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Builder: Federal Shipbuilding Company Laid Down: May 23, 1944 Launched: December 17, 1944 Commissioned: February 17, 1945 Decommissioned: July 1, 1972 Fate: Stricken July 1, 1972 Sold For Scrap: May 18, 1973 |
Displacement: 2,610 tons (3,218 tons Full Load)
Length: 376 feet 10 inches
Beam: 40 feet 10 inches
Draught: 14 feet 2 inches
Machinery: Four Babcock & Wilcox boilers
two-shaft G.E.C. geared turbines
Performance: 60,000 shp for 36.5 knots
Bunkerage: 504 tons
Range: 3,300 nautical miles at 20 knots
Guns: six 5 inch; twelve 40 mm; eleven 20 mm
Torpedoes: ten 21 inch
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Harlan R. Dickson (DD-708) was launched 17 December, 1944 by the Federal Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Co., Kearny, NJ; sponsered by Mrs. Mildred Mae Studler, mother; and commissioned at New York 17 February 1945, Cmdr. Paul G. Osler in command.
After shakedown in the Caribbean, Harlan R. Dickson departed New York for the Pacific 5 August 1945, but with the Japanese capitulation was ordered back to Solomons, MD, for experimental mine work. She finally joined her squadron at Pearl Harbor 12 December and remained in the Pacific for tactical training until March 1946. Returning to the east coast, Harlan R. Dickson engaged in further training until sailing 2 February 1947 for the first of what were to become regular cruises in the Mediterranean with the 6th Fleet in its tremendous mission of keeping the peace against Soviet intrigue. In addition to visiting many Mediterranean ports, the destroyer sailed into the Red Sea before returning to the States 14 August.
This year established a pattern which Harlan R. Dickson was seldom to break; six months of duty in the Mediterranean alternating with training and fleet maneuvers along the East Coast and in the Caribbean. During her second tour with the 6th Fleet, Harlan R. Dickson served under the United Nations blue and white flag December 1948-January 1949 as the world peace organization strove to mediate the Palestine crisis-only one in many that developed in the Mediterranean "Sea of History" from 1945 on. In 1953 she participated in at sea training. On her sixth Mediterranean cruise, 2 July to 4 December 1956, Harlan R. Dickson played a key role in another crisis situation, this time evacuating American citizens from Haifa, Israel, as war threatened between Israel and Egypt. Her career entered still another phase September 1959 when she began service as a recovery ship on the Atlantic coast missile range to retrieve test capsules fired from Cape Canaveral, now Cape Kennedy.
Harlan R. Dickson's constant participation in both fleet and NATO exercises to keep her fighting ability and readiness at a peek paid rich dividends in October 1962 as she joined a hunter-killer antisubmarine unit in the quarrantine Cuba during the offensive missile crisis. After the crisis subsided, Harlan R.Dickson continued her vital duty in maintaining America's strength and showing friend and foe alike her determination to maintain both peace and freedom. Harlan R. Dickson joined Operation "Springboard" in the Caribbean, visiting San Juan and Santo Domingo before returning to Newport 4 February 1963. On 7 March she commenced her 10th Mediterranean deployment with the 6th Fleet. While in the Persian Gulf, Harlan R. Dickson represented the United States in Khargex, VI, and exercise designed for the perfection of working relationships with our allies of the Iranian and British Navies. After a brief stop in the Mediterranean she returned to Newport in September. On 2 January 1964 Harlan R. Dickson entered the Boston Naval Shipyard for overhaul. She continued to operate until she was decommissioned and struck from the Navy list on 1 July 1972, and sold 18 May 1973 to Union Minerals & Alloys Corporation of New York for $41,330.
The newspaper clipping that goes with the picture is below:
Destroyer Loses Power, Goes Aground at Cape
SANDWICH - The Boston-based Navy destroyer Harlan R. Dickson went aground at the east end of the Cape Cod Canal at 4:30pm yesterday while on a training mission.
At two o'clock this morning, Navy crews, aided by an incoming tide, began preparations to tow the 376-foot World War II type destroyer from its rocky perch.
Officials said the main effort to haul the vessel back into the middle of the canal would be make between 2 and 5 a.m. If the effort failed, another attempt could not be made until the next high tide this afternoon.
An Army tugboat stood by the ship throughout the night and was expected to be used in the hauling operation. A second tugboat, from the Boston Navy Base, was reported en route to assist in the job.
Meanwhile, Navy salvage teams from the Boston Navy Base and the Newport, R.I., base went aboard the destroyer to supervise the operation. Their efforts were hindered by a heavy fog moving into the area shortly after midnight.
The destroyer was carrying a crew of 9 officers and 125 enlisted men when it went aground at the south side of the canal. There were no injuries, the Navy said.
A spokesman at the First Naval District in Boston said last night that a Cape Cod Canal pilot on board the Dickson said "the incident occurred when an apparent loss of electrical power led to the loss of steering control." High tide at the east end of the canal was at 4 p.m., about the time the destroyer ran aground.
A crowd of 500 gathered last night on the beach and along the Sandwich breakwater, a well-known fishing spot, to view the destroyer, which was listing away from the beach.
The destroyer left Boston at 11 a.m. yesterday, according to the Navy, on a "routine training mission." The Harlan R. Dickson, which was commissioned in February, 1945, is one of two Navy destroyers assigned to training reservists.
Here is another newspaper copy of what happened to the Dickson.
On July 27, 1971 a mysterious power failure caused the Navy destroyer HARLAN R. DICKSON to veer out of the channel and ground near the rock jetty at the east end of the Cape Cod Canal.
Destroyer Dickson to be Decommissioned
Boston--(AP)--The destroyer Harlan R. Dickson, based in Boston since 1968, will be decommissioned because of old age at the Boston Navy Shipyard Saturday, the Navy announced yesterday.
The ship was built in Kearney, NJ, and launched in February, 1945. It was assigned to the Atlantic cruiser destroyer force and made 11 deployments to the Mediterranean Sea, served in the Caribbean Sea and was sent to the Middle East during a Palestinian conflict.
Principal speaker at the decommissioning ceremonies will be Capt. Jack C. Kittrell, commander of the Destroyer Squadron 28, which is headquartered in Newport, and to which the Dickson was assigned.
This is a copy of what the newspapers wrote about the ship.
It is with great sadness, and after many tears I have had to update this site on the status of a crew member
Many don't know this but Walt Oliver was a fantastic man,
without him along with Marty Peterson and my Dad, Ed McNabb, this site never would have existed.
I met Walt on a program called ICQ and while talking it was upon his suggestion I make this site.
It started out as a page to surprise my father,and it turned into the site you see today,
which is why Marty and Walt were my first contacts. They provided most of the content you see on the pages.
I cleared most of the design with Walt as he was so readily available for me to contact.
The poem, Hot Rod Race, on the site was written by Walt himself.
I had the privilege of meeting the crew that went to the Jacksonville Reunion in 1998.
I finally got to meet Walt and Marty along with many other great men who served our country.
I don't think I will ever forget one story Walt told me, see he and Dad were on the ship together
Walt, being a baker and Dad being a seaman. Dad used to go and snitch a loaf of cooling bread
not realizing Walt would leave it out, for Dad to take!
I don't think my father knew about this till he told Walt about it one time.
It is thru the internet that Walt,and all of the men, will live on in the hearts of everyone who sees this site.
I know this Thanksgiving, one thing I am thankful for is the honor of knowing this kind hearted man.
Walt and Marty along with my Dad, that goes without saying of course, will always be in my heart.
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I am searching for any and all information that
I can get on the USS Dickson. If you have any, or know of
anyone who served on the Dickson please send E-mail to me.
In the subject line please put Attn:Debbie
Thank you.
This site was made and is updated
by Debbie Johnson with LOVE for all the men who served
aboard the USS Harlan R Dickson.
Including my Father, Edward J. McNabb, Jr.
Information for this site has been provided by
my parents, Walt Oliver and Marty Petersen, it's with
many THANKS to them for making this site possible!
You are the Mate to visit this page.
