Kidd (DD-661) was launched 28 February 1943 by Federal Shipbuilding & Drydock Co., Kearny, NJ; sponsored by Mrs. Isaac C. Kidd, widow of Rear Admiral Kidd, and commissioned 23 April 1943, Commander Allan Roby in command. During her initial cruise to the Brooklyn Naval Shipyards, she sailed across New York Harbor the Jolly Roger on the foremast. Subsequently, during outfitting, her crew adopted the pirate captain William Kidd as their mascot, and commissioned a local artist to paint a pirate figure on the forward smokestack.
Namesake: Isaac C. Kidd
Builder: Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Company, Kearny, New Jersey
Laid down: 16 October 1942
Launched: 28 February 1943
Commissioned: 23 April 1943
Decommissioned: 19 June 1964
Struck: 1 December 1974
Honours and
awards: 12 Battle Stars
Fate: museum ship
General characteristics
Class and type: Fletcher class destroyer
Displacement: 2,050 tons
Length: 376 ft 6 in (114.7 m)
Beam: 39 ft 8 in (12.1 m)
Draft: 17 ft 9 in (5.4 m)
Propulsion: 60,000 shp (45 MW);
2 propellers
Speed: 35 kn (65 km/h)
Range: 6500 nm (12,000 km)
@ 15 kn
Complement: 329
Armament: 5 Ã? 5 in/38 guns (127 mm),
10 Ã? 40 mm AA guns,
7 Ã? 20 mm AA guns,
10 Ã? 21 in (63 cm) torpedo tubes
