Structure
As built, the vessel held a displacement of 2,465 tons (short) and an overall length of 390.5 feet, a beam of 41 feet and a draught of 18.5 feet. Power was from 4 x boiler units feeding General Electric geared steam turbines developing 60,000 horsepower to 2 x shafts under stern. The warship could make headway at up to 35 knots and range out to 4,500 nautical miles. Aboard there was a crew numbering about 267 personnel.
USS O'Hare Armament
The armament suite consisted of a mix of installations designed to tackle a variety of threats. Leading the charge were 6 x 5" /38 caliber turreted main guns assigned in three twin-gunned installations (two fore, one aft). Aerial threats were countered by 12 x 40mm Bofors Anti-Aircraft (AA) guns in two quadruple-gunned and two twin-gunned emplacements and 11 x 20mm Oerlikon AA guns in single-gunned emplacements. Surface threats were dealt with by way of 10 x 21" (533mm) torpedo tubes (in two quintuple launchers) while submarine threats were countered through 6 x depth charge projectors and 2 x depth charge racks.
The Vietnam War
Completed after the war, USS O'Hare was not officially readied until early-1946 and managed several global voyages in the immediate post-war period. In 1953, the warship was reclassified to DDR-889 as her role had changed to that of radar-carrying "picket ship" - a specially-modified vessel outfitted with advanced detection systems to amplify radar ranges for the main fighting force. It was not until the American involvement in the Vietnam War (1955-1975) escalated that USS O'Hare had her first taste of combat. She arrived on station on July 15th, 1966 and used her guns to shell enemy positions inland. The warship was also a protector to American carriers in the Gulf of Tonkin and participated in the search and rescue of downed airmen as needed. Her tour ended in December of that year.
After a return trip home, and several stops abroad, USS O'Hare was back in the Vietnam warzone on December 1st, 1972 where she remained in active support until March of the following year. the war officially ended on April 30th, 1975 with a North Vietnamese victory. Her decommissioning followed on October 31st, 1973 and her name was struck from the U.S. Naval Register on June 2nd, 1975.
Post-U.S. Service and End
In her post-U.S. service, the vessel was handed over to the Spanish Navy where she served out her final days under the name of Casto Mendez Nunez (D-63). She was acquired by the service on October 31st, 1973 and decommissioned for the final time on April 3rd, 1992. Her hulk was then stripped and sold off for scrapping - bringing about a rather unceremonious end to her sailing career.
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