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USS Doyle (DD-494)
Encyclopedia
USS Doyle (DD-494/DMS-34), a Gleaves-class
destroyer
, was the only ship of the United States Navy
to be named for Richard Doyle
, who fought during the Barbary Wars
, and died while in service in 1807.
Doyle was launched 17 March 1942 by Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Co., Seattle, Washington
; sponsored by Mrs. C. M. Maloney; and commissioned 27 January 1943, Lieutenant Commander
C. E. Boyd in command.
from Bremerton
on 26 April 1943. Between 13 May and 29 November, she made four voyages as a convoy
escort: Two to Casablanca
, French Morocco
, one to Greenock
, Scotland
, and one to Derry
, Northern Ireland
. For the next few months she served on the Atlantic Coast, in antisubmarine operations and training exercises and cruised to the Caribbean
in the screen of .
Doyle put out from Casco Bay
, Maine
, 18 April 1944, and arrived at Plymouth
, England
, ten days later to prepare for the invasion of Normandy. On 5 June, she sortied with the 31st Minesweeping Flotilla to clear the assault area. She gave fire support to the landing forces on D-Day
, 6 June, received on board 37 survivors of LCI
s 93 and 487, and served on patrol until returning to Plymouth, England, 15 July for brief overhaul.
Sailing 1 August 1944 for Oran
, Doyle departed from that port ten days later for the invasion of southern France
, escorting a convoy to the assault area and patrolling to cover the landings. She continued to support the invasion by escorting convoys from Naples
and patrolling off Marseilles until 21 September when she sailed for the United States, arriving at New York 3 October for overhaul.
Doyle made three more voyages to escort convoys to north Africa
between 3 January and 10 June 1945. She arrived at Norfolk
on 20 June for conversion to a highspeed minesweeper, and was reclassified DMS-34, 23 June 1945. After conversion, she sailed from Norfolk 27 August for the Pacific, calling at San Diego
, Pearl Harbor
, and Okinawa, and arriving at Sasebo
24 October. She served in the Far East on occupation duty, at Sasebo as flagship
for Commander, Mine Force, Pacific, for most of her tour returning to San Francisco
on 31 March 1946. Thereafter, she operated on the west coast and in the western Pacific 18 August 1947 to 19 April 1948.
ns crossed the 38th parallel
, Doyle headed west from San Diego to support UN
operations in Korea
. She escorted troop transports from Sasebo to Korean ports and screened aircraft carrier
s providing air support for the ground troops. On 15 September 1950, an attempt by 800 South Korea
n guerrillas to make a secret landing for a raid on the enemy's rear lines went awry when their LST
broached and stranded. Doyle screened the touch and go 2-day rescue near Changea Dong.
After brief overhaul at Sasebo, Doyle sailed on 29 September 1950 to sweep mine
s on the east coast of Korea
in preparation for the invasion landings near Wonsan
. On 12 October, she bombarded Rei To Island in support of an underwater demolition team
from , then was assigned to clear the dangerous approaches to Wonsan Harbor. She continued operations in the Wonsan area, as well as sweeping in the Hungnam
area, acting as fire-support ship for Korean landings at Suwon Dan on 3 November, and directing a check sweep of Wonsan by Japanese sweepers from 12 to 17 November until returning to Sasebo 20 November.
Doyle continued to operate from Sasebo to Korean waters, sweeping a special fire-support area used to cover the emergency evacuation from Hungnam between 2 and 23 December 1950. She returned to San Diego 4 March 1951, and after overhaul resumed local operations on the west coast. Doyle served again in UN
operations in Korean waters between 5 October 1951 and 8 August 1952. She returned to the western Pacific between 2 February and 21 July 1953, visiting Midway
, Guam
, Kwajalein
, and various ports in the Philippines
, as well as serving as station ship at Hong Kong
for five weeks.
Doyle arrived at Charleston, South Carolina
, 7 September 1953 from Long Beach
. She operated along the east coast and served in the Mediterranean with the 6th Fleet between 5 January and 27 May 1954 before going into reserve, in commissioned status, in October 1954. Doyle was placed out of commission in reserve 19 May 1955.
and six for Korean War
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...
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 only 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 Richard Doyle
Richard Doyle (sailor)
Richard Doyle entered the United States Navy on board the schooner Enterprise 25 August 1803 at Malta. On 14 November 1803 he was promoted to quarter gunner. He volunteered for the expedition under Lieutenant Stephen Decatur, Jr., which entered the harbor of Tripoli and daringly destroyed the...
, who fought during the Barbary Wars
Barbary Wars
The Barbary Wars were a series of wars between the United States of America and the Barbary States of North Africa in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. At issue was the Barbary pirates' demand of tribute from American merchant vessels in the Mediterranean Sea. If ships failed to pay, pirates...
, and died while in service in 1807.
Doyle was launched 17 March 1942 by Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Co., Seattle, Washington
Seattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
; sponsored by Mrs. C. M. Maloney; and commissioned 27 January 1943, 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...
C. E. Boyd in command.
World War II
Doyle reached New YorkNew 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...
from Bremerton
Bremerton, Washington
Bremerton is a city in Kitsap County, Washington, United States. The population was 38,790 at the 2011 State Estimate, making it the largest city on the Olympic Peninsula. Bremerton is home to Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and the Bremerton Annex of Naval Base Kitsap...
on 26 April 1943. Between 13 May and 29 November, she made four voyages as a convoy
Convoy
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: Two to 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...
, 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...
, one to Greenock
Greenock
Greenock is a town and administrative centre in the Inverclyde council area in United Kingdom, and a former burgh within the historic county of Renfrewshire, located in the west central Lowlands of Scotland...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, and one to Derry
Derry
Derry or Londonderry is the second-biggest city in Northern Ireland and the fourth-biggest city on the island of Ireland. The name Derry is an anglicisation of the Irish name Doire or Doire Cholmcille meaning "oak-wood of Colmcille"...
, Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
. For the next few months she served on the Atlantic Coast, in antisubmarine operations and training exercises and cruised to the Caribbean
Caribbean
The Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...
in the screen of .
Doyle put out from Casco Bay
Casco Bay
Casco Bay is an inlet of the Gulf of Maine on the southern coast of Maine, New England, United States. Its easternmost approach is Cape Small and its westernmost approach is Two Lights in Cape Elizabeth...
, Maine
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
, 18 April 1944, and arrived at Plymouth
Plymouth
Plymouth is a city and unitary authority area on the coast of Devon, England, about south-west of London. It is built between the mouths of the rivers Plym to the east and Tamar to the west, where they join Plymouth Sound...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, ten days later to prepare for the invasion of Normandy. On 5 June, she sortied with the 31st Minesweeping Flotilla to clear the assault area. She gave fire support to the landing forces on D-Day
Operation Overlord
Operation Overlord was the code name for the Battle of Normandy, the operation that launched the invasion of German-occupied western Europe during World War II by Allied forces. The operation commenced on 6 June 1944 with the Normandy landings...
, 6 June, received on board 37 survivors of LCI
Landing Craft Infantry
The Landing craft, Infantry or LCI were several classes of sea-going amphibious assault ships of the Second World War utilized to land large numbers of infantry directly onto beaches. They were developed in response to a British request for a vessel capable of carrying and landing substantially...
s 93 and 487, and served on patrol until returning to Plymouth, England, 15 July for brief overhaul.
Sailing 1 August 1944 for 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...
, Doyle departed from that port ten days later for the invasion of southern France
Operation Dragoon
Operation Dragoon was the Allied invasion of southern France on August 15, 1944, during World War II. The invasion was initiated via a parachute drop by the 1st Airborne Task Force, followed by an amphibious assault by elements of the U.S. Seventh Army, followed a day later by a force made up...
, escorting a convoy to the assault area and patrolling to cover the landings. She continued to support the invasion by escorting convoys from 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 patrolling off Marseilles until 21 September when she sailed for the United States, arriving at New York 3 October for overhaul.
Doyle made three more voyages to escort convoys 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...
between 3 January and 10 June 1945. She arrived at Norfolk
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 20 June for conversion to a highspeed minesweeper, and was reclassified DMS-34, 23 June 1945. After conversion, she sailed from Norfolk 27 August for the Pacific, calling 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...
, 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 Okinawa, and arriving at Sasebo
Sasebo, Nagasaki
is a city located in Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan. As of 2011, the city has an estimated population of 259,800 and the density of 609 persons per km². The total area is 426.47 km². The locality is famed for its scenic beauty. The city includes a part of Saikai National Park...
24 October. She served in the Far East on occupation duty, at Sasebo as flagship
Flagship
A flagship is a vessel used by the commanding officer of a group of naval ships, reflecting the custom of its commander, characteristically a flag officer, flying a distinguishing flag...
for Commander, Mine Force, Pacific, for most of her tour returning to 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...
on 31 March 1946. Thereafter, she operated on the west coast and in the western Pacific 18 August 1947 to 19 April 1948.
Korean War
On 30 June 1950, five days after the North KoreaNorth Korea
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...
ns crossed the 38th parallel
38th parallel north
The 38th parallel north is a circle of latitude that is 38 degrees north of the Earth's equatorial plane. It crosses Europe, the Mediterranean Sea, Asia, the Pacific Ocean, North America, and the Atlantic Ocean...
, Doyle headed west from San Diego to support UN
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
operations in Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
. She escorted troop transports from Sasebo to Korean ports and screened aircraft carrier
Aircraft carrier
An aircraft carrier is a warship designed with a primary mission of deploying and recovering aircraft, acting as a seagoing airbase. Aircraft carriers thus allow a naval force to project air power worldwide without having to depend on local bases for staging aircraft operations...
s providing air support for the ground troops. On 15 September 1950, an attempt by 800 South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
n guerrillas to make a secret landing for a raid on the enemy's rear lines went awry when their LST
Tank landing ship
Landing Ship, Tank was the military designation for naval vessels created during World War II to support amphibious operations by carrying significant quantities of vehicles, cargo, and landing troops directly onto an unimproved shore....
broached and stranded. Doyle screened the touch and go 2-day rescue near Changea Dong.
After brief overhaul at Sasebo, Doyle sailed on 29 September 1950 to sweep mine
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...
s on the east coast of Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
in preparation for the invasion landings near Wonsan
Wonsan
Wŏnsan is a port city and naval base in southeastern North Korea. It is the capital of Kangwŏn Province. The population of the city is estimated to have been 331,000 in 2000. Notable people from Wŏnsan include Kim Ki Nam, diplomat and Secretary of the Workers' Party.- History :The original name of...
. On 12 October, she bombarded Rei To Island in support of an underwater demolition team
Underwater Demolition Team
The Underwater Demolition Teams were an elite special-purpose force established by the United States Navy during World War II. They also served during the Korean War and the Vietnam War...
from , then was assigned to clear the dangerous approaches to Wonsan Harbor. She continued operations in the Wonsan area, as well as sweeping in the Hungnam
Hungnam
Hŭngnam was the third largest city in North Korea.It is a port city on the eastern coast, in South Hamgyong Province, on the Sea of Japan . The city covers an area of 250 square kilometers...
area, acting as fire-support ship for Korean landings at Suwon Dan on 3 November, and directing a check sweep of Wonsan by Japanese sweepers from 12 to 17 November until returning to Sasebo 20 November.
Doyle continued to operate from Sasebo to Korean waters, sweeping a special fire-support area used to cover the emergency evacuation from Hungnam between 2 and 23 December 1950. She returned to San Diego 4 March 1951, and after overhaul resumed local operations on the west coast. Doyle served again in UN
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
operations in Korean waters between 5 October 1951 and 8 August 1952. She returned to the western Pacific between 2 February and 21 July 1953, visiting Midway
Midway Atoll
Midway Atoll is a atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, near the northwestern end of the Hawaiian archipelago, about one-third of the way between Honolulu, Hawaii, and Tokyo, Japan. Unique among the Hawaiian islands, Midway observes UTC-11 , eleven hours behind Coordinated Universal Time and one hour...
, Guam
Guam
Guam is an organized, unincorporated territory of the United States located in the western Pacific Ocean. It is one of five U.S. territories with an established civilian government. Guam is listed as one of 16 Non-Self-Governing Territories by the Special Committee on Decolonization of the United...
, Kwajalein
Kwajalein
Kwajalein Atoll , is part of the Republic of the Marshall Islands . The southernmost and largest island in the atoll is named Kwajalein Island. English-speaking residents of the U.S...
, and various ports in the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
, as well as serving as station ship at Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
for five weeks.
Doyle arrived 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...
, 7 September 1953 from Long Beach
Long Beach, California
Long Beach is a city situated in Los Angeles County in Southern California, on the Pacific coast of the United States. The city is the 36th-largest city in the nation and the seventh-largest in California. As of 2010, its population was 462,257...
. She operated along the east coast and served in the Mediterranean with the 6th Fleet between 5 January and 27 May 1954 before going into reserve, in commissioned status, in October 1954. Doyle was placed out of commission in reserve 19 May 1955.
Awards
Doyle received two battle stars for World War IIWorld 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...
and six for Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
service.