Click On Image For Full Size Image	Size	Image Description		Contributed By
No Photo Available	-	Thomas Claxton, born in Baltimore, Md., entered the Navy as a midshipman 17 December 1810. He was mortally wounded after gallant service in the Battle of Lake Erie 10 September 1813, dying at Erie, Pa., 17 October 1813.		Robert M. Cieri
	102k	Artist's conception of the Claxton as she appeared in late World War II by the renowned graphic illustrator John Barrett with the text written by naval author and historian Robert F. Sumrall. Their company Navy Yard Associates offers prints of most destroyers, destroyer escorts, submarines and aircraft carriers in various configurations during the ship's lifetime. The prints can be customized with ship's patches, your photograph, your bio, etc. If you decide to purchase artwork from them please indicate that you heard about their work from NavSource.		Navy Yard Associates
	78k	Artist's conception of a cutaway view of the Claxton by the renowned graphic illustrator John Barrett with the text written by naval author and historian Robert F. Sumrall. Their company Navy Yard Associates offers prints of most destroyers, destroyer escorts, submarines and aircraft carriers in various configurations during the ship's lifetime. The prints can be customized with ship's patches, your photograph, your bio, etc. If you decide to purchase artwork from them please indicate that you heard about their work from NavSource.		Navy Yard Associates
THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY WASHINGTON The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION to the DESTROYER SQUADRON TWENTY THREE consisting of the USS CHARLES AUSBURNE, USS CLAXTON, USS DYSON, USS SPENCE, USS CONVERSE and USS STANLY for service as set forth in the following CITATION: "For extraordinary heroism in action against enemy Japanese forces during theSolomon Islands Campaign, from November 1, 1943, to February 23, 1944. Boldlypenetrating submarine-infested waters during a period when Japanese naval and airpower was at its height, Destroyer Squadron TWENTY THREE operated in daringdefiance of repeated attacks by hostile air groups, closing the enemy'sstrongly fortified shores to carry out sustained bombardments against Japanesecoastal defenses and render effective cover and fire support for the majorinvasion operations in this area. Commanded by forceful leaders and manned byaggressive, fearless crews the ships of Squadron TWENTY THREE coordinated as asuperb fighting team; they countered the enemy's fierce aerial bombing attacksand destroyed or routed his planes; they intercepted his surface task forces,sank or damaged his warships by torpedo fire and prevented interference withour transports. The brilliant and heroic record achieved by Destroyer SquadronTWENTY THREE is a distinctive tribute to the valiant fighting spirit of theindividual units in this indomitable combat group and of each skilled andcourageous ship's company." For the President, James Forrestal Secretary of the Navy
	10k	Undated, location unknown.		-
	129k	Undated, location unknown.		Tom Crew
	70k	USS Charles Ausburne (DD-570), USS Dyson (DD-572), and USS Claxton (DD-571) engage and sink the Japanese destroyer IJNS Yugiri in "The Little Beavers at the Battle of Cape St. George" by the aviation artist R.G. Smith. Courtesy of Ms. Sharlyn Marsh.		Robert Hurst
USS Harrison is portside to the fitting out pier at Consolidated Steel Corp, Orange Texas, during the week of 11-18 October 1942. On her far side USS Claxton is facing the Sabine River. NA 19GC/dd580 folder.				John Chiquoine and Dave Schroeder
	51k	February 15 1943, location unknown.		David Buell
Charleston Navy Yard, February 16 1943				Mike Mohl
Charleston Navy Yard, March 8 1943				Mike Mohl
	104k	Stern view of the battle damage to the USS Claxton (DD 571) at Mare Island on 13 March 1944. She was in overhaul at Mare Island in 10 March to 18 May 1944. The USS Selfridge (DD 357) is to the left and note her new dual and single 5" gun mounts.		Darryl Baker
	101k	Bow on view of USS Claxton (DD 571) departing Mare Island on 13 May 1944.		Darryl Baker
	104k	Broadside view of USS Claxton (DD 571) off Mare Island on 13 May 1944. She was in overhaul at the yard from 10 March until 18 May 1944. The ship is painted in camouflage Measure 31, Design 16d.		Darryl Baker
	97k	Stern view of USS Claxton (DD 571) departing Mare Island on 13 May 1944.		Darryl Baker
	139k	USS Claxton (DD 571) off Mare Island on May 13, 1944. Photo from the collection of the Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum.		Darryl Baker
	100k	USS Claxton (DD-571) off the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, 13 May 1944. She is painted in Camouflage Measure 31, Design 16D. Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives. Photo #: 19-N-66231.		Robert Hurst
	119k	A series of photos from the Claxton at Mare Island in May 1944.		David Buell
	96k	As above.		David Buell
	118k	As above.		David Buell
	147k	Photo #: NH 59864. Destroyer Squadron 23 officers of the squadron enjoy a beer at "Cloob Des-Slot", Purvis Bay, Solomon Islands, on 24 May 1944. Those present are (from left to right): Commander R.A. Gano, Commanding Officer, USS Dyson (DD-572); Commander Luther K. Reynolds, Commanding Officer, USS Charles Ausburne (DD-570); Captain Arleigh A. Burke, Squadron Commodore; Commander B.L. Austin, Commander Destroyer Division 46; Commander D.C. Hamberger, Commanding Officer, USS Converse (DD-509); Commander Herald Stout, Commanding Officer, USS Claxton (DD-571); and Commander Henry J. Armstrong, Commanding Officer, USS Spence (DD-512). Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation. Collection of Admiral Arleigh A. Burke, USN. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.		Bill Gonyo
	101k	No. 3 upper handling room fire on the USS Abner Read (DD-626) shortly after Kamikaze hit on November 1, 1944. Destroyer standing by is the USS Claxton (DD-571). Source: United States Naval Department Bureau of Ships War Gunfire/Bomb Damage/Loss Report No. 51.		Mike Green
	153k	USS Killen (DD-593), at left, USS Canberra (CA-70), right, and USS Claxton (DD-571), beyond Canberra's bow undergoing battle damage repairs in the floating drydock ABSD-2 at Manus, Admiralty Islands, 2 December 1944. Note men crowding the rails on Canberra, and her two forward 8"/55 triple gun turrets. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.		Fred Weiss
	25k	USS Claxton (DD-571) and USS Canberra (CA-70) undergoing battle damage repairs in the floating drydock ABSD-2 at Manus, Admiralty Islands, 2 December 1944.		JM Dill, CWO4 USN (Ret.)
	156k	USS Claxton (DD-571) enters the floating drydock USS ABSD-2 at Manus on 2 December 1944 for repair of kamikaze damage received off Leyte on 1 November 1944. Already in the dock is USS Canberra (CA-70), with another kamikaze damaged ship, USS Killen (DD-593) is in the center background, also ready to enter the drydock. US National Archives photo 80-G-359488		MIke Green
	135k	USS Claxton (DD-571), at aft, USS Canberra (CA-70), at centre, and USS Killen (DD-593), right undergoing battle damage repairs in the floating drydock ABSD-2 at Manus, Admiralty Islands, 2 December 1944 (USN Photo No 80-G-304058).		Robert Hurst
	62k	USS Claxton (DD-571) shelling Corregidor, in February 1945. Note landing craft moving towards the beaches.		Robert Hurst
	92k	Claxton at Mare Island in November 29 1945.		David Buell
On Federal Republic of Germany Service
	94k	Undated, as the D-178.		Wolfgang Mees
	72k	Undated, location unknown.		Robert Hurst
	109k	Undated, location unknown.		Wolfgang Hechler
	138k	Undated, location unknown.		Wolfgang Hechler
	128k	Undated, location unknown.		Wolfgang Hechler
	100k	As the Z-4/D-178 circa early 1960's.		Marc Piché
	118k	Newspaper clipping from the early 1960's, showing the CLAXTON (DD 571) as the West German D 178, approaching the locks in Kiel, Germany.		Gerhard L. Mueller-Debus
	173k	Z4 (ex-USS Claxton DD571) circa 1967, location unknown. From Jane's Fighting Ships 1967-1968.		Mike Green
	4k	German Navy Coat of Arms for the Z4.		Franzen Karlheinz

CDR Herald Franklin Stout    Dec 8 1942 - 1943 (Later RADM)

CDR William Van Hamilton    1943 - May 13 1944 (Later RADM)

CDR Miles Hunter (Harry) Hubbard    May 13 1944 - Nov 20 1944 (Later RADM)

CDR Maxim William Firth    Nov 20 1944 - Sep 21 1945

CDR Albert P. Stello    Sep 21 1945 - Apr 18 1946

FK Buch    Dec 15 1959 - Feb 1962

FK Klose    Feb 1962 - Jun 1963

FK Hardtke    Jun 1963 - Sep 1964

FK Bühring    Sep 1963 - Sep 1965

FK Rau    Sep 1964 - Sep 1965

FK von Holleuffer    Sep 1965 - Sep 1966

FK Benzino    Sep 1966 - Mar 1968

no CO assigned    Mar 1968 - Nov 1968

FK Heinz Siewert    Nov 1968 - Mar 1970

FK Joachim Guse    Mar 1970 - Dec 1970

FK Wachendorf    Dec 1970 - Mar 1973

FK Borgemeister    Mar 1973 - Dec 1974

KzS Heinz-Peter Wyer    Dec 1974 - Apr 1976

FK Gergard Krancke    Apr 1976 - Sep 1977

FK Martin Tetzlaff    Sep 1977 - Dec 1979

FK Alfred Thomas    Dec 1979 - Dec 31 1980

no CO assigned    Dec 31 1980 - Feb 12 1981

KzS Klages    Feb 12 1981 - Feb 26 1981

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This page was created by Fred Willishaw (ex ARG-4, AS-11 & DD-692) and is maintained by David L. Wright

Last Updated 10 July 2017