Our Ship
From Stem to Stern the Ship we Sailed
USS Shields DD-596
The history of the USS Shields DD-596 from her commissioning to her final days. A career of service with distinction for her grace and speed at sea.
Destroyer History
Destoyers have been sailing in many forms and sizes over the long history of the US Navy. Take a step back in history and see how they have adapted over history to lead and protect the fleet.
Fletcher Class Destroyers
“I always felt it was the Fletcher class that won the war . . .they were the heart and soul of the small-ship Navy.”
LCDR. Fred Edwards, 1942,
Destroyer Type Desk, Bureau of Ships
Organization
Like a floating city, the destroyer has a strong chain of command of Officers, Senior Enlisted, and Crew that live shoulder to shoulder in harm’s way.
Armament
Standard outfitting included five 5″ guns with a gun director, 40MM twin mounts, 10MM twin mounts, and 10 torpedo tubes plus depth charges.
Engineering Plant
Power to drive through the seas at high speed from four boilers turning dual screws taller than a man. Shields had special boilers that set speed records.