USS Witek (DD-848)

USS "Witek" (DD/EDD-848) was a (CVS-32) and the atomic submarine USS|Nautilus|SSN-571|2; other carriers with which "Witek" operated included USS|Antietam|CVS-36|2 and USS|Randolph|CVA-15|2.

Besides carrying out operational tests of ASW electronics equipment, "Witek" served as the test-bed for the "pump jet" propulsion system. On 2 July 1958, "Witek" entered Drydock No. 4 at the Boston Naval Shipyard for an "extensive overhaul and installation of the pump jet system." The destroyer remained in drydock at Boston until a little over a week before Christmas, when she emerged with the new system installed. Over the ensuing years, "Witek" tested the system under operational conditions. In 1960, she operated for a time with Task Group "Alfa", the first time in four years since she had operated with the fleet. She conducted extensive ASW operations with that unit until returning to her home port.

Due to the grounding of USS|Bache|DD-470|2 in early 1968, "Witek" was retained in active service. Subsequently decommissioned at Norfolk, Virginia, on 19 August 1968, the ship's name was struck from the Navy List on 17 September 1968. She was then berthed at the Inactive Ship Facility, Norfolk, to await final disposition. "Witek" was sunk as a target off Virginia on 4 July 1969.

References

External links

* [http://history.navy.mil/danfs/w10/witek.htm history.navy.mil: USS "Witek"]
* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/05/848.htm navsource.org: USS "Witek"]
* [http://www.hazegray.org/danfs/destroy/dd848txt.htm hazegray.org: USS "Witek"]
* [http://www.usswitek.org/ USS "Witek" Association website]