SMITH DD 378
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.
- Mahan Class Destroyer
- USS SMITH DD 378
Commissioned September 19 1936 - Decommissioned June 28 1946
Struck from Naval Register February 25 1947
Sold August 20 1947 and broken up for scrap
Keel Laid October 27 1934 - Launched February 20 1936
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 (1936-46)
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.
|
Postmark Type |
Postmark Date |
Thumbnail Link To Postmark Image |
Thumbnail Link To Cover Image |
|---|
|
USPO Slogan |
1934-10-27 |
 |
N/A |
Keel Laid, joint keel laying with USS Preston DD 379. Navy Day.
|
Locy Type |
1936-02-20 |
 |
 |
Launching
|
Locy Type |
1936-02-20 |
 |
 |
Launching, cachet by the Golden Bear Crew No. 14, ANCS
|
Locy Type |
1936-09-19 |
 |
 |
First Day of Commission
|
Locy Type |
1936-10-12 |
 |
 |
Postmarks also for: USS Arctic AF-7 - USS San Francisco CA-38 - USS Tuscaloosa CA-37 and backstamped from "Mare Island Station" Vallejo, CA - Cachet Category Columbus Day
|
Locy Type |
1936-10-12 |
 |
|
Back side of the Oct 12 1936 cover showing the "Mare Island Station" Vallejo, CA postmark.
|
Locy Type |
1939-06-27 |
 |
 |
Note:
|
Locy Type |
1939-07-07 |
 |
 |
Note:
|
Locy Type Pz |
1946-03-02 |
 |
 |
USCS Catalog shows the S-50 mark as CD-Z2 with upper killer missing...this appears to have all missing
Other Information
USS SMITH earned the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with 6 Battle Stars and the Presidential Unit Citation for her WWII service.
NAMESAKE - Joseph B. Smith (1826 - March 8 1862)
Smith was appointed to the U.S. Naval Academy in 1841. After graduating with the Class of 1847, he served at the Washington Navy Yard, in USS MISSISSIPPI and with the U.S. Coast Survey. He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant in 1855, and soon afterwards was assigned to the Steam Frigate MERRIMACK, his station until 1857. Smith next had ordnance duty at the Washington Navy Yard, D.C. Lieutenant Smith joined USS CONGRESS in about 1859. As her Executive Officer, he was in charge of the ship during the Commanding Officer's absence when she was attacked and destroyed by CSS VIRGINIA on March 8 1862. Joseph B. Smith was killed in action during this battle
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