Saturday, May 3, 2008

USS Reid--the "Rugged Reid"

The USS Reid, DD 367, was one of the 18 vessel Mahan-class of destroyers. It was laid down on June 25, 1934, in Kearny, NJ, launched Jan. 11, 1936, and commissioned Novenber 2, 1936.

From 1937 to 1941, it took part in fleet maneuvers in the Pacific and was at Pearl Harbor during the attack.

It did convoy duty afterwards and took part in the Aleutian Island Campaign, then patrolled off New Caledonia, Samoan, and Fiji Islands in 1942. In 1943 it took part in the bombardment of Guadalcanal. At Leyte Gulf, while escorting reinforcements, the Reid destroyed 7 Japanese planes before sinking from repeated kamikaze crashes. It sank December 11. 1944 and there were 150 survivors.

Statistics-- 1,500 tons, 341 feet long, 35 foot beam, 9'10" draft, 37 knots, 158 officers and crew, five 5 inch guns and twelve 21-inch torpedo tubes.

It was named after Samuel Chester Reid who commanded a privateer in the War of 1812. In 1814 he fought British ships at Azores and his ship was sunk but this delayed British reinforcements and helped Jackson win at New Orleans.

A Great Ship. --Cooter

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