USS Abner Read (DD-769)

Summary

USS Abner Read (DD-769) was a planned United States Navy Gearing-class destroyer laid down during World War II but never completed. The ship was to be the second ship named for Abner Read (1821–1863), a United States Navy officer killed during the American Civil War. She was assigned the name during construction when the first Abner Read (DD-526), a Fletcher-class destroyer, was sunk by a kamikaze during the Battle of Leyte, 1 November 1944.[1]

Model of USS Gearing (DD-710), a Gearing-class destroyer, Abner Read would have been of this class. Note that the after set of torpedo tubes has already been replaced by a 40 mm quadruple mount in this model.
History
United States
NameAbner Read
NamesakeLieutenant commander Abner Read
BuilderBethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation, San Francisco, California
Laid down21 May 1944
Stricken13 September 1946
IdentificationHull symbol: DD-769
FateCancelled 12 September 1946 and scrapped on slip
General characteristics (as planned)
Class and typeGearing-class destroyer
Displacement
Length390 ft 6 in (119.0 m) (overall)
Beam40 ft 10 in (12.45 m)
Draft14 ft 4 in (4.37 m)
Installed power60,000 shp (45,000 kW)
Propulsion
Speed35 kn (65 km/h; 40 mph)
Range4,500 nmi (8,300 km; 5,200 mi) at 20 kn (37 km/h; 23 mph)
Complement336 officers and enlisted
Armament

Construction edit

Abner Read was laid down by the Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation at San Francisco, California on 21 May 1944. The end of World War II in August 1945 resulted in the termination of the contract for her construction on 12 September 1946 or 13 September 1946. She was stricken from the Naval Vessel Register on 13 September 1946 and scrapped on the building ways.[1][2] Scrapping was completed in January 1947.[citation needed]

Notes edit

References edit

Online sources
  • "Abner Read (DD-526)". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Navy Department, Naval History & Heritage Command. 4 April 2016. Retrieved 7 October 2016.  This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  • Wilshaw, Fred. "USS ABNER READ (DD-769)". Navsource.org. Retrieved 19 December 2015.

External links edit

  • Photo gallery of USS Abner Read (DD-769) at NavSource Naval History