.gif)
USS Mack (DE-358)
Encyclopedia
USS Mack (DE-358) was a John C. Butler-class destroyer escort
acquired by the U.S. Navy during World War II
. The primary purpose of the destroyer escort was to escort and protect ships in convoy
, in addition to other tasks as assigned, such as patrol or radar picket
.
She was named in honor of Harold John Mack
who was awarded the Navy Cross
for his brave actions during the Battle of Savo Island
. She was launched 11 April 1944 by Consolidated Steel Corp., Shipbuilding Division, Orange, Texas
; sponsored by Mrs. Gertrude Mack, mother of Harold John Mack, GM2/c; and commissioned 16 August 1944, Lt. Cmdr. J. F. Nelson, USNR, in command.
exercises off the U.S. East Coast, Mack assembled with ComCortDiv 82 at Norfolk, Virginia
, 17 to 20 October, and departed on the 21st for the Panama Canal
en route to the Pacific Ocean
. Becoming a unit of the U.S. 7th Fleet Mack escorted convoys between Hollandia
, New Guinea
, Kossol Roads
, Palau Islands, and Leyte
until March 1945. On the 2nd of that month she commenced antisubmarine patrols in the South China Sea
off the Philippines
. Investigating sonar
contact on the 13th, Mack grounded on an uncharted shoal in Mangarin Bay
, damaging both screws and tall shafts. Towed to Hollandia for repairs, 14 April to 4 June, she returned to escort duty between Hollandia and Manila
on the 14th.
A month later Mack commenced working for the port director, Manila
, escorting ships to San Fernando, Luzon
, until the 3d of August when she was placed under the authority of the port director, Subic, and escorted a convoy of landing craft
from Subic Bay
to Okinawa.
patrols between the Philippines and the Palaus, returning to escort duty on the 16th to accompany a slow tow through the “typhoon belt” to Okinawa. Completing that assignment, she commenced air sea rescue patrols east of Samar
, Philippine Islands.
Relieved of this duty on 6 December, Mack got underway for Okinawa and Shanghai
on 8 December, returning to Subic Bay
on the 27th.
, remaining at Subic for 3 weeks undergoing repairs and holding drills.
, where the U.S. 7th Fleet was lending support to the U.S.-China
policy; standing by to protect, if necessary, American interests during the fighting between the Nationalist forces and the Communists. Arriving on the 20th, Mack took part in training exercises off the China coast and made brief trips to Shanghai
and Taku
before departing Chinese waters, 15 April, for Okinawa to take on naval passengers en route to the United States
.
Arriving San Pedro 11 May 1946 Mack debarked her passengers, unloaded her ammunition and began undergoing a period of inactivation and preservation.
. She was placed in the Pacific inactive Fleet, berthed at Mare Island, California. On 15 March 1972 she was struck from the Navy list
, and, on 13 June 1973, she was sold for scrapping.
Destroyer escort
A destroyer escort is the classification for a smaller, lightly armed warship designed to be used to escort convoys of merchant marine ships, primarily of the United States Merchant Marine in World War II. It is employed primarily for anti-submarine warfare, but also provides some protection...
acquired by the U.S. Navy during 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...
. The primary purpose of the destroyer escort was to escort and protect ships in 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...
, in addition to other tasks as assigned, such as patrol or radar picket
Radar picket
A radar picket is a radar-equipped ship, submarine, aircraft, or vehicle used to increase the radar detection range around a force to protect it from surprise attack. Often several detached radar units encircle a force to provide increased cover in all directions.-World War II:Radar picket ships...
.
She was named in honor of Harold John Mack
Harold John Mack
-Navy career:Mack enlisted in the Navy 18 May 1938 and reported to USS Vincennes on 14 September 1938 after completion of training at Great Lakes, Illinois.-Awarded the Navy Cross:...
who was awarded the Navy Cross
Navy Cross
The Navy Cross is the highest decoration that may be bestowed by the Department of the Navy and the second highest decoration given for valor. It is normally only awarded to members of the United States Navy, United States Marine Corps and United States Coast Guard, but can be awarded to all...
for his brave actions during the Battle of Savo Island
Battle of Savo Island
The Battle of Savo Island, also known as the First Battle of Savo Island and, in Japanese sources, as the , was a naval battle of the Pacific Campaign of World War II, between the Imperial Japanese Navy and Allied naval forces...
. She was launched 11 April 1944 by Consolidated Steel Corp., Shipbuilding Division, Orange, Texas
Orange, Texas
Orange is a city in Orange County, Texas, United States. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 18,643. It is the county seat of Orange County, and is the easternmost city in Texas. Located on the Sabine River at the border with Louisiana, it is part of the Beaumont–Port Arthur...
; sponsored by Mrs. Gertrude Mack, mother of Harold John Mack, GM2/c; and commissioned 16 August 1944, Lt. Cmdr. J. F. Nelson, USNR, in command.
World War II Pacific Theatre operations
After initial shakedownShakedown (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...
exercises off the U.S. East Coast, Mack assembled with ComCortDiv 82 at 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....
, 17 to 20 October, and departed on the 21st for 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...
en route to the Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
. Becoming a unit of the U.S. 7th Fleet Mack escorted convoys between Hollandia
Jayapura
Jayapura City is the capital of Papua province, Indonesia, on the island of New Guinea. It is situated on Yos Sudarso Bay . Its approximate population in 2002 was 200,000....
, New Guinea
New Guinea
New Guinea is the world's second largest island, after Greenland, covering a land area of 786,000 km2. Located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, it lies geographically to the east of the Malay Archipelago, with which it is sometimes included as part of a greater Indo-Australian Archipelago...
, Kossol Roads
Kossol Roads
Kossol Roads, Palau is a large body of reef-enclosed water north of Babeldaob. During World War II, it was used by the United States Navy as the location of a floating resupply and repair base....
, Palau Islands, and Leyte
Leyte
Leyte is a province of the Philippines located in the Eastern Visayas region. Its capital is Tacloban City and occupies the northern three-quarters of the Leyte Island. Leyte is located west of Samar Island, north of Southern Leyte and south of Biliran...
until March 1945. On the 2nd of that month she commenced antisubmarine patrols in the South China Sea
South China Sea
The South China Sea is a marginal sea that is part of the Pacific Ocean, encompassing an area from the Singapore and Malacca Straits to the Strait of Taiwan of around...
off 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...
. Investigating sonar
Sonar
Sonar is a technique that uses sound propagation to navigate, communicate with or detect other vessels...
contact on the 13th, Mack grounded on an uncharted shoal in Mangarin Bay
Mangarin Bay
Mangarin Bay is situated to the east of Mangarin Point, on the west coast of Mindoro, among the Philippine Islands. The bay is shoal and sheltered from the wind by the point and Ilin Island. Magarin point terminates in a long sandy pit off which the depth is 4 to 5 fathoms. Farther in the water...
, damaging both screws and tall shafts. Towed to Hollandia for repairs, 14 April to 4 June, she returned to escort duty between Hollandia and Manila
Manila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
on the 14th.
A month later Mack commenced working for the port director, Manila
Manila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
, escorting ships to San Fernando, Luzon
Luzon
Luzon is the largest island in the Philippines. It is located in the northernmost region of the archipelago, and is also the name for one of the three primary island groups in the country centered on the Island of Luzon...
, until the 3d of August when she was placed under the authority of the port director, Subic, and escorted a convoy of landing craft
Landing craft
Landing craft are boats and seagoing vessels used to convey a landing force from the sea to the shore during an amphibious assault. Most renowned are those used to storm the beaches of Normandy, the Mediterranean, and many Pacific islands during WWII...
from Subic Bay
Subic Bay
Subic Bay is a bay forming part of Luzon Sea on the west coast of the island of Luzon in Zambales, Philippines, about 100 kilometers northwest of Manila Bay. Its shores were formerly the site of a major United States Navy facility named U.S...
to Okinawa.
End-of-war activity
Two days after the signing of the surrender terms, Mack began air-sea rescueAir-sea rescue
Air-sea rescue is the coordinated search and rescue of the survivors of emergency water landings as well as people who have survived the loss of their sea-going vessel. ASR can involve a wide variety of resources including seaplanes, helicopters, submarines, rescue boats and ships...
patrols between the Philippines and the Palaus, returning to escort duty on the 16th to accompany a slow tow through the “typhoon belt” to Okinawa. Completing that assignment, she commenced air sea rescue patrols east of Samar
Samar
Samar, formerly and also known as Western Samar, is a province in the Philippines located in the Eastern Visayas region. Its capital is Catbalogan City and covers the western portion of Samar as well as several islands in the Samar Sea located to the west of the mainland...
, Philippine Islands.
Relieved of this duty on 6 December, Mack got underway for Okinawa and 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...
on 8 December, returning to Subic Bay
Subic Bay
Subic Bay is a bay forming part of Luzon Sea on the west coast of the island of Luzon in Zambales, Philippines, about 100 kilometers northwest of Manila Bay. Its shores were formerly the site of a major United States Navy facility named U.S...
on the 27th.
Collision at sea
While standing by for escort duty at San Fernando, 10 January 1946, Mack answering a distress call from FS-74, proceeded through heavy weather to the disabled ship’s position. In the course of passing much needed food and water to the crew of the FS, the two ships collided, causing damage to Mack’s bow (11 January). Mack returned to San Fernando and escorted the waiting ships to Subic BaySubic Bay
Subic Bay is a bay forming part of Luzon Sea on the west coast of the island of Luzon in Zambales, Philippines, about 100 kilometers northwest of Manila Bay. Its shores were formerly the site of a major United States Navy facility named U.S...
, remaining at Subic for 3 weeks undergoing repairs and holding drills.
Operations in the China area
Departing Subic Bay 11 February, Mack joined Escort Division 33 and set course for Tsingtao, ChinaChina
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...
, where the U.S. 7th Fleet was lending support to the U.S.-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...
policy; standing by to protect, if necessary, American interests during the fighting between the Nationalist forces and the Communists. Arriving on the 20th, Mack took part in training exercises off the China coast and made brief trips to 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...
and Taku
Taku Forts
The Dagu Forts , also called the Peiho Forts are forts located by the Hai River estuary, in Tanggu District, Tianjin municipality, in northeastern China. They are located 60 km southeast of the Tianjin urban center.-History:The first fort was built during the reign of the Ming Jiajing...
before departing Chinese waters, 15 April, for Okinawa to take on naval passengers en route to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Arriving San Pedro 11 May 1946 Mack debarked her passengers, unloaded her ammunition and began undergoing a period of inactivation and preservation.
Post-war decommissioning
Mack was placed out of commission in reserve 11 December 1946 at San Diego, CaliforniaSan Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
. She was placed in the Pacific inactive Fleet, berthed at Mare Island, California. On 15 March 1972 she was struck from the Navy list
Navy List
A Navy List or Naval Register is an official list of naval officers, their ranks and seniority, the ships which they command or to which they are appointed, etc., that is published by the government or naval authorities of a country....
, and, on 13 June 1973, she was sold for scrapping.
See also
- List of United States Navy ships
- World War IIWorld War IIWorld 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...
- DestroyerDestroyerIn 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...
- Destroyer escortDestroyer escortA destroyer escort is the classification for a smaller, lightly armed warship designed to be used to escort convoys of merchant marine ships, primarily of the United States Merchant Marine in World War II. It is employed primarily for anti-submarine warfare, but also provides some protection...