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NavSource Online: Mine Warfare Vessel Photo Archive

Mervine (DD 489)
ex-DMS-31
ex-DD-489



Call sign:
November - Echo - Delta - Alpha
Gleaves Class Destroyer/Ellyson Class Highspeed Minesweeper:

  • The second Mervine was laid down 3 November 1941 at Federal Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Corp., Kearny NJ
  • Launched 3 May 1942
  • Commissioned USS Mervine (DD-489), 17 June 1942
  • Converted and reclassified as a Highspeed Minesweeper, DMS-31, 30 May 1945
  • Decommissioned 27 May 1949 at San Diego, CA and laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet, San Diego Group
  • Reclassified as a Destroyer, DD-489, 15 July 1955
  • Struck from the Navy Register 31 July 1968
  • Sold for scrap in 1969.

    Specifications:

  • Displacement 1,630 t.(lt), 2,200 t.(fl)
  • Length 347' 10"
  • Beam 36' 1"
  • Draft 15' 8"
  • Speed 37 kts.
  • Complement 272
  • Armament: Four 5"/38 gun mounts, four 40mm mounts, five 20mm mounts, six depth charge projectors and two depth charge tracks
  • Propulsion: Four boilers, two steam turbines, two shafts.
    Click on thumbnail
    for full size image    		 Size Image Description Source
    RADM William Mervine
    Mervine 140k Rear Admiral William Mervine, born 14 March 1791 at Philadelphia, Pa., was appointed midshipman in January 1809. Serving on Lake Ontario during the war of 1812, he later cruised off Africa and South America, in the West Indies and in the Pacific. While in command of Savannah during the war with Mexico, 1846-47, he led a detachment of sailors and marines against Monterey, 7 July 1847, took possession and hoisted the American flag over the city. Serving also during the Civil War, he served as the Flag Officer of the Gulf Squadron from 6 May 1861, until obliged by ill health to give up the command 22 September 1861. He died at Utica, N.Y., 15 September 1868
    Portrait of Capt. William Mervine [painted by M. E. D. Brown at Utica, NY. circa 1850] courtesy of James Mervine    		 Bill Gonyo
    USS Mervine (DD 489)
    Mervine 69k 23 January 1943
    Off New York Navy Yard
    National Archives photo 19-N-41140.    		 Joe Radigan
    USS Mervine (DMS 31)
    Mervine 146k ©John Robert Barrett
    Mervine 266k U.S. Navy photo DD 489-1 DMS-31 from the collection of the Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum Darryl Baker
    Mervine 14k c. August-September 1945 Dave Gauthier
    Quick 91k c. August 1946
    San Francisco, CA
    McCook (DMS 36), Davison (DMS 37), Mervine and Quick (DMS 32)    		 Albert De Pierro Jr., S1/c
    via Lisa De Pierro
    Mervine 177k 25 October 1947
    Terminal Island Naval Shipyard, Long Beach, CA
    Crew photo after change of command
    Mervine was undergoing repairs caused by accidental removal of a portion of a 14” sea valve, which flooded the entire boiler room and nearly caused the sinking of the ship. This was while it was moored alongside a tender in the middle of San Diego Harbor
    Photo from the collection of ENS Robert B. Rausch, USNR    		 Roy Rausch
    Commanding Officers
    01LCDR S. D. Willingham, USN17 June 1942
    02LCDR Irving Stahl Presler, USN - USNA Class of 1934
    Retired as Captain    		1944
    03LCDR G. Gemmill, USN25 October 1947
    04LCDR R. L. Stewart, USN25 October 1947
    Courtesy of Wolfgang Hechler, Ron Reeves and Joe Radigan
    View the Mervine (DMS-31)
    DANFS History entry located on the Haze Gray & Underway Website
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    NavSource DD Pages, USS Mervine (DD-489)
    Naval Minewarfare Association
    Association of Minemen
    Back To The Main Photo Index Back To the Mine Warfare Ship Photo Index Back to the Highspeed Minesweeper (DMS) Photo Index
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    This page was created by Gary P. Priolo & maintained by Joseph M. Radigan (of blessed memory) & Michael Mohl
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