USS Collett (DD-730) refueling from USS Massachusetts (BB-59) on April 18, 1945

USS Collett (DD-730) alongside USS Massachusetts (BB-59) to refuel on April 18, 1945, while steaming with Task Group 58.1 off Okinawa. When Collett commenced fueling from Massachusetts on the morning of April 18, 1945, it was a day like any other while screening the carriers of Task Force 58. However, shortly after taking her communication relay station, she was ordered to rendezvous with USS Mertz (DD-691) to the scene of a submarine contact. USS Heermann (DD-532) and USS McCord (DD-534) were already on the scene, and after relieving them, the two began making single runs on the contact. After Collett’s fourth run, Mertz reported debris and an oil slick; the sunken sub would later be identified as the Japanese submarine I-56.
Footage (428-NPC-11448): catalog.archiv...
USS COLLETT War Diary 4/1-30/45: catalog.archiv...
USS MASSACHUSETTS War Diary 11/12/44 to 12/31/45 (EugeneLeeSlover.com): eugeneleeslove...
USS COLLETT Rep of action & sinking of enemy submarine southeast of the Ryukyu Islands 4/18/45: catalog.archiv...

[@michaeldoonan1429]

Thank you for this footage. My relative, a plankowner, Robert J Raffetto, RDM2, served in the CIC aboard her until war's end.

[@TheLuckyOBannon]

Glad I could connect you to a piece of your family history.

[@phillipreams8239]

Fascinating,didn't realize they refueled in that manner,from a battleship.

[@TheLuckyOBannon]

Yep, destroyers could refuel at sea from oilers, aircraft carriers, battleships, and even heavy and light cruisers.

[@johanvanham5102]

Fenomenal, 1945, not much changed in the procedures.
Amazing how close the destroyer maintained her position alongside of this huge battleship, perhaps therefore their speed of around 16 knots.
Almost 40 years later, 1984, I came alongside USS Nimitz and we had problem to keep close position with our Standard Frigate due to the succion next to the towering Aircraft Carrier.
I love to see the armament of the destroyer and the relaxed routine of the crew and espectators.
Nice video, thanks a lot

[@TheLuckyOBannon]

@@johanvanham5102 Thanks for sharing, and yes, the crews' experience really shows in their nonchalant demeanor.