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USS ''Van Valkenburgh'' (DD-656) was a of the United States Navy, named for Captain Franklin van Valkenburgh (1888–1941), captain of the battleship when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. ''Van Valkenburgh'' was laid down on 15 November 1942 at Chickasaw, Alabama, by the Gulf Shipbuilding Corp.; launched on 19 December 1943, sponsored by Mrs. Marguerite Van Valkenburgh, widow of Capt. Van Valkenburgh; and commissioned at the Alabama State Docks, Mobile, Alabama, on 2 August 1944, Commander Alexander B. Coxe, Jr., in command. The ensign hoisted upon commissioning that afternoon was the same that had flown above ''Arizona''s fantail at Pearl Harbor on the morning of 7 December 1941. == World War II == ''Van Valkenburgh'' conducted trials and structural firing tests after her initial fitting-out period and, while returning from her gunnery tests on 7 August, received a request for help from the Army tug ''LT-18''. The destroyer altered course and soon came across the disabled tug, with three barges laden with explosives in tow. ''Van Valkenburgh'' patrolled on various courses around ''LT-18'', standing by to render assistance if necessary, until help arrived early on the 8th. Returning to Mobile, the destroyer continued the fitting-out process before getting underway for Bermuda on 20 August. ''Van Valkenburgh'' conducted her shakedown training out of Great Sound, Bermuda, into late September and, on 26 September, headed for Charleston, South Carolina, and post-shakedown availability. Shifting to Hampton Roads soon thereafter, the destroyer conducted training evolutions before rendezvousing with the light cruiser on 22 October. ''Van Valkenburgh'' escorted that new light cruiser to the Panama Canal Zone and transited the Panama Canal on 27 October. At Balboa, joined the two warships, and the three continued on together, bound for San Diego, California Between 10 and 16 November, they escorted a convoy of troop transports to the Hawaiian Islands, conducting training operations off Lanai, Maui, before arriving at Pearl Harbor on 17 November. ''Van Valkenburgh'' subsequently operated out of Pearl Harbor, engaging in an intensive slate of training activities. She made practice torpedo runs, antiaircraft firings, and shore bombardments—exercises occurring in such an endless parade that it moved a ''Van Valkenburgh'' sailor to write that "the real thing could be no more of a strain." 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「USS Van Valkenburgh (DD-656)」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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