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The USS CHARLES AUSBURNE (DD-570), one of
the famous destroyers of the Fletcher Class, was flagship for Commander
Destroyer Squadron 23 through much of the Pacific War. It was as
ComDesRon 23 that former Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Arleigh
Burke, earned his combat reputation. AUSBURNE was a participant in two
of the famous surface battles of the Solomons Campaign: Empress Augusta
Bay and Cape St. George--the latter considered a classic
destroyer-to-destroyer engagement.
During 25 months of combat she earned 11 battle stars
for assignments involving surface combat, anti-aircraft, anti-submarine,
shore bombardment, convoy and radar picket actions; she weathered three
typhoons and had gone to General Quarters 780 times. Through all this
close action AUSBURNE lost none of her crew in combat and received only
light fragmentation damage. After a stint in the Reserve Fleet, she
served seven years in the German Federal Navy as ZERSTORER 6. She
was later scrapped.
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