San Diego on 23 December. On 9 January 1946, Fitch arrived at Norfolk, where she was immobilized for a month. She voyaged between Norfolk, Charleston, and New York transferring minesweeper crews for several months, and in November, from her home port at Charleston, began regular operations training Mine Force officers, exercising in the Caribbean and along the east coast, and cruising to the Mediterranean in 1949, 1951, and 1953. During 1955, she conducted tests in the Caribbean for the Operational Development Force. Fitch was decommissioned at Charleston 24 February 1956 and placed in reserve. Awards Fitch received five battle stars for her World War II service. References External links navsource.org: USS Fitch hazegray.org: USS Fitch Fitch (DD-462) Fitch (DD-462) Ships built in Boston Shipwrecks of the Florida coast 1941 ships Fitch (DD-462) Maritime incidents in 1973 Ships sunk as targets