USS Edson
USS Edson (DD-946) was a *Forrest Sherman*-class destroyer of the United States Navy that served from 1958 to 1988, primarily with the Pacific Fleet.[1] Launched on 4 January 1958 by Bath Iron Works Corporation in Bath, Maine, and sponsored by Mrs. M.A. Edson, the ship was commissioned on 7 November 1958.[2] During her active service, Edson participated in multiple deployments to Southeast Asia, providing naval gunfire support off the coast of Vietnam, including refueling operations in the South China Sea and repairs in Subic Bay amid combat operations.[3][4] Decommissioned on 15 December 1988 after 30 years of service, she was initially stored at the Philadelphia Inactive Ships Maintenance Facility before being donated for preservation as a museum ship, eventually finding a permanent home at the Saginaw Valley Naval Ship Museum in Bay City, Michigan.[5][1] Notable for her role in Vietnam War gunline duties—firing over one million pounds of ammunition in support of ground forces—Edson earned recognition for operational excellence, including the "Top Gun" award for gunnery proficiency.[6]
Background and naming
Namesake
The USS Edson (DD-946) was named for Major General Merritt Austin Edson, United States Marine Corps (1897–1955), a highly decorated officer renowned for his leadership in World War II.[7] Born on April 25, 1897, in Rutland, Vermont, Edson earned the nickname "Red Mike" from his red hair and tenacious combat style.[8] He attended the University of Vermont before enlisting in the Vermont National Guard and receiving a commission in the Marine Corps in 1917, beginning a 30-year career marked by service in Haiti and Nicaragua, where he was awarded the Navy Cross for suppressing banditry in 1928.[7][8] Edson's most prominent achievements occurred during World War II, where he commanded the 1st Marine Raider Battalion, leading the initial assault on Tulagi in August 1942 and earning a second Navy Cross for his role in capturing the island with minimal losses.[9] In September 1942 on Guadalcanal, as temporary commander of the 5th Marines' reinforced 1st Battalion, he orchestrated the defense of what became known as Edson's Ridge (also called Bloody Ridge or Lunga Ridge) against repeated Japanese assaults from September 12–14, personally manning machine guns and rallying troops amid heavy casualties, actions that preserved Henderson Field and earned him the Medal of Honor.[9][7] Promoted to brigadier general in 1943, he later served as chief of staff for the Fleet Marine Force, Pacific, receiving additional decorations including two Legions of Merit and a Silver Star for operations in Saipan and Tinian.[8][10] After retiring as a major general in 1947, Edson advocated for Marine Corps preservation amid post-war unification debates and briefly served as Vermont's Commissioner of State Police.[8] He died on August 14, 1955, in Washington, D.C. The Forrest Sherman-class destroyer USS Edson was the first U.S. Navy vessel named in his honor, reflecting his legacy of valor and strategic defense contributions that influenced amphibious warfare doctrine.[1][2]Class characteristics
The Forrest Sherman-class destroyers represented the U.S. Navy's initial postwar destroyer design, authorized in 1951 under the Ship Characteristics Board (SCB) 85 program to replace World War II-era vessels with enhanced capabilities for anti-submarine warfare, anti-aircraft defense, and surface engagement. USS Edson (DD-946), the penultimate ship of the class, exemplified the unmodified configuration, measuring 418 feet 5 inches (127.5 m) in length overall, with a beam of 45 feet 2 inches (13.8 m) and a mean draft of 14 feet 2 inches (4.3 m). Displacement was approximately 2,800 long tons standard and 3,807 long tons at full load as built.[11][12] Propulsion consisted of four Babcock & Wilcox high-pressure boilers operating at 1,200 pounds per square inch, supplying steam to two General Electric geared turbines that delivered 70,000 shaft horsepower to two shafts, achieving a designed maximum speed of 33 knots. The engineering plant emphasized reliability and endurance, with a range of about 4,500 nautical miles at 20 knots. Complement totaled 324 officers and enlisted sailors, supporting operations across multiple warfare domains.[13][11]| Characteristic | Specification |
|---|---|
| Displacement (standard/full load) | 2,800 / 3,807 long tons[11] |
| Length overall | 418 ft 5 in (127.5 m)[11] |
| Beam | 45 ft 2 in (13.8 m)[11] |
| Draft (mean) | 14 ft 2 in (4.3 m)[11] |
| Speed (maximum) | 33 knots[14] |
| Propulsion | 4 × B&W boilers, 2 × GE turbines, 70,000 shp[13] |
| Complement | 324[11] |