HISTORY OF THE

FORREST SHERMAN CLASS DESTROYER

“What Ever Happen to Each of Them…”

Compiled By: FRANK A. WOOD

February 18, 2001

USS FORREST SHERMAN (DD-931)

Stricken 7-27-90 and sold for scrap in 1994, but contractor defaulted. As of 12-15-99,
berthed at Naval Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility (NISMF), Phila.

No sale: The destroyer USS Forrest Sherman was among 12 ships returned to the Navy after North Carolina officials closed a Wilmington scrap yard contaminated by asbestos, oil and lead. (Photo by Perry Thorsvik : Sun Staff)

The above photo (and subsequent story – The curious Captains of a reckless industry) appears on www.sunspot.net/news/special/shipbreakers/day2.shtml. Frank Wood down loaded it in May 2000. According to some of the information on a couple Forrest Sherman WebPages this photo was taken about 1997-98.

However, Bob Butler (mhbutler@prodigy.net) reported on May 29, 2000: “I live in Baltimore. About 5 years ago (+-1995), I was riding in my boat one afternoon around Fort McHenry when I saw five destroyers in the scarp yard next to the USS Coral Sea. So, I powered over to see their names. The only name that I could make out was Forrest Sherman. About a month later, I went back and she was scrapped to the water line. That may be the USS Forrest Sherman next to the USS Coral Sea in the Sun picture. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.”

My question “Can the scrap a ship to the water line in 1 month?” As it turns out Bob was wrong. Below is from the USS Forrest Sherman Association website.

UPDATE FEB 18, 2001: The USS FORREST SHERMAN DD-931 was decommissioned in 1982 and put into the reserve fleet at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard. In 1990 she was stricken from the fleet and designated for scrap. She was then sold, along with others of her class, to a Wilmington scrap dealer and towed away to be scrapped. The company defaulted and the ship was retrieved by the Navy and towed back to Philadelphia. When there was interest expressed at our last reunion in trying to save her, Kurt contacted Tom Peltin, President of Tin Can Sailors, for advice in the procedure. Tom referred Kurt to Captain Chan Zucker, who is Executive Director of the Historic Naval Ships Association. After getting advice from Chan, Kurt then contacted Tom Demas who is Program Manager of the Navy’s Ship Donation Program Office. Tom wrote back to Kurt "Regrettably, the Navy does not plan to retain the destroyer for

donation hold. The ship is currently scheduled for a fiscal year 2001 disposal by experimental use." Kurt then spoke with Tom on the phone concerning the SHERMAN. He indicated that we have a long trip to make to save her, but to proceed. Since that point we have had many discussions with various officials of the Naval Sea Systems Command, which has jurisdiction over the disposal of the SHERMAN. We met a lot of obstacles along the way until we made contact with Vice Admiral George P. Nanos, Jr, Commander, Naval Sea Systems Command. Pete, it turns out, was an Engineering Officer on the SHERMAN in the 70’s. He broke the administrative logjam, and referred us to Capt. Garry Hall, Program Manager of the Navy’s Inactive Ship Program. We were originally informed that the SHERMAN was scheduled to be a target in a sinking exercise in January 2001. Pete had that schedule push back long enough to make a formal proposal to the Navy to have her taken off the immediate disposal list.

In a meeting at NAVSEA’s Headquarters on November 13, 2001, Captain Hall informed Kurt that, because of our efforts and the "considerable congressional interest", the SHERMAN had been removed from the immediate disposal program, and that no effort would be made to either scrap or sink her through the year 2001. This removal was done to give us ample opportunity to find a home for her, and to prepare the proper applications as required by the Navy. For now, our ship has been saved. It is up to us to not only find a home for her, but to assist in both the application process and the fund raising that is necessary to restore her.

The Navy, under 10 U.S.C., only makes donations to "qualified organizations". Because of the short period of time involved, we are in discussion with several existing Historic Navy Ship museums to take the SHERMAN. Things are progressing very well on this front. While we do not expect to raise the funds from the members of this association to restore the SHERMAN, we do need to raise funds to carry out the fight. Mailings, postage, phone calls, all take money. We are asking for donations, no matter how small or large, from you, the veterans of the SHERMAN and interested friends, to carry out this fight.

Your donation, no matter how small or large, will greatly assist in this fight. Mailings cost money. Phone calls cost money. We need your help. Contributions should be made to:

USS FORREST SHERMAN DD-931 FOUNDATION, Inc.

C/o Kurt Wagemann

720 Reedy Circle

Bel Air, Maryland 21014

USS JOHN PAUL JONES (DD-932)
Reclassified DDG-32 on 3-15-67. Decommissioned 12-15-82 and stricken in 1986.
Berthed in Suisun Bay Reserve Fleet, Benecia, CA awaiting disposal.
To be used in SINKEX.

According to the following report from Wayne Neighbors (wdn@wdneighbors.com) on May 28, 2000: “I have heard that JPJ (USS John Paul Jones DD932) is to be used in a ‘SINKEX’…as a target…as far as I know that has not happened yet…don’t know anything bout pictures of the Mullinnix taken from JPJ. Thanks for visiting my web site. WN.

UPDATE: Email from wdn1@yahoo.com (Wayne Neighbors) to Frank Wood on Feb 9, 2001, “The timing of your question is interesting. JPJ was to be sunk as part of a missile exercise sometime last week. The pilot who is (was) supposed to fire the missiles actually visited my web site…and promised me at least some still photos…if not a video…WN.

USS John Paul Jones DD932 – Dec 2000

USS John Paul Jones DD932 – December 2000

“Pointy End” – Looking up from the bottom

USS BARRY (DD-933)
Stricken on 1-31-83. In 1984 she was brought to the Washington Navy Yard (Washington D.C.) where she lies moored in the Anacostia River and is open to visitors.

USS DECATUR (DD-936)
Reclassified DDG-31 on 9-15-66. Decommissioned 6-30-83 and stricken 3-16-88. In use as a weapons trials ship at Naval Facilities Engineering Command,
San Bruno, CA since 5-2-93. To be disposed of as a target or by test.

USS DAVIS (DD-937)
Named after Medal of Honor recipient George Fleming Davis, CDR, USN.
Stricken 7-27-90 and then sold for scrap in 1993

USS JONAS INGRAM (DD-938)
Named after Medal of Honor recipient Jonas Howard Ingram, ADM, USN.
Stricken 6-15-83 and sunk as target on 7-23-88.

USS MANLEY (DD-940)
Stricken on 6-1-90 and was then scrapped in 1993.

USS DUPONT (DD-941)
Stricken 6-1-90 and scrapped in 1993.

USS BIGELOW (DD-942)
Named after Medal of Honor recipient Elmer Charles Bigelow, WT1, USN.
Stricken 6-1-90 and scrapped in 1993.

USS BLANDY (DD-943)
stricken 7-27-90 and scrapped in 1993.

USS MULLINNIX (DD-944)
Stricken 7-26-90 and sunk as target on 8-22-92.

USS HULL (DD-945)
Stricken 10-15-83 and sunk as target on 4-7-98 at a depth of 2096 fathoms.

Ex-USS Hull (DD-945) Sunk On April 7, 1998

Commissioned on July 3,1958, USS Hull, a Forrest Sherman-class ship, was one of the last destroyers designed and built with an all-gun configuration. As the USN test ship for the experimental Mk 71 8-inch/55 major caliber lightweight gun from 1975 to 1979, Hull was the only destroyer ever to mount an 8-inch gun. The veteran of 20 Vietnam combat patrols made her final sacrifice on April 7, 1998 not in the breaker's yard, but in the eastern Pacific Ocean as a test bed in the development of new weapons employment tactics.

Last Day for DD-945

SH-60B Seahawk helicopter from HSL-43 Det. 1 fires a Hellfire

Missile at the target hulk, ex-USS Hull (USS Hull DD-945)

An aerial port blow view of ex-USS Hull (USS Hull DD-945), taken during battle damage assessment

USS EDSON (DD-946)

Named after Medal of Honor recipient Merritt Austin Edson, Col. USMC, First Marine Raider Battalion. Stricken 1-31-1989. Now a Museum Ship in New York City.

Intrepid Sea / Air / Space Museum, West 46^th Street and 12^th Avenue

USS Edson DD-946

NYC Intrepid Museum 1991

USS SOMERS (DD-947)

Reclassified DDG-34 on 3-15-67. Decommissioned 5-15-84 and stricken 4-26-88. Sunk as target on 7-22-98 off the Hawaiian Island of Kauai resting
at a depth of 2800 fathoms (approx. 16,800 feet).

USS MORTON (DD-948)
Stricken 2-7-90 and scrapped in 1993.

USS PARSONS (DD-949)

Reclassified DDG-33 on 3-15-67. Decommissioned 11-19-82 and stricken 5-15-84.
Sunk as a target 4-24-89.

USS RICHARD S. EDWARDS (DD-950)
Stricken 2-7-90 and sunk as target on 4-10-97 at a depth of 2499 fathoms.

A couple months prior to May 12, 1997

The "FIGHTIN' TOTEMS" flew two P-3's to Barbers Point and participated in a CTF-12 SINKEX combined operation consisting of various naval surface and air assets off the coast of Kauai. The SINKEX involved two P-3s from VP-69, helo detachments, VPs-1, 4 & 47, and a four-ship Canadian Task Group. . The exercise involved firing and delivering assorted missiles and bombs "on target" which was a de-commissioned U.S. Naval Destroyer, EX-USS EDWARDS (DD-950). VP-69's aircrew, piloted by Mission Commander LCDR Mike Sheedy, Co-Piloted by LCDR Mike Stinson, and led by Tactical Coordinator LCDR Joe Engman, fired a live air to surface missile (HARPOON) at the target, which resulted in a perfect center hull hit

USS Edwards DD950 – Damage

USS Edwards DD950 - Sunk as target on May 12, 1997 of the coast of Kauai, Hawaii

USS TURNER JOY (DD-951)
Stricken 12-13-90. Now a Museum Ship at Brementon, WA.