USS Prairie (AD-15) on:
[Wikipedia]
[Google]
[Amazon]
USS ''Prairie'' (AD–15) was a built just before the start of
''Prairie'' steamed to San Diego, destroyer force headquarters, 16 February 1946 and remained there until 11 August 1947. The
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...
for the U.S. Navy
The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage o ...
. Her task was to service destroyers
In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast, manoeuvrable, long-endurance warship intended to escort
larger vessels in a fleet, convoy or battle group and defend them against powerful short range attackers. They were originally developed in ...
in, or near, battle areas and to keep them fit for duty. Prior to U.S. entry into World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...
, ''Prairie'' cruised between Atlantic ports from Colon, C.Z. to Argentia
Argentia ( ) is a Canadian commercial seaport and industrial park located in the Town of Placentia, Newfoundland and Labrador. It is situated on the southwest coast of the Avalon Peninsula and defined by a triangular shaped headland which r ...
, Newfoundland. She was docked at Argentia
Argentia ( ) is a Canadian commercial seaport and industrial park located in the Town of Placentia, Newfoundland and Labrador. It is situated on the southwest coast of the Avalon Peninsula and defined by a triangular shaped headland which r ...
, tending Allied ships, on 7 December 1941 as the first direct blows of World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...
struck the United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...
.
She was laid down 7 December 1938 by New York Shipbuilding
The New York Shipbuilding Corporation (or New York Ship for short) was an American shipbuilding company that operated from 1899 to 1968, ultimately completing more than 500 vessels for the U.S. Navy, the United States Merchant Marine, the United ...
, Camden, New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York; on the east, southeast, and south by the Atlantic Ocean; on the west by the Delaware ...
; launched 9 December 1939; sponsored by Mrs. Samuel M. Robinson; and commissioned 5 August 1940.
World War II Pacific Theatre operations
A floating workshop for American and other Allieddestroyers
In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast, manoeuvrable, long-endurance warship intended to escort
larger vessels in a fleet, convoy or battle group and defend them against powerful short range attackers. They were originally developed in ...
, ''Prairie'' was “mother ship” to a squadron of destroyers
In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast, manoeuvrable, long-endurance warship intended to escort
larger vessels in a fleet, convoy or battle group and defend them against powerful short range attackers. They were originally developed in ...
at Argentia, the Atlantic terminus of the transatlantic convoy route. A fire from , secured astern of ''Prairie'', spread to the tender 29 May 1942 and caused extensive damage. After repairing at Boston, ''Prairie'' returned to Argentia. On 22 February 1943, U.S. Coast Guard cutter was rammed during an engagement with a German submarine; complete overhaul was provided by ''Prairie'', and ''Campbell'' sailed to the United States 27 May.
Departing Argentia 23 September, ''Prairie'' steamed to Boston, and on to Pearl Harbor in November, to remain until February 1944. She departed Pearl Harbor 7 February to move with advancing forces in operations against the Marshall Islands. Lying in sheltered waters, ''Prairie'' tended destroyers throughout the remainder of the war. Majuro Atoll had been secured 7 February, and ''Prairie'' arrived there the 13th, to remain at this advantageous point for mobile supply during the costly campaign for Tarawa. Departing Majuro 3 June, she steamed to Eniwetok, where she was while fighting progressed in the Marianas and Carolines. Reporting to Ulithi 8 October, ''Prairie'' was there at war's end and remained until 1 October 1945, when she steamed to Tokyo Bay. On 30 November she steamed home to San Francisco.
Korean War operations
''Prairie'' steamed to San Diego, destroyer force headquarters, 16 February 1946 and remained there until 11 August 1947. The Korean War
, date = {{Ubl, 25 June 1950 – 27 July 1953 (''de facto'')({{Age in years, months, weeks and days, month1=6, day1=25, year1=1950, month2=7, day2=27, year2=1953), 25 June 1950 – present (''de jure'')({{Age in years, months, weeks a ...
demanded more hurried operations from ''Prairie'', and she sailed to provide tending services for U.N. forces from 2 February to 3 August 1951 and again from 6 April to 10 September 1952, and from late August 1953 to 11 April 1954.
Post-Korean War operations
After this period of increased activity, ''Prairie'' continued to provide repair, supply, and medical services to ships of the 7th Fleet. In 1957, the tender returned to San Diego after completing an around-the-world cruise, a rarity for a destroyer tender. In 1958, ''Prairie'' steamed to Yokohama 8 May for the ceremonies at which Yokohama and San Diego became sister cities. In October 1959, she steamed to Taiwan for the “10–10 Day” festival, a day similar to U.S. Independence Day for the Nationalist Chinese. In Spring 1961, the tender participated in the “Pony Express” exercises held by SEATO forces. She returned to Pearl Harbor 15 July 1966 for her first visit in over 20 years; she repaired over 100 vessels there before departing the area 6 December. During a 6-month tour at Pearl Harbor beginning in July 1967, ''Prairie'' rescued survivors from the yacht ''Anobell'' in turbulent waters 600 miles offHawaii
Hawaii ( ; haw, Hawaii or ) is a state in the Western United States, located in the Pacific Ocean about from the U.S. mainland. It is the only U.S. state outside North America, the only state that is an archipelago, and the only state ...
11 December and transported them to San Diego.
In 1968, ''Prairie'' added a People-to-People program to her schedule of duties while at Taiwan. As part of that program, her crew painted a new orphanage and provided dental care to remote areas of the island.
The ''Prairie'' was decommissioned after over 52 years of service on 26 March 1993 at Long Beach, California
Long Beach is a city in Los Angeles County, California. It is the 42nd-most populous city in the United States, with a population of 466,742 as of 2020. A charter city, Long Beach is the seventh-most populous city in California.
Incorporate ...
, and was later towed to Singapore
Singapore (), officially the Republic of Singapore, is a sovereign island country and city-state in maritime Southeast Asia. It lies about one degree of latitude () north of the equator, off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, bor ...
and sold for scrap. At the time of her decommissioning, she was the longest serving ship in the U.S. Navy other than the USS ''Constitution''.
External WebsitesWebsite of USS Prairie AD-15 References