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USS Brownson (DD-518)
Encyclopedia
USS Brownson (DD-518), a Fletcher-class
destroyer
, was the first ship of the United States Navy
to be named for Rear Admiral
Willard H. Brownson
(1846–1935). Brownson was the first of the Fletcher class to be built with a "square-bridge" configuration, which allowed greater all-around visibility than the earlier ships of the class, which had a "round bridge" or "high bridge" configuration.
Brownson was launched
on 24 September 1942 by Bethlehem Steel
Co., Staten Island, N.Y., sponsored by Mrs. Cleland S. Baxter, granddaughter of Admiral Brownson; and commissioned
on 3 February 1943, with Lieutenant Commander
J. B. Maher in command.
escort and anti-submarine
patrol ship. She made one voyage to North Africa
(12–31 May 1943).
On 18 June 1943, she transited the Panama Canal
arriving in California
on the 28th. She operated briefly along the California coast before getting underway for Alaska
in July. Upon arrival, she performed patrol and convoy escort duty until 29 November 1943. She then steamed via Pearl Harbor
to the Southwest Pacific, where she supported operations in the Bismarck Archipelago
that overwhelmed the Japan
ese.
At approximately 14:42, 26 December 1943, Brownson was hit by two bombs from a Japanese dive bomber
while screening the landings on Cape Gloucester
, New Britain
. The bombs struck to starboard of the centerline, near number two stack. A tremendous explosion followed, and the entire structure above the main deck as well as the deck plating, was gone. The ship listed 10 to 15 degrees to starboard, and settled rapidly amidships with the bow and stern canted upward.
The wounded were placed in rafts and at 14:50, the order to abandon ship was given. The amidships section was entirely underwater at that time. There was a single ripple like a depth charge
explosion and the ship sank at 14:59. Brownson suffered the loss of 108 of her crew. The remainder were rescued by Daly
and Lamson
.
In approximately 1945 the new USS Brownson (DD-868) was christened.It was eventually scrapped after serving a number of years out of Newport, Rhode Island. It has a very active commerative website here: http://ussbrownson.com/blog/
http://ussbrownson.com/blog/
Fletcher class destroyer
The Fletcher class were a class of destroyers built by the United States during World War II. The class was designed in 1939 as a result of dissatisfaction with the earlier destroyer leader types...
destroyer
Destroyer
In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy or battle group and defend them against smaller, powerful, short-range attackers. Destroyers, originally called torpedo-boat destroyers in 1892, evolved from...
, was the first ship of the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
to be named for Rear Admiral
Rear Admiral
Rear admiral is a naval commissioned officer rank above that of a commodore and captain, and below that of a vice admiral. It is generally regarded as the lowest of the "admiral" ranks, which are also sometimes referred to as "flag officers" or "flag ranks"...
Willard H. Brownson
Willard H. Brownson
Rear Admiral Willard Herbert Brownson, USN was a United States Navy officer whose career included service against pirates in Mexico, and service during the Spanish-American War. He also served a term as Superintendent of the United States Naval Academy.-Early Life and Career:A native of Lyons, New...
(1846–1935). Brownson was the first of the Fletcher class to be built with a "square-bridge" configuration, which allowed greater all-around visibility than the earlier ships of the class, which had a "round bridge" or "high bridge" configuration.
Brownson was launched
Ship naming and launching
The ceremonies involved in naming and launching naval ships are based in traditions thousands of years old.-Methods of launch:There are three principal methods of conveying a new ship from building site to water, only two of which are called "launching." The oldest, most familiar, and most widely...
on 24 September 1942 by Bethlehem Steel
Bethlehem Steel
The Bethlehem Steel Corporation , based in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, was once the second-largest steel producer in the United States, after Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania-based U.S. Steel. After a decline in the U.S...
Co., Staten Island, N.Y., sponsored by Mrs. Cleland S. Baxter, granddaughter of Admiral Brownson; and commissioned
Ship commissioning
Ship commissioning is the act or ceremony of placing a ship in active service, and may be regarded as a particular application of the general concepts and practices of project commissioning. The term is most commonly applied to the placing of a warship in active duty with its country's military...
on 3 February 1943, with Lieutenant Commander
Lieutenant Commander
Lieutenant Commander is a commissioned officer rank in many navies. The rank is superior to a lieutenant and subordinate to a commander...
J. B. Maher in command.
History
Brownson operated in both the Atlantic and Pacific. From her commissioning until 11 June 1943, she operated along the northeastern seaboard of the United States and in the North Atlantic as a convoyConvoy
A convoy is a group of vehicles, typically motor vehicles or ships, traveling together for mutual support and protection. Often, a convoy is organized with armed defensive support, though it may also be used in a non-military sense, for example when driving through remote areas.-Age of Sail:Naval...
escort and anti-submarine
Submarine
A submarine is a watercraft capable of independent operation below the surface of the water. It differs from a submersible, which has more limited underwater capability...
patrol ship. She made one voyage to North Africa
North Africa
North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent, linked by the Sahara to Sub-Saharan Africa. Geopolitically, the United Nations definition of Northern Africa includes eight countries or territories; Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, South Sudan, Sudan, Tunisia, and...
(12–31 May 1943).
On 18 June 1943, she transited the Panama Canal
Panama Canal
The Panama Canal is a ship canal in Panama that joins the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean and is a key conduit for international maritime trade. Built from 1904 to 1914, the canal has seen annual traffic rise from about 1,000 ships early on to 14,702 vessels measuring a total of 309.6...
arriving in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
on the 28th. She operated briefly along the California coast before getting underway for Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
in July. Upon arrival, she performed patrol and convoy escort duty until 29 November 1943. She then steamed via Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor, known to Hawaiians as Puuloa, is a lagoon harbor on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, west of Honolulu. Much of the harbor and surrounding lands is a United States Navy deep-water naval base. It is also the headquarters of the U.S. Pacific Fleet...
to the Southwest Pacific, where she supported operations in the Bismarck Archipelago
Bismarck Archipelago
The Bismarck Archipelago is a group of islands off the northeastern coast of New Guinea in the western Pacific Ocean and is part of the Islands Region of Papua New Guinea.-History:...
that overwhelmed the Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese.
At approximately 14:42, 26 December 1943, Brownson was hit by two bombs from a Japanese dive bomber
Dive bomber
A dive bomber is a bomber aircraft that dives directly at its targets in order to provide greater accuracy for the bomb it drops. Diving towards the target reduces the distance the bomb has to fall, which is the primary factor in determining the accuracy of the drop...
while screening the landings on Cape Gloucester
Cape Gloucester
Cape Gloucester is a headland, in the northwest of the island of New Britain, Papua New Guinea, at . During World War II, the Japanese captured New Britain, and had driven most of Cape Gloucester's native population out to construct two airfields...
, New Britain
New Britain
New Britain, or Niu Briten, is the largest island in the Bismarck Archipelago of Papua New Guinea. It is separated from the island of New Guinea by the Dampier and Vitiaz Straits and from New Ireland by St. George's Channel...
. The bombs struck to starboard of the centerline, near number two stack. A tremendous explosion followed, and the entire structure above the main deck as well as the deck plating, was gone. The ship listed 10 to 15 degrees to starboard, and settled rapidly amidships with the bow and stern canted upward.
The wounded were placed in rafts and at 14:50, the order to abandon ship was given. The amidships section was entirely underwater at that time. There was a single ripple like a depth charge
Depth charge
A depth charge is an anti-submarine warfare weapon intended to destroy or cripple a target submarine by the shock of exploding near it. Most use explosives and a fuze set to go off at a preselected depth in the ocean. Depth charges can be dropped by either surface ships, patrol aircraft, or from...
explosion and the ship sank at 14:59. Brownson suffered the loss of 108 of her crew. The remainder were rescued by Daly
USS Daly (DD-519)
USS Daly , a Fletcher-class destroyer, was a ship of the United States Navy named for Marine Sergeant Major Daniel Daly, , one of the very few people to be twice awarded the Medal of Honor....
and Lamson
USS Lamson (DD-367)
The third USS Lamson was a Mahan-class destroyer in the United States Navy during World War II. She was named for Roswell Hawkes Lamson.-History:...
.
In approximately 1945 the new USS Brownson (DD-868) was christened.It was eventually scrapped after serving a number of years out of Newport, Rhode Island. It has a very active commerative website here: http://ussbrownson.com/blog/
External links
http://ussbrownson.com/blog/