About this Unit
USS Watts (DD-567) was a Fletcher-class destroyer of the United States Navy, commissioned in May 1944. During World War II, Watts served in the Pacific Theater, providing anti-aircraft and anti-submarine screening for carrier task forces and supporting amphibious landings, including operations in the Philippines and Okinawa. The ship endured kamikaze attacks and performed vital rescue and escort missions. After the war, USS Watts was decommissioned in 1946 and placed in reserve, eventually being struck from the Naval Vessel Register in 1971.
Historical Facts
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Fletcher-class Destroyer: USS Watts (DD-567) was a Fletcher-class destroyer, one of the most famous and numerous classes of destroyers used by the US Navy during World War II.
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Namesake: The ship was named after Captain John Watts, a distinguished officer who served during the American Revolutionary War.
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Commissioning: USS Watts was launched on 31 January 1944 by the Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corporation and commissioned on 29 April 1944.
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Service in the Pacific: She served extensively in the Pacific Theater during World War II, participating in operations such as the Mariana and Palau Islands campaigns.
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Kamikaze Attack: On 27 March 1945, while on radar picket duty off Okinawa, USS Watts was attacked by Japanese kamikaze aircraft but managed to avoid damage through effective anti-aircraft fire.
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Rescue Operations: Watts was credited with rescuing survivors from damaged or sunken ships, including picking up sailors from the USS Morrison after it was sunk by kamikaze attacks.
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Postwar Service: After World War II, Watts was decommissioned in 1947 but was recommissioned in 1951 for service during the Korean War era, though she did not see combat in Korea.
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Operation "WIGWAM": In 1955, USS Watts participated in Operation "WIGWAM," an underwater atomic bomb test designed to study the effects of nuclear explosions on submarines and surface ships.
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Final Fate: Watts was decommissioned for the final time in 1960 and was struck from the Naval Vessel Register in 1974. She was eventually sold for scrap in 1976.
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Battle Stars: For her World War II service, USS Watts earned five battle stars, recognizing her participation in major campaigns and her contributions to victory in the Pacific.
