Recognition Guide Warships of the Second World War
United States Navy — Destroyer DD-798

USS Monssen (DD-798)

Fletcher-class destroyer

USS Monssen (DD-798)
USN — Official U.S. Navy photo 80-G-625694 from the U.S. Navy Naval History and Heritage Command — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons Plate — DD-798 The U.S. Navy destroyer USS Monssen (DD-798) underway off Newport, Rhode Island (USA), on 17 July 1953.

Service

  1. United States Navy as Monssen14 February 1944 — 11 December 1957566 days of the war
Full service history About 1,650 words
Fletcher-class destroyer Particulars
Name
USS Monssen
Pennant / hull number
DD-798
Namesake
Mons Monssen
Builder
Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation's Bethlehem Mariners Harbor, Staten Island
Laid down
1 June 1943
Launched
30 October 1943
Commissioned
14 February 1944
Decommissioned
30 April 1946
Recommissioned
31 October 1951
Struck
1 February 1963
Fate
Sold 21 October 1963 and scrapped (1963)
Status
Scrapped

Specifications

Displacement, standard
2,050 long tons (2,083 t)
Displacement, full load
2,924 long tons (2,971 t)
Length
114.6 m (376 ft) OA
Beam
11.89 m (39 ft)
Draught
3.96 m (13 ft)
Speed
35 knots (64.8 km/h, 40.3 mph)
Range
6,500 nmi (12,038 km)
Complement
319
Main gun
127 mm (5 in)

(DD‑798: dp. 2,050; l. 376'6"; b. 39'8"; dr. 17'9"; s. 35 k.; cpl. 319; a. 5 5", 10 40mm., 7 20mm., 10 21" tt., 6 dcp., 2 dct.; cl. Fletcher )

Mons Monssen was born 20 January 1867, at Bergen, Norway, and enlisted in the U.S. Navy 3 June 1889. Warranted gunner in 1904, he was serving in Missouri 13 April when a charge ignited while a 12‑inch gun was being loaded for target practice. Eighteen officers and men lost their lives. Monssen entered the burning magazine through the scuttle and threw water on the fire with his hands until a hose was passed to him. For his actions he was awarded the Medal of Honor. Later commissioned lieutenant, July 1918, he retired 15 December 1925 and died at the Naval Hospital, Brooklyn, N.Y., 10 February 1930.

The second Monssen (DD‑798) was laid down 1 June 1943 by the Bethlehem Steel Co., Shipbuilding Division, Staten Island, New York, N.Y.; launched 30 October 1943; sponsored by Mrs. Mons Monssen; and commissioned 14 February 1944, Comdr. Bernhart A. Feutsch in command.

Continue to the full service history About 1,650 words

From the Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, compiled by the Naval History and Heritage Command (Monssen II (DD-798)). A work of the United States Government, in the public domain.

Armament and machinery

Armament and machinery
Propulsion
  • geared turbines
  • 2 × screws
Power
  • 60000 shp
Armament
  • 5 × dual 5 in/38 caliber Dual-purpose guns
  • 10 × 40 mm Bofors anti-aircraft guns
  • 7 × 20 mm Oerlikon anti-aircraft cannons
  • 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 Monssen (DD-798) on Wikipedia. Figures only — no wording is taken from it.
  • Service history reproduced verbatim from Monssen II (DD-798) , Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships — public domain, a work of the United States Government.
  • Photograph: USN — Official U.S. Navy photo 80-G-625694 from the U.S. Navy Naval History and Heritage Command — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons