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USS Doran (DD-634)
Encyclopedia
USS Doran (DD-634), a Gleaves
-class destroyer
, was the second ship of the United States Navy
to be named for Medal of Honor
recipient John James Doran
.
Doran was launched 10 December 1941 by Boston Navy Yard
; sponsored by Mrs. P. J. Hurley sister of Chief Master-at-Arms Doran, and commissioned 4 August 1942, Lieutenant Commander
H. W. Gordon in command.
Doran sailed from Norfolk, Virginia
on 23 October 1942 screening transports for the invasion landings
at Safi
, French Morocco
, 8 November. Two days later while on patrol she investigated a beached submarine
which turned out to be French. The submarine had escaped from Casablanca
and had been abandoned after suffering several bombing attacks by American aircraft. Doran returned to Norfolk 24 November.
Between 12 December 1942 and 28 April 1943 Doran made three voyages from New York
and Norfolk to arrived at Oran
on 22 June, and on 5 July got underway Casablanca. She sailed from Norfolk again 8 June, for the invasion of Sicily
, screening transports off Scoglitti
and providing fire support for the landings 10 July. She continued to serve in this operation with escort and patrol duty between Bizerte
, Tunisia
, and Sicilian ports until 21 August. Six days later she sailed from Casablanca for the United States, arriving at New York 14 September.
Returning to convoy duty, Doran made five voyages between Boston and New York and ports in the United Kingdom
between 22 October 1943 and 1 May 1944. She sailed from Norfolk 17 May to return to the Mediterranean where she screened transports from Oran to Naples
and conducted exercises and antisubmarine patrols off Oran and Gibraltar
. She returned to New York 22 August and made one convoy voyage to Liverpool
from 6 October to 1 November before sailing to the Panama Canal Zone
as escort for Randolph
(CV-15).
From 13 January to 26 April 1945 Doran escorted two convoys to Oran, then at Charleston, South Carolina
, began conversion to a high-speed minesweeper. She was reclassified DMS-41, 30 May 1945. Her conversion and shakedown
completed, she sailed from Norfolk 2 July for a month of training at San Diego
, called at Pearl Harbor
, and reached Okinawa on 7 October. She swept mines
in the Yellow Sea
and served on escort and courier duty at Shanghai
, China
, until 3 January 1946, when she sailed for Wakanoura Wan escorting the ships of Mine Squadron 11 (MineRon 11) to buoy-laying duty. Doran remained on duty in Japan
ese waters until 11 March when she sailed from Yokosuka for San Francisco
, arriving the last day of the month. She was placed out of commission in reserve at San Diego 29 January 1947. She was reclassified DD-634, 15 July 1966.
Doran received three battle stars for World War II
service.
Gleaves class destroyer
The Gleaves-class destroyers were a class of 66 destroyers of the United States Navy built 1938–1942, and designed by Gibbs & Cox. The first ship of the class was the USS Gleaves . The U.S. Navy customarily names a class of ships after the first ship of the class; hence the Gleaves class...
-class 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 second 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 Medal of Honor
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
recipient John James Doran
John James Doran
John James Doran was a Boatswain's Mate, 2nd Class in the United States Navy during the Spanish-American War....
.
Doran was launched 10 December 1941 by Boston Navy Yard
Boston Navy Yard
The Boston Navy Yard, originally called the Charlestown Navy Yard and later Boston Naval Shipyard, was one of the oldest shipbuilding facilities in the United States Navy. Established in 1801, it was officially closed as an active naval installation on July 1, 1974, and the property was...
; sponsored by Mrs. P. J. Hurley sister of Chief Master-at-Arms Doran, and commissioned 4 August 1942, 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...
H. W. Gordon in command.
Doran sailed from Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. With a population of 242,803 as of the 2010 Census, it is Virginia's second-largest city behind neighboring Virginia Beach....
on 23 October 1942 screening transports for the invasion landings
Operation Torch
Operation Torch was the British-American invasion of French North Africa in World War II during the North African Campaign, started on 8 November 1942....
at Safi
Safi, Morocco
Safi is a city in western Morocco on the Atlantic Ocean. The capital of the Doukkala-Abda Region, it has a population of 282,227 , but is also the centre of an agglomeration which has an estimated 793,000 inhabitants ....
, French Morocco
French Morocco
French Protectorate of Morocco was a French protectorate in Morocco, established by the Treaty of Fez. French Morocco did not include the north of the country, which was a Spanish protectorate...
, 8 November. Two days later while on patrol she investigated a beached 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...
which turned out to be French. The submarine had escaped from Casablanca
Casablanca
Casablanca is a city in western Morocco, located on the Atlantic Ocean. It is the capital of the Grand Casablanca region.Casablanca is Morocco's largest city as well as its chief port. It is also the biggest city in the Maghreb. The 2004 census recorded a population of 2,949,805 in the prefecture...
and had been abandoned after suffering several bombing attacks by American aircraft. Doran returned to Norfolk 24 November.
Between 12 December 1942 and 28 April 1943 Doran made three voyages from New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and Norfolk to arrived at Oran
Oran
Oran is a major city on the northwestern Mediterranean coast of Algeria, and the second largest city of the country.It is the capital of the Oran Province . The city has a population of 759,645 , while the metropolitan area has a population of approximately 1,500,000, making it the second largest...
on 22 June, and on 5 July got underway Casablanca. She sailed from Norfolk again 8 June, for the invasion of Sicily
Allied invasion of Sicily
The Allied invasion of Sicily, codenamed Operation Husky, was a major World War II campaign, in which the Allies took Sicily from the Axis . It was a large scale amphibious and airborne operation, followed by six weeks of land combat. It launched the Italian Campaign.Husky began on the night of...
, screening transports off Scoglitti
Scoglitti
Scoglitti is a small fishing village near the town of Vittoria on the south coast of Sicily.In addition to its fishing industry, the village derives a substantial part of its income from tourism...
and providing fire support for the landings 10 July. She continued to serve in this operation with escort and patrol duty between Bizerte
Bizerte
Bizerte or Benzert , is the capital city of Bizerte Governorate in Tunisia and the northernmost city in Africa. It has a population of 230,879 .-History:...
, Tunisia
Tunisia
Tunisia , officially the Tunisian RepublicThe long name of Tunisia in other languages used in the country is: , is the northernmost country in Africa. It is a Maghreb country and is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Its area...
, and Sicilian ports until 21 August. Six days later she sailed from Casablanca for the United States, arriving at New York 14 September.
Returning to convoy duty, Doran made five voyages between Boston and New York and ports in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
between 22 October 1943 and 1 May 1944. She sailed from Norfolk 17 May to return to the Mediterranean where she screened transports from Oran to Naples
Naples
Naples is a city in Southern Italy, situated on the country's west coast by the Gulf of Naples. Lying between two notable volcanic regions, Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, it is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples...
and conducted exercises and antisubmarine patrols off Oran and Gibraltar
Gibraltar
Gibraltar is a British overseas territory located on the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula at the entrance of the Mediterranean. A peninsula with an area of , it has a northern border with Andalusia, Spain. The Rock of Gibraltar is the major landmark of the region...
. She returned to New York 22 August and made one convoy voyage to Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
from 6 October to 1 November before sailing to the Panama Canal Zone
Panama Canal Zone
The Panama Canal Zone was a unorganized U.S. territory located within the Republic of Panama, consisting of the Panama Canal and an area generally extending 5 miles on each side of the centerline, but excluding Panama City and Colón, which otherwise would have been partly within the limits of...
as escort for Randolph
USS Randolph (CV-15)
USS Randolph was one of 24 s built during World War II for the United States Navy. The second US Navy ship to bear the name, she was named for Peyton Randolph, president of the First Continental Congress. Randolph was commissioned in October 1944, and served in several campaigns in the Pacific...
(CV-15).
From 13 January to 26 April 1945 Doran escorted two convoys to Oran, then at Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
, began conversion to a high-speed minesweeper. She was reclassified DMS-41, 30 May 1945. Her conversion and shakedown
Shakedown (testing)
A shakedown is a period of testing or a trial journey undergone by a ship, aircraft or other craft and its crew before being declared operational. Statistically, a proportion of the components will fail after a relatively short period of use, and those that survive this period can be expected to...
completed, she sailed from Norfolk 2 July for a month of training at San Diego
Naval Station San Diego
Naval Base San Diego is the largest base of the United States Navy on the west coast of the United States, in San Diego, California. Naval Base San Diego is the principal homeport of the Pacific Fleet, consisting of 54 ships and over 120 tenant commands. The base is composed of 13 piers stretched...
, called at 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...
, and reached Okinawa on 7 October. She swept mines
Naval mine
A naval mine is a self-contained explosive device placed in water to destroy surface ships or submarines. Unlike depth charges, mines are deposited and left to wait until they are triggered by the approach of, or contact with, an enemy vessel...
in the Yellow Sea
Yellow Sea
The Yellow Sea is the name given to the northern part of the East China Sea, which is a marginal sea of the Pacific Ocean. It is located between mainland China and the Korean Peninsula. Its name comes from the sand particles from Gobi Desert sand storms that turn the surface of the water golden...
and served on escort and courier duty at Shanghai
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, until 3 January 1946, when she sailed for Wakanoura Wan escorting the ships of Mine Squadron 11 (MineRon 11) to buoy-laying duty. Doran remained on duty in 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 waters until 11 March when she sailed from Yokosuka for San Francisco
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
, arriving the last day of the month. She was placed out of commission in reserve at San Diego 29 January 1947. She was reclassified DD-634, 15 July 1966.
Doran received three battle stars for World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
service.