KIMBERLY DD 521

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 27 July 1942 - Launched 3 February 1943 USS KIMBERLY DD-521 Commissioned 22 May 1943 - Decommissioned 5 February 1947 Recommissioned 8 February 1951 - Decommissioned 15 January 1954 Struck from Naval Register 25 January 1974 ROCS AN YANG DD-18 (Taiwanese Naval Service) Sold to Taiwan 1 June 1967 and renamed ROCS AN YANG DDG-918 (Taiwanese Naval Service) Modernization & Redesignation Mid 1980's Decommissioned 16 September 1999 Sunk as a target 14 October 2003

Naval Covers

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1. USS Kimberly DD-521 Covers Page 1     (1944-1953)

 

Postmarks

This section lists examples of the postmarks used by the ship. There should be a separate set of postmarks for each incarnation of the ship (ie, for each entry in the "Ship Name and Designation History" section). 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.

A postmark should not be included unless accompanied by a close-up image and/or an image of a cover showing that postmark. Date ranges MUST be based ONLY ON COVERS IN THE MUSEUM and are expected to change as more covers are added.
 
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Postmark Type --- Killer Bar Text	Postmark Date	Thumbnail Link To Postmark Image	Thumbnail Link To Cover Image

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Post Office Established 15 June 1943 - Disestablished 10 January 1946

 

Locy Type 2(n) (Oct 27, 1945)

1945-10-27

Navy Day 1945

 

Locy Type 2(n)

1945-10-31

Note:

 

Locy Type 2z

1944-03-22

Note:

 

Locy Type 9efu

1944-09-02 to 1944-09-11

Mark from back of cover

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Post Office Reestablished 16 March 1951 - Disestablished 2 November 1953

 

Locy Type FDPS 2 (Manuscript day)

1951-04-09

First Day of Postal Service

 

Locy Type FDPS 2

1951-04-09

First Day of Postal Service, cachet by Tazewell G. Nicholson. From the Bob Govern collection.

 

Locy Type 2

1953-04-19

Note:

 

Locy Type 9efu

1953-04-19

Note:

 

Other Information

USS KIMBERLY earned the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal w/ 5 battle stars, the World War II Victory Medal and the Korean Service Medal w/ 1 battle star during her Naval career.

NAMESAKE - Rear Admiral Lewis Ashfield Kimberly, USN (22 April 1830 - 28 January 1902).
        Kimberly was born in Troy, New York, and was appointed a midshipman on 8 December 1846. He served aboard the sloop Jamestown in the Africa Squadron in 1847–50, then in the Pacific aboard the frigate USS Raritan during 1850–52, receiving promotion to passed midshipman on 8 June 1852. He then returned to African waters, serving in the sloops USS Decatur and USS Dale in 1853–56, and was promoted to master and lieutenant on 15-16 September 1855. Kimberly spent some time stationed at the Boston Navy Yard, and then served aboard the sloop USS Germantown in the East India Squadron between July 1857 and April 1860, before joining the newly commissioned steam sloop USS Richmond which sailed for the Mediterranean in October 1860, finally returning to the United States in July 1861 after the outbreak of the Civil War.
        In 1861–62 Kimberly served aboard the frigate USS Potomac in the West Gulf Blockading Squadron, taking part in the Mississippi River operations at Port Hudson, Grand Gulf, and Vicksburg, and receiving promotion to Lieutenant Commander on 16 July 1862. In 1863–64 he served as the executive officer of the steam sloop USS Hartford, seeing action at the Battle of Mobile Bay, after which he was warmly commended for his gallant and efficient service.
        From May 1865 Kimberly served aboard the steam frigate USS Colorado, the flagship of the European Squadron, receiving promotion to Commander on 25 July 1866, and returning the United States in September 1867. He commanded the receiving ship at New York in 1867–70, then the screw sloop USS Benicia on the Asiatic Station in 1870–72, taking part in the Korean expedition in May–July 1871, serving as the commander of the landing forces. He then commanded the monitor USS Canonicus along the east coast in 1873–74.
        Kimberly was promoted to Captain on 3 October 1874, and commanded the sloop USS Monongahela on the South Atlantic Station in 1875–76, and the screw sloop USS Omaha in the Pacific in 1877–78. During the early 1880s Kimberly served at the New York Navy Yard, and was the President of the Examining and Retiring Board in 1883–85, gaining promotion to Commodore on 27 September 1884. He was appointed Commandant of the Boston Navy Yard in 1885, and attained the rank of Rear Admiral on 26 January 1887. He was then appointed the Commander-in-Chief of the Pacific Squadron. In March 1889, during the Samoan crisis, his flagship USS Trenton was struck by a violent cyclone while at harbor at Apia. Guiding his men with the words, "If we go down, let us do so with our flag flying," Kimberly skillfully beached his flagship, losing only one man in the raging storm that wrecked Trenton. Following his return to the United States in January 1890, Kimberly was appointed President of the Board of Inspection and Survey; holding the post until his retirement on 2 April 1892.

The ships sponsor was Miss Elsie S. Kimberly, daughter of Admiral Kimberly.

Two ships of the US Navy named been named in his honor - USS Kimberly DD-80 and USS Kimberly DD-521.

 

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