U.S.S. POWER (DD-839) (DD-839) was laid down 26 February 1945 by the Bath Iron Works, Bath, Maine; launched 30 June 1945; Sponsored by Mrs. George F. Power, mother of Lt. John Vincent Power; and commissioned 13 September 1945 at Boston, Commander John M. Steinbeck in command. After shakedown out of Guantanamo Bay, Power sailed 9 January 1946 on the first of many Mediterranean deployments. Returning to the east coast 6 months later, she remained in the western Atlantic and Caribbean until late in 1948 when again sailed for Mediterranean waters, to patrol the coast of Palestine under the direction of the U.N. Mediation Board. During early 1950, Power operated with units of the British Royal Navy and visited ports in Northern Europe, whence she steamed to the Mediterranean for another tour with the 6th Fleet. In the summer of 1952, Power competed a South American cruse, then returned to the east coast to resume her schedule of reservist and Midshipman training cruises, fleet and type exercises, and Mediterranean deployments. In 1958, Power faced the Lebanon crisis with the 6th Fleet; and, after her return to the east coast, participated in the first Project Mercury launches. From November 1960 to January 1962, Power received a FRAM I overhaul, giving her a the ASROC system and DASH capability. By September 1962 she was back in the Mediterranean. During her 1963 overseas deployment Power served with the Middle East Forc'e and at end of the year, into1964, she operated off eastern Florida in connection with the Polaris program. Following another Mediterranean cruse and further east coast exercises in late1965, she steamed in the mid-Atlantic as a member of the recovery team for Gemini 6 and 7. During 1966 and 1967, she again served with the 6th Feet and the Middle East Force, but in August 1968 she transited the Panama Canal for a tout in the western Pacific. With the 7th Feet from 26 September 1968, she served in the Yankee Station Surveillance Area and provided gunfire support and SAR off South Vietnam. She arrived back in Mayport, Florida 9 July 1969. In 1970 and 1971, Power deployed to show the flag in foreign countries, visiting ports in South America, Africa, and the Persian Gulf. In late 1972 and 1973, she deployed to the Mediterranean. There she participated in gunnery, amphibious, and anti-submarine exercises, and visited ports in the Riviera, Greece, and Turkey. On 2 September 1973, Power left Mayport, Florida, her homeport for many years, to move to Fort Schuyler in New York City, to assume duties in the Naval Reserve Force. A Selected Reserve Crew, which is completely integrated with the nucleus crew, reports on board for training one weekend each month for two weeks annually. During 1974, Power underwent a five and one-half million overhaul, receiving major work in the area of engineering, electronics. and hapitability. Having rejoined the Reserve Force, Power could mobilize and be ready for any conflict or contingency. Following her overhaul, she returned to Fort Schuyler and contented training reserves. On 14 January 1976, she again deployed with reserves for training, and in June she participated in COPUTEX 5. After returning to her homeport, she departed in May for Norfolk to unload her ammunition, then return to New York. In July she departed once more for Mayport, going alongside Yosemite AD-19, and arrived back in Brooklyn for overhaul at the Coastal Drydock Company. Following her overhaul and refresher training , she resumed her regular schedule of training reservists. Power continued these duties until September 1977, when she was decommissioned. In October 1977, she was sold to the Taiwanese government. |
