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'''USS Beatty''' is a Gleaves-class destroyer. It was was named for Rear Admiral ''Frank E. Beatty'' (1853-1926).

'''USS Beatty''' is a Gleaves-class destroyer. It was was named for Rear Admiral ''Frank E. Beatty'' (1853-1926).

Robert J. Cressman writes about this ship in ''"The Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships"''<ref>Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships [http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/b4-list.htm]</ref>:

Robert J. Cressman writes about this ship in ''"The Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships"'':<ref>[http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/b4-list.htm Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships]</ref>

''"The first Beatty (DD 640) was laid down on 1 May 1941 at the Charleston (S.C.) Navy Yard; launched on 20 December 1941; sponsored by Mrs. Charles H. Drayton, the daughter of the late Rear Admiral Beatty; and commissioned on 7 May 1942, Comdr. Frederick C. Stelter, Jr., in command."''

''"The first Beatty (DD 640) was laid down on 1 May 1941 at the Charleston (S.C.) Navy Yard; launched on 20 December 1941; sponsored by Mrs. Charles H. Drayton, the daughter of the late Rear Admiral Beatty; and commissioned on 7 May 1942, Comdr. Frederick C. Stelter, Jr., in command."''

''"In such close quarters, there were bound to be mix ups. Beatty claimed some solid hits on one of the RE 2001's that had downed the first SOC, observing it disappear over a nearby section of high ground. At 1046, a plane, first identified by lookouts as an FW 190, roared out of the "favorite valley" toward the ships. Beatty opened fire, pumping out 26 rounds of 40 millimeter and 60 rounds of 20 millimeter before the plane--fortunately undamaged--was seen to be a North American [[P-51 Mustang]].''"

''"In such close quarters, there were bound to be mix ups. Beatty claimed some solid hits on one of the RE 2001's that had downed the first SOC, observing it disappear over a nearby section of high ground. At 1046, a plane, first identified by lookouts as an FW 190, roared out of the "favorite valley" toward the ships. Beatty opened fire, pumping out 26 rounds of 40 millimeter and 60 rounds of 20 millimeter before the plane—fortunately undamaged—was seen to be a North American [[P-51 Mustang]].''"

''"While Beatty strove to fight her assailants, one German plane managed to close within about 500 yards and dropped a torpedo which struck the ship near frame 124 at about 1813, only 10 minutes after the start of action. The blast jammed mounts 51 and 54 in train, hurled a "K" gun and a depth charge stowage rack overboard, bent and jammed the starboard propeller shaft, flooded the after engine room knocking the port shaft out of commission, cut off all electrical power, caused extensive structural damage on the starboard side, flooded a magazine and put the ship in a 12-degree list to port. A quick muster showed 11 men--chiefly from the engine room spaces-- missing, one officer and six men injured, and a man at the battle searchlight platform badly, ultimately fatally, burned by steam. One sailor at the starboard depth charge projector who had been blown overboard, was picked up the next morning by Boyle (DD 600).''"

''"While Beatty strove to fight her assailants, one German plane managed to close within about 500 yards and dropped a torpedo which struck the ship near frame 124 at about 1813, only 10 minutes after the start of action. The blast jammed mounts 51 and 54 in train, hurled a "K" gun and a depth charge stowage rack overboard, bent and jammed the starboard propeller shaft, flooded the after engine room knocking the port shaft out of commission, cut off all electrical power, caused extensive structural damage on the starboard side, flooded a magazine and put the ship in a 12-degree list to port. A quick muster showed 11 men—chiefly from the engine room spaces—missing, one officer and six men injured, and a man at the battle searchlight platform badly, ultimately fatally, burned by steam. One sailor at the starboard depth charge projector who had been blown overboard, was picked up the next morning by Boyle (DD 600).''"