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| Career | |
|---|---|
| Laid down: | 7 September 1944 |
| Launched: | 15 April 1945 |
| Commissioned: | 2 July 1945 |
| Struck: | 22 October 1969 |
| General Characteristics | |
| Displacement: | 2,425 tons |
| Length: | 390'6" |
| Beam: | 41'4" |
| Draft: | 8'6" |
| Speed: | 35 knots |
| Complement: | 336 |
| Armament: | 6 - 5"/38 in three dual mounts, 16 40mm guns, 20 20mm guns, 5 21" torpedo tubes, 2 depth charge racks and 6 depth charge projectors. |
The USS Gyatt, fully titled the USS Gyatt (DD712/DDG1), was a Gearing class destroyer in the United States Navy that was named for U.S. Marine Corps Private Edward E. Gyatt. Private Gyatt was a member of the First Marine Raider Battalion in the invasion of Guadalcanal. Part of the advance force, he held his post until killed by an enemy grenade.
The Gyatt was built by Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Co in Kearny, N.J and sponsored by Mrs. Hilda Morrell, Private Gyatt's mother.
After shakedown in the Caribbean, Gyatt reported to Norfolk, Virginia for a variety of duties along the East Coast. In addition to local operations and training exercises, she participated in training operations with aircraft carriers in the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean. Departing Norfolk on January 24, 1947, Gyatt sailed south to represent the United States at the inauguration of the new Uruguayan President at Montevideo from February 27th to March 6th. Before returning to Norfolk on March 21st, she made goodwill visits to Rio de Janeiro and Port of Spain, Trinidad.
Gyatt sailed November 20, 1947 to deploy with the 6th Fleet in the Mediterranean and returned to Norfolk on March 2, 1948. She participated in six subsequent deployments to Northern Europe and the Mediterranean. Other operations took her north from Norfolk to Nova Scotia and Iceland and south into the Caribbean Sea.
Gyatt entered the Boston Naval Shipyard on September 26th, 1955 and decommissioned on October 31st for conversion into the world's first guided missile destroyer. In addition to twin Terrier guided missile launchers, she received the Navy's first Denny-Brown stabilization system (two 45 square-foot retractable fins extending out from midships well below the waterline to greatly reduce pitch and roll on the sea). Her hull classification was changed to DDG-712 on December 1, 1956. Gyatt recommissioned 2 days later, with Comdr. Charles F. Helme, Jr., in command.
The new guided missile ship spent nearly 3 years doing intensive evaluation and development work along the Atlantic coast. On May 23rd, 1957 her hull number was changed to DDG-1 in recognition of her pioneering position. She sailed to join the 6th Fleet on January 28, 1960 and was the first guided missile destroyer to deploy with an overseas fleet. By the time of her arrival back in Charleston, her new home port on August 31st, 1960, Gyatt had participated in fleet readiness and training operations throughout the Mediterranean.
On her return, Gyatt joined in America's space program. Taking nose-cone recovery station from November 5-10th, 1960 and from April 24-26th, 1961 to aid in "Project Mercury," she pioneered another area of expanding seapower. With another world crisis pending over the status of Berlin, she again sailed August 3, 1961 to bolster the 6th Fleet in the Mediterranean. She remained on alert posture with the "steel gray stabilizers" in the Mediterranean until March 3, 1962, then resumed training along the eastern seaboard out of Charleston, South Carolina.
Gyatt entered the Charleston Naval Shipyard June 29, 1962 for an overhaul that included the removal of her missile system and installation of newly developed equipment that prepared her for specialized service with the Operational Test and Evaluation Force. Her classification changed from guided missile destroyer DDG-1 back to conventional destroyer DD-712 on October 1, 1962. Her preparations were complete by January 1, 1963 when Gyatt arrived in Norfolk for continuing experimental work under the Operational Test and Evaluation Force in waters reaching into the Caribbean Sea. Gyatt continued to operate along the Atlantic coast and in the Caribbean into 1967. She performed patrol and ASW duty and trained the officers and men of the Navy in guided missile destroyer tactics. She was especially active in testing and evaluating new equipment and helping to improve the efficiency and modernity of the Navy.
After begin stricken, Gyatt was sunk as a target off Virginia on June 11, 1970.History
