Hull Number: DE-687
Launch Date: 06/27/1944
Commissioned Date: 10/18/1944
Decommissioned Date: 03/10/1947
Call Sign: NUAR
Other Designations: APD-120
Class: RUDDEROW
RUDDEROW Class
Namesake: STANLEY FLY KLINE
STANLEY FLY KLINE
Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, July 2015
(APD-120: dp. 1,390; l. 306′; b. 37′; dr. 12’7″ ; s. 23.6 k. cpl. 204 ; a. 1 5″, 6 40mm.; 6 20mm., 2 dct.; cl. Crosley)
Stanley Fly Kline was born 15 November 1901 in Graterford, Pa., and enlisted in the U.S. Naval Reserve 2 February 1927. He began active duty 13 July 1942, and was assigned to Britsh warship Hartland, former U.S. Coast Guard cutter Pontchartrain, as a member of an antisabotage party.
On November 8, as Hartland entered Oran Harbor, Algeria, the ship came under heavy fire from enemy ships and shore batteries. When a shell exploded in a compartment occupied by the boarding party, the survivors found themselves trapped by fire and fumes. Kline, crawling through a small overhead hatch and worming his way along the deck under a hail of shells and machine gun fire, opened a large hatch and assisted 42 men to safety. He then turned to loading ammunition clips for an automatic rifle and continued his heroic conduct with complete disregard of his own safety until killed by a shell explosion. Kline was posthumously awarded the Silver Star Medal for his conspicuous gallantry.
Disposition:
Stricken 15 January 1966 and on 22 February sold to Nationalist China under the Military Assistance Program.