Recognition Guide Warships of the Second World War
United States Navy — Destroyer DD-590

USS Paul Hamilton (DD-590)

Fletcher-class destroyer

USS Paul Hamilton (DD-590)
Unknown author — U.S. Navy photo NH 42812 — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons Plate — DD-590 The U.S. Navy destroyer USS Paul Hamilton (DD-590) comes alongside the escort carrier USS Makin Island (CVE-93) during the Iwo Jima campaign, 11 March 1945. She is wearing Camouflage Measure 32, Design 3d. Note that the wartime censor has removed the radar antennas.

Service

  1. United States Navy25 October 1943 — 24 September 1945678 days of the war
Full service history About 503 words
Fletcher-class destroyer Particulars
Name
USS Paul Hamilton
Pennant / hull number
DD-590
Namesake
Paul Hamilton
Builder
Charleston Navy Yard
Laid down
20 January 1943
Launched
7 April 1943
Commissioned
25 October 1943
Decommissioned
24 September 1945
Struck
1 May 1968
Fate
Sold for scrap, 2 April 1970 (1970)
Status
Scrapped

Specifications

Displacement, standard
2,050 long tons (2,083 t)
Length
114.6 m (376 ft)
Beam
11.89 m (39 ft)
Draught
5.18 m (17 ft)
Speed
35 knots (64.8 km/h, 40.3 mph)
Range
6,500 nmi (12,038 km)
Complement
329
Main gun
127 mm (5 in)

Paul Hamilton , born in St. Paul's Parish, S.C. on 16 October 1762, fought under Generals Gates, Marion, and Harden in the American War for Independence. He participated in the capture of Fort Balfour with the latter. He served South Carolina in many public offices including comptroller (1800-1804) and governor (1804-1806). President James Monroe appointed him Secretary of the Navy in 1809.

Hamilton was a proponent of military preparedness, especially sea fortifications. Although he wanted to strengthen the Navy, he found the Congress hostile and the president indifferent to his ideas. However, he was responsible for the Naval Hospitals Act of 1811. He resigned in 1813 and died at Beaufort, S.C., on 30 June 1819.

Paul Hamilton (DD-590) was laid down on 20 January 1943 at Charleston, S.C., by the Charleston Navy Yard; launched on 7 April 1943; sponsored by Mrs. William Dewar Gordon; and commissioned on 25 October 1943, Cmdr. Leo G. May in command.

Continue to the full service history About 503 words

From the Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, compiled by the Naval History and Heritage Command (Paul Hamilton II (DD-590)). A work of the United States Government, in the public domain.

Armament and machinery

Armament and machinery
Propulsion
  • 60,000 shp (45 MW)
  • 2 propellers
Armament
  • 5 × 5 in
  • 4 × 40 mm AA guns
  • 4 × 20 mm AA guns
  • 10 × 21 inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes
  • 6 × depth charge projectors
  • 2 × depth charge tracks

Sister ships

148 more in the class

Sources

  • Facts harvested from USS Paul Hamilton (DD-590) on Wikipedia. Figures only — no wording is taken from it.
  • Service history reproduced verbatim from Paul Hamilton II (DD-590) , Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships — public domain, a work of the United States Government.
  • Photograph: Unknown author — U.S. Navy photo NH 42812 — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons