Hsien-Yang Destroyer

Tags: destroyer | military

．Length：348 ft. 4 in.
．Width：36 ft. 3 in.
．Max. Speed：33 kts. 　
．Eco. Speed：13 kts. 　
．Draft：14 ft. 10 in.
．Displacement：2,573 tons(maximum)

History

DD-16 was the ex-USS Rodman, the Gleaves-class destroyer, DD-456, laid down 　by Federal Shipbuilding Co., Kearny, NJ. December 16, 1940, launched September 26, 　1941 and commissioned January 27, 1942. USS Rodman has participated several sea 　battles in the World War II with great achievements. Decommissioned July 28, 1955, stricken November 1, 1972, USS Rodman was transferred to ROC Navy and commissioned in 1955 and renamed as Hsien-Yang with the hull number DD-16. DD-16 Hsien-Yang was under the command of Destroyer Flotilla, ROC Navy to patrol the Taiwan Strait and escort convoying.

In November 11, 1957, DD-16 was assigned to participate the allied exercise with 　the 7th Fleet, USN. The late President Chiang Kai-Shek was onboard to review the 　exercise and gave highly praises to the crews. In 1961, DD-16 represented ROC Navy 　to joined the third Pacific Festival in US and won a golden trophy and fabulous credits.

After the service of 17 years in ROC Navy, due to the aging and old equipments, finally, the DD-16 Hsien-Yang was ordered to decommission February 1, 1972.

DD-16, ROCS Hsien-Yang held the commissioning ceremony to join the combat series of the Fleet.

Admiral Yu, Bo-Shen, the deputy Chief of General Staffs, Minister of National Defense boarded and reviewed the
DD-16, ROCS Hsien-Yang.

The DD-16, ROCS Hsien-Yang in port at Tsoying, Taiwan.

Admiral Liu, the Flotilla commander boarded and reviewed the DD-16,
ROCS Hsien-Yang for the sea replenishment exercise.

Admiral Li, Yu-Shih, the Chief of General Staffs, MND delivers the service medals to the persons of DD-16, ROCS Hsien-Yang.

The DD-16, ROCS Hsien-Yang in port at Seattle, WA. USA.

 

Recollection

DD-16 Hsien-Yang was one of the major surface combatants of ROC Navy in the early 1960's. It was my honor to serve on DD-16, and I spent around three years serving at DD-16. Back then, DD-16 has great capabilities with precise firing power and the speed could be as high as 30 knots. We even won the best of the ships for Generators and Electrical equipments, therefore, DD-16, Hsien-Yang always performed every single exercise in the Navy.

I still remembered there was one time, Mr. Chiang Ching-Kuo got onboard to review the offshore island combat readiness, and he visited the engines room onboard. He kindly praised for our hard working and he also noticed that the working environment was too hot. Therefore, he gave the order to install or improve the ventilation or the air conditioning systems. The movement and his kindness touch our hearts and make us a great memory for serving in the Navy.
 

Mr. Wu, Ying-Ru
served as the Electrician petty officer first class at DD-16 from December 1961 to December 1964

 

The late President, Mr. Chiang Ching-Kuo boarded and reviewed the DD-16, ROCS Hsien-Yang while he served as the Minister of National Defense.

The late President, Mr. Chiang, Ching-Kuo boarded and took a photograph with the crew of DD-16, ROCS Hsien-Yang while he served as the Minister of National Defense

The crew from DD-16, ROCS Hsien-Yang won the hampionship at the Fleet-cup basketball tournament.

 

 

Text and images are provided by R.O.C Naval Academy ( Navy Memorial Digital Archives – Yang Class Destroyers)

 

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