SPENCE DD 512

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 May 18 1942 - Launched October 27 1942 USS SPENCE DD-512 Commissioned January 8 1943 LOST (Typhoon) December 18 1944 east of Samar All but 24 of her crew were lost with the ship and remain on duty

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)

 

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.

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.
 
>>> If you have a better example for any of the postmarks, please feel free to replace the existing example.

 

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

 

Locy Type 2z

1944-07-25

Note:

 

Other Information

SPENCE received eight battle stars for World War II service

NAMESAKE - Robert T. Spence USN
Spence was appointed Midshipman in 1800 and was ordered to duty in SIREN. The brig sailed for the Mediterranean in 1803 in Commodore Edward Preble's squadron. The following year, Spence participated in attacks on Tripoli and, on August 7 1804, was an officer in the prize gunboat No. 9 when she was blown up by a hot shot that hit her magazine. Although the boat's stern was under water, he continued loading her forward gun; fired it; and, with his crew of 11 survivors, gave three cheers. Then, sitting astride the gun and waving his hat, went down into the water. Fortunately, he was rescued. He was promoted to Lieutenant in 1807 and to Master-commandant in 1813. During the War of 1812, Spence superintended the building and equipping of the Sloop-of-War, ONTARIO, at Baltimore and commanded the naval station there. He was commended by Commodore John Rogers for his promptness and ingenuity in laying obstructions to impede the British fleet as it approached Baltimore in September 1814. He was promoted to Post-captain in 1815, commanded Naval forces at Baltimore until July 1 1819, and served in that post again from May 1820 to May 1822. Captain Spence assumed command of CYANE (a captured British warship) at that time and was ordered to the West Indies to help to suppress piracy. He later patrolled the African coasts to oppose freebooters and slavers there

 

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