About this Unit
USS Sullivans (DD-778) is a Fletcher-class destroyer of the United States Navy, named in honor of the five Sullivan brothers who tragically perished together aboard USS Juneau during World War II. Commissioned in September 1943, the ship participated in numerous Pacific Theater operations, providing anti-aircraft and anti-submarine support during major campaigns such as Okinawa and Iwo Jima. After World War II, USS Sullivans served in the Korean War and later undertook various Cold War deployments, including NATO exercises and Mediterranean patrols. Decommissioned in 1965, she was preserved as a museum ship in Buffalo, New York, serving as a lasting tribute to her namesakes and the sailors who served aboard.
Historical Facts
•
USS Laffey (DD-724): The hull number DD-778 does not correspond to a known US Navy ship, but the famous "USS Laffey" is DD-724, a Sumner-class destroyer known for its heroic service during World War II, especially at Okinawa.
•
Misattribution: There is sometimes confusion online between DD-724 (USS Laffey) and DD-778, but DD-778 was actually the USS Charles S. Sperry, an Allen M. Sumner-class destroyer.
•
Namesake: USS Charles S. Sperry (DD-778) was named after Admiral Charles Stillman Sperry, a prominent US Navy officer who commanded the Great White Fleet around the world in 1908-1909.
•
World War II Service: Commissioned in May 1944, USS Charles S. Sperry joined the Pacific Fleet and participated in the final assaults against the Japanese homeland, including air strikes and bombardments.
•
Kamikaze Defense: During the Okinawa campaign, DD-778 served as a radar picket ship, a dangerous duty that involved early warning against kamikaze attacks and direct defense of the fleet.
•
Korean War: The ship was recommissioned for the Korean War, supporting United Nations operations and providing naval gunfire support for troops ashore.
•
Cold War Deployments: In the 1950s and 1960s, USS Charles S. Sperry operated in the Atlantic, Mediterranean, and Caribbean, participating in numerous NATO and fleet exercises.
•
Cuban Missile Crisis: During the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis, DD-778 was part of the US naval blockade that enforced the quarantine of Cuba.
•
FRAM Upgrade: The ship received a major Fleet Rehabilitation and Modernization (FRAM) upgrade in the early 1960s, enhancing her anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capabilities with new sonar and ASROC missile systems.
•
Decommissioning and International Service: USS Charles S. Sperry was decommissioned in 1973 and sold to Greece, where she served as the HNS Kimon (D-218) until 1991.
