USS McNulty (DE-581)
Encyclopedia
USS McNulty (DE-581) was a Rudderow-class
destroyer escort
in the United States Navy
during World War II
.
McNulty was laid down 17 November 1943 by Bethlehem-Hingham Shipyard, Inc., Hingham, Massachusetts
; launched 8 January 1944; sponsored by Mrs. Helen K. McNulty; and commissioned 31 March 1944, Lt. Comdr. William C. Jennings in command.
After shakedown off Bermuda
, McNulty trained along the east coast until leaving Chesapeake Bay
on escort duty with UGS‑46 to Bizerte, Tunisia. Her guns helped drive off an attacking German
bomber 12 July 1944, and her convoy safely reached Bizerte 2 days later. Following another convoy mission to New York
, she made a similar crossing from Norfolk, Virginia
to Tunisia to New York, then sailed with Cort Div 67 for the Pacific 3 November.
Arriving in Hollandia, New Guinea 17 December, McNulty joined the 7th Fleet. Her first convoy escort mission was to Leyte
, 19 December to 2 January 1945. In less than 24 hours she sortied with Task Group 78.9, the 2nd Lingayen Supply Group, and with it underwent a series of kamikaze
attacks off Luzon
12 January 1945. Two merchantmen were damaged, and more than 100 soldiers aboard one of these were killed. McNulty safely reached Lingayen Gulf
13 January, then escorted ships back to Leyte, arriving 19 January.
McNulty patrolled off Luzon 29 January as the San Narciso Attack Force carried out the landings which spearheaded the drive to take Manila
. She continued patrol and escort duty in the Philippines
and to the Admiralties
, New Guinea, and Okinawa under the operational control of the Philippines sea frontier until the close of the war.
McNulty sailed from Subic Bay 1 September to support occupation operations, first escorting Relief
from Okinawa to Korea
, then cruised the China
coast before sailing for home from Okinawa 14 October.
She arrived San Diego 5 November, decommissioned there 2 July 1946, and entered the Pacific Reserve Fleet, where she remained at least into 1969. She was finally sunk as a target on 16 November 1972 off the coast of California, using a fuel-air explosive bomb
.
McNulty received two battle stars for World War II service.
Rudderow class destroyer escort
The Rudderow class destroyer escorts were destroyer escorts launched in the United States in 1943 to 1945. Of this class, 22 were completed as destroyer escorts, and 50 were completed as Crosley-class high speed transport and were re-classified as High speed transport APDs. One ship was converted...
destroyer escort
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...
in 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...
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...
.
McNulty was laid down 17 November 1943 by Bethlehem-Hingham Shipyard, Inc., Hingham, Massachusetts
Hingham, Massachusetts
Hingham is a town in northern Plymouth County on the South Shore of the U.S. state of Massachusetts and suburb in Greater Boston. The United States Census Bureau 2008 estimated population was 22,561...
; launched 8 January 1944; sponsored by Mrs. Helen K. McNulty; and commissioned 31 March 1944, Lt. Comdr. William C. Jennings in command.
After shakedown off Bermuda
Bermuda
Bermuda is a British overseas territory in the North Atlantic Ocean. Located off the east coast of the United States, its nearest landmass is Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, about to the west-northwest. It is about south of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, and northeast of Miami, Florida...
, McNulty trained along the east coast until leaving Chesapeake Bay
Chesapeake Bay
The Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the United States. It lies off the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by Maryland and Virginia. The Chesapeake Bay's drainage basin covers in the District of Columbia and parts of six states: New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and West...
on escort duty with UGS‑46 to Bizerte, Tunisia. Her guns helped drive off an attacking German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
bomber 12 July 1944, and her convoy safely reached Bizerte 2 days later. Following another convoy mission to New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, she made a similar crossing 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....
to Tunisia to New York, then sailed with Cort Div 67 for the Pacific 3 November.
Arriving in Hollandia, New Guinea 17 December, McNulty joined the 7th Fleet. Her first convoy escort mission was to 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...
, 19 December to 2 January 1945. In less than 24 hours she sortied with Task Group 78.9, the 2nd Lingayen Supply Group, and with it underwent a series of kamikaze
Kamikaze
The were suicide attacks by military aviators from the Empire of Japan against Allied naval vessels in the closing stages of the Pacific campaign of World War II, designed to destroy as many warships as possible....
attacks off 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...
12 January 1945. Two merchantmen were damaged, and more than 100 soldiers aboard one of these were killed. McNulty safely reached Lingayen Gulf
Lingayen Gulf
The Lingayen Gulf is an extension of the South China Sea on Luzon in the Philippines stretching . It is framed by the provinces of Pangasinan and La Union and sits between the Zambales Mountains and the Cordillera Central...
13 January, then escorted ships back to Leyte, arriving 19 January.
McNulty patrolled off Luzon 29 January as the San Narciso Attack Force carried out the landings which spearheaded the drive to take 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,...
. She continued patrol and escort duty 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...
and to the Admiralties
Admiralty Islands
The Admiralty Islands are a group of eighteen islands in the Bismarck Archipelago, to the north of New Guinea in the south Pacific Ocean. These are also sometimes called the Manus Islands, after the largest island. These rainforest-covered islands form part of Manus Province, the smallest and...
, New Guinea, and Okinawa under the operational control of the Philippines sea frontier until the close of the war.
McNulty sailed from Subic Bay 1 September to support occupation operations, first escorting Relief
USS Relief (AH-1)
The sixth USS Relief , the first ship of the U.S. Navy designed and built from the keel up as a hospital ship, was laid down 14 June 1917 by the Philadelphia Navy Yard; launched 23 December 1919; and commissioned 28 December 1920 at Philadelphia, Comdr. Richmond C...
from Okinawa to 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...
, then cruised the 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...
coast before sailing for home from Okinawa 14 October.
She arrived San Diego 5 November, decommissioned there 2 July 1946, and entered the Pacific Reserve Fleet, where she remained at least into 1969. She was finally sunk as a target on 16 November 1972 off the coast of California, using a fuel-air explosive bomb
Thermobaric weapon
A thermobaric weapon, which includes the type known as a "fuel-air bomb", is an explosive weapon that produces a blast wave of a significantly longer duration than those produced by condensed explosives. This is useful in military applications where its longer duration increases the numbers of...
.
McNulty received two battle stars for World War II service.
External links
- Photo gallery at navsource.org