USS Eaton (DD-510) - Post World War II

Post World War II

Reclassified DDE-510, 2 January 1951, Eaton was recommissioned 11 December 1951 at the Boston Naval Shipyard, and joined Escort Division 22 at Norfolk, Virginia, 29 May 1952. She operated as far as the Caribbean and made two midshipman cruises in the summer of 1953: the first to England, France and Italy, the second to Halifax, Nova Scotia. She sailed 28 April 1954 for NATO exercises off Derry, followed by a good will tour of ports in Germany, Belgium, Denmark, England, and France before joining the 6th Fleet for exercises in the Mediterranean, including a mock "defense" of Turkey during which she 'sunk' the same 'enemy' Turkish submarine twice. After rescuing four survivors from SS Mormackite on her return passage, Eaton arrived at Norfolk on 10 October.

In the early 1950s the Eaton collided with a surfacing submarine, but the following destroyer averted a worse collision owing to quick action of the captain. The collision resulted in damage to the submarine's periscopes and conning tower. In early 1956 during ASW exercises Eaton was involved in a collision with the destroyer USS Power (DD-839).

On 6 May 1956, off the Virginia Capes, the battleship USS Wisconsin (BB-64) collided with the Eaton in thick fog while night steaming at high speed (20 knots). The collision caused serious damage to both ships, with the Eaton sustaining the BB's bow in starboard side forward of bridge, which crushed to port side and broke the keel. The CPO mess area and mess deck were smashed. The ship's 1st LT saved the ship by securing bow to stern with anchor chain, and closing WT door beside his room. Only one sailor (cook) was struck unconscious. Commander Richard Varley of the Eaton was later court-martialed and found negligent.

In another accident, the NOTS RUR-4 Weapon Alpha rocket-boosted depth charge projector misfired, with one warhead falling back onto the 01 deck and killing a seaman below.

An African cruise between 18 March and 26 July 1957 took Eaton by way of the Azores to Freetown, Simonstown, Mombasa, Aden, and Massawa. She operated through the blistering Red Sea between Aden and Massawa much of May, then on through the Suez Canal to Mediterranean ports and Norfolk. A visit to British waters in the fall of 1957 and two to Canada varied Eaton's Atlantic and Caribbean duty through 1960, participating during the Bay of Pigs Invasion events. Later Eaton towed a disabled US Navy surveillance vessel from the Havana harbour.

During the early 1960s the Eaton was assigned as flagship of Destroyer Squadron 28, serving in Destroyer Division 281 with USS Bache, Murray, and Beale. In 1967–68 she served in Vietnam along the gunline providing naval fire support up and down the Vietnamese coast.

On Memorial Day of 1969, Eaton was decommissioned, and then later towed away, and sunk during gunnery practice 90 miles off the coast of Norfolk.