Today's classic warship, USS Baldwin (DD-624)
Gleaves class destroyer
Displacement. 1630 t.
Lenght. 348'3"
Beam. 36'1"
Draft. 17'5"
Speed. 35 k.
Complement. 276
Armament. 4 5", 6 .50cal mg, 10 21" tt.
USS Baldwin (DD 624) was launched 14 June 1942 by Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Co., Seattle, Wash.; sponsored by Mrs. Ida E. Crawford, daughter of Acting Master's Mate Baldwin; commissioned 30 April 1943, Lieutenant Commander G. Knuepfer in command, and reported to the Atlantic Fleet.
Between 13 August 1943 and 25 January 1944 Baldwin made three trans-Atlantic convoy escort crossings to Casablanca, French Morocco. She also acted as a fire support, patrol, and escort vessel during the invasions of Normandy (5 June-15 July 1944) and southern France (13 August-25 September). She sustained slight damage from two small caliber shells off Normandy 6 June. Between 21 January and 27 February 1945 Baldwin escorted USS Quincy (CA-71) carrying President Roosevelt to the Yalta Conference.
Upon her return to the United States Baldwin carried out patrol and plane guard duties off the east coast until July 1945, when she departed for the Pacific. Between August 1945 and January 1946 she acted as flagship for the minesweeping operations off the Korea and China coasts.
Returning to the east coast in January 1946, Baldwin served with the Atlantic Fleet until placed out of commission in reserve at Charleston SC, 20 June 1946.
Though she had no further active service, Baldwin suffered a notable accident at sea in mid-April 1961, when she broke loose while under tow between Reserve Fleet facilities and went ashore off Montauk Point. Though refloated a few weeks later, she was not worth repairing. USS Baldwin was stricken from the Navy list at the beginning of June and scuttled at sea on 5 June 1961.
Baldwin received three battle stars for her World War II service.