BROWN DD 546

Ship Name and Designation History

This section lists the names and designations that the ship had during its lifetime. The list is in chronological order.

Fletcher Class Destroyer Keel Laid June 27 1942 - Launched February 21 1943 USS BROWN DD-546 Commissioned July 10 1943 - Decommissioned August 1 1946 Recommissioned October 27 1950 - Decommissioned February 9 1962 Struck from Naval Register September 1 1975 HNS NAVARINON DD-63 (Greek Naval Service) Transferred to Greece September 28 1962 and renamed Stricken by Greece 1981 and scrapped

Naval Covers

This section lists active links to the pages displaying covers associated with the ship. There should be a separate set of pages for each name of the ship (for example, Bushnell AG-32 / Sumner AGS-5 are different names for the same ship so there should be one set of pages for Bushnell and one set for Sumner). Covers should be presented in chronological order (or as best as can be determined).

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1. Covers Page 1     (1943-51)

 

Postmarks

This section lists examples of the postmarks used by the ship. There should be a separate set of postmarks for each name and/or commissioning period. Within each set, the postmarks should be listed in order of their classification type. If more than one postmark has the same classification, then they should be further sorted by date of earliest known usage.

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Postmark Type --- Killer Bar Text	Date From to Date To	Thumbnail Link To Postmark Image	Thumbnail Link To Cover Image

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1st Commissioning July 10 1943 to August 1 1946

 

Locy Type 2z*

1943-10-24

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2nd Commissioning October 27 1950 to February 9 1962

 

Locy Type 2

1951-03-30

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Locy Type 9efu

1950-11-13

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Other Information

BROWN earned the Navy Unit Commendation for services rendered during Okinawa, 13 Battle Stars for WWII service, and 2 Battle Stars for Korean service

NAMESAKE - George Brown
Brown entered the Navy as a Seaman on board the "Lucky Little ENTERPRISE" at Malta, on July 8 1803. He first served under Lieutenant Isaac Hull as one of the gallant crew of that famous schooner which guarded ships of American commerce from Barbary pirates along the coast of Spain as well as from Tripolitan warships that cruised the Mediterranean. Lieutenant Stephen Decatur, Jr., exchanged commands with Lieutenant Isaac Hull on November 9 1803, Brown having been promoted to Quartermaster only five days earlier. On December 23, ENTERPRISE captured the infamous ketch MASTICO who had slipped from her moorings in Tripoli Harbor with intentions of sailing to Constantinople. Brown volunteered as a member of the crew of this infamous ketch which was fitted out at Syracuse and renamed INTREPID by Commodore Preble. On February 3 1804 INTREPID, with the gallant Decatur in command, sailed for the coast of Tripoli. On the night of February 16 1804 the brave men entered the harbor in the 4-gun schooner of sixty tons and made their way to the captured United States Frigate PHILADELPHIA which lay within half-gunshot of the Bashaw's castle and the principal shore battery. Two enemy cruisers were close on her starboard quarter and the enemy gunboats lay off her starboard bow. On ruse of having lost anchor, the pilot of INTREPID convinced the Tripolitans on board PHILADELPHIA that the ship was a merchantman out of Malta and secured permission to make fast to the captured frigate's line. Decatur was up PHILADELPHIA's mid-chains in an instant, followed by sixty men and officers including Brown, who carried the entire fight to the Tripolitans with the sword, swept them overboard, and remained until flames appeared skyward from PHILADELPHIA's hatchways and ports. As INTREPID got from alongside the frigate, flames shot up to the top rigging and PHILADELPHIA's loaded guns became so hot they went off broadside to the town. Not more than fifteen minutes from time of boarding, the brave men were making their way out of the harbor under fire of enemy shore batteries. The astonishing feat had been accomplished at the coast of only one man slightly wounded. Before they were out of the harbor, Brown had the satisfaction of seeing the PHILADELPHIA, a veritable torch, drift under the Bashaw's castle where she was completely consumed. Decatur reported the coolness and intrepidity of his men was such "As I trust will ever characterize the American Tar." This "most daring feat of the age" brought a new respect and luster for America and greatly increased the prestige of the United States and her Navy throughout the world. Two months pay was awarded each of INTREPID's crew and Congress voted Decatur the present of a sword with grateful thanks for achieving a task of national importance. Brown returned with Decatur to ENTERPRISE on February 20 1804 and took part in the gunboat attacks and bombardments of Tripoli. He was transferred to the frigate JOHN ADAMS on September 20 1804 and returned in her to the United States. He was detached on March 22 1805 and no further record of naval service has been found

 

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