The Charles P Cecil: A Historic Schooner

The USS Charles P. Cecil was a Gearing-class destroyer—the only ship of its kind in the United States Navy to be named after Rear Admiral Charles P. Cecil.

The USS Charles P. Cecil was a Gearing-class destroyer

The Charles P. Cecil arrived at its home port of San Diego, California, on 20 November 1945. Soon after, the destroyer embarked on a tour of Pacific duty, including participation in atomic bomb tests at Bikini Atoll and support for occupation forces in Japanese waters. The ship returned to San Diego in August 1946 and subsequently took part in exercises off the west coast until August 1947, when it embarked on its second deployment to the Far East. During this deployment, the Charles P. Cecil visited various Pacific islands and ports in China, Japan, and Okinawa before returning to San Diego in May 1948.

In March 1949, the Charles P. Cecil was reclassified as DDR-835 and left San Diego for Newport, Rhode Island, to join the Atlantic Fleet. Operating from Norfolk, Virginia, the destroyer took part in midshipmen training cruises, deployments to the Mediterranean, and other exercises to maintain its readiness. The ship also contributed to the development of advanced techniques in air defence, anti-submarine warfare, and amphibious operations.

The Charles P. Cecil had a distinguished career, participating in thirteen Mediterranean cruises, two Middle East cruises, and two Vietnam cruises. Notably, during the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962, the ship was one of the first on the Cuban Quarantine Line, challenging a Russian submarine and forcing it to surface.

In July 1973, the Charles P. Cecil was assigned to the naval reserve squadron COMDESRON TWO EIGHT and homeported in New London, Connecticut. The ship was decommissioned on 1 October 1979, struck from the Navy's rolls, and sold to Greece, where it was renamed Apostolis (D216). The Apostolis served with the Hellenic Navy until its decommissioning in 1993 and was eventually scrapped in March 2003.

It was named after Rear Admiral Charles P. Cecil

The USS Charles P. Cecil was a Gearing-class destroyer—the only ship of the United States Navy to be named after Rear Admiral Charles P. Cecil.

Admiral Cecil was born in Louisville, Kentucky, on 4 September 1893. He graduated from the Naval Academy and was commissioned as an ensign in 1916. During World War I, he served aboard the USS Yankton. In the 1930s, prior to World War II, he was Commanding Officer of the USS Greer and the USS Cummings. During World War II, he was awarded the Navy Cross for his actions at the Battle of Santa Cruz Islands in October 1942. In November of the same year, he assumed command of the USS Helena. On 6 July 1943, he was awarded a Bronze Star Medal and a Gold Star in lieu of a second Navy Cross for extraordinary heroism in action against Japanese forces in the Solomon Islands.

Admiral Cecil died in a plane crash near Funafuti on 31 July 1944. Eighteen others were lost in the accident, including the son of the president of AT&T. The USS Charles P. Cecil was named in his honour and commissioned on 29 June 1945.

It was launched in 1945 and decommissioned in 1979

The USS Charles P. Cecil was a Gearing-class destroyer—the only ship of the United States Navy to be named after Rear Admiral Charles P. Cecil.

The ship was launched on 22 April 1945 by Bath Iron Works in Bath, Maine, and sponsored by Mrs. C. P. Cecil. It was then commissioned on 29 June 1945 with Commander W. Outerson in command.

During its 34-year tenure, the USS Charles P. Cecil played a significant role in multiple military operations, including World War II, the Cuban Missile Crisis, and the Vietnam War.

Early Years: 1945-1949

Upon its launch, the USS Charles P. Cecil made its way to San Diego, its home port, on 20 November 1945. Soon after, it embarked on its first tour of duty, joining Joint Task Force One in the atomic bomb tests at Bikini Atoll and supporting occupation forces in Japanese waters. The ship returned to San Diego on 9 August 1946 and remained on the west coast until 26 August 1947, when it set sail for its second deployment to the Far East. During this time, it visited numerous Pacific islands and ports in China, Japan, and Okinawa before returning to San Diego on 5 May 1948.

Reclassification: 1949-1959

On 18 March 1949, the USS Charles P. Cecil was reclassified from DD-835 to DDR-835. It departed San Diego on 4 April 1949 en route to Newport, Rhode Island, to join the Atlantic Fleet. From December 1950, the ship operated out of Norfolk, Virginia, and continued to serve with the Atlantic Fleet until 1960. During this period, it participated in various missions, including midshipmen training cruises, periodic deployments to the Mediterranean, and the necessary overhauls and refresher training to maintain its readiness.

Advancements: 1959-1963

In January 1959, the USS Charles P. Cecil underwent significant technological advancements with the installation of highly complex electronic computational and tracking equipment. This upgrade led to a shift in focus, as the ship concentrated on air defence experiments and exercises, contributing to the development of advanced techniques in this field. Despite this new direction, the ship's crew continued their training in anti-submarine warfare and amphibious operations, showcasing their versatility.

Cuban Missile Crisis and Vietnam War: 1962-1963

The USS Charles P. Cecil played a pivotal role in the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962. It was one of the first ships on the Cuban Quarantine Line and notably challenged a Russian Foxtrot-class submarine, forcing it to surface. Additionally, the ship participated in multiple cruises during this period, including thirteen Mediterranean cruises, two Middle East cruises, and two Vietnam cruises.

Later Years: 1973-1979

In July 1973, the USS Charles P. Cecil was assigned to the naval reserve squadron COMDESRON TWO EIGHT and made New London, Connecticut, its new home port. After sixteen more years of service, the ship was decommissioned on 1 October 1979, struck from the United States Navy's rolls of fighting ships, and sold to Greece.

The USS Charles P. Cecil, named after the admirable Rear Admiral Charles P. Cecil, had a distinguished career spanning several crucial historical events. Its impact on military operations and advancements during its years of service solidified its place in naval history.

It was sold to Greece in 1980 and renamed Apostolis

The USS Charles P. Cecil was sold to Greece in 1980 and renamed Apostolis. It was decommissioned in 1993 and then sold for scrap in 2003.

The USS Charles P. Cecil was a Gearing-class destroyer, the only ship of the United States Navy to be named after Rear Admiral Charles P. Cecil. It was launched in April 1945 and sponsored by Mrs. C. P. Cecil, the wife of Rear Admiral Cecil. The ship was commissioned in June 1945 with Commander W. Outerson in command.

The ship's early years were spent operating in the Pacific, including participation in atomic bomb tests at Bikini Atoll and support for occupation forces in Japanese waters. It returned to the US in August 1946 and subsequently took part in exercises off the west coast before embarking on a second deployment to the Far East in 1947. The ship visited various Pacific islands and ports in China, Japan, and Okinawa before returning to San Diego in May 1948.

In March 1949, the USS Charles P. Cecil was reclassified and set off for Newport, Rhode Island, to join the Atlantic Fleet. From 1950, it operated from Norfolk, Virginia, and took part in training cruises, deployments to the Mediterranean, and various other exercises. The ship was also involved in several NATO operations in the Arctic Circle and the Mediterranean.

In 1959, the ship was fitted with advanced electronic computational and tracking equipment, allowing it to focus on air defence experiments and exercises. Despite this new focus, the ship continued its training in anti-submarine warfare and amphibious operations.

The USS Charles P. Cecil had a distinguished career, participating in multiple cruises and deployments around the world. Notably, it was one of the first ships on the Cuban Quarantine Line during the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962, where it challenged a Russian submarine and forced it to surface.

In July 1973, the ship was assigned to the naval reserve squadron COMDESRON TWO EIGHT and homeported in New London, Connecticut. After a long and illustrious career, the USS Charles P. Cecil was struck from the United States Navy's rolls of fighting ships in October 1979 and sold to Greece the following year, beginning a new chapter in its naval service under the name Apostolis.

It was scrapped in 2003

The USS Charles P. Cecil was scrapped in March 2003. This was after a long and distinguished career that began with her launch on 22 April 1945 and her commissioning on 29 June 1945.

The Charles P. Cecil was named after Rear Admiral Charles Purcell Cecil, a US Navy Admiral during World War II and two-time recipient of the Navy Cross. Admiral Cecil was killed in a plane crash in the Pacific on 31 July 1944. The ship was sponsored by his widow, Mrs C. P. Cecil, who also attended the launch.

The Charles P. Cecil was a Gearing-class destroyer and the only ship of the United States Navy to bear her namesake. She was initially designated DD-835, but was reclassified as DDR-835 on 18 March 1949, before reverting to DD-835 on 30 July 1963.

During her time in service, the Charles P. Cecil was deployed across the world, from the Pacific to the Mediterranean and the Arctic Circle. She participated in thirteen Mediterranean cruises, two Middle East cruises, and two Vietnam cruises. Notably, she was one of the first ships on the Cuban Quarantine Line in the fall of 1962, where she challenged a Russian submarine and forced it to surface.

The Charles P. Cecil was struck from the United States Navy's rolls of fighting ships on 1 October 1979. She was then sold to Greece and renamed the Apostolis (D216) on 8 August 1980. She served with the Hellenic Navy until she was decommissioned in 1993.

Finally, in March 2003, the ship was scrapped, bringing her nearly six-decade-long service to an end.

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