FORREST SHERMAN CLASS DESTROYER
USS Morton,
Vietnam War era
The
Forrest Sherman-class destroyers were the
first US post-war destroyers. Commissioned
beginning in 1955, these ships served until the late
1980s. Their weaponry underwent considerable
modification during their years of service. Four
were converted to guided missile destroyers. This
class also served as the basis for the Charles F.
Adams-class guided missile destroyer.
At the time they entered service, these ships were
the largest US destroyers ever built-418
feet long. They were
originally armed with three 5-inch (127 mm)/54
caliber guns mounted in single turrets, 4 3-inch
(76 mm)/50 caliber AA guns in twin mounts, as well
as hedgehogs and torpedoes for ASW. However, over
the years, weaponry was considerably modified.
The hedgehogs and 3-inch (76 mm) guns were removed
from all ships during the 1960s and 1970s. In
addition the fixed torpedo tubes were replaced by
two triple 12.75 inches (324 mm) Mark 32 torpedo
tube mounts. These ships were fitted with an eight
cell ASROC launcher in place of the No. 2 5-inch
(127 mm) gun, and with a
variable-depth sonar system.
USS Morton (DD-948) was one of
the Forrest Sherman-class destroyer.
She was laid down 4 March 1957, by Ingalls
Shipbuilding Corp., Pascagoula, Miss.; launched 23
May 1958; and commissioned 26 May 1959 at North
Charleston, SC.
Morton
continued operations off the West Coast until August
1964, when she steamed to the South China Sea and
patrolled off South Vietnam. On 11 September 1964,
approximately one month after the Gulf of Tonkin
Incident, the Director of the Naval Security Group,
Pacific informed the Director of the National
Security Agency of plans for an intercept team to be
aboard the Morton.
The
DESOTO patrol, part of Operation 34A, was conducted
by the USS Morton and the USS Richard S. Edwards
approximately one month after the Gulf of Tonkin
incident. She spent the next several months
screening aircraft carriers after the Gulf of Tonkin
Incident before returning to the West Coast 6
February 1965.
Arriving off South Vietnam in April 1966 the
destroyer shelled Vietcong supply points and
encampments for the next 4 months. After a short
break, Morton began Sea Dragon operations off North
Vietnam in May 1967. During these raids, she
targeted enemy coast defense sites and radar
installations and interdicted barge traffic along
the coast. Morton also provided gunfire support for
the 12th Marine Regiment near the DMZ before
returning to San Diego 3 November.
Morton departed San Diego 31 October 1968, again
joined the gun-line and bombarded North Vietnamese
and Vietcong supply points and bunkers up and down
the coast. The destroyer returned home in the late
spring and began preparations for an anti-submarine
weapons system modernization at Long Beach Naval
Shipyard.
On
15 August 1970, Morton spent the next year testing
her new SQS-23 sonar, ASROC launcher and new
electronic systems. As part of this refresher
training, Morton conducted numerous ASW exercises
against friendly submarines off Hawaii and
California.
Following a tender availability in Pearl Harbor in
early 1971, Morton sailed on her next WestPac
deployment on 9 September. She conducted two
gun-line tours before sailing for home on 1 March
1972 via Australia. Later in the year, she
participated in several ASW exercises before
deploying again to WestPac on 13 October. More
gunline tours followed, including a Linebacker raid
on North Vietnamese coastal targets in December
1972.
Following the ceasefire of 28 January 1973, Morton
patrolled off South Vietnam until sailing for home
on 19 February 1973. With the end of hostilities,
Morton's ensuing deployments to WestPac centered
around providing screen and escort services for
carrier task forces. During these years, Morton also
continued to participate in ASW exercises, owing to
the threat from the growing Soviet submarine fleet.
Morton sailed on her last deployment in February
1982, during which she participated in five major
ASW exercises with U.S. and allied naval forces. On
two occasions, the warship aided Vietnamese
refugees—rescuing 18 men on 9 June and 52 men, women
and children on 10 June—for which Morton received
the Humanitarian Service Medal. The warship returned
home to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on 12 August.
Morton was decommissioned
at Pearl Harbor on 22 November 1982.
She was sold to Southwest
Recycling, Inc. for
scrapping on 17 March 1992. During the scrapping
process, the commercial diving crew responsible for
removing the struts, shafts and wheels of the Morton
set the current world record for the thickest piece
of steel cut underwater by means of an ultra-thermic
torch.
We offer this primarily wood model
of the Forrest Sherman class in two sizes
25"
long (1/200 scale)
$2,500
Shipping and insurance in
the US included.
Other countries: $200 flat rate.
35"
long (1/144 scale)
$3,700
Shipping and insurance in
the US
included.
Other countries: $300 flat rate.
Models are built per commission only. We require only
a small deposit (not full amount, not even half) to start the process.
$500  The
remaining balance won't be due until the model is
completed, in
several months.
We guarantee that
not only this USS Morton model but also all warship models that you
commission us to build will be considerably better
than the other builders or your money back plus $300
gift card. Compare this model with others by Googling "Forrest Sherman
class model" or "USS Morton model" and you will see
clearly that our model is way better.
Click here to learn more:
How to choose a warship model.
More information about
the Forrest Sherman
class is located here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forrest_Sherman-class_destroyer
Read more about the USS
Morton:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Morton |
