Hi Guys...
Couldn't help myself here as I shared the images with a work friend and we both puzzled over the ship. He digs Naval history and we went to work on the ship. It looked like #79 there, possibly a Fletcher or Gleaves Class destroyer, according to my friend, either came close to shore to help and grounded or went to the shallows on purpose.
(Naval guys and veterans, check me on that one, look it up on Wikipedia if you trust the information, see the problem is Wiki says Gleaves class but the lifespan and end of the ship differ in two different findings we found. One has it sold to scrap, the other has it sunk and discovered in 1992 underwater. Now... I do not know so much about these things so any Navy guys or buffs could look into it. I do not wish to be innacurate. Would it be wild if someone here served on her? )
Here goes the short (ha!)version of the findings. The name and number don't match but can that stuff change?
The story looks looks good though. Man this stuff is so confusing to me. Here is what we found.
Bult in 1939, launched in 1940,she served a number of years prior to being decommisioned.
The Monssen, recommision, reported for duty March 1952 with the Atlantic Fleet.
Home ported at Newport R/I
Added to the 2nd fleet as added strength to the destroyers sent to Far East to support U/N forces in Korea.
May 1954 she departed for deployment with the 7th fleet.
Via the Panama canal she arrived in Western Pacific in June. Excercises in Japanese & okinawan waters.
Patrolled of Korea / Taiwan straighs for 4 months.
Departed Japan in October and arrived home in Newport for Christmas (Yaay!)
Next 3 years she cruised in the Caribbean leaving early in 1956 with the 6th Fleet.
Taken from the "Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships" in September 1957 she was decommissioned.
(Per the Naval Vessel Register)
Transferred to Philadelphia Reserve Group in 1962, she was being towed down the coast when her towline parted in heavt seas and she went aground. (but the 1962 Ash Wd storm would be a bit before she ran aground.)
it seems in the rough seas of 10-15 feet and 50mph gusts she went in on March 6, at Beach Haven inlet.
She stayed 6 weeks before being pulled off and her journey finished.
The Monssen was deemd unnecessary to the defense of the United Staes and was sold for scrap on 10/21/1963
Union Minerals & Alloys Corp, New York N.Y.
She took (8) battle stars for WWII service.
Now please, again, I took this on for fun with a coworker.
Right from the jump I do not get why the ship numbered 79 bears the tale of the Monssen pretty well but the Wiki version has her as #436 (DD-436) and being sunk at Guadalcanal.
since the window of launching, decommisioning, early service, etc, confuses the heck out of me, I took the latter version that sounded more fitting to the story (more romantic if you will)
There is that and the fact that I am always a little suspicious of Waka-pedia and accuracy in the same sentence.
I am pretty sure we got some good info but please, if any lack of accuracies exist, give me some liberty. I just wanted to share to any that would be inerested.
This is actually as much verbatim as I could write and cut it short.
You well respected Naval Veterans and those serving I hope will get a little enjoyment in reading as much as the lay persons here. My info can be checked even right down to the company that bought her for scrap if you wish.
Maybe someone here is actually familiar with her or crossed paths with her in service.
Either way, do what you will with it. I'm sure "someone" here can correct/edit me with ease.
For my next trick maybe I will try to trace the story of the truck half buried in sand.
I should easily be able to spin a good yarn about her if I think on it.
g.