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USS FARENHOLT (DD-491)


Flag Hoist/Radio Call Sign - NAOB

CLASS - BENSON 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; Bethlehem Turbines, 2 screws
Speed, 35 Knots, Range 6500 NM@ 12 Knots, Crew 208.
Operational and Building Data
Laid down by Bethlehem Steel, Staten Island, NY December 11 1940.
Launched November 11 1941 and commissioned April 2 1942.
Decommissioned April 26 1946.
Stricken June 1 1971.
Fate Sold November 22 1972 and broken up for scrap.

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Farenholt

Farenholt
54k






2005k
Oscar Walter Farenholt, born 2 May 1843 in San Antonio, Tex., entered the Navy as a seaman 24 April 1861, after 3 years in the merchant service. Distinguished service led to his appointment as acting ensign 19 August 1864, and command of the mortar schooner Henry Janes in the sounds of North Carolina later that year. His last of many important billets at sea was in command of Monocacy, who acted as base of procurement at Shanghai for Dewey's fleet in the Spanish-American War. Rear Admiral Farenholt retired 1 September 1901, and died 30 June 1920 at Mare Island, Calif.Bill Gonyo/Mike Mohl/Ron Reeves
Farenholt 82kArtist's conception of the Farenholt as she appeared in 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
Farenholt 63kUndated, location unknown.Cal Emerson
Farenholt 154kUndated, location unknown.Ed Zajkowski
Farenholt 140kLaunching ceremonies, at the Bethlehem Steel Company shipyard, Staten Island, New York, 19 November 1941. Three other destroyers are under construction alongside Farenholt. The closest one is probably Bailey (DD-492). U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.Fred Weiss
Farenholt 138kUSS Farenholt (DD-491) launching at the Bethlehem Steel Shipyard, Staten Island, New York on November 19, 1941. Source: Naval History and Heritage Command, Photo No. NH 54081.Mike Green
Farenholt 114kUSS Farenholt (DD-491) is christened by Miss N.L. Garland, at the Bethlehem Steel Company shipyard, Staten Island, New York, 19 November 1941. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Photo #: NH 54078.Robert Hurst
Farenholt 138kClose-up photo of the launching of the USS Farenholt (DD-491) at the Bethlehem Steel Company Shipyard, Staten Island, New York, 19 November 1941. Source: Naval History and Heritage Command, Photo No. NH 54081.Mike Green
Farenholt 98kSlides down the building ways, during her launching at the Bethlehem Steel Company shipyard, Staten Island, New York, 19 November 1941. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.Fred Weiss
Farenholt 86kUSS Farenholt (DD-491) receives workmens' salute just after her launching, at the Bethlehem Steel Company Shipyard, Staten Island, New York, 19 November 1941 (USN Photo No NH 54074).Robert Hurst
Farenholt 119kApril 18 1942 at New York.Ed Zajkowski
Farenholt 158kApril 18 1942 at New York.Ed Zajkowski
Farenholt 106kComing alongside USS Wasp (CV-7) to receive supplies, during operations in the south Pacific, 24 August 1942. Note her camouflage scheme. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.Fred Weiss
Farenholt 135kUnderway off Pearl Harbor, circa May 1943. This photograph was received by the Bureau of Ships in that month. Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives. Fred Weiss
Farenholt 104kNavy Photo 3051-44, stern view of USS Farenholt (DD 491) off Mare Island on 22 May 1944. Farenholt was in overhaul at the yard from 20 March until 28 May 1944.Darryl Baker
Farenholt 115kNavy Photo 3053-44, broadside view of USS Farenholt (DD 491) off Mare Island on 22 May 1944. Farenholt was in overhaul at the yard from 20 March until 28 May 1944. The ship is painted in camouflage Measure 32, Design 3d.Darryl Baker
Farenholt 110kNavy Photo 3056-44, bow on view of USS Farenholt (DD 491) in the Mare Island channel on 22 May 1944. Farenholt was in overhaul at the yard from 20 March until 28 May 1944.Darryl Baker
Farenholt 104kNavy Photo 3149-44, amidships looking plan view of USS Farenholt (DD 491) at Mare Island channel on 25 May 1944. Circled areas modified by the yard during the overhaul.Darryl Baker
Farenholt 93kNavy Photo 3151-44, forward plan view of USS Farenholt (DD 491) at Mare Island channel on 25 May 1944. Circled areas modified by the yard during the overhaul.Darryl Baker
Farenholt 157kPhotograph circa 1945. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.Fred Weiss
Farenholt 110kUSS Farenholt (DD-491) in 1944, location unknown. United States Navy from James C. Fahey Collection.Robert Hurst
Click here to see additional image(s) of this ship on our Orange, Texas Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility (ISMF) Special Feature page

USS FARENHOLT DD-491 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 Eugene Trefethen Seaward    Apr 2 1942 - Jul 17 1943 (Later RADM)
LCDR Alcorn Gustav Beckman    Jul 17 1943 - Feb 2 1944
CDR Kenneth Sydney Shook    Feb 2 1944 - Dec 16 1944
CDR Beriah Magoffin III    Dec 16 1944 - Jan 29 1946
LT Courtney Roswell Sheldon    Jan 29 1946 - Mar 1 1946
CDR Victor Bernard Graff    Mar 1 1946 - Apr 26 1946

Crew Contact And Reunion Information

Contact Name: Ford "Whitey" Richardson
Address: 1676 Willow Ave., Lake Havasu City, AZ 86403
Phone: (928) 855-1703 or (928) 412-0014
E-mail: dd491@rraz.net


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
USS Farenholt Website
Tin Can Sailors Website
Destroyer History Foundation
Destroyers Online Website
Official U.S.Navy Destroyer Website

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