SOMERS DD 381
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.
- Somers Class Destroyer
- USS SOMERS DD-381
Commissioned December 1 1937 - Decommissioned October 13 1945
Struck from Naval Register January 28 1947
Sold May 1947 and broken up for scrap
Keel Laid June 27 1935 - Launched March 13 1937
This section lists active links to the pages displaying covers associated with the ship. There should be a separate set of pages for each incarnation of the ship (ie, for each entry in the "Ship Name and Designation History" section). Covers should be presented in chronological order (or as best as can be determined).
Since a ship may have many covers, they may be split among many pages so it doesn't take forever for the pages to load. Each page link should be accompanied by a date range for covers on that page.
- Covers Page 1 (1937-44)
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.
>>> If you have a better example for any of the postmarks, please feel free to replace the
existing example.
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Postmark Type |
Date From to Date To |
Thumbnail Link To Postmark Image |
Thumbnail Link To Cover Image |
|---|
|
Locy Type |
1937-12-01 |
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First Day in Commission
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Locy Type |
1944-12-21 |
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Note:
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Locy Type |
1938-03-20 |
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Shakedown Cruise
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Locy Type |
1938-12-25 |
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Christmas, cachet by Richard Buchwald
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Locy Type |
1943-12-13 |
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Censored wartime (WWII) use
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Locy Type |
1944-12-21 |
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Mark from back of cover
Other Information
SOMERS earned 2 battle stars during World War II
NAMESAKE - Richard Somers (1778 - September 4 1804)
Somers was appointed Midshipman on April 25 1797 and served in the West Indies during the Quasi War with France in Frigate UNITED STATES commanded by Captain John Barry. Promoted to Lieutenant on May 21 1799, Somers was detached from UNITED STATES on June 13 1801 and ordered to the Frigate BOSTON on July 30 1801. He served in the latter frigate in the Mediterranean. After BOSTON's return to Washington, Somers was furloughed on November 11 1802 to await orders. On May 5 1803, Somers was ordered to Baltimore to man; fit out; and command NAUTILUS; and when that schooner was ready for sea, to sail her to the Mediterranean. NAUTILUS got underway on June 30; reached Gibraltar on July 27; and sailed four days later to Spain. He then returned to Gibraltar to meet Commodore Edward Preble, in CONSTITUTION, who was bringing a new squadron for action against the Barbary pirates. NAUTILUS sailed with Preble on October 6 to Tangier where the display of American naval strength induced the Europeans of Morocco to renew the treaty of 1786. Thereafter, Tripoli became the focus of Preble's attention. Somers' service as Commanding Officer of NAUTILUS during operations against Tripoli won him promotion to Master Commandant on May 18 1804. In the summer, he commanded a division of gunboats during five attacks on Tripoli. On September 4 1804, Somers assumed command of Bomb Ketch INTREPID which had been fitted out as a "floating volcano" to be sailed into Tripoli harbor and blown up in the midst of the corsair fleet close under the walls of the city. That night, she got underway into the harbor, but she exploded prematurely, killing Somers and his entire crew of volunteers
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