Having undergone almost no alterations since the end of World
War II, the U.S.S. KIDD has become one of the most important
tourist attractions in the city of Baton Rouge. This extremely
rare example of an American World War II Fletcher class destroyer
is open daily and is permanently docked across the street
from the Old State Capitol on the Mississippi River. Altogether,
the KIDD earned 12 battle stars while being used in the Pacific
during both World War II and the Korean Conflict. The U.S.S.
KIDD was part of Destroyer Squadron 48 of World War II, which
was composed of nine Fletcher class destroyers, four of which
were constructed at the Kearney Shipyard in New Jersey. The
Fletchers were the backbone of the Pacific destroyer force
during World War II. Small, fast, fighting ships, they were
used to screen task forces, escort convoys, bombard shore
positions and deliver torpedo attacks. No aircraft carrier
or battleship ventured into enemy waters without her escorting
destroyers ahead. On April 11, 1945, during the battle for
Okinawa, the U.S.S. KIDD suffered a kamikaze attack when a
Japanese pilot targeted and crashed into her, killing 38 crewmen.
After the end of the War, all of the other destroyers of
the 245 Fletcher and Sumner class besides the U.S.S KIDD were
modernized. This was done by the replacement of the rear island
of the ship with a helicopter platform, the addition of side
launching torpedo tubes, and the installation of hedgehog
depth charge launchers. Thanks to the dedicated efforts of
the veteran sailors of the Destroyer Squadron 48 Association,
and the people of Louisiana, the ship was saved as a museum-memorial.
Towed from Philadelphia to her new home in Baton Rouge in
1982, the 2,050-ton destroyer underwent restorative efforts
to get her up to her 1945 VJ Day appearance. The exhibition
of the vessel is unique due to the rise and fall of the Mississippi
River-which may range up to 45 feet in a year. Because of
this fluctuation in water depth, a special mooring system
was designed.
The U.S.S. KIDD, a National Historic Landmark, is part of
the Historic Warship & Nautical Center, located at 305
S. River Rd., across the street from the Old State Capitol.
The site is open daily 9:00a.m. to 5:00p.m., closed on Thanksgiving
Day & Christmas Day; there is a fee for admission. For
further information call 225-342-1942 or visit www.usskidd.com.
Provided
by the National Park Service (NPS), U.S. Department of the
Interior
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