This is the last time you will see this!
Two (2) Forrest Sherman Class Destroyers sitting side-by-side in Philly
L to R: USS Edson DD-946, USS Forrest Sherman DD-931
Jan 2006 - Courtesy Jim Young
Last heavy cruiser afloat in the world!
Last ALL GUN DESTROYERS In History
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The Forrest Sherman Class - last Class in Naval History to sport 100% guns. The USS Hull DD-945 was the last 'all-gun' Destroyer in the Pacific - decommissioned in 1982. A month later, the Mullinnix was the last 'all-gun' Destroyer in the Atlantic to be decommissioned. With the Mux decommissioning the end of an era was complete. The US Navy will never again see a ship will ALL guns. May they rest in peace... |
We lost THE LAST one on 22 July 2004. There are now just four (4) that are the sole survivors of the Forrest Sherman Class: Two (Turner Joy and Barry) are musuems, one (Forrest Sherman) will be a museum in Havre de Grace, Maryland (as of 28 Oct, 2007), and one (Edson) is in donation hold status in Philly.
...AND the "Forrest Sherman" name will live on. On January 23, 2003, the Secretary of the Navy announced that the next ship to be constructed for the fleet will be named the USS FORREST SHERMAN DDG 98. She will be commissioned sometime in 2006. The SHERMANS live on! |
"The Sweet 18" |
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| NAME | HULL # | COMMISSION | DECOMMISSION | FATE |
| USS Forrest Sherman | DD-931 | 9 Nov 1955 | 5 Nov 1982 | SAVED! 18 July 2001 Donation Hold Status. Successfully completed inspection in Feb 2004. With funding, a little luck, and a few prayers, she'll be headed to Baltimore, MD.
Update: In Dec 2005, Congress passed the following legislation as part of the Department of Defense Authorization Bill for fiscal year 2006: SEC. 1015. TRANSFER OF EX-U.S.S. FORREST SHERMAN. (a) Transfer.--The Secretary of the Navy may transfer the decommissioned destroyer ex-U.S.S. Forrest Sherman (DD-931) to the USS Forrest Sherman DD-931 Foundation, Inc., a nonprofit organization under the laws of the State of Maryland, subject to the submission of a donation application for that vessel that is satisfactory to the Secretary. (b) Applicable Law.--The transfer under this section is subject to subsections (b) and (c) of section 7306 of title 10, United States Code. Subsection (d) of that section is hereby waived with respect to such transfer. (c) Additional Terms and Conditions.--The Secretary may require such additional terms and conditions in connection with the transfer under subsection (a) as the Secretary considers appropriate. (d) Expiration of Authority.--The authority granted by subsection (a) shall expire at the end of the five-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act. Update #2: "It now appears likely that the USS FORREST SHERMAN DD-931 will be located in Havre de Grace, Maryland. As part of process to locate the ship there we have to have a pier engineering design study done. The cost of this will be in excess of $38,000. We will have to pay for half of this study. The most successful fund raising raffle for the Foundation was held at the last reunion, we are going to do it again to help raise the $19,000 we need for our part of the study. This time on line, in the next newsletter, and with public solicitations. Your help is really needed, and you have a great chance to win one of ten wonderful prizes." (28 Oct, 2007 email from Kurt Wagemann, President, Forrest Sherman Foundation) |
| USS John Paul Jones | DD-932 | 5 Apr 1956 | 15 Dec 1982 | Converted to DDG-32 Guided Missle Destroyer. Sunk 30 Jan 2001.  |
| USS Barry | DD-933 | 31 Aug 1956 | 5 Nov 1982 | Memorial ship at Washington Navy Yard. Substantial hull damage was temporarily repaired in 2004. Future may be in question. |
| USS Decatur | DD-936 | 7 Dec 1956 | 2003 | Sunk as target off the coast of Hawaii (of the coast of Kauai - 22:57 N 159:55:41 W) on 22 July 2004. She was the LAST surviving Forrest Sherman still on active duty - as a Weapons trials ship for Naval Facilities Engineering Command.  
Decatur is shown on 21 July 2004 - her last day before her SINKEX. May she rest in peace. 
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| USS Davis | DD-937 | 28 Feb 1957 | 31 Jan 1982 |  USS Davis On way to Quincy MA Scrapper - 17 January 1992. |
| USS Jonas Ingram | DD-938 | 19 Jul 1957 | 4 Mar 1983 | Sunk as target 23 July 1988. |
| USS Manley | DD-940 | 1 Feb 1957 | 4 Mar 1983 | Scrapped 1993. |
| USS DuPont | DD-941 | 1 July 1957 | 4 Mar 1983 | Scrapped 1993. |
| USS Bigelow | DD-942 | 8 Nov 1957 | 4 Mar 1983 | Sunk as a target 2 April 2003 as part of a SINKEX off the Virginia Capes by US, Canadian, Dutch and Belgium ships.
 Picture above was taken on 2 April 2003 during the Bigelow Sinkex. The USS Bigelow had been silently waiting inboard of the USS Forrest Sherman in the Philly shipyards. The 1st week of Feb 2003 she was moored next to the USS Des Moines with tow lines on her. I received a confirmation email from Frank Calandrillo on 27 May 2003. Click on the picture above to view additional pictures of the Bigelow's fate courtesy of Jim Wimberly. |
| USS Blandy | DD-943 | 26 Nov 1957 | 5 Nov 1982 |  Under tow at Fore River to be broken up - 31 Jan 1993. |
USS Mullinnix | DD-944 | 7 Mar 1958 | 11 Aug 1983 She was the last forward deployed Sherman | Sunk as target 23 Aug, 1992. Click on picture below to view video clips of the sinkex. |
| USS Hull | DD-945 | 3 July 1958 | 11 July 1983 | Only US Destroyer ever to sport an 8" gun (Mark 71 8"/55 Major Caliber Lightweight Gun). Sunk as target on 7 Apr 1998. |
| USS Edson | DD-946 | 3 Apr 1959 | 15 Dec 1988 The Edson was the last of the Forest Sherman-class destroyers remaining on the naval registry when decommissioned. | No longer a Memorial ship in New York, NY. Currently in Donation Hold Classification in Philadelphia Naval. Picture below was taken on 22 October 2004.Groups will be free to appy for the donation. Saginaw Valley Naval Ship Museum is trying to raise funds to move her to Bay City. |
| USS Somers | DD-947 | 9 Apr 1959 | 15 May 1984 | Converted to DDG-34 Guided Missle Destroyer. Sunk 22 July 1998. |
| USS Morton | DD-948 | 26 May 1959 | 22 Nov 1982 | Scrapped 1993. Morton Association Decommissioning of USS Morton DD 948  Above picture is of USS Morton and USS Richard S. Edwards in MIddle Loch waiting scrapping. |
| USS Parson | DD-949 | 29 Oct 1959 | 19 Nov 1982 | Converted to DDG-33 Guided Missle Destroyer. Sunk 4 Apr 1989. |
| USS Richard S. Edwards | DD-950 | 5 Feb 1959 | 18 Dec 1982 | Sunk as target 10 Apr 1997. |
| USS Turner Joy | DD-951 | 3 Aug 1959 | 18 Dec 1988 | Memorial ship at Bremerton, Washington. Click on picture to view vidio clip of her during the Market Time blockade in Vietnam during the 60's. |
