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Navsource Online: Destroyer Escort Photo Archive



Ship's patches courtesy of Mike Smolinski

USS McCandless (DE 1084)


Flag Hoist / Radio Call Sign:
N - I - Q - C
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row: CG Meritorious Unit Commendation - National Defense Service Medal w/ 1 star - Southwest Asia Service Medal w/ 1 star
Second Row: Humanitarian Service Ribbon - Sea Service Deployment Ribbon - Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait)


"Illumino Marem"
(To Light Man's Way)
Specifications:
Class: Knox
Type: SCB No. 199C / 1964
Number in Class: 46
Displacement: 3020 tons (std), 4065 tons (full)
Length: 415' (wl), 438' (oa)
Beam: 46' 9" (extreme)
Draft: 24' 9" (draft limit)
Propulsion: 2 Combustion Engineering 1200psi boilers; 1 Westinghouse geared turbine; 35,000 shp; 1 shaft
Speed: 27 kts
Range: 4,500 nm @ 20 knots
Complement: 16 / 211
Missiles: 1 8-tube Mk25 Sea Sparrow BPDMS in DE 1052-1069, 1071-1083, 1 8-tube Mk29 NATO Sea Sparrow IPDMS in DE 1070, Harpoon missiles from modified ASROC launcher
Guns: 1 x 5"/54 cal. DP Mk 42 (600 rds)
ASW Weapons: 1 Mk16 ASROC launcher (16 missiles), 4-12.75" (324mm) Mk 32 (4x1 fixed) tubes / Mk 46 torpedos (6)
Radars: AN/SPS-10 (surface), AN/SPS-40 (air), AN/SPS-58 threat warning in some ships
Sonars: AN/SQS-26CX, AN/SQS-35 IVDS in FF-1052, 1056, 1063-1071, 1073-1076, 1078-1097
Fire Control Systems: Mk68 Mod. 11/13/14 Gun FCS, Mk114 Mod 14/16 ASW FCS
Helicopter: 1 - SH-2 LAMPS Helicopter
McCandless (DE 1084) Building and Operational Data:
  • 25 August 1966: Building contract awarded to the Avondale Shipyard Corp.
  • 04 June 1970: Keel laid by the Avondale Shipyard Corp., Westwego, La.
  • 20 March 1971: Launched
  • 18 March 1972: Commissioned at the Boston NSY, Cmdr. Ralph A. Turner, Jr. in command, assigned to CruDesLant at Norfolk, Va.
  • 30 June 1975: Reclassified Frigate (FF 1084)
  • 31 December 1991: Reclassified Training Frigate (FFT 1084), assigned to Naval Reserve Force, Atlantic, at Norfolk, Va.
  • 06 May 1994: Decommissioned at Ingleside, Tex. after 22 years and 1˝ months of service; leased to Turkey, renamed TCG Trakya (F-257)
  • 11 January 1995: Struck from the NVR
  • 06 June 1998: Lease renewed, decommissioned in 2003
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image
    Size Image Description Contributed
    By And/Or Copyright
    McCandless
    0602108401a

    McCandless
    0602108401b

    McCandless

    31k


    143k
    Bruce McCandless, the son of Commodore Byron McCandless (1881-1967) was born in Washington, DC on 12 August 1911. He graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1932. He served in Indianapolis (CA 35) and Case (DD 370). He was serving as communications officer of San Francisco when Japan attacked Pearl Harbor on 07 December 1941. On 13 November 1942, during the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, Japanese gunfire killed Radm. Daniel J. Callaghan and his staff, including Captain Cassin Young and all other officers on the San Francisco's bridge, except Lcdr. McCandless, who took the conn for the rest of the battle. For his conduct, he was awarded the Medal of Honor, and promoted to full Commander. Cmdr. McCandless continued to serve in San Francisco until 1944, when he took command of the destroyer Gregory (DD 802). On 08 April 1945, during the Battle of Okinawa, Gregory was attacked and damaged by four kamikazes; her CO was awarded the Silver Star for conspicuous gallantry.

    Captain McCandless retired on 01 September 1952, with a terminal promotion to the rank of Rear Admiral. He died in Washington, DC, on 24 January 1968, and was buried at the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md. Radm. McCandless was the father of NASA astronaut Bruce McCandless II.

    USS McCandless (DE 1084) (1972-1994) was the first ship named in his honor, and that of his father, Commodore Byron McCandless. There is also a street at the U.S. Naval Academy named after Admiral McCandless, as well as the Colorado State Veterans Nursing Home in Florence, Colorado.

    (U.S. Navy photo from the U.S. Naval Historical Center)
    Bill Gonyo
    Downey, Cal.

    Assoc. Researcher
    Navsource
    McCandless
    0602108411
    96k 1973: At sea in the Indian Ocean Glen Beattie
    McCandless
    0602108412
    76k
    McCandless
    0602108413
    146k
    McCandless
    0602108402
    127k 12 December 1979: At sea - An aerial port bow view of six ships in the USS Independence Battle Group as they head home from deployment in the Mediterranean Sea. The ships are, clockwise from the right, USS McCandless (FF 1084), USS Peterson (DD 969), USS Farragut (DDG 37), USS Mahan (DDG 42), USS Caron (DD 970) and USS Garcia (FF 1040).

    (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-82-00284 by PHC Pedrick from the Defense Visual Information Center)
    Mike Smolinski
    Clifton, N.J.

    Archive Manager
    DE / FF / LCS Archive
    Navsource
    McCandless
    0602108403
    201k 01 November 1983: Hampton Roads, Va. - A starboard beam view of McCandless leaving Norfolk.

    (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-88-09135 by PH2 D. Wujick from the DVIC)
    McCandless
    0602108415
    258k 01 November 1983: Hampton Roads, Va. - A starboard quarter view of McCandless underway.

    (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-88-09136 by PH2 D. Wujick from the DVIC)
    McCandless
    0602108416
    214k 01 November 1983: Hampton Roads, Va. - A starboard bow view of McCandless and a port quarter view of the submarine rescue ship USS Petrel (ASR 14) underway.

    (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-88-09137 by PH2 D. Wujick from the DVIC)
    McCandless
    0602108417
    288k 01 November 1983: Hampton Roads, Va. - A starboard bow view of McCandless underway.

    (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-88-09138 by PH2 D. Wujick from the DVIC)
    McCandless
    0602108404
    165k 01 November 1983: At sea - A starboard bow view of McCandless underway.

    (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-88-09139 by PH2 D. Wujick from the DVIC)
    McCandless
    0602108405
    81k 15 May 1984: At sea - Commander G.T. Forbes, commanding officer of McCandless, presents a letter of commendation and a life ring to Seaman G. P. Kallin for his action on the morning of 13 May 1984. The frigate was en route to Puerto Rico when Seaman Kallin, serving as the after lookout, reported a "Man Overboard" to the bridge. His action resulted in the rescue of a man adrift at sea for 43 hours.

    (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-ST-84-10148 from the DVIC)
    McCandless
    0602108406
    155k undated ship portrait by © Atlantic Fleet Sales (prior to hull upgrade modification) Robert M. Cieri
    McCandless
    0602108407
    151k undated ship portrait by © Atlantic Fleet Sales (after hull upgrade modification)
    McCandless
    0602108418
    127k 12 September 1987: Norfolk, Va. - A port bow view of McCandless undergoing overhaul in a floating dry dock at the Norfolk Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Corporation.

    (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-ST-88-07975 by Don S. Montgomery, USN (Ret.), from the DVIC)
    Mike Smolinski
    Clifton, N.J.

    Archive Manager
    DE / FF / LCS Archive
    Navsource
    McCandless
    0602108419
    145k 12 September 1987: Norfolk, Va. - A port bow view of McCandless undergoing overhaul in a floating dry dock at the Norfolk Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Corporation.

    (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-ST-88-07976 by Don S. Montgomery, USN (Ret.), from the DVIC)
    McCandless
    0602108414
    141k 02 October 1987: Elizabeth River, Norfolk, Va. - A port bow view of McCandless undergoing overhaul and modifications at the Norfolk Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Corporation.

    (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-ST-88-08231 by Don S. Montgomery, USN (Ret.), from the DVIC)
    Bill Gonyo
    Downey, Cal.

    Assoc. Researcher
    Navsource
    McCandless
    0602108408
    666k 18 November 1987: At sea - A starboard bow view of McCandless underway in Thimble Shoals en route to the open ocean for sea trials.

    (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-90-02295 from the DVIC)
    Mike Smolinski
    Clifton, N.J.

    Archive Manager
    DE / FF / LCS Archive
    Navsource
    McCandless
    0602108420
    125k January 1989: The Mediterranean Sea - McCandless fuels from the starboard side of USS Platte (AO 186). The photo was taken by Bob while aboard USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) which was fueling from Platte's port side. Bob Royes
    McCandless
    0602108421
    90k January 1989: The Mediterranean Sea - McCandless passes by Kennedy's starboard side.
    McCandless
    0602108409
    158k 04 July 1993: Naval Station Mayport, Fla. - The training frigates USS Ainsworth (FFT 1090) and McCandless each display a rainbow of signal flags while moored at the naval station on the Fourth of July.

    (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-93-05527 by OS2 John Bouvia from the DVIC)
    Mike Smolinski
    Clifton, N.J.

    Archive Manager
    DE / FF / LCS Archive
    Navsource
    McCandless
    0602108410
    134k 04 July 1993: Naval Station Mayport - as in previous photo.

    (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-93-05527 by OS2 John Bouvia from the DVIC)

    McCandless Memorabilia
    Ship's Plaque
    (as DE)
    McCandless
    Courtesy of
    Mike Smolinski
    Navy Times Ship in the
    Spotlight © Mario DeMarco
    McCandless
    Courtesy of
    Mike Smolinski
    Ship's Plaque
    (as FF)
    McCandless
    Courtesy of
    Mike Smolinski
    Decommissioning
    Crew Patch
    McCandless
    Courtesy of
    Mike Smolinski

    McCandless History
    The DANFS history for USS McCandless (DE 1084) is not presently available at the Naval History and Heritage Command.
    View the USS McCandless (DE 1084) history located on Wikipedia.

    McCandless's Commanding Officers
    Thanks to Wolfgang Hechler & Ron Reeves
    Dates of Command Commanding Officers
    1.)  18 Mar. 1972 - 12 Sep. 1973Cmdr. Ralph Alamore Turner, Jr.
    2.)  12 Sep. 1973 - 03 Jul. 1975Lcdr. Howard Richard Jones, Jr. (Amory, Miss.)
    3.)  03 Jul. 1975 - 29 May 1976Cmdr. Albert Aloysius Carretta, Jr.
    4.)  29 May 1976 - 02 Jun. 1978Cmdr. Allen Morris Bissell
    5.)  02 Jun. 1978 -21 Jun. 1980Cmdr. William Robert Blakeley
    6.)  21 Jun. 1980 - 14 Aug. 1982Cmdr. Robert M. Werner (Omaha, Neb.)
    7.)  14 Aug. 1982 - 01 Dec. 1984Cmdr. George Thomas Forbes
    8.)  01 Dec.. 1984 - 02 Jan. 1987Cmdr. William Alan Gaffney (USNA '67) (Winchester, Mass.)
    9.)  02 Jan. 1987 - 22 Apr. 1989Cmdr. Joe Anderson Goodman (USNA '70) (Irving, Tex.)
    10.) 22 Apr. 1989 - 05 May 1991Cmdr. Robert Frederick Ege (Auburn, Neb.)
    11.) 05 May 1991 - 15 Aug. 1991Cmdr. William D. Largent
    12.) 15 Aug. 1991 - 17 Jul. 1993Cmdr. Gary Robert Chiaverotti (Milwaukee, Wis.)
    13.) 17 Jul. 1993 - 06 May 1994Cmdr. Craig Richard Knouse

    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    McCandless's Last Known Reunion: September 2016 at Virginia Beach, Va.
    Contact Name: John Capron, c/o Take Away Café
    Address: 400 Executive Boulevard
    City/State: Elmsford NY 10523
    Phone: (914) 419-9756
    E-mail: JCap02 at aol.com
    Note About Contacts

    Contact information is compiled from various sources over a period of time and may, or may not, be correct. Every effort has
    been made to list the newest contact. However, our entry is only as good as the latest information that's been sent to us. We list
    only a contact for the ship if one has been sent to us. We do NOT have crew lists, rosters, or deck logs available. Please see the
    Frequently Asked Questions section on NavSource's Main Page for that information.


    Additional Resources

    Tin Can Sailors
    The U.S. Navy Memorial
    Destroyer Escort Sailors Association
    The Destroyer Escort Historical Museum
    The Destroyer History Foundation
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    This Page Created And Maintained By Mike Smolinski
    All pages copyright Navsource Naval History
    by Paul R. Yarnall, All Rights Reserved.
    Page Last Updated: 26 July 2016