Recognition Guide Warships of the Second World War
United States Navy — Destroyer DD-744

USS Blue (DD-744)

Allen M. Sumner-class destroyer

USS Blue (DD-744)
U.S. Navy — Official U.S. Navy photo 80-G-237962 available at Destroyerhistory.org — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons Plate — DD-744 The U.S. Navy destroyer USS Blue (DD-744) underway at sea on 14 May 1944. She is painted in Camouflage Measure 31, Design 3D.

Service

  1. United States Navy as Blue20 March 1944 — 27 January 1971531 days of the war
Full service history About 744 words
Allen M. Sumner-class destroyer Particulars
Name
USS Blue
Pennant / hull number
DD-744
Namesake
John S. Blue
Builder
Bethlehem Mariners Harbor, Staten Island, New York
Laid down
30 June 1943
Launched
28 November 1943
Commissioned
20 March 1944
Decommissioned
27 January 1971
Struck
1 February 1974
Fate
Sunk as target off California 28 April 1977 (1977)
Status
Wreck

Specifications

Displacement, standard
2,200 long tons (2,235 t)
Length
114.6 m (376 ft)
Beam
12.19 m (40 ft)
Draught
4.57 m (15 ft)
Speed
34 knots (63 km/h, 39.1 mph)
Range
6,500 nmi (12,038 km)
Complement
336
Main gun
127 mm (5 in)

Victor Blue was born in Richmond County, N.C., 6 December 1865 and graduated from the Academy in 1887. Lieutenant Blue was advanced five numbers for intelligence missions in Cuba during the Spanish-American War. He serve as Chief of the Bureau of Navigation (1913-16 and 1919) and commanded Texas (BB-35) during her service with the 6th Battle Squadron. Rear Admiral Blue retired in 1919 and died 22 January 1928.

Born in New York City 29 August 1902, John Stuart Blue graduated from the Academy in 1925. During 1933 he commanded the Presidential yacht Sequoia and served as Aide to President Roosevelt. Between August 1940 and January 1942 the commended Palmer (DD-161) and then reported to the light cruiser Juneau (CL-52) as navigator. Lieutenant Commander Blue was killed in action 13 November 1942 when Juneau sank during the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal.

The second Blue (DD-744) was launched 28 November 1943 by Bethlehem Steel Co., Staten Island, N.Y.; co-sponsored by Mrs. J. S. Blue and Miss Eleanor Stuart Blue, widow and daughter, respectively, of Lieutenant Commander Blue; and commissioned 20 March 1944, Commander L. Ensey in command.

Continue to the full service history About 744 words

From the Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, compiled by the Naval History and Heritage Command (Blue II (DD-744)). A work of the United States Government, in the public domain.

Armament and machinery

Armament and machinery
Propulsion
  • 60000 shp
  • 2 propellers
Armament
  • 6 × 5 in/38 cal. guns
  • 12 × 40 mm AA guns
  • 11 × 20 mm AA guns
  • 10 × 21 inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes
  • 6 × depth charge projectors
  • 2 × depth charge tracks

Sister ships

29 more in the class

Sources

  • Facts harvested from USS Blue (DD-744) on Wikipedia. Figures only — no wording is taken from it.
  • Service history reproduced verbatim from Blue II (DD-744) , Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships — public domain, a work of the United States Government.
  • Photograph: U.S. Navy — Official U.S. Navy photo 80-G-237962 available at Destroyerhistory.org — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons