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USS ENGLISH (DD-696)


Flag Hoist/Radio Call Sign - NHEE

Tactical Voice Radio Call Sign (circa 1968) - TOUGH GUY

CLASS - ALLEN M. SUMNER As Built.
Displacement 3218 Tons (Full), Dimensions, 376' 6"(oa) x 40' 10" x 14' 2" (Max)
Armament 6 x 5"/38AA (3x2), 12 x 40mm AA, 11 x 20mm AA, 10 x 21" tt.(2x5).
Machinery, 60,000 SHP; Westinghouse Turbines, 2 screws
Speed, 36.5 Knots, Range 3300 NM@ 20 Knots, Crew 336.
Operational and Building Data
Laid down by Federal Shipbuilding, Kearny NJ. October 19 1943.
Launched February 27 1944 and commissioned May 4 1944.
Decommissioned May 15 1970.
Stricken May 15 1970.
To Taiwan August 11 1970, renamed Huei Yang.
Decommissioned by Taiwan August 16 1999.
Fate Sunk by Taiwan as a target on October 14, 2003.

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English 39kRobert Henry English, born 16 January 1888 in Warrenton, Ga., was a member of the Naval Academy class of 1911, and early in his naval career became a submariner. In 1917, while commanding O-U (SS-65), he won the Navy Cross for his great heroism in rescuing an officer trapped in O-5 (SS-66) after an explosion. After a series of important assignments, he became commanding officer of Helena, (CL—50), and during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor 7 December 1941 was one of the first to bring his ship into action. On 14 May 1942, he became Commander, Submarines, U.S. Pacific Fleet, and was so serving when killed in an airplane accident in California 21 January 1943. For his exceptionally meritorious service in his last assignment, Rear Admiral English was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Medal. U.S. Navy Photo courtesy of oneternalpatrol.com, thanks to Charles R. Hinman, Director of Education & Outreach, USS Bowfin Submarine Museum & ParkBill Gonyo
English 154kArtist's conception of the English as built in a cutaway view 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
English 95kArtist's conception of the English as she appeared after the early 1950's conversion 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 art work from them please indicate that you heard about their work from NavSource.Navy Yard Associates
English 135kUndated, location unknown.-
English 147kUndated, location unknown.-
English 190kUndated, location unknown. The destroyer USS English (DD 696) comes alongside the destroyer USS Taylor (DD 468) to deliver the mail. Photo courtesy of the USS Taylor (DD 468) Association.Bill Gonyo
English 88kUndated, location unknown. U.S National Archives, RG-19-LCM. Photo # 19-66423.Robert Hurst
English 353kUndated post card, USS PAIUTE (ATF-159), USS SURIBACHI (AE-21), and USS ENGLISH (DD-696). Mayport Naval Station.Mike Brock
English 94kUndated, location unknown.Richard Miller BMCS USNR RET.
English 129kUndated, location unknown.Richard Miller BMCS USNR RET.
English 113kUndated, location unknown.Richard Miller BMCS USNR RET.
English 111kUndated, location unknown.Richard Miller BMCS USNR RET.
English 45kSouvenir button of the launching of the USS English (DD-696) on February 27 1944. Courtesy of www.timepassagesnostalgia.com.Tom Kerman
English 134k80-G-43680. Ensign Eloise English, USNR, has been designated by the Secretary of the Navy to sponsor the U.S. Navy destroyer, USS English (DD 696), named for her father the late Rear Admiral Robert H. English, USN, former Commander Submarine Force, Pacific Fleet, who was killed in a plane accident, January 21, 1943. Ensign English served at the Office of Public Relations, Navy Department, Washington, D.C. Photograph released November 16, 1943.Mike Mohl
English 131kMay 17 1944 at New York Navy Yard.Ed Zajkowski
English 102kEnroute to the Philippines area, January 1945, English in the center with USS Hancock (CV-19) on the left. USS Enterprise is on the right in the distance. Photographed from USS New Jersey by LCDR Charles Jacobs. National Archives photo 80-G-470281.Ed Zajkowski
English 147kAs above from a different angle, USS Hancock behind. National Archives photo 80-G-470288.Ed Zajkowski
English 223kThe USS Dixie (AD 14) with a nest of destroyers alongside at Leyte in April-May 1945 time frame. The destroyers are from left to right: USS Compton (DD 705), USS Ault (DD 698), USS Charles S. Sperry (DD 697), USS English (DD 696), USS John W. Weeks (DD 701) and USS Borie (DD 704).Darryl Baker
English 138kA 40mm gun crew prepares to bombard enemy installations along the Korean coast, circa October 1950 - February 1951. Photograph was received by the Naval Photographic Center on 21 February 1951. Note radar antenna on this quad 40mm mount and ammunition loaded in guns. Another 40mm mount, pointed in the opposite direction, is in the upper left background. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.Fred Weiss
English 27kWonson, Korea about April 1951. Note the gun barrels of Mount 53 have burn marks after heavy firing. Red Davis and Lepard are in the view.Red Davis
English 169k1951, location unknown.Ed Zajkowski
English 221kUSS Wallace L. Lind (DD-703), USS English (DD-696), USS Borie (DD-704) and USS Hank (DD-702) returning to Norfolk on June 10 1951.Ron Reeves
English 257k1952, location unknown.Ed Zajkowski
English 82k1954 AP wirephoto story of collisions at sea with undated images of the USS Norris (DD-859) and USS English (DD-696).Ron Reeves
English 186kAt Genoa, Italy on July 28 1957.Carlo Martinelli
English 180kUSS Hank (DD-702) and USS English (DD-696) in Genoa, Italy on July 28 1957.Carlo Martinelli
English 111kMediterranean, circa 1961. Photo by Navy photographer aboard the USS Independence.Marc Piché
English 210kUSS English (DD-696) refuels from the attack aircraft carrier USS Independence (CVA-62) while the two ships steam toward the Caribbean Sea during the Cuban Missile Crisis, October 1962. Image scanned from Cordon of Steel: The U.S. Navy and the Cuban Missile Crisis, by Curtis A. Utz. Naval Historical Center, Department of the Navy, Washington , D.C., 1993, ISBN 0-945274-23-8, p.23. National Archives photo NA 428-N-1063264.Robert Hurst
English 126kMayport Fla., October 22 1966© Richard Leonhardt
English 32kShip's patch.Mike Smolinski
Click here to see our Special Feature - Interior Views of Sumner Class Destroyers as Built

USS ENGLISH DD-696 History
View This Vessels DANFS History Entry
(Located On The hazegray Web Site, This Is The Main Archive For The DANFS Online Project.)

Commanding Officers
Thanks to Wolfgang Hechler, Ron Reeves and Hal Loomis

CDR James Thomas Smith    May 4 1944 - Apr 10 1945
CDR Walter Harlen Baumberger    Apr 10 1945 - May 1946 (Later VADM)
CDR Matthew DeMaria    Aug 10 1946 - Aug 25 1948
CDR Eugene Alexander Barham    Aug 25 1948 - Sep 1950 
CDR Raymond John Toner    Sep 1950 - Jul 1952
CDR Henry Carl Schwaner Jr.    Jul 1952 - Jul 1954
CDR Edward John Fruechtl    Jul 1954 - Jun 2 1956
CDR Irving Joseph Superfine    Jun 2 1956 - Jun 29 1957
CDR John Dennis Shea Jr.    Jun 29 1957 - Jul 24 1959
CDR James Francis Roohan, Jr.    Jul 24 1959 - Jan 6 1961
CDR William Scanlon Mayer    Jan 6 1961 - Jul 22 1962
CDR Paul Albert Schwemley    Jul 22 1962 - Dec 18 1963
CDR Sumner Kittelle Moore    Dec 18 1963 - Jul 28 1965
CDR Frederick William Ulbricht    Jul 28 1965 - Feb 2 1967
CDR William Irving Goewey    Feb 2 1967 - Jan 7 1969
CDR Charles Vincent Lavin    Jan 7 1969 - May 15 1970

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

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