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USS HAWKINS (DD-873 / DDR-873)


Flag Hoist/Radio Call Sign - NBHG

Tactical Voice Radio Call Sign (circa 1968) - DAILY NEWS

CLASS - GEARING As Built.
Displacement 3460 Tons (Full), Dimensions, 390' 6"(oa) x 40' 10" x 14' 4" (Max)
Armament 6 x 5"/38AA (3x2), 12 x 40mm AA, 11 x 20mm AA, 10 x 21" tt.(2x5).
Machinery, 60,000 SHP; General Electric Geared Turbines, 2 screws
Speed, 36.8 Knots, Range 4500 NM@ 20 Knots, Crew 336.
Operational and Building Data
Laid down by Consolidated Steel,Orange Texas. May 14 1944.
Launched October 7 1944 and commissioned February 10 1945.
Completed FRAM upgrade January 1965.
Decommissioned and Stricken October 1 1979.
To Taiwan March 17 1983, renamed Tze-Young.

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Hawkins 52kWilliam Deane Hawkins was born 19 April 1914 in Fort Scott, Kansas, and enlisted in the Marine Corps 5 January 1942. He accepted a battlefield commission in the Solomons 18 November 1942, and was killed 21 November 1943 in the assault on Tarawa. First Lieutenant Hawkins received the Medal of Honor posthumously for his gallantry during the bloody assault on Betio in which he gave his life. The citation reads in part: "Fearlessly leading his men on to join the forces fighting desperately to gain a beachhead, he repeatedly risked his life throughout the day and night to direct and lead attacks on pill boxes and installations with grenades and demolitions. . . . Refusing to withdraw after being seriously wounded in the chest during this skirmish, First Lieutenant Hawkins steadfastly carried the fight to the enemy, destroying three more pillboxes before he was caught in a burst of Japanese shell fire and mortally wounded. His relentless fighting spirit in the face of formidable opposition and his exceptionally daring tactics were an inspiration to his comrades during the most crucial phase of the battle and reflect the highest credit upon the United States Naval Service." Photo from the USMC History Division.Bill Gonyo
Hawkins 90kUndated, location unknown.-
Hawkins 86kUndated, location unknown.Tom McGovern BT1 74-78
Hawkins 174kUndated, location unknown.Ian MacCorquodale
Hawkins 48kUndated, location unknown. Refuelling from the USS Enterprise (CVAN-65).Robert Hurst
Hawkins 67kUndated, location unknown.Tommy Trampp
Hawkins 108kUndated, recovering a Mercury Space Capsule.PHCS (AC/AW) Henry Craig Hensel (Ret.)
Hawkins 171kAs above.PHCS (AC/AW) Henry Craig Hensel (Ret.)
Hawkins 159kUndated, location unknown.Joe Szczepaniak
Hawkins 230kUndated, location unknown.Joe Szczepaniak
Hawkins 108kUndated, location unknown.Richard Miller BMCS USNR RET.
Hawkins 126kUndated, location unknown.Richard Miller BMCS USNR RET.
Hawkins 122kUndated, location unknown.Richard Miller BMCS USNR RET.
Hawkins 132kUndated, location unknown.Richard Miller BMCS USNR RET.
Hawkins 131kPhoto #: 80-G-354884, USS Black Hawk (AD-9) with six destroyers alongside, probably at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, in July 1945. The destroyers are (from left to right): USS Hawkins (DD-873); USS Ordronaux (DD-617); USS Boyle (DD-600); USS Champlin (DD-601); USS Swanson (DD-443); and USS Franks (DD-554). Note the personnel boat in the foreground, heading for a landing stage alongside Black Hawk's bow. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.Tony Cowart
Hawkins 122kUSS Black Hawk (AD-9) with six destroyers alongside, probably at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, in July 1945. The destroyers are (from left to right): USS Hawkins (DD-873); USS Ordronaux (DD-617); USS Boyle (DD-600); USS Champlin (DD-601); USS Swanson (DD-443); and USS Franks (DD-554). Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.Tony Cowart
Hawkins

Hawkins
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889k
The Hong Kong South China Morning Post, dated Monday, July 21, 1947. This article tells of the successful rescue of 1,800 Chinese men, women, and children from the wreck of the ss Hong Kheng at Chilang Point. The USS Hawkins, with CDR Alfred L. Cope as Commanding Officer, played a significant role in this rescue.William M. Cope
Hawkins 157kDestroyer Squadron Eight Change of Command, 1951 "Recently returned from Korea, Commander Destroyer Squadron Eight, Captain E.S. Von Kleeck, Jr., reads his farewell address on board the USS J. P. Kennedy, Jr., as officers and men of Destroyer Division 81 stand-by to receive their new commander." Captain Von Kleeck was relieved by Captain J.J. Laffan. Probably taken at Newport, Rhode Island, soon after 8 August 1951, when DesDiv 81 returned from a Korean War deployment. Ships present are (from right to left): USS Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. (DD-850); USS William R. Rush (DD-714); USS Fiske (DD-842); USS Hawkins (DDR-873); and an unidentified escort destroyer (DDE). Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the "All Hands" collection at the Naval Historical Center.Fred Weiss
Hawkins 201kUSS Hawkins (DD-873), USS Charles R. Ware (DD-865) and USS Fiske (DD-842) in Genoa during August 1954.Carlo Martinelli
Hawkins 91kUSS Hawkins (DD-873) moored pierside, probably at Mayport, Florida, circa 1956 (photo was marked 'Florida Feb. 1956')Dave Wright
Hawkins 134kUSS Hawkins (DDR-873) underway circa 1959. U.S. Navy photo from the USS Saratoga (CVA-60) 1959-60 cruise book.Robert Hurst
Hawkins 73kUSS Hawkins (DDR-873) alongside the newly-completed USS Independence (CVA-62) during a replenishment exercises, May 1959 (Photo No NH 99066).Robert Hurst
Hawkins 248kAugust 6, 1959 photo of the USS Hawkins (DD-873) off the port quarter of the USS Saratoga (CVA-60). The Saratoga is be refueled by the USS Mississinewa (AO-144).Mike Green
Hawkins 93kBoston Naval Shipyard, May 1960© Richard Leonhardt
Hawkins 88kBoston Naval Shipyard, May 1960© Richard Leonhardt
Hawkins 92kBoston Naval Shipyard, May 1960© Richard Leonhardt
Hawkins 142kUSS Hawkins (DDR-873) Plowing through heavy seas, circa 1960. The original photograph bears the rubber stamped date 15 June 1960. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.Fred Weiss
Hawkins 106kUSS Hawkins (DDR-873) Underway at sea, 30 October 1962. Photographed by Clements, of USS Enterprise (CVAN-65). Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.Fred Weiss
Hawkins 137kGearing-class destroyer USS Hawkins (DD-873) in the Western Pacific, circa 1965. Note the QH-50 DASH drone in flight. Photo by Gunnar Sedleniek, USN.Robert Hurst
Hawkins 144kUSS Hawkins (DD-873) Steams alongside USS Enterprise (CVAN-65) during refueling operations in the South China Sea, 19 February 1965. Taken by PH2 W.R. Mosier, USN. Official U.S. Navy Photograph.Fred Weiss
Hawkins 130kUSS Hawkins (DD-873) underway on 30 May 1965. Photographed by PH3 Henry Craig Hensel (Photo No NH 99067).Robert Hurst
Hawkins 51kNewport, October 1966© Richard Leonhardt
Hawkins 111kUSS Hawkins steaming towards Norfolk, Virginia, for a visit by Standing Naval Force Atlantic, 6 July 1970. photographed by PHC B. M. Anderson (Photo No NH 99068).Robert Hurst
Hawkins 111kFebruary 1971, Robert Butler stands switchboard watch in B-2, forward engine room. Photo by PH1 C. V. Sneed, NPC K-88324.Ed Zajkowski
Hawkins 154kMarch 10 1973. Eastern part of the Mediterranean Sea, Gulf of As-Sallum. Two views of the USS Hawkins as she shadows the Soviet Kashin Class DDG Krasny Krim and a Juliet Class missile submarine.Eugene Ivkin
Hawkins 178kAs above.Eugene Ivkin
Hawkins 188kAt Genoa, Italy on August 26 1976.Carlo Martinelli
Hawkins 148kAt Genoa, Italy on August 26 1976.Carlo Martinelli
Higbee   Higbee   Higbee   Higbee   Higbee
Scenes from the Hawkins 1977 and last Mediterranean Cruise, full dress image in Volos Greece, dry dock images from Naples, Italy.
Joe Szczepaniak
Hawkins 57kFrom the deck of the USS W.S. Sims (FF-1059) as we were leapfroging in the North Atlantic enroute to Rota Spain, April, 1977Gary Smoyer HMC(SW)USN(Ret)
Hawkins 55kSame as aboveGary Smoyer HMC(SW)USN(Ret)
Hawkins 48kLisbon, Portugal October 8 1977.Marc Piché
Hawkins 148kAt Philadelphia Navy Yard in May 1980.Ed Zajkowski
Hawkins 158kUSS Hawkins (DD-873) and USS William M. Wood (DD-715) at Philadelphia Navy Yard in May 1980.Ed Zajkowski
Hawkins 159kUSS Hawkins (DD-873) and USS William M. Wood (DD-715) at Philadelphia Navy Yard in May 1980.Ed Zajkowski
Hawkins 71kShip's patch.Mike Smolinski
Hawkins 82kShip's patch.Mike Smolinski
Hawkins 80kShip's patch.Mike Smolinski
Hawkins 100kShip's patch.Mike Smolinski
On Taiwanese Service
Hawkins 110kThe Tze-Young as a museum in Taiwan, undated, location unknown.Perry Huang
Hawkins 149kAs above.Perry Huang
Hawkins 108kAs above.Perry Huang
Hawkins 121kAs above.Perry Huang
Hawkins 111kAs above.Perry Huang
Hawkins 120kAs above.Perry Huang
Hawkins 118kAs above.Perry Huang

USS HAWKINS DD-873 / DDR-873 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


CDR Clifton Iverson    Feb 10 1945 - Oct 4 1945

CDR Alfred Lovell Cope    Oct 4 1945 - Aug 1947

CDR Mann Hamm    Aug 1947 - Apr 1949

CDR Bennett Merritt Dodson    Apr 1949 - 1950

CDR David Lambert    1950 - Jul 1951

CDR John J. Kerr Jr.    Jul 1951 - Jul 1953

CDR Charles Robert Clark Jr.    Jul 1953 - Apr 1955

CDR Harold Norman Poulsen    Apr 1955 - Mar 1957

CDR Carl Boone Hibben    Mar 1957 - Jul 1958

CDR Steven Nicholas Anastasion    Jul 1958 - Aug 1960

CDR Samuel Lorenz Jr.    Aug 1960 - Apr 1962

CDR William Kahlen Doty    Apr 1962 - Jul 1963

CDR James David Taylor    Jul 1963 - Mar 1964

LCDR Edward Haack    Mar 1964 - Nov 1964

CDR John Warburton King Jr.    Nov 1964 - Jul 1966

CDR Thomas Henry Nugent Jr.    Jul 1966 - Aug 1968

CDR Max Henry Lasell    Aug 1968 - Feb 1970

CDR Carl Frederick Sloterer    Feb 1970 - Apr 1971

LCDR Howard J. Kerr Jr.    Apr 1971 - Apr 1972

LCDR Steven William McGanka    Apr 1972 - Oct 2 1973

LCDR Kenneth George Clark    Oct 2 1973 - Sep 12 1975

LCDR John Tolbert McAbee    Sep 12 1975 - Jan 13 1978

CDR George Stefancavage    Jan 13 1978 - Oct 1 1979


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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This page was created by Fred Willishaw (ex ARG-4, AS-11 & DD-692) and is maintained by David L. Wright
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Last Updated 11 July 2017