USS Orleck

USS Orleck (DD-886), was a Gearing-class destroyer in service with the United States Navy from 1945 to 1982. In October 1982 she was sold to Turkey and renamed Yücetepe (D 345). After her final decommissioning the Turkish government transferred Yücetepe to the Southeast Texas War Memorial and Heritage Foundation at Orange, Texas, where she was berthed as a museum ship. The Orleck Foundation then decided to move the ship to the Calcasieu River in Lake Charles, Louisiana.

Orleck in 1964
History
United States
Name: USS Orleck
Namesake: Joseph Orleck
Builder: Consolidated Steel Corporation, Orange, Texas
Laid down: 28 November 1944
Launched: 12 May 1945
Commissioned: 15 September 1945
Decommissioned: 1 October 1982
Stricken: 6 August 1987
Honors and
awards:		 4 battle stars (Korea)
Fate: Transferred to Turkey, 1 October 1982
Turkey
Name: TCG Yücetepe
Acquired: 1 October 1982
Identification: D 345
Fate:
  • Returned to the USA, 12 August 2000
  • Museum ship at Orange, Texas
Notes: moved to Lake Charles, La, and opened in September 2010.
General characteristics
Class and type: Gearing-class destroyer
Displacement:
  • 2,616 long tons (2,658 t) standard
  • 3,460 long tons (3,516 t) full
Length: 390 ft 6 in (119.02 m)
Beam: 40 ft 10 in (12.45 m)
Draft: 14 ft 4 in (4.37 m)
Propulsion:
  • General Electric geared turbines
  • 4 boilers
  • 2 shafts
  • 60,000 shp (45 MW)
Speed: 36.8 knots (68.2 km/h; 42.3 mph)
Range: 4,500 nmi (8,300 km) at 20 kn (37 km/h; 23 mph)
Complement: 336
Armament:

Namesake

She was named after Lieutenant Joseph Orleck USN (1906–1943), commanding officer of USS Nauset, killed in action when the ship was sunk by German aircraft in the Gulf of Salerno on 9 September 1943, and posthumously awarded the Navy Cross.

Service history

United States Navy (1945–1982)

Orleck was laid down by the Consolidated Steel Corporation at Orange, Texas, on 28 November 1944, launched on 12 May 1945 by Mrs. Joseph Orleck, widow of Lieutenant Orleck, and commissioned on 15 September 1945. Her original cost was $6,313,000 US$.

Orleck in heavy seas, 1950s.

Orleck operated with the 7th Fleet in support of United Nations Forces during the Korean War.

Orleck underwent an extensive FRAM I overhaul in 1962.

On 7 June 1965, Orleck assisted in the recovery of the Gemini IV space capsule.

During the Vietnam War, Orleck served as plane guard for aircraft carriers on "Yankee Station" in the Gulf of Tonkin, participated in "Operation Sea Dragon", patrolled on search and rescue duties, and carried out naval gunfire support missions.

Orleck was decommissioned on 1 October 1982 and stricken from the Naval Vessel Register on 6 August 1987.

Turkish Navy (1982–2000)

Orleck was transferred to Turkey for service in the Turkish Navy. She was renamed TCG Yücetepe (D 345) in Turkish service.

Museum ship (since 2000)

On 12 August 2000, the Turkish government transferred Yücetepe to the Southeast Texas War Memorial and Heritage Foundation at Orange, Texas, for use as a memorial and museum under her old name, USS Orleck.

When Hurricane Rita stuck the Texas coast in September 2005, Orleck was severely damaged. After repairs, Orleck was ready to return to her pier at Ochiltree-Inman Park; however, the City of Orange refused to allow her to return. Orleck was temporarily relocated to Levingston Island, then moored north of Orange Harbor Island.

On 6 May 2009, the Lake Charles, Louisiana, City Council voted in favor of an ordinance authorizing the City to enter into a Cooperative Endeavor Agreement with USS Orleck. On 20 May 2010 it moved to Lake Charles, Louisiana where it is now on display. The grand opening in Lake Charles occurred on 10 April 2011. As of 2019 the ship was currently facing closure of the museum with the ship being either sunk or scrapped; however the museum remained operational.

In 2019, following the failure to acquire USS Charles F. Adams (DDG-2) as a museum ship in Jacksonville, Florida, it has been proposed by to acquire Orleck and move her to the proposed berth that was obtained for the Charles F. Adams. The USS Adams Association studied Orleck and deemed that she would survive the tow from Lake Charles to Jacksonville. The proposal is under consideration.[1]

Museum ship USS Orleck aground after Hurricane Rita in 2005.

On August 30, 2019, the Jacksonville Naval Museum announced that the transfer of Orleck to Jacksonville has been approved and are waiting on finalizing plans with the Jacksonville city council.[2]

In February 2020, the move to Jacksonville was confirmed. She would remain open in Lake Charles until March 1, 2020, before closing in preparation for an inspection by the US Coast Guard for towing to dry dock in Texas for repairs before making the tow to Jacksonville.[3]

The tow to Jacksonville was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic. She broke loose from her mooring in the Calcasieu River during Hurricane Laura, drifting a mile down stream before drifting aground with some damage.[4]

References
  1. Bourne, Jenna (27 June 2019). "Exclusive: Navy vets find new warship for proposed Jacksonville museum after losing USS Adams". WJAX. Archived from the original on 30 June 2019. Retrieved 30 June 2019.
  2. https://www.facebook.com/jaxnavalmuseum/photos/a.909881426045011/938084926557994/?type=3&theater
  3. https://www.americanpress.com/news/local/historic-ship-to-be-part-of-naval-museum/article_0e8abbf6-731f-53f7-b064-b6b8efeb07c0.html
  4. "USS Orleck battered but not broken by Hurricane Laura, director explains future plans for the ship". Kalb.com. Retrieved 14 October 2020.

30°14′46″N 93°12′20″W

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