View source for USS Walker (DD-517)

{{Short description|Fletcher-class destroyer}}
{{other ships|USS Walker}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2024}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image
|Ship image=[[File:USS Walker (DD-517) underway off Oahu on 29 May 1963 (NH 107240).jpg|300px|USS Walker (DD-517) underway off Oahu on 29 May 1963]]
|Ship caption=USS ''Walker'' (DD-517), 1963
}}
{{Infobox ship career
|Ship country=United States
|Ship flag={{USN flag|1969}}
|Ship name=
|Ship namesake=[[John Grimes Walker]]
|Ship ordered=
|Ship builder=[[Bath Iron Works]]
|Ship laid down=31 August 1942
|Ship launched=31 January 1943
|Ship acquired=
|Ship commissioned=3 April 1943
|Ship decommissioned= 2 July 1969
|Ship in service=
|Ship out of service=
|Ship struck=2 July 1969
|Ship reinstated=
|Ship honours=
|Ship fate=Sold to Italy, 2 July 1969
|Ship notes=
}}
{{Infobox ship career
|Ship country=Italy
|Ship flag={{shipboxflag|Italy|naval}}
|Ship name=''Fante'' (D 561)
|Ship namesake=
|Ship acquired=2 July 1969
|Ship commissioned=
|Ship decommissioned=
|Ship in service=
|Ship out of service=
|Ship struck=1977
|Ship reinstated=
|Ship honours=
|Ship fate=Scrapped, 1977
|Ship notes=
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
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|Header caption=
|Ship class={{sclass|Fletcher|destroyer}}
|Ship displacement=2,050&nbsp;tons
|Ship length=376&nbsp;ft 6&nbsp;in (114.7&nbsp;m)
|Ship beam=39&nbsp;ft 8&nbsp;in (12.1&nbsp;m)
|Ship draught=
|Ship draft=17&nbsp;ft 9&nbsp;in (5.4&nbsp;m)
|Ship propulsion=60,000&nbsp;shp (45&nbsp;MW); 2 propellers
|Ship speed={{convert|35|kn|lk=in}}
|Ship range=6500 [[nautical mile|nmi.]] (12,000&nbsp;km) at 15&nbsp;kt
|Ship complement=336
|Ship sensors=
|Ship EW=
|Ship armament= {{Fletcher class destroyer armament}}
|Ship armour=
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|Ship aircraft=
|Ship aircraft facilities=
|Ship notes=
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|}

'''USS ''Walker'' (DD-517)''', a {{sclass|Fletcher|destroyer}}, was the second ship of the [[United States Navy]] to be named for Admiral [[John Grimes Walker]] (1835&ndash;1907).

''Walker'' was laid down on 31 August 1942 by the [[Bath Iron Works]] Corp., [[Bath, Maine]]; [[Ship naming and launching|launched]] on 31 January 1943, sponsored by Miss Sarah C. Walker; and [[ship commissioning|commissioned]] on 3 April 1943.

The first seven months of ''Walker'''s service took place in the Atlantic where she was engaged in Caribbean escort duty and training exercises in preparation for Pacific combat duty. The highlights of this period included the capture on 7 August of 43 survivors of the {{GS|U-615||2}} which had been damaged by Navy air units off [[Cuba]], and the responsibility of escorting the [[United States Secretary of State|Secretary of State]], [[Cordell Hull]], from [[San Juan, Puerto Rico]], to [[Casablanca]] to participate in the [[Moscow Conference (1943)|Moscow Conference]] of October 1943.

== 1944 ==
''Walker'' transited the [[Panama Canal]] on 1 November 1943 and proceeded to join the forces engaged in the [[Battle of Tarawa|conquest of Tarawa]]. After a month of operations in that area, the destroyer took part in the [[Marshall Islands campaign]] from 29 January through 8 February 1944. She joined forces at [[Funafuti]] for the [[Battle of Kwajalein|invasion of Kwajalein]]; and, as part of a [[heavy cruiser]] bombardment unit, she participated in numerous neutralization bombardments at [[Wotje]] and [[Taroa]]. The only Japanese resistance encountered came from shore batteries which failed to hit their mark.

[[File:USS Walker (DD-517) underway at sea in 1943 (19-N-47974).jpg|thumb|left|''Walker'' in 1943.]]

From March through June 1944, ''Walker'' operated in the [[South Pacific Area|South Pacific]] escorting troops and transports from [[Guadalcanal]] to [[Bougainville Island|Bougainville]] and from various points in [[New Guinea]]. Other ports visited during this period were [[Purvis Bay]], [[Tulagi]]; [[Empress Augusta Bay]], Bougainville; [[Milne Bay]] and [[Buna, Papua New Guinea|Buna]], New Guinea.

The [[Mariana Islands campaign|Marianas operation]] involved the invasion of [[Saipan]], [[Tinian]], and [[Guam]] by forces under Admiral [[Raymond A. Spruance]]. ''Walker'' began service assigned to an [[escort aircraft carrier|escort carrier]] unit providing air support for the amphibious forces headed for Guam. The group departed from [[Kwajalein Atoll|Kwajalein]] in June; but, due to the bitterness of the [[Battle of Saipan|campaign for Saipan]], the [[Battle of Guam (1944)|Guam landings]] were postponed, and the ships returned to [[Enewetak Atoll|Eniwetok]]. After the need for further naval support had passed, ''Walker'' proceeded to [[Pearl Harbor]] for rehearsals of scheduled landings on [[Yap Island]].

Leaving Pearl Harbor in September, ''Walker'' was transferred to the [[U.S. 7th Fleet|7th Fleet]] as a fire support ship for the [[Battle of Leyte|invasion of the Philippines]]. This group of transports and destroyers sailed from [[Manus Island|Manus]] and arrived at [[Leyte Gulf]] on 20 October. During this operation, ''Walker'' experienced her first air action and downed one enemy fighter plane as well as provided gunfire support in the [[Dulag, Leyte|Dulag]] area. The transports were rapidly unloaded and departed with ''Walker'' and other escorts prior to the arrival of the Japanese naval forces and the ensuing [[Battle of Leyte Gulf]] from 24 to 25 October 1944.

The group proceeded to [[Morotai]] to reload support troops for [[Leyte (island)|Leyte]]. At Morotai, nightly Japanese air attacks harassed the ships but caused little damage. The group then returned to Leyte and unloaded its troops. [[Kamikaze|Suicide air attacks]] and [[torpedo bomber]]s were encountered during this trip, but no damage was suffered. After a brief stop at [[Palau]], ''Walker'' received orders to return home, and she reached the [[Mare Island Navy Yard]], [[San Francisco, California]], on [[Christmas Eve]] 1944.

== 1945 ==
The most memorable part of ''Walker'''s combat service began in mid-March 1945 when, fresh from navy yard overhaul, she joined Admiral [[Marc Mitscher]]'s famed [[Task Force 58]] (TF&nbsp;58) at [[Ulithi]], [[Caroline Islands]]. This force proceeded to [[Kyūshū]] and [[Honshū]], Japan, for air strikes designed to neutralize and weaken Japanese air power.

Following these strikes, TF&nbsp;58 proceeded to [[Okinawa Prefecture|Okinawa]] to support the amphibious [[Battle of Okinawa|assault launched there]] on 1 April 1945.  While alone on picket duty 12&nbsp;miles from the main group, ''Walker'' was subjected to persistent Japanese [[kamikaze]] attacks. One plane dropped a [[torpedo]] just after dark which passed close astern. During that night, ''Walker'''s agile maneuvers and accurate guns beat off three more such attacks.  On 7 April 1945, Paul Klahr, Gun Captain of 40&nbsp;mm Gun 43 (starboard midship position), vividly recalls that a Zeke fighter circled the stern and began diving for the bridge from the starboard side of the ''Walker''.  The Zeke passed forward of Klahr's gun position by about 20 feet allowing him and his crew to see the face of the pilot.  He remembers the pilot's look of fear, facing his impending death.  One member of his gun crew actually threw his helmet at the plane as it passed.  The plane flew over the ship between the positions of the five inch guns Gun 1 and Gun 2 at an altitude low enough to part the lifelines on the port side before wheeling into the ocean and exploding, sending a solid sheet of water over the ''Walker'' mixed with debris from the plane and the shredded remains of its pilot.

After 80 days at sea, the task group returned to port. During this period, ''Walker'' towed {{USS|Haggard|DD-555|2}} to [[Kerama Retto]] near Okinawa after she had been damaged by kamikaze hits.

The destroyer continued operations through July and August with the [[U.S. 3rd Fleet|3d Fleet]] and encountered no Japanese air opposition. ''Walker'' was among the ships which bombarded [[Kamaishi, Iwate|Kamaishi]], Honshū, Japan, on 18 July and made a similar attack at [[Hammahatsu]] and a return trip to Kamaishi. The coming of peace resulted in ''Walker'' entering Tokyo after a period of air-rescue duty during the airborne phase of the occupation.

On 1 November 1945, ''Walker'' arrived from the forward area at [[San Pedro, California]]; and, on 31 May 1946, she was placed out of commission, in reserve, at [[Naval Station San Diego|San Diego]].

== 1950 &ndash; 1963 ==
[[File:HMAS Sydney (R17) off Korea 1951.jpg|thumb|right|''Walker'' escorting HMAS ''Sydney'' (R17) off Korea, in 1951.]]
The ship remained in "mothballs" until 15 September 1950 when she was recommissioned and converted to an escort destroyer. From the time of her recommissioning until 27 February 1951, ''Walker'' remained in yard overhaul.

Following a shakedown cruise, the escort destroyer departed San Diego and participated in the atomic [[Exercise Greenhouse]] at [[Eniwetok]] until June 1951. The next month, the ship joined the newly formed [[Escort Destroyer Squadron 1]] based at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. She remained in [[Hawaii]] until November 1951 when she sailed for the western Pacific and joined the [[United Nations Blockading Force]] assisting UN ground troops in the [[Korean War]]. She escorted the fast carrier task forces which were supporting ground units with strategic air strikes. Thus ended ''Walker'''s Korean War service.

''Walker'' returned to Pearl Harbor during March 1952 and conducted type training and routine exercises for the next several months. On 2 June, the escort destroyer sailed for her second western Pacific deployment. From that time until 29 December 1963, ''Walker'' completed nine such deployments. These very active years were spent, for the most part, conducting antisubmarine warfare exercises and various operations with her task group and elements of the [[Republic of Korea Navy]] and the [[Japan Self-Defense Forces|Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force]]. ''Walker'''s many "People to People" visits during this period helped to spread American good will abroad. Highlights of these years included assistance to the town of [[Koniya]], [[Amami Ōshima]], which had suffered major damage from a raging fire in September 1958 and as a recovery ship for a [[Project Mercury]] [[Mercury-Atlas 8|space flight]] on 28 September 1962.

== 1964 &ndash; 1965 ==
[[File:USS Piedmont (AD-17) with destroyers at Yokosuka c1960.jpg|thumb|''Walker'' at Yokosuka, circa 1960.]]
On 4 January 1964, ''Walker'' commenced a two-week tender availability at Pearl Harbor with {{USS|Bryce Canyon|AD-36|2}}. On 31 January, the ship officially entered the [[Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard]] for overhaul. The completion of yard overhaul on 30 April marked the commencement of local exercises in preparation for refresher training. On 19 May, ''Walker'' took part in the filming of the movie ''[[None But The Brave]]'' at the island of [[Kauai]]. After a month of refresher training and an administrative inspection, the escort destroyer underwent upkeep which took her through June.

The summer months found ''Walker'' engaged in local operations. On 17 August 1964, the ship continued her movie career with a supporting role in [[Otto Preminger]]'s production of ''[[In Harm's Way]]''. During October and November, the escort destroyer underwent a pre-employment inspection and an operational readiness inspection which was concluded on 20 November, three days prior to departure for a western Pacific deployment.

On 3 December 1964, ''Walker'' arrived at [[U.S. Fleet Activities Yokosuka|Yokosuka, Japan]], where she joined in [[Exercise Tall Back]] with the [[aircraft carrier]] {{USS|Yorktown|CVS-10|2}}, followed by duties on the [[Junk (ship)|Junk]] patrol which combatted the infiltration of arms into [[South Vietnam]] from [[North Vietnam]] and the [[People's Republic of China]]. During this period, the escort destroyer performed a month of uneventful duty on the [[Taiwan patrol]].

''Walker'' participated in an artistic photo of [[Task Force 77 (United States Navy)|Task Force 77]] in 1965. ''Walker'' departed [[Vietnam]] waters on 27 April 1965 and, after a brief stop at Yokosuka, Japan, arrived at Pearl Harbor on 13 May. The remainder of May and June was spent in leave and upkeep. The escort destroyer spent the rest of the year in local operations. On 8 December, ''Walker'' was drydocked and spent the holiday season in leave and upkeep.

== 1966 ==
[[File:RUR-4 launch from USS Walker (DDE-517) c1958.jpg|thumb|right|150px|[[RUR-4 Weapon Alpha|Weapon Alpha]] launch by ''Walker'', circa 1958.]]
January 1966 saw the ship taking part in local operations and making preparations for an upcoming deployment. On 7 February, she commenced a six-month cruise, arriving at Yokosuka via [[Midway Atoll]] 10 days later. Duty in the [[South China Sea]] began on 28 February with assignments as a planeguard and as a naval gunfire support ship. ''Walker'''s first offensive actions of the [[Vietnam War]] occurred on 5 March in support of United States and Allied forces. This assignment was interrupted by patrol duty in the [[Taiwan Strait]] and rest and rehabilitation at [[Keelung]], [[Taiwan]]; and [[Hong Kong]].

''Walker'' returned to [[Qui Nhơn]], South Vietnam, on 22 April and began support missions, shooting direct fire at the [[Vietcong]] coastal supply areas and troop concentrations. The second ship on station, ''Walker'' received sporadic [[machine gun]]fire from the enemy ashore while a [[Captain's gig|gig]] was returning with spotters and advisors to the ship for a briefing. This was the first time since World War II that ''Walker'' had been subjected to hostile fire.

On 26 April 1966, the escort destroyer supplied direct, indirect, harassment, and interdiction support for [[Operation Osage]], a combined amphibious assault at [[Chu Lai]]. These duties were interrupted to escort a [[United States Marine Corps|Marine Corps]] motor convoy from [[Da Nang]] to [[Phu Bai Combat Base|Phu Bai]] on 28 April. On 1 May, the ship detached and proceeded independently for repairs at [[United States Fleet Activities Sasebo|Sasebo, Japan]], via [[Buckner Bay]], Okinawa.

''Walker'' set course on 17 May for [[Manila Bay]], [[Philippines]], where she joined in [[SEATO]] antisubmarine warfare [[Exercise Sea Imp]] which lasted until 6 June. The ship next joined {{USS|Taylor|DDE-468|2}} for a month of patrol duty in the Taiwan Strait during which time she rescued a [[Republic of China|Nationalist Chinese]] fishing boat adrift for 48 hours. The escort destroyer returned to Yokosuka, Japan, on 8 July.

Instead of departing for home, ''Walker'' received orders to replace {{USS|Walke|DD-723|2}} in antisubmarine exercises in the [[Sea of Japan]]. These exercises included the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force and naval units of the [[Republic of Korea]]. On 24 July, a [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] [[Kotlin class destroyer|''Kotlin''-class]] destroyer was sighted as it commenced shadowing the Allied group. ''Walker'' was designated to shoulder the Russian destroyer, and she was successful in preventing the attempted penetration of the screen by the Russian ship and her replacement. ''Walker'' also assumed duty on 29 July as a shadow against the Soviet [[electronics intelligence]] (Elint) trawler ''Izmeritel''.

On 1 August 1966, ''Walker'' detached and proceeded to Yokosuka from whence she began the transit to Hawaii. She arrived at Pearl Harbor on 10 August and made preparations for a yard overhaul. ''Walker'' entered the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard on 19 September and remained in overhaul status for the rest of calendar year 1966.

== 1967 ==
Regular overhaul was completed on 3 February 1967, and type training exercises, refresher training, and an operational readiness evaluation followed. On 18 April, ''Walker'' departed Pearl Harbor en route to Japan. From 4 to 17 May, the task group embarked on a transit of the Sea of Japan to demonstrate antisubmarine and antiair capabilities with the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force.

[[File:Soviet destroyer Besslednyy (022) collides with the US Navy destroyer USS Walker (DD-517) in the Sea of Japan on 10 May 1967.jpg|thumb|The Soviet destroyer ''Besslednyy'' collides with ''Walker'', 10 May 1967.]]

On 10 May 1967, ''Walker'' relieved {{USS|Taylor|DDE-468|2}} of screening duty for {{USS|Hornet|CV-12|2}} from the Soviet destroyer ''Besslednyy'' (022) which was attempting to close ''Hornet'' and harass the task group. A collision occurred between the two ships with minor damage sustained by both ships. The next day, ''Walker'' was again involved in screening duties with a Soviet ship. Late in the afternoon, a Soviet [[Krupnyy class destroyer|''Krupnyy''-class]] destroyer ("025") began to maneuver in an attempt to close ''Hornet''; ''Walker'' effectively maneuvered the ship away. The Soviet destroyer than signaled a left turn. ''Walker'' signaled "do not cross ahead of me." The Soviet ship came left and collided with ''Walker'' causing minor damage to both ships. Following exercises with the Republic of Korea Navy, ''Walker'' returned to Sasebo, Japan, and held a news conference and interviews on board concerning the Sea of Japan incidents.

The escort destroyer arrived at the [[Gulf of Tonkin]] on 25 May 1967. ''Walker'' served in several capacities: providing call fire, harassment, and interdiction fire for airborne spotters; acting as a rescue destroyer for ''Hornet'', {{USS|Bon Homme Richard|CV-31|2}} and {{USS|Constellation|CV-64|2}}; and firing around-the-clock missions for numerous [[United States Army|Army]] and Marine units.

On the evening of 15 July, while providing gunfire support south of [[Cape Batangan]], ''Walker'' received notification that a North Vietnamese [[naval trawler]] (459) carrying arms was expected to attempt a landing in the vicinity. ''Walker'' provided gunfire support for the attack on the trawler and suppressed enemy fire from the beach. The trawler was beached by the crew and abandoned with large quantities of arms, ammunition, and demolition equipment recovered by American forces.

''Walker'' joined [[Operation Beacon Guide]] as a naval gunfire support ship on 20 July and provided preparation fire for the amphibious and [[helicopter]] assault south of [[Huế]]. After a brief tender availability at Taiwan, ''Walker'' returned to the [[Tonkin Gulf]] on 9 August and operated with {{USS|Intrepid|CV-11|2}} (CVS-11) for a week prior to departure for Hong Kong.

The escort destroyer rejoined ''Hornet'', and the task group arrived at Hong Kong on 16 August, then transited to Sasebo, Japan, for repairs. ''Walker'' returned to the Gulf of Tonkin on 7 September and was detached three days later to proceed to the [[Paracel Islands]] in the South China Sea and conduct surveillance and gather intelligence data about the Chinese communist-held islands.

Upon her return to the waters off Vietnam, ''Walker'' reported to {{USS|Coral Sea|CV-43|2}} for duty as her escort and spent the majority of September in various antisubmarine warfare exercises. On 27 September, ''Walker'' rejoined ''Hornet'' and rescued four survivors of an aircraft which had plunged into the water after losing an engine during launch.

On 1 October 1967, the escort destroyer returned to [[antisubmarine warfare]] (ASW) exercises, then headed for upkeep at Yokosuka prior to preceding to the [[eastern Pacific]]. ''Walker'' arrived at Pearl Harbor on 23 October and spent a month in post-deployment leave, type training, and a reserve cruise. Holiday leave commenced on 15 December.

== 1968 ==
''Walker'' spent the first seven months of 1968 in her home port conducting type training and preparing for a final western Pacific deployment. On 5 August, the escort destroyer got underway on the fourth western Pacific deployment since the beginning of the Vietnam War. She arrived at [[Subic Bay]], Philippines, via Midway Atoll and Guam on 18 August, then proceeded to Vietnam.

Planeguard duty with {{USS|America|CVA-66|2}} was ''Walker'''s first assignment. During her first night on station, she rescued a man overboard from ''America''. On 13 November, ''Walker'' was relieved and proceeded to Subic Bay for upkeep. On 1 December, the escort destroyer arrived at the area north of Vũng Tàu for gunline duty which ended on 15 December.

After a fuel stop at Subic Bay, ''Walker'' continued to [[Cebu Island|Cebu]], Philippines, arriving on 18 December as part of [[Operation Handclasp]]. The ship returned to Subic Bay on 22 December for a five-day tender availability alongside {{USS|Samuel Gompers|AD-37|2}}. On 29 December, ''Walker'' returned to Vietnam for a week of planeguard duty with ''Constellation'' (CVA-64).

== 1969 ==
On 5 January 1969, the escort destroyer departed for visits to Hong Kong and Subic Bay. The ship joined three other destroyers and sailed for Australia and New Zealand. ''Walker'' and Taylor visited [[Wollongong]] and [[Melbourne]], Australia; and [[Auckland]], New Zealand, before arriving back at Pearl Harbor on 28 February. March was spent in leave; and, at the end of the month, ''Walker'' received word that she would be decommissioned.

May was spent in port at Pearl Harbor; but, on 2 June, ''Walker'' got underway for San Diego, the designated decommissioning site. On 2 July 1969, ''Walker'' was decommissioned and stricken from the [[Naval Vessel Register|Navy List]].

== ''Fante'' (D 561) ==
The ship was sold to Italy, where she was renamed '''''Fante'' (D 561)'''. ''Fante'' was retired from [[Marina Militare|Italian Navy]] service in 1977, and broken up for scrap.

==Honors==
''Walker'' earned six [[battle star]]s for World War II engagements, two for [[Korean War]], and three for [[Vietnam War]] service.

==See also==
See [[USS Walker|USS ''Walker'']] for other ships of the same name.

== References ==
*{{DANFS|http://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/w/walker-ii.html}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|USS Walker (DD-517)}}
* [https://www.marina.difesa.it/noi-siamo-la-marina/mezzi/mezzi-storici/Pagine/EFGHI/fante.aspx Destroyer Fante] Marina Militare website
*[http://www.navsource.org/archives/05/517.htm        navsource.org: USS ''Walker'']
*[http://www.hazegray.org/danfs/destroy/dd517txt.htm  hazegray.org: USS ''Walker'']

{{Portal bar|United States|Italy|Engineering}}
{{Fletcher class destroyer|others}}
{{Fante-class destroyers}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Walker (DD-517)}}
[[Category:Fletcher-class destroyers of the United States Navy]]
[[Category:Ships built in Bath, Maine]]
[[Category:1943 ships]]
[[Category:World War II destroyers of the United States]]
[[Category:Cold War destroyers of the United States]]
[[Category:Korean War destroyers of the United States]]
[[Category:Vietnam War destroyers of the United States]]
[[Category:Fante-class destroyers]]