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Photo # NH 102898:  USS Stephen Potter underway in the central Pacific, 2 May 1944

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

USS Stephen Potter (DD-538), 1943-1973

USS Stephen Potter, a 2050-ton Fletcher class destroyer built at San Francisco, California, was commissioned in October 1943. She reached the Pacific war zone in time to serve as an escort for Task Force 58 aircraft carriers during the Marshall Islands operation of late January and February 1944. She continued in this role during raids in the central Pacific in April and May. On 29 April, as Task Force 58's planes were attacking Truk, Stephen Potter assisted in sinking the Japanese submarine I-174. The destroyer's next combat took place during the June and July Marianas campaign. She again screened carriers as they hit targets on Saipan and Guam, as well as the Bonins, Palaus and Carolines, and also participated in the Battle of the Philippine Sea.

In September and October 1944 Stephen Potter escorted carrier task forces during attacks on Japanese positions in the Philippines, Ryukyus and Formosa. On 13-20 October she helped protect the torpedoed cruisers Houston and Canberra as they were slowly towed to safety. During the last two months of 1944 and the first three months of 1945, Stephen Potter's task group continued its raids, striking the Philippines, Formosa, Okinawa, Indochina, China, and the Japanese Home Islands. In April and May her carriers participated in the bloody battle to capture Okinawa. She returned to the U.S. West Coast for overhaul in July and was still there when Japan's mid-August 1945 capitulation ended the Pacific War's fighting.

Stephen Potter was decommissioned in September 1945 and laid up at Long Beach, California. She returned to active duty in late March 1951, as part of the expansion of the Navy brought on by the Korean War. Beginning in July of that year she operated with the Atlantic Fleet, but returned to the Pacific in 1953 for service off Korea during the final few months of the conflict there. During early 1955 Stephen Potter made a cruise to northern Europe, and in 1956 she had another Far Eastern tour of duty. Again decommissioned in June 1958, USS Stephen Potter was part of the Pacific Reserve Fleet until stricken from the Naval Vessel Register at the beginning of December 1972. She was sold in late November 1973.

This page features all the views we have concerning USS Stephen Potter (DD-538).


If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."

Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.

Photo #: NH 102897

USS Stephen Potter
(DD-538)

Off the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, circa the latter part of 1943.
This photograph has been crudely retouched by wartime censors to remove radar antennas atop her foremast and Mark 37 gun director.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.

Online Image: 56KB; 740 x 515 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 102898

USS Stephen Potter
(DD-538)

Underway in the central Pacific, 2 May 1944, while participating in raids on Japanese bases. Other warships, among them an Iowa class battleship and an Essex class aircraft carrier, are in the distance.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.

Online Image: 82KB; 740 x 615 pixels

 
Photo #: 80-G-470275

Third Fleet Warships


En route to the Philippines, circa January 1945.
USS Stephen Potter (DD-538) is in the right center, closest to the camera. Aircraft carrier at left is USS Enterprise (CV-6).
Photographed from USS New Jersey (BB-62) by Lieutenant Commander Charles Fenno Jacobs, USNR.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

Online Image: 128KB; 660 x 675 pixels

Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

 
Photo #: 80-G-470282

Third Fleet Warships


En route to the Philippines, circa January 1945.
USS Stephen Potter (DD-538) is partially visible in the left foreground. Aircraft carrier at right is USS Enterprise (CV-6). The light cruiser wearing design 24D camouflage (in the left distance) is probably USS Pasadena (CL-65).
Photographed from USS New Jersey (BB-62) by Lieutenant Commander Charles Fenno Jacobs, USNR.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

Online Image: 148KB; 740 x 630 pixels

Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

 
Photo #: NH 102899

USS Stephen Potter
(DD-538)

Off the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, 26 August 1945.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.

Online Image: 80KB; 740 x 625 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 102900

USS Stephen Potter
(DD-538)

At the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, 26 August 1945.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.

Online Image: 61KB; 740 x 625 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 102901

USS Stephen Potter
(DD-538)

At the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, 26 August 1945.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.

Online Image: 87KB; 740 x 620 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 81463-KN (color)

USS Stephen Potter (DD-538)

Jacket patch of an insignia used by the ship in 1957.

Courtesy of Captain G.F. Swainson, USN, 1974.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 198KB; 650 x 675 pixels

 


In addition to the images presented above, the National Archives appears to hold several other views of USS Stephen Potter (DD-538). The following list features some of these images:

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-470293
    USS Stephen Potter (DD-538) operating with the Third Fleet in the South China Sea, December 1944. Photographed from USS New Jersey (BB-62) by Lieutenant Commander Charles Fenno Jacobs, USNR.
    Port broadside surface view, showing only the forward portion of the ship (from the bow to just aft of number two smokestack). Stephen Potter is seen in silhouette, with a Ticonderoga ("long hull" Essex) class aircraft carrier in the background. The sea is strongly highlighted.


  • Photo #: USN 1045698
    USS Stephen Potter (DD-538) underway at sea, in a gentle turn to starboard, soon after recommissioning in 1951.
    Port bow (rather tight on the bow) high aerial view. The ship still has her World War II era search and fire control radar antennas.

  • Photo #: USN 1045753
    USS Stephen Potter (DD-538) underway in harbor, soon after recommissioning in 1951.
    Port quarter surface view. The ship still has her World War II era search and fire control radar antennas.


    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 in this box 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".


  • If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."


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    Page made 9 April 2005