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Silhouette of a later-type Fletcher class destroyer, like USS Chauncey (DD-667)

Online Library of Selected Images:
-- U.S. NAVY SHIPS --

USS Chauncey (DD-667), 1943-1974

USS Chauncey, a 2050-ton Fletcher class destroyer, was built at Kearny, New Jersey. She was commissioned at the end of May 1943 and sent to the Pacific a few months later. Chauncey's first combat operation was as part of the aircraft carrier task force that raided Wake Island on 5-6 October 1943. In November of that year she supported air raids on the Japanese base at Rabaul, then steamed eastwards to escort the fast carriers during the invasion of the Gilbert Islands and subsequent strikes on the Marshalls. In the first seven months of 1944, the destroyer screened escort carriers during operations to seize Majuro, Kwajalein, Northern New Guinea, Saipan and Guam. She also used her guns to bombard targets ashore during the latter invasion.

In October 1944, Chauncey escorted transports to and from the Leyte invasion area. She received a West Coast shipyard overhaul in late 1944 and early 1945, but returned to the western Pacific in time to join in the Ryukyus campaign. During that operation, she served with Task Force 58 during its March 1945 air strikes against the Japanese home islands and later operated off Okinawa on a bombardment, radar picket and escort missions. Chauncey rejoined the fast carriers to participate in more air raids on Japan during the Pacific War's final month. Following occupation duty in September-November 1945, she went to San Diego, California, where she was decommissioned in December.

The Korean War crisis brought Chauncey back into active duty. After recommissioning in July 1950 she was assigned to the Atlantic Fleet for service along the U.S. East Coast and in the Caribbean. In January 1953, she began a long west-bound voyage to take part in Korean War combat operations. Departing Japan in June of that year, she returned to the U.S. by way of the Indian Ocean and Mediterranean Sea, thus completing a circumnavigation of the Earth. USS Chauncey was again decommissioned in May 1954 and remained in the Reserve Fleet until stricken from the Naval Vessel Register in October 1972. She was sold for scrapping early in 1974.

USS Chauncey was named in honor of Commodore Isaac Chauncey (1772-1840), a hero of the War of 1812, whose Naval service extended from 1798 to 1840.

The Naval Historical Center photographic collection contains no pictures of USS Chauncey (DD-667). However, this page provides information on views of her that may be available from the National Archives.


The images listed below are NOT in the Naval Historical Center's collections.
DO NOT try to obtain them using the procedures described in our page "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions".


  • Photo #: 80-G-65838
    USS Chauncey (DD-667) off New York City, 15 June 1943.
    Bow-on aerial view of the ship, taken by Naval Air Station New York.

  • Photo #: 80-G-65839
    USS Chauncey (DD-667) off New York City, 15 June 1943.
    Port bow aerial view of the ship, taken by Naval Air Station New York. Chauncey is painted in Measure 21 (overall dark grey) camouflage.

  • Photo #: 80-G-65840
    USS Chauncey (DD-667) off New York City, 15 June 1943.
    Port broadside aerial view of the ship, taken from somewhat aft of amidships. Photographed by Naval Air Station New York.


  • Photo #: 80-G-K-1733
    USS Chauncey (DD-667) being refueled by USS New Mexico (BB-40) off Saipan, circa June-July 1944.
    Close-up starboard side view of the ship, from just aft of the foremast to just short of her bow, showing her decks crowded with men. View looks down from about masthead height. Chauncey is painted in Measure 31-32-33 series pattern camouflage.
    Note: Although this was once a color transparency, its Aero Kodacolor dyes have lost all colors but red, so this image can now only be reproduced as a monochrome.


  • Photo #: USN 1045812
    USS Chauncey (DD-667) underway in about 1950, probably just after recommissioning for Korean War service.
    Starboard bow aerial view. This image was received by the Naval Photographic Center in December 1959, but was taken much earlier. The ship still has World War II type radar antennas, but is painted as she would have been in the early 1950s.

  • Photo #: USN 1045421
    USS Chauncey (DD-667) underway in about 1950, probably just after recommissioning for Korean War service.
    Port quarter aerial view. This image was received by the Naval Photographic Center in December 1959, but was taken much earlier. The ship still has World War II type radar antennas, but is painted as she would have been in the early 1950s.


    Reproductions of these images should be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system for pictures not held by the Naval Historical Center.

     

    The images listed above are NOT in the Naval Historical Center's collections. DO NOT try to obtain them using the procedures described in our page "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions".


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    Page made 31 August 2002