Ship History

Explore the Kidd

USS Kidd (DD-661)

The only Fletcher-class destroyer restored to her WWII (1945) configuration and open to the public for tours.

The USS KIDD (DD-661) is a Fletcher-class destroyer, the six hundred sixty-first destroyer built by the United States Navy. In the traditional system of naming destroyers after Naval heroes, she was named after Rear Admiral Isaac Campbell Kidd, Sr. who was killed aboard his flagship, USS ARIZONA (BB-39) during the surprise attack by the Japanese on the American fleet anchored at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.

Built at Federal Shipbuilding & Dry-dock Company of Kearny, New Jersey, KIDD was one of four destroyers [USS BULLARD (DD-660), USS THORN (DD-647), and USS TURNER (DD-648)] launched on February 28, 1943 in a record-breaking fourteen minutes. Mrs. Inez Kidd, widow of RADM Kidd, served as the ship’s sponsor, christening her and presenting her crew with a handsome wardroom guest book in which she wrote: “May the destiny of the USS KIDD be glorious! May her victories be triumphant and conclusive!”

 

Open Daily 930am -330pm

While our ship is away the Museum is open. See our page Overhaul 2024/2025 on this website for further details regarding the ship.