uss dixie ad14

billyboy · #1 12th August 2005, 03:58

Hi, anyone got any info on this one? got one her old crew mwmbers here.

**fred henderson** · #2 12th August 2005, 16:51

Hi William. In the US Navy AD is the code for a Destroyer Tender, or Depot Ship. The USS Dixie (AD14) was built by New York Shipbuilding in 1939 and was the first of a class of five such ships, all of whom served in the Pacific during WW II. They were 9,450 tons displacement; 530 ft oa; twin screw geared turbines giving 19.6 knots; carried an armament of 4 X 5 inch and 8 X 40 mm AA guns. They had a complement of 1,262 men.
She was fitted with a helicopter flight deck in the early 1960s and regularly modernised as new equipment was introduced into the destroyer fleet. She was still in the active fleet in the mid 1970s but then I loose track of her. Presumably went into reserve.

Fred

Bob S · #3 12th August 2005, 18:14

Never saw the DIXIE but did see the Dixie class PIEDMONT (AD17) at Portsmouth back in July 1976. I'll scan the photo and post it over the weekend.

billyboy · #4 12th August 2005, 23:18

Thank you Bob, very grateful to you.

Bruce Carson · #5 12th August 2005, 23:40

Hi:
A short history of the USS Dixie and lots of pictures at:

http://www.navsource.org/archives/09/0314.htm

Bruce C.

billyboy · #6 13th August 2005, 07:09

Brilliant Bruce, Many Thanks For That.excellent Site. The Old Boys Gonna Cry When He Sees It, Thanks Again

billyboy · #7 13th August 2005, 11:38

He not answer his cell phone or land line bruce, guess he a wee bit overcome my friend. thank you so much for helping to make an old man very happy. God bless you my friend.

Bruce Carson · #8 13th August 2005, 12:32

Hi William:
I did notice there were some other interesting websites about the ship, including a USS Dixie Reunion Association with names of former crew members and other information on the ship.
Perhaps your friend may like to browse through them.

http://members.aol.com/supertest/dixie.htm
http://www.destroyers.org/HP_AD/AD-14.htm

Bruce C.

Bob S · #9 13th August 2005, 16:59

PIEDMONT (AD17) at Portsmouth on the 9th July 1976.

billyboy · #10 13th August 2005, 22:56

Many thanks Bruce. poor old George was in tears yesterday. he did not know there was an annual reunion either. saving these two other sites for when he comes to visit again soon. he is new to computers and has many problens with his. he is in his 80's
Thanks again Bruce,

oldbosun · #11 13th August 2005, 23:13

9,540 tons? Not such a big ship really, But a complement of 1,262? Good lord. What was there to keep all those men busy?. Lets say she was a mobile machine shop. Give her max. 50 men from Captain down to run a freighter that size. Say an extra 100 for gun crews, another 100 for machinists,toolmakers etc.. What was there for the other 1,012 to do? I'm not being sarcastic,just mighty curios, because obviously there must have been something to keep them busy, but what? Any ex-gob going to enlighten me?

**fred henderson** · #12 14th August 2005, 00:10

Interesting question, Oldbosun. I have re-checked and in a later Jane's 1,262 is qualified as being her war service complement. By the 1970s the Dixie class is listed as having accommodation for 1,076 to 1,698. Could this number include space for the crews of destroyers undergoing maintenance? Similar ships in the RN had a complement of about 400.

Fred

oldbosun · #13 14th August 2005, 12:44

Ah yes, that has to be the answer. An accomodation ship! Why didn't I think of that......................duuuuuuuuh

Alan Hill · #14 16th August 2005, 14:39

I might be able to scare up the USS Dixie home/reunion web site if that would help? Alan Hill Bridgeport, Pa. USA

neddly · #15 9th March 2006, 21:35

I served on the old girl from 1977 to 1980. Dixies primary duties were the repair and support to destroyers but also had sub support capability. Someone expressed surprise as to the size of the ships complement. The Dixie and her sister ships literally had the capability to reproduce themselves with a myrid of shops like machine, foundry, electrical, instrument repair etc. The list is endless. The Dixie was the oldest active ship in the fleet at the time I was aboard. We still boasted teak decks! Last I heard, she was decommissiond in 1981 and I believe she was scrapped. A sorry end to a great old ship. She also took part in "Operation Crossroads" the Bikini Atoll A-bomb tests in 1947. I have a great deal of information on this ship and will be glad to share it to anyone interested.

**fred henderson** · #16 9th March 2006, 21:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by neddly

I served on the old girl from 1977 to 1980. Dixies primary duties were the repair and support to destroyers but also had sub support capability. Someone expressed surprise as to the size of the ships complement. The Dixie and her sister ships literally had the capability to reproduce themselves with a myrid of shops like machine, foundry, electrical, instrument repair etc. The list is endless. The Dixie was the oldest active ship in the fleet at the time I was aboard. We still boasted teak decks! Last I heard, she was decommissiond in 1981 and I believe she was scrapped. A sorry end to a great old ship. She also took part in "Operation Crossroads" the Bikini Atoll A-bomb tests in 1947. I have a great deal of information on this ship and will be glad to share it to anyone interested.

Wonderful neddly and welcome to the site. I hope that you will enjoy all it has to offer.

Fred

Hugh MacLean · #17 9th March 2006, 21:59

Neddly,

Welcome to SN I hope you enjoy the site.

Rgds

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