USS Hoel (DD-768)

USS Hoel (DD-768) was a planned United States Navy Gearing-class destroyer laid down during World War II but never completed. The ship was to be named after William R. Hoel (1824-1879), a United States Navy officer Navy Cross recipient.

History
United States
Name:	USS Hoel
Namesake:	William R. Hoel
Builder:	Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation, San Francisco, California
Laid down:	21 April 1944
Stricken:	13 September 1946
Fate:	Construction contract cancelled 13 September 1946 Scrapped incomplete on building ways
General characteristics
Class and type:	Gearing-class destroyer
Displacement:	2,425 long tons (2,464 t) (standard) 3,460 long tons (3,520 t) (full)
Length:	390 ft 6 in (119.0 m) (overall)
Beam:	40 ft 10 in (12.45 m)
Draft:	14 ft 4 in (4.37 m)
Propulsion:	2 × geared turbines 2 × propellers
Speed:	35 kn (65 km/h; 40 mph)
Range:	4,500 nmi (8,300 km; 5,200 mi) at 20 kn (37 km/h; 23 mph)
Complement:	336 officers and enlisted
Armament:	6 × 5 in (127 mm)/38 caliber guns 12 × 40 mm (1.6 in) Bofors AA guns 11 × 20 mm (0.79 in) Oerlikon AA cannons 10 × 21 in (533 mm) torpedo tubes 6 × depth charge projectors 2 × depth charge tracks

Hoel was laid down by the Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation at San Francisco, California on 21 April 1944. The end of World War II in August 1945 resulted in the termination of the contract for her construction on 13 September 1946. She was stricken from the Naval Vessel Register that day and scrapped on the building ways.

References

• This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.
• NavSource Naval History Photographic History of the United States Navy Destroyer Archive USS Hoel (DD-768)