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Museum History Activities
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USS Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. DD850 Destroyer Museum
at Battleship Cove, Fall River, Massachusetts.
History of USS Richard Kraus DD849 Richard E. Kraus (DD-849) was laid down by Bath Iron Works, Bath, Maine, 31 July 1945, launched 2 March 1946 sponsored by Mrs. Edwin Olsen, and commissioned at the Boston Naval Shipyard 23 May 1946, Comdr. R. J. Oliver in command Following shakedown off Boston, Richard E. Kraus reported to Commander, Operational Test and Evaluation Force, at Norfolk. Engaged in ordnance development during her first 6 years, Kraus earned the title of one of the "Shootingest Ships" in the fleet. In 1947, the after 40mm. gun mount was removed and the first shipboard 3"/50 cal. gun mount was installed for tests. In 1948 Kraus assisted Mississippi in the development tests of the Terrier Surface to Air Missile. Kraus was subsequently involved in the evaluation of electronic equipment including radar and communication gear. In addition she conducted tests on anchors, tow cables, and underwater explosives. Reclassified AG-151 on 25 August 1949, Richard E. Kraus was designated DD-849 again 11 January 1954. In May 1954 Kraus participated in the large-scale antisubmarine warfare development exercise. She trained at Guantanamo Bay in 1955,1958, and 1960. In 1961 she operated with Task Group Bravo, one of the Navy's major antisubmarine groups, and in that year also represented the United States in ceremonies at St. Eustatius, Netherlands Antilles commemorating the first salute to the U.S. flag by a foreign country. In October and November 1962, Kraus served with the U.S. quarantine forces preventing the introduction of offensive missiles into Cuba. On 1 January 1963 Kraus left her Destroyer Squadron 2. In March and April she operated with the 6th Fleet in the Mediterranean, then between June 1963 and May 1964 underwent a FRAM I overhaul and conversion at the Boston Naval Shipyard. On 18 May 1964 the "new" destroyer, now equipped with ASROC and DASH, left the shipyard and steamed for her new homeport, Newport, R.I. After training along the Atlantic coast and in the Caribbean, the destroyer deployed on 27 November 1964 for operations with the 6th Fleet and the Middle East Force. Operating primarily in the Red Sea and in the Indian Ocean, Kraus added merchant ship assistance and good will visits to East African ports to her destroyer duties. Returning to Newport 13 March 1965, Richard E. Kraus conducted ASW exercises and was part of the Gemini 6 Recovery Force, serving on station off western Africa until that mission was canceled. Deploying to WestPac in early 1966, Kraus operated off Vietnam with TG 77.7 in the Tonkin Gulf, with TG 77.6 on Yankee and Dixie Stations, and provided gunfire support off South Vietnam until steaming home by way of the Suez Canal, arriving at Newport 17 August 1966. She operated off the Atlantic coast and in the Caribbean until May 1967 when she deployed to the Mediterranean. During the 6-day Arab-Israeli War, she operated out of Suda Bay, Crete. Back at Newport in late September, she assisted in extinguishing a fire in the after engine room of Stickell (DD-888) in November. Through the remainder of 1967 and through most of 1968 Kraus operated off the Atlantic coast and in the Caribbean. Homeported at Charleston in July, she departed the United States for another extended cruise. Sailing south and east, she rounded the Cape of Good Hope and entered the Indian Ocean, where she remained until the spring of 1969. On 13 May 1969 Richard E. Kraus returned to Charleston. Richard E. Kraus operated off the east coast of the United States through July 1970, visiting Cape Kennedy, Norfolk, New York and the city of Montreal in Canada. She transited the St. Lawence Seaway on 28 July en route to Europe via Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Iceland. She cruised the North Sea area until 10 December, visiting Scotland, Denmark, Norway, the Netherlands, and Belgium. She arrived at Charleston, S.C., 19 December, after short stops at Ponta Delgado in the Azores and Bermuda, B.C.C. Richard E. Kraus remained in the Charleston area through September 1971, undergoing regular overhaul and post-overhaul tests and exercises. On the 23d, she steamed out of Charleston, headed for the Indian Ocean. After stopping at Puerto Rico; Recife, Brazil; Luanda, Angola; and Loureneo Marques, Mozambique, she arrived at Majunga, Madagascar, 30 October and was officially transferred to COMIDEASTFOR. Kraus remained with COMIDEASTFOR, circuiting the Indian Ocean, until 12 February 1972. On her way home, she visited several ports Africa and arrived in Charleston 11 March, where she immediately went into a 30-day stand down period. After six months of operations out of Charleston, she embarked 1 November upon another major deployment, this time with the Seventh Fleet in the western Pacific. Stopping at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, Rodman in the Canal Zone Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, and Midway Island, she made Yokosuka, Japan, 29 November. She cruised with the Seventh Fleet, often just off the coast of Vietnam, through March 1973. At that time Kraus was ordered back to Charleston and operations in tee Atlantic and Caribbean. She has continued in this employment into 1974. Stricken July 1 1976 and sent to South Korea February 23 1977, where she was renamed Kwang Ju (DD-922). Retired from the South Korean Navy 29 Dec 2000. Richard E. Kraus received two battle stars for Vietnam service.
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