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USS Baldwin (DD-624) in the Suez Canal, 9 February 1945.
Career
Laid down:	19 July 1941
Launched:	14 June 1942
Commissioned:	30 April 1943
Decommissioned:	20 June 1946
Struck:	1 June 1961
Fate:	Scuttled 5 June 1961
General characteristics
Displacement:	1,630 tons
Length:	348 ft 3 in (106.1 m)
Beam:	36 ft 1 in (11.0 m)
Draft:	11 ft 10 in (3.6 m)
Propulsion:	50,000 shp (37 MW), 2 propellers, 4 boilers
Speed:	37.4 knots (69 km/h)
Range:	6500 nmi. (12,000 km)   @ 12 kt
Complement:	16 officers, 260 enlisted
Armament:	5 × 5 in./38 guns (127 mm), 6 × 0.5 in. (12.7 mm) guns, 6 × 20 mm AA guns, 10 × 21 in. torpedo tubes, 2 × depth charge tracks

USS Baldwin (DD-624), a Gleaves-class destroyer, was the only ship of the United States Navy to be named for Charles H. Baldwin, who served in USS Wyalusing during the American Civil War. For gallantry in action during an unsuccessful attempt to destroy CSS Albemarle, he was awarded the Medal of Honor and promoted to Acting Master's Mate.

Baldwin (DD-624) was launched 14 June 1942 by Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Co., Seattle, Washington; sponsored by Mrs. Ida E. Crawford, daughter of Acting Master's Mate Baldwin; commissioned 30 April 1943, Lieutenant Commander G. Knuepfer in command, and reported to the U.S. Atlantic Fleet.

Between 13 August 1943 and 25 January 1944 Baldwin made three trans-Atlantic convoy escort crossings to Casablanca, French Morocco. She also acted as a fire support, patrol, and escort vessel during the Normandy invasion (5 June-15 July 1944) and in southern France (13 August-25 September). She sustained slight damage from two small caliber shells off Normandy on 6 June. Between 21 January and 27 February 1945 Baldwin escorted Quincy (CA-71) carrying President Franklin D. Roosevelt to the Yalta Conference.

Upon her return to the United States, Baldwin carried out patrol and plane guard duties off the East Coast until July 1945, when she departed for the Pacific. Between August 1945 and January 1946 she acted as flagship for the minesweeping operations off the Korea and China coasts.

Returning to the East Coast in January 1946, Baldwin served with the Atlantic Fleet until placed out of commission in reserve at Charleston, South Carolina, 20 June 1946.

USS Baldwin, at right, during operations to refloat her at Montauk Point on 28 April 1961. Among the ships engaged in the salvage effort are USS Hoist (ARS-40), USS Salvager (ARS(D)-3), USS Windlass (ARS(D)-4) and a fleet tug (ATF).

One of several obsolete vessels to be used in ordinance tests in the 1950s and 60s, the Baldwin was towed towards the North Atlantic for scuttling. While en route she ran aground off Montauk Point. The Windlass successfully pulled her free. Thought the operation was successful, one of the Windlass' crew was killed in an accident. Towed into position, the Baldwin was sunk on 5 June 1961.

Baldwin received three battle stars for her World War II service.

This article includes text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.

• history.navy.mil: USS Baldwin photos
• navsource.org: USS Baldwin
• hazegray.org: USS Baldwin