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USS Perry (DD-340)
Encyclopedia
The third USS Perry (DD-340/DMS-17) was a Clemson-class
destroyer
in the United States Navy
following World War I
. She was one of eight ships named for Oliver Hazard Perry
.
; launched 29 October 1921; sponsored by Miss Anne R. Scudder; and commissioned 7 August 1922, Lt. Richard H. Booth in command.
Perry operated out of San Diego until 17 January 1923. Then decommissioned, she remained in reserve until recommissioned 1 April 1930. Operations off California
were followed in late summer by a cruise to Alaska
with members of the US Senate
embarked for an inspection trip. Squadron, fleet and joint Army
–Navy–Coast Guard
exercises in the eastern Pacific, the Caribbean
and the western Atlantic filled her schedule for the next decade.
On 2 April 1940, Perry departed San Diego, California
for her new homeport, Pearl Harbor
escorting the Arizona
. For the next five months she patrolled in Hawaii
an waters, then in October, entered the naval shipyard at Pearl Harbor for conversion to a high speed minesweeper
. Redesignated DMS–17, effective 19 November 1940, she joined MinRon 2 at Pearl Harbor in January 1941. In late spring, she sailed back to San Diego, whence, on 1 July, she departed to escort USS Arizona to Pearl Harbor.
On 7 December 1941, Perry was moored at Pearl Harbor. Shortly after the Japanese attack
she got underway and, having shot down a plane, took up patrol and minesweeping duties in the approaches to the harbor entrance. She continued offshore patrols until 31 May 1942, and then sailed east to California. Alterations at Mare Island followed and on 31 July, she departed, as convoy escort, for Pearl Harbor. From Hawaii, she steamed to Kodiak
to assist in the Aleutian Islands campaign. For the next year, until after the retaking of Kiska
, 15 August 1943, Perry performed minesweeping and rescue missions and escorted troop and supply convoys in the foggy waters of the north Pacific.
On 8 September, Perry departed Adak and sailed south. Stopping first in Hawaii, she continued on to San Francisco for repairs. Back at Pearl Harbor 27 November, she joined the 5th Fleet, then staging for the Marshall Islands
campaign. On 31 January 1944, she arrived off Kwajalein
and took up antisubmarine station in the transport area. She departed that atoll five days later, escorted troopships to Noumea
, conducted sweeping operations in the Solomons, and then, on 3 April, sailed with MinRon 2 for New Guinea
. Three days later, she joined the 7th Fleet at Milne Bay
. In mid-month she got underway, with TG 77.3 and, acting as ocean escort and antisubmarine screen, arrived with that group off Aitape
on the 22nd. Prior to the assault there, she swept between Tamara and Alli Islands, and then took up antisubmarine patrol and shore bombardment duties.
Perry remained in New Guinea waters until 6 May, when she steamed east to rejoin the 5th Fleet in the Solomons and prepare for the invasion of the Marianas. Assigned to TG 51.17, Perry arrived off Saipan
and commenced sweeping operations 13 June, under cover from the battleship
s of TF 58. Completing sweeping operations the following day, she resumed screening duties in the forward area, maintaining as much protection as possible for the transports off the assault beaches through the landings and the Battle of the Philippine Sea
. On 26 June, she departed Saipan for Eniwetok, from where she sailed, with TG 53.1, for Guam
. Between the 14th and the 20th she screened vessels delivering the preinvasion bombardment; then, as troops were landed on the 21st, joined the screen of the fire support units.
Prior to departing the Marianas, five days later, Perry participated in the shelling of Rota
, then returned to Guam, from where she sailed, the same day, for Eniwetok in the transport screen. Further exercises in the Solomons preceded her next, and last, assignment, the Palau
invasion.
On 6 September MinRon 2 sortied from Florida Island. On the 12th they reached their objective and the units commenced sweeping operations off Pelelieu Island. At 0811, a mine explosion destroyed Perry's port sweep gear. By 1028 she had replaced the gear and was back in formation to continue operations until early afternoon. That night she carried out antisubmarine patrols and early the next morning, 13 September, resumed her sweeping mission. At 1418, off Anguar, a violent underwater explosion
, starboard side amidships, shook the ship. All steam to her main engines was lost and the forward fireroom was demolished and flooded. Steam and oil sprayed in all directions and the ship took on a 30’ list to port. The list increased and, at 1420, the commanding officer ordered “abandon ship”. With the aid of final attempts to save the vessel were made, but, at 1515, all remaining personnel were ordered off. At 1605, Perry capsized. She broke in two at the point of damage and, at 1607, sank in 40 fathoms of water.
Perry (DMS–17) earned 6 battle stars during World War II
.
The wreck of Perry was found on 1 May 2000. In December 2003, a diver
, Michael Norwood, died while filming on the wreck for the television
show Deep Sea Detectives
.
See and for other ships of this name.
Clemson class destroyer
The Clemson class was a series of 156 destroyers which served with the United States Navy from after World War I through World War II.The Clemson-class ships were commissioned by the United States Navy from 1919 to 1922, built by Newport News Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Company, New York Shipbuilding...
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...
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...
following World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. She was one of eight ships named for Oliver Hazard Perry
Oliver Hazard Perry
United States Navy Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry was born in South Kingstown, Rhode Island , the son of USN Captain Christopher Raymond Perry and Sarah Wallace Alexander, a direct descendant of William Wallace...
.
History
Perry was laid down 15 September 1920 at the Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, CaliforniaVallejo, California
Vallejo is the largest city in Solano County, California, United States. The population was 115,942 at the 2010 census. It is located in the San Francisco Bay Area on the northeastern shore of San Pablo Bay...
; launched 29 October 1921; sponsored by Miss Anne R. Scudder; and commissioned 7 August 1922, Lt. Richard H. Booth in command.
Perry operated out of San Diego until 17 January 1923. Then decommissioned, she remained in reserve until recommissioned 1 April 1930. Operations off 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...
were followed in late summer by a cruise to 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...
with members of the US Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
embarked for an inspection trip. Squadron, fleet and joint Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
–Navy–Coast Guard
United States Coast Guard
The United States Coast Guard is a branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven U.S. uniformed services. The Coast Guard is a maritime, military, multi-mission service unique among the military branches for having a maritime law enforcement mission and a federal regulatory agency...
exercises in the eastern Pacific, 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...
and the western Atlantic filled her schedule for the next decade.
On 2 April 1940, Perry departed San Diego, California
San 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...
for her new homeport, 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...
escorting the Arizona
USS Arizona (BB-39)
USS Arizona, a , was built for the United States Navy in the mid-1910s. Named in honor of the 48th state's recent admission into the union, the ship was the second and last of the Pennsylvania class of "super-dreadnought" battleships. Although commissioned in 1916, the ship remained stateside...
. For the next five months she patrolled in Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
an waters, then in October, entered the naval shipyard at Pearl Harbor for conversion to a high speed minesweeper
Minesweeper (ship)
A minesweeper is a small naval warship designed to counter the threat posed by naval mines. Minesweepers generally detect then neutralize mines in advance of other naval operations.-History:...
. Redesignated DMS–17, effective 19 November 1940, she joined MinRon 2 at Pearl Harbor in January 1941. In late spring, she sailed back to San Diego, whence, on 1 July, she departed to escort USS Arizona to Pearl Harbor.
On 7 December 1941, Perry was moored at Pearl Harbor. Shortly after the Japanese attack
Attack on Pearl Harbor
The attack on Pearl Harbor was a surprise military strike conducted by the Imperial Japanese Navy against the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on the morning of December 7, 1941...
she got underway and, having shot down a plane, took up patrol and minesweeping duties in the approaches to the harbor entrance. She continued offshore patrols until 31 May 1942, and then sailed east to California. Alterations at Mare Island followed and on 31 July, she departed, as convoy escort, for Pearl Harbor. From Hawaii, she steamed to Kodiak
Kodiak, Alaska
Kodiak is one of 7 communities and the main city on Kodiak Island, Kodiak Island Borough, in the U.S. state of Alaska. All commercial transportation between the entire island and the outside world goes through this city either via ferryboat or airline...
to assist in the Aleutian Islands campaign. For the next year, until after the retaking of Kiska
Kiska
Kiska is an island in the Rat Islands group of the Aleutian Islands of Alaska located at . It is about long and varies in width from - Discovery :...
, 15 August 1943, Perry performed minesweeping and rescue missions and escorted troop and supply convoys in the foggy waters of the north Pacific.
On 8 September, Perry departed Adak and sailed south. Stopping first in Hawaii, she continued on to San Francisco for repairs. Back at Pearl Harbor 27 November, she joined the 5th Fleet, then staging for the Marshall Islands
Marshall Islands
The Republic of the Marshall Islands , , is a Micronesian nation of atolls and islands in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, just west of the International Date Line and just north of the Equator. As of July 2011 the population was 67,182...
campaign. On 31 January 1944, she arrived off 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 took up antisubmarine station in the transport area. She departed that atoll five days later, escorted troopships to Noumea
Nouméa
Nouméa is the capital city of the French territory of New Caledonia. It is situated on a peninsula in the south of New Caledonia's main island, Grande Terre, and is home to the majority of the island's European, Polynesian , Indonesian, and Vietnamese populations, as well as many Melanesians,...
, conducted sweeping operations in the Solomons, and then, on 3 April, sailed with MinRon 2 for 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...
. Three days later, she joined the 7th Fleet at Milne Bay
Milne Bay
Milne Bay is a large bay in Milne Bay Province, southeastern Papua New Guinea. The bay is named after Sir Alexander Milne.The area was a site of the Battle of Milne Bay in 1942....
. In mid-month she got underway, with TG 77.3 and, acting as ocean escort and antisubmarine screen, arrived with that group off Aitape
Aitape
Aitape is a small town of about 8,000 people on the north coast of Papua New Guinea in the Sandaun Province. It is a coastal settlement that is almost equidistant from the provincial capitals of Wewak and Vanimo, and marks the midpoint of the highway between these two capitals...
on the 22nd. Prior to the assault there, she swept between Tamara and Alli Islands, and then took up antisubmarine patrol and shore bombardment duties.
Perry remained in New Guinea waters until 6 May, when she steamed east to rejoin the 5th Fleet in the Solomons and prepare for the invasion of the Marianas. Assigned to TG 51.17, Perry arrived off Saipan
Saipan
Saipan is the largest island of the United States Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands , a chain of 15 tropical islands belonging to the Marianas archipelago in the western Pacific Ocean with a total area of . The 2000 census population was 62,392...
and commenced sweeping operations 13 June, under cover from the battleship
Battleship
A battleship is a large armored warship with a main battery consisting of heavy caliber guns. Battleships were larger, better armed and armored than cruisers and destroyers. As the largest armed ships in a fleet, battleships were used to attain command of the sea and represented the apex of a...
s of TF 58. Completing sweeping operations the following day, she resumed screening duties in the forward area, maintaining as much protection as possible for the transports off the assault beaches through the landings and the Battle of the Philippine Sea
Battle of the Philippine Sea
The Battle of the Philippine Sea was a decisive naval battle of World War II which effectively eliminated the Imperial Japanese Navy's ability to conduct large-scale carrier actions. It took place during the United States' amphibious invasion of the Mariana Islands during the Pacific War...
. On 26 June, she departed Saipan for Eniwetok, from where she sailed, with TG 53.1, for 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...
. Between the 14th and the 20th she screened vessels delivering the preinvasion bombardment; then, as troops were landed on the 21st, joined the screen of the fire support units.
Prior to departing the Marianas, five days later, Perry participated in the shelling of Rota
Rota (island)
Rota also known as the "peaceful island", is the southernmost island of the United States Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and the second southernmost of the Marianas Archipelago. It lies approximately 40 miles north-northeast of the United States territory of Guam...
, then returned to Guam, from where she sailed, the same day, for Eniwetok in the transport screen. Further exercises in the Solomons preceded her next, and last, assignment, the Palau
Palau
Palau , officially the Republic of Palau , is an island nation in the Pacific Ocean, east of the Philippines and south of Tokyo. In 1978, after three decades as being part of the United Nations trusteeship, Palau chose independence instead of becoming part of the Federated States of Micronesia, a...
invasion.
On 6 September MinRon 2 sortied from Florida Island. On the 12th they reached their objective and the units commenced sweeping operations off Pelelieu Island. At 0811, a mine explosion destroyed Perry's port sweep gear. By 1028 she had replaced the gear and was back in formation to continue operations until early afternoon. That night she carried out antisubmarine patrols and early the next morning, 13 September, resumed her sweeping mission. At 1418, off Anguar, a violent underwater explosion
Underwater explosion
An underwater explosion, also known as an UNDEX, is an explosion beneath the surface of water. The type of explosion may be chemical or nuclear...
, starboard side amidships, shook the ship. All steam to her main engines was lost and the forward fireroom was demolished and flooded. Steam and oil sprayed in all directions and the ship took on a 30’ list to port. The list increased and, at 1420, the commanding officer ordered “abandon ship”. With the aid of final attempts to save the vessel were made, but, at 1515, all remaining personnel were ordered off. At 1605, Perry capsized. She broke in two at the point of damage and, at 1607, sank in 40 fathoms of water.
Perry (DMS–17) earned 6 battle stars 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 wreck of Perry was found on 1 May 2000. In December 2003, a diver
Diving
Diving is the sport of jumping or falling into water from a platform or springboard, sometimes while performing acrobatics. Diving is an internationally-recognized sport that is part of the Olympic Games. In addition, unstructured and non-competitive diving is a recreational pastime.Diving is one...
, Michael Norwood, died while filming on the wreck for the television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
show Deep Sea Detectives
Deep Sea Detectives
Deep Sea Detectives is a television show on The History Channel. The show began airing in 2003.In a post dated September 1, 2006 on the Deep Sea Detectives message board, series producer Kirk Wolfinger stated that the show would not be renewed for another season.- External links :* *...
.
See and for other ships of this name.
External links
- http://www.navsource.org/archives/05/340.htm
- A sailor looks deep into Palau's waters -- and his past -- to find the ship that nearly took his life by Susan Kreifels Honolulu Star-Bulletin. May 25, 2000.