United States Navy — Destroyer

USS Bristol (DD-857) — service history

This is the full service history. For the vessel's particulars, photograph and specifications, see the entry.

In the words of the US Navy. The account below is reproduced verbatim from the Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, compiled by the Naval History and Heritage Command — a work of the United States Government, in the public domain, and the only text on this site not written here.

Contents

Before commissioning
Second World War 1939–1945
1944 1
1945 1
Post-war 1946–1949
1946 2
Korean War period 1950–1953
1950 2
Vietnam War period 1964–1975
1969 1
References 9

Periods, years and the actions beside them are read out of the text — the source is one continuous narrative with no divisions of its own. A period is the calendar, not a claim: a vessel with a 1951 section was not necessarily off Korea.

Before commissioning

Born in Glassboro, N.J., 17 April 1868, Mark Lambert Bristol graduated from the Academy in 1887. During the Spanish-American War he served aboard Texas and participated in the battle of Santigao, Cuba. From 1901 to 1903 he served as aide to the Commander-in-Chief, North Atlantic Fleet. He commanded Oklahoma (BB 37) during World War I and then served as United States High Commissioner in Turkey (1919-27). In 1927 Rear Admiral Bristol assumed command of the Asiatic Fleet. He died 13 May 1939.

Second World War 1939–1945

1944

The second Bristol (DD-857) was launched 29 October 1944 by Bethlehem Steel Co., San Predo, Calif.; sponsored by Mrs. August Frederick Eberly; and commissioned 17 March 1945, Commander K. P. Letts in command.

1945

The U.S. Navy destroyer USS Bristol (DD-857) in 1945. U.S. Navy — Official U.S. Navy Bureau of Ships photo 19-N-80407 available at Destroyerhistory.org — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons

Bristol departed San Diego 13 June 1945 enroute to Pearl Harbor, arriving 19 June 1945. Arriving at Guam 29 July she joined TG 30.8, a logistic support group supplying TF 38. On 5 August 1945 Bristol collided with Astabula (AO-51). Bristo's bow was damaged and she returned to Guam for repairs. Repairs completed 1 September, she departed for Far Eastern occupation duty. Her tour of duty ended 21 February 1946 and she returned to San Pedro 15 March.

Post-war 1946–1949

1946

In April 1946 Bristol proceeded to the east coat and reported to the Atlantic Fleet. She operated along the east coast until February 1947 when she steamed to England for a cruise in European waters that lasted until August. Between August 1947 and September 1948 she conducted local operations in the Atlantic and from September 1948 until January 1949 made a second tour of Europe.

Upon return, she was designated as a Reserve training ship and operated for the next 18 months out of New Orleans, La. During the summer and fall of 1950 Bristol visited several Caribbean ports, with interim periods of training at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

Korean War period 1950–1953

1950

Bristol 's home port was changed to Newport 21 October 1950 and after refresher training at Guantanamo Bay, she reported to Newport for general duty. On 5 March 1951 Bristol proceeded to the Mediterranean for duty with the 6th Fleet, returning to Newport during the summer. On 2 October 1951 she commenced a round-the-world cruise which took her first to Korea where she served from 31 October 1951 to 27 February 1952. She then returned to Newport, via the Suez Canal and the Mediterranean, arriving 21 April 1952.

Since that time Bristol has served with the Atlantic Fleet and has carried out her normal peacetime operating schedule along the east coast, in the Caribbean, and with the 6th Fleet in the Mediterranean.

Vietnam War period 1964–1975

1969

Bristol was placed out of commission and in reserve on 21 November 1969. She was struck from the Navy listing on 21 November 1969 and sold to the Republic of China on 23 December 1969.

Other photographs

Held for this vessel, and not tied to any part of the account above.

References

Every work this entry draws on. There are no numbered markers in the text above: what we hold is the provenance of the page — this history, this article, these photographs.

History Bristol II (DD-857) Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, Naval History and Heritage Command. A work of the United States Government, in the public domain — the only text on this site reproduced verbatim.
Facts USS Bristol (DD-857) Structured facts only — dates, dimensions, armament and fate. No wording is taken from it. Harvested 1 August 2026.
Photograph USS Bristol (DD-857) underway in August 1959 PH2 A.D. Carter, USN — Official U.S. Navy photo NH 107107 from the [ ship's entry] in the U.S. Navy Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS) available at the Naval History and Heritage Command — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
Photograph Radar arrangement aboard USS Bristol (DD-857) in December 1953 U.S. Navy Bureau of Ships photo 19-NN - DD-857 Bristol - 148464 — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
Photograph USS Bristol (DD-857) in 1945 (19-N-80407) U.S. Navy — Official U.S. Navy Bureau of Ships photo 19-N-80407 available at Destroyerhistory.org — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
Photograph USS Bristol (DD-857) insignia Unknown author — https://www.navsource.net/archives/05/857.htm — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
Photograph USS Bristol (DD-857) underway off Boston on 5 July 1950 U.S. Navy Bureau of Ships photo 19-NN - DD-857 Bristol - 135690 — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
Photograph USS Bristol (DD-857) underway on 5 July 1950 U.S. Navy Bureau of Ships photo 19-NN - DD-857 Bristol - 135679 — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
Photograph USS Shenandoah (AD-26) with DesRon 32 at San Juan PR c1966 USN — U.S. Navy All Hands magazine July 1966 , p. 38 — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons