for high-speed escort duties. Designed for a top speed of 35 knots, the Fletcher class could maintain fleet formations while evading threats, supported by a wartime complement of 329 officers and enlisted personnel to manage its complex systems. Propulsion was provided by four Babcock & Wilcox boilers feeding steam to two General Electric geared turbines, which together generated 60,000 shaft horsepower on two propeller shafts. This arrangement enabled reliable in diverse conditions, from open-ocean transits to close-quarters combat, with a range sufficient for Pacific theater operations exceeding 5,000 nautical miles at economical speeds. The primary armament consisted of five 5-inch/ dual-purpose guns mounted singly for anti-surface and anti-aircraft fire, complemented by two quintuple mounts carrying ten 21-inch tubes for offensive strikes against submarines and surface vessels. Anti-aircraft defenses included six 20 mm Oerlikon guns in initial configuration, with ten 40 mm guns added later in the war to counter increasing aerial threats. racks and projectors further equipped the class for its core role as an escort destroyer, optimized for anti-submarine warfare, carrier screening, and shore in amphibious assaults.

Construction and commissioning

Keel laying and launch

The keel of USS Black (DD-666) was laid down on 14 November 1942 at the in . This marked the beginning of construction for the amid the U.S. Navy's accelerated shipbuilding efforts during . The production of USS Black occurred under conditions of wartime urgency, as the Navy rapidly expanded its destroyer force in response to escalating threats in the Pacific theater following the in December 1941. As part of an emergency program, shipyards like were tasked with constructing numerous vessels to meet the demands of multi-role destroyer operations, including and escort duties. Built to the standard Fletcher-class design, USS Black progressed quickly through the initial building phases. The ship was launched on 28 March 1943, sponsored by Mrs. Frances F. Black, widow of Lt. Comdr. Hugh David Black, the ship's namesake.

Commissioning ceremony

The USS Black (DD-666), a , was formally commissioned into service on 21 May 1943 at the Federal Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company in . The ceremony marked the vessel's transition from civilian construction to a commissioned naval ready for wartime duties. Lieutenant Jack McGinnis assumed command during the proceedings, overseeing the initial activation of the ship's systems and the integration of its crew. Following commissioning, USS Black immediately commenced calibration trials and initial operations in , then sailed to , before arriving at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, for comprehensive shakedown training in June 1943. This phase involved rigorous exercises in gunnery, , and damage control to ensure the ship's seaworthiness and the crew's proficiency. Departing Guantanamo Bay on 22 June, she proceeded to , , where Morton L. Deyo officially declared her ready for active service. The shakedown continued with a return to the New York Navy Yard on 16 July 1943 for post-training availability, during which minor modifications were made to rectify issues encountered in the and Atlantic operations. Extended training exercises through October 1943 further honed the crew's capabilities, transforming the newly built from a builder's product into a fully operational naval asset prepared for Pacific deployment. After final preparations at the Navy Yard, including with standard Fletcher-class armament and propulsion for escort duties, USS Black transited the on 1 November 1943 en route to .

Service history

World War II

Following her shakedown cruise and repairs at , USS Black (DD-666) departed for the Pacific on 23 October 1943, transiting the on 1 November and arriving at on 17 November to join the Pacific Fleet. Assigned to escort duties, she screened transports during the invasion of from November to December 1943, providing anti-submarine and anti-aircraft protection in the . In early 1944, Black supported the campaign, screening forces off Kwajalein in February and bombarding Japanese positions at Wotje and Taroa to neutralize air threats. During these operations, Black conducted notable rescue efforts, picking up 22 survivors from a downed aircraft south of Jaluit on 15 January 1944 and rescuing a downed aviator from USS Natoma Bay on 1 February 1944 near Majuro Atoll. Advancing westward, she participated in the Marianas campaign, evading submarine torpedoes near Saipan on 15 June 1944 and screening the invasion of Guam on 21 July, where her crew rescued survivors from the damaged landing craft LCI-366. In October 1944, Black escorted transports for the Leyte Gulf landings on 20 October, firing on Japanese positions in Rizal village and repelling air attacks during the larger Battle of Leyte Gulf. Her Fletcher-class design proved effective in these fleet screenings, leveraging 5-inch guns and depth charges for versatile anti-aircraft and anti-submarine roles. In early 1945, Black joined Task Group 58.3 for carrier operations supporting the invasion, downing Japanese aircraft during strikes in February and March. On 19–22 March, she assisted in the rescue of crewmembers from the severely damaged USS Franklin following bomb hits during raids on Japanese home waters. Shifting to the , Black screened fast carriers off Okinawa from April 1945, surviving intense assaults on 11 April when she downed multiple enemy planes, including a Mitsubishi A6M Zeke, and aided the damaged nearby. In July 1945, she supported strikes against targets, contributing to the final air campaign against . After Japan's surrender, Black remained in the Pacific for occupation duties until December 1945, when she returned to the U.S. West Coast for deactivation preparations, leading to her decommissioning on 5 August 1946 at and placement in reserve.

Korean War

Following , USS Black (DD-666) was decommissioned on 5 August 1946 at , , and placed in the for a period of inactivity. She remained in reserve status until 18 July 1951, when she was recommissioned at under the command of Commander John R. Beardall, Jr., to support ongoing U.S. naval commitments during the . After recommissioning, Black departed on 1 November 1951 and transited to the Atlantic Fleet, arriving at , on 17 November 1951. From late 1951 through 1952, she conducted operations along the U.S. East Coast and participated in exercises in the , including a to Guantanamo Bay from 27 May to 25 July 1952, to build readiness for combat deployment. These activities honed the crew's proficiency in and gunnery, leveraging the destroyer's World War II-era Fletcher-class design adapted for Cold War-era missions. On 10 January 1953, Black deployed from to the western Pacific, arriving at , , on 12 February 1953 to join Task Force 77. During her time in Korean waters, she contributed to shore operations, firing on North Korean bunkers and coastal targets off the Korean from 6 to 16 March 1953. On 7 March 1953, while operating near Nan-do, Black accidentally collided with and sank a 75-foot intelligence boat, rescuing nine survivors from the 17-man crew while six were lost; the sustained no significant damage. Later, from 17 May to early June 1953, she provided an antisubmarine warfare screen for the and conducted additional shore bombardments in support of forces in the I Corps area. Black departed on 9 June 1953 and returned to the U.S. East Coast, arriving at on 9 August 1953. Upon her return, she resumed type training and fleet exercises along the Atlantic coast to maintain operational readiness. For her service, Black earned two battle stars.

Vietnam War

Following her service in the Korean War, USS Black (DD-666) engaged in routine deployments that built toward her commitments, including multiple Western Pacific tours in the late 1950s and early 1960s focused on antisubmarine exercises, carrier screening, and patrols in the and . These operations, such as her 1957–1958 deployment supporting Task Group 77.4 during the Quemoy crisis and her 1961 patrol from late March to late April in the Formosa Strait, honed skills in regional interdiction and fleet support that proved vital in . Black's initial Vietnam deployment began on 5 January 1965 when she departed for the Western Pacific, arriving off on 15 February to join Task Group 76.5 near the for antisubmarine patrols and evacuation support at the mouth. From 16 March to 16 July 1965, she participated in , conducting inaugural coastal surveillance patrols from Saigon to alongside to interdict infiltrators via sea routes, including gunfire support against enemy positions on 9 May and 4 July. She returned to on 9 August 1965 after these duties. In 1966, Black departed San Diego on 17 June for another deployment, resuming Operation Market Time interdiction with bombardments of enemy positions near Mui Ke Gai from 9–12 July and at the Saigon River mouth from 13–19 July. She then provided plane guard duty for USS Intrepid from 20 July to 6 August and for USS Franklin D. Roosevelt at Yankee Station from 7 August to 16 September, before returning to San Diego on 16 November. Drawing on her Korean War experience in gunfire and patrol duties, Black shifted emphasis in subsequent tours to direct combat support. During her 1967 deployment, Black sailed from on 29 August, screening at in late September for strikes against , and conducted gunfire support from 1–6 October targeting supply routes in the II Corps zone. She returned to on 1 February 1968. In 1968, her role expanded with shore bombardments off , though specific actions were integrated into ongoing fleet operations. Black's final deployment commenced on 5 January 1969, arriving in the on 2 February for plane guard duty with USS Kitty Hawk and USS Bon Homme Richard, alongside antisubmarine exercises. From 4–9 May, she delivered naval gunfire support against positions 70 miles southwest of , resuming plane guard operations until 20 June before departing the area. Upon returning to on 13 July 1969, Black entered inactivation status, marking the end of her active combat service.

Decommissioning and legacy

Final decommissioning and disposal

Following her final deployment to the western Pacific, which included off in May 1969, USS Black returned to on 13 July 1969 and began inactivation preparations at the there. The ship was formally decommissioned on 26 September 1969 during a ceremony at , and her name was stricken from the on the same date. On 17 February 1971, USS Black was sold to Chou's Iron and Steel Co. for scrapping, marking the end of her material existence after nearly 28 years of service. As a Fletcher-class destroyer, USS Black exemplified versatility in U.S. naval operations across World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War, though no physical artifacts from the ship or dedicated museums are known to preserve her legacy today.

Awards

During its service in World War II, USS Black (DD-666) earned six battle stars for participation in key Pacific campaigns, recognizing its role in screening transports, providing antisubmarine protection, and supporting amphibious assaults that advanced Allied forces toward . These included operations off (23 November–31 December 1943), the occupation of Kwajalein and Atolls (29 January–8 February 1944), the Marianas campaign encompassing the and invasions of Saipan and (15 June–10 August 1944), the landings at (20 October 1944), and the Okinawa campaign (April–June 1945). In the Korean War, the ship received two battle stars for its 1953 deployments, where it conducted bombline patrols, screening, and shore bombardments along the Korean coast from March to June, contributing to naval operations without sustaining major damage. For Vietnam War service between 1965 and 1969, USS Black was awarded three battle stars, highlighting its efforts in coastal interdiction and missions that bolstered U.S. and South Vietnamese forces. These encompassed patrols in the (February–March 1965) and (July 1966), Market Time operations for surveillance and blockade enforcement (March–July 1965 and subsequent periods), and gunfire support in the (1966–1969). Across all conflicts, the vessel accumulated a total of 11 battle stars, underscoring its sustained contributions to major fleet actions, though no further unit citations or medals beyond these were conferred.
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