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USS STEVENSON (DD-645)


Flag Hoist/Radio Call Sign - NBPW

CLASS - GLEAVES As Built.
Displacement 2395 Tons (Full), Dimensions, 348' 4"(oa) x 36' 1" x 13' 2" (Max)
Armament 4 x 5"/38AA, 6 x 0.5" MG, 10 x 21" tt.(2x5).
Machinery, 50,000 SHP; Charleston Navy Yard Turbines, 2 screws
Speed, 35 Knots, Range 6500 NM@ 12 Knots, Crew 208.
Operational and Building Data
Laid down by Federal Shipbuilding, Kearny NJ July 23 1942.
Launched November 11 1942 and commissioned December 15 1942.
Decommissioned April 27 1946.
Stricken June 1 1968.
Fate Sold June 2 1970 to Portsmouth Salvage Co. and broken up for scrap.

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Size Image Description Contributed
By
Stevenson 56kJohn H. Stevenson, a native of New York City, was appointed Volunteer Acting Assistant Paymaster and Clerk in the United States Navy on 19 September 1862. His Civil War career was marked by several exploits of exceptional heroism. While attached to USS Satellite on the Potomac in December 1862, he led a boat expedition ashore, captured a small party of Confederates, and destroyed signal and recruiting stations. In June 1863, while attached to USS Princess Royal on the West Gulf Blockading Squadron, he reconnoitered in and about an enemy camp. Learning the details of a plan to capture Fort Donaldsville, La., he made plans that enabled the small fort and Princess Royal to beat off the attack. He further demonstrated his heroism on 10 July 1863 when he volunteered to pick up dispatches from USS New London, aground under enemy fire, and carried them to Farragut at New Orleans, a journey of some 85 miles on horseback through enemy territory. He remained in the Navy after the war, serving in United States ports, the South Atlantic and Pacific stations, and at Nagasaki, Japan, until retiring with the grade of Pay Inspector on 25 September 1893. He was called back to active duty during the Spanish-American War and served as pay officer of the Coast Defense System. He died in Brooklyn, N.Y., on 14 June 1899. Photo #: NH 63848. USS Princess Royal (1863-1865) watercolor by Erik Heyl, 1960, painted for use in his book "Early American Steamers", Volume I. Captured as a blockade runner in January 1863, USS Princess Royal served in the Gulf of Mexico during the last two years of the Civil War. She was later the S.S. General Sherman. Courtesy of Erik Heyl. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.Bill Gonyo
Stevenson 163kThe USS Ringgold (DD-500), USS Stevenson (DD-645), USS Schroeder (DD-501) and USS Stockton (DD-646) were launched with 28 minutes on November 11 1942 at Federal Shipbuilding & Drydock Co. in Kearny, New Jersey. AP Wirephoto.David Buell
Stevenson 78kSouvenir button of the launching of the USS Ringgold (DD-500), USS Schroeder (DD-501), USS Stevenson (DD-645) and USS Stockton (DD-646) on November 11 1942. Courtesy of www.timepassagesnostalgia.com.Tom Kerman
Stevenson 200kA snow-covered USS Stevenson (DD-645) at her builder's yard, a day before delivery, 13 December 1942. National Archives photo from 19LCM/dd645 file.Rick Davis & John Chiquoine
Stevenson 146kDelivery photo of Stevenson, 14 December 1942. National Archives photo from 19LCM/dd645 file.Original: David Buell
Replacement: Rick Davis & John Chiquoine
Stevenson 624kUSS Stevenson (DD-645) off Kearny, New Jersey, December 1942, probably enroute to fitting out. National Archives photo 80-G-16141.Mike Green
Stevenson 218kUSS Stevenson (DD-645) underway off New York, N.Y. on 14 December 1942. Courtesy of Samuel L. Morison, 1979. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph. Photo #: NH 90526.Robert Hurst
Stevenson 160kCommissioning at Brooklyn Navy Yard, December 15 1942. From the Public Relations Department, Third Naval District, New York.David Way
Stevenson 167kStevenson in Brooklyn Navy Yard in between Atlantic convoys, 14 May 1943. National Archives photo 19-N-46270Rick Davis & John Chiquoine
Stevenson 89kAfter cessation of hostilities USS California and six tin cans under flag of Comdesron19 were released from WestPac to return east via Ceylon and Capetown to US East Coast yards. This is Stevenson coming alongside California, September 1945.
National Archives photo 80-G-374400
John Chiquoine
Stevenson 299kDestroyer Squadron NINETEEN (DesRon 19) homeward bound from the Pacific, via the Cape of Good Hope, circa October-December 1945. Ships present include USS Stevenson (DD-645), USS Stockton (DD-646), USS Lansdowne (DD-486), USS Thorn (DD-647), USS Nelson (DD-623) and USS Lardner (DD-487). Courtesy of Vice Admiral F.H. Schneider, USN (Retired). U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.Fred Weiss

USS STEVENSON DD-645 History
View This Vessels DANFS History entry at the Naval History & Heritage Command website

Commanding Officers
Thanks to Wolfgang Hechler & Ron Reeves


CDR Thomas Chandler Green    Dec 15 1942 - Mar 10 1943

CDR Francis Edmond Wilson    Mar 10 1943 - Aug 31 1944

LCDR Heydon Forbes Wells    Aug 31 1944  - Jul 22 1945

LCDR Markeson Varland    Jul 22 1945 - Apr 27 1946


Crew Contact And Reunion Information

Contact Name: Jim Beck
Address: 3914 Belmore Way ,Reno NV, 89503-1844
Phone:
E-mail: None


Note About Contacts.

The contact listed, Was the contact at the time for this ship when located. If another person now is the contact, E-mail me and I will update this entry. These contacts are compiled from various sources over a long period of time and may or may not be correct. Every effort has been made to list the newest contact if more than one contact was found.


Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
Tin Can Sailors Website
Destroyer History Foundation
Official U.S.Navy Destroyer Website

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