SP-7058 CHARLESTOWN NAVY YARD DRY DOCK 1 & USS DD-742 FRANK KNOX 1944

USS Frank Knox (DD-742) was an American destroyer that was launched in September 1944 and was fully completed in December of the same year. The total length of the ship at the time of launching was 119 m, width 12.4 m, with a full displacement of approx. 3,500 tons. The maximum speed was up to 33 knots. The armament of the unit at the time of launching mainly consisted of: 6 127 mm guns, 12 40 mm anti-aircraft cannons and 10 533 mm torpedo tubes. USS Frank Knox (DD-742) was one of 98 Gearing-class destroyers built for the US Navy between 1944 and 1946. Structurally, this type of units was largely based on the design of the Allen M. Summer class destroyers. The main difference between the two types was a slightly different arrangement of the space in the amidships, an extension of the hull by about 7 meters (compared to the first Allen M. Summer ships) and the improvement of the sailing range. With time, it also turned out that Gearing units were much more susceptible to modernization. Undoubtedly, they were very successful units with considerable combat value and great capabilities - for those times - of fighting air targets. USS Frank Knox (DD-742) was built at Bath Iron Works in Bath, Maine, and was dispatched to the Pacific upon entering service. He took a limited part in the struggle for Okinawa and later participated in the solemn signing of surrender by Japan on September 2, 1945 in Tokyo Bay. The unit took part in the Korean War (1950-1953) supporting amphibious operations in the Incheon area in September 1950. However, in the years 1960-1961, USS Frank Knox underwent a thorough modernization as part of the FRAM II program, as a result of which completely new electronic equipment - especially radars - was installed on it. The unit remained in service with the US Navy until 1971, when it was handed over to Greece. In the Hellas fleet, the destroyer was named Themistoklis (D210) and remained in service until 1992! She was sunk as a target ship in 2001.