USS Watts (DD-567)

• 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. • Namesake: The ship was named after Captain John Watts, a distinguished officer who served during the American Revolutionary War. • Commissioning: USS Watts was launched on 31 January 1944 by the Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corporation and commissioned on 29 April 1944. • 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. • 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. • 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. • 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. • 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. • 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. • 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.