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USS Richard W. Suesens (DE-342)
Encyclopedia
USS Richard W. Suesens (DE-342) was a John C. Butler-class
destroyer escort
in the United States Navy
. It was named after Lieutenant (Junior Grade) Richard Wayne Suesens
(30 July 1915-5 June 1942) who died during the Battle of Midway
and was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross
for "extraordinary heroism".
Richard W. Suesens was laid down 1 November 1943 by the Consolidated Steel Corporation
, of Orange, Texas
; launched on 11 January 1944, sponsored by Mrs. R. W. Suesens, widow of Lieutenant (junior grade) Suesens; and commissioned on 26 April 1944, with Lieutenant Commander
Milford McQuilkin in command.
and post-shakedown availability at Boston
, Richard W. Suesens sailed for Long Island Sound
on 29 June 1944. That night, in Buzzard's Bay
, she collided with . The coastal minesweeper sank and the DE transported survivors to Newport, Rhode Island
. Then she continued on, reported for duty at New York City
, thence, on 4 July, proceeded south. A unit of CortDiv 69, she served as escort for ships en route to Mayport, then steamed on through the Panama Canal
, reporting to the Pacific Fleet 23 July. On 2 August she arrived at San Diego, whence she sailed with TransDiv 10 to Hawaii
. Arriving on 19 August, she trained there until mid-September, then headed west with convoy PD-89-T, bound for Eniwetok. There, on 22 September, she joined TF 33 and 8 days later sailed for Manus
and duty with the 7th Fleet.
Assigned to TU 77.4.24, an escort carrier unit, Richard W. Suesens sailed for the Philippines
14 October. On 16 October, TG 77.4 rendezvoused with TG 78.6 to provide air coverage for transports en route from Hollandia
to Leyte. Through the landings on 20 October and the covering operations which followed, the DE, alternating plane guard and screening duties continued to operate with the "jeep" carriers. On 22 October TU 77.4.24 was dissolved. Richard W. Suesens with six CVE
's, three DD
's, and four other DE
's formed TU 77.4.2 and with TU 77.4.1 and TU 77.4.3 took up patrol duties to the east of Leyte Gulf
whence their planes could provide air support for the amphibious forces, fly CAP
and ASP
for the Leyte areas, interdict Japan
ese supply movements, and drop supplies to Army
units inland. Called "Taffy 1", "Taffy 2", and "Taffy 3" from the radio call sign used by each unit commander, the units proceeded to their operational areas: Taffy 1 off northern Mindanao
, Taffy 2 off the entrance to Leyte Gulf, Taffy 3 off Samar.
During the early morning hours of 25 October, the Battle of Surigao Strait was fought and daybreak searches were ordered flown to hunt down the retiring Japanese ships. Planes from Taffy 1 were designated to fly the searches while other units continued air support and patrol operations. At dawn the planes were launched on their missions. At 0645 Suesens intercepted ship plane traffic on VHF reporting an enemy battleship
and cruiser
force closing on Taffy 3 as its carriers made every effort to get torpedo
planes airborne along with fighters to drive off the enemy ships. All available planes from Taffy 2 were dispatched to join those of Taffy 3. The Battle off Samar had begun. By 0720 the enemy force had closed to within 20 miles of Taffy 2. The destroyers formed a line between the carriers' circular disposition and the approaching enemy. The escorts remained with the carriers as they continued to rearm returning planes and send them northward into the now visible gunsmoke clouds over Taffy 3.
Through the morning Richard W. Suesens, screening Taffy 2, listened as torpedo planes and fighters conducted aerial attacks and Taffy 3's destroyer
s and escorts challenged the enemy's larger ships on the surface. By 0920 the latter were only 12 miles from Taffy 2 and their shells splashed among the destroyers, but the battle was turning. The Japanese now so close to their objective-entrance into Leyte Gulf-were no longer on the offensive. TG 77.4, despite staggering losses while protecting shipping in the Gulf, now commenced the pursuit, which, taken up by others, continued until 29 October. Rescue operations and logistic resupply followed on 26 October. On the night of 27 October – 28 October, Richard W. Suesens resumed screening and plane guard duties and at the end of the month she headed south.
Arriving at Manus 3 November, Richard W. Suesens spent the next 3 weeks undergoing upkeep and maintenance, then reported for duty in TF 79, the force staging for the invasion of Luzon
. On 31 December the force sortied from Seeadler Harbor
and headed for the Philippines. On 8 January 1945, the Japanese attacked. (CVE-71) and HMAS Westralia (F95) were damaged by kamikaze
s, but the force continued on to arrive in Lingayen Gulf
in the early hours of 9 January. During the assault, and after, Richard W. Suesens patrolled off the transport area. On 12 January as she rescued survivors from (DE-508), she was closed by a kamikaze in a steep, full-power dive. Anti-aircraft fire apparently killed the pilot, but the plane kept its momentum and, after skimming the after 40 mm gun, crashed into the sea. The subsequent explosion injured 11 of the DE's crew and caused minor damage to the hull.
Richard W. Suesens then retired to Leyte, whence she sailed on 27 January to screen landing craft to Nasugbu. There, on 31 January, she covered the assault forces as they began their fight to Manila
. Retiring to Mindoro
on 2 February, she screened resupply runs to Nasugbu and brought out casualties through 23 February, witnessing on 16 February the paratroop landing on Corregidor
.
Returning to Leyte, she prepared for Operation Iceberg, the invasion of the Ryukyus, and on 21 March sailed with the Western Islands Attack Force. Arriving off Kerama Retto
on 26 March she screened the transport area there during the initial assault, then remained on patrol off that anchorage into mid-April when she shifted to the Hagushi Beach anchorage. Employed as a picket ship in the antisubmarine and antiaircraft ring around the Kerama Retto-Okinawa area, she survived the nightly air raids and numerous kamikaze attacks, splashing four planes and assisting in the destruction of two more before retiring to Ulithi
on 26 April.
In early May she underwent availability at Ulithi, then served as radar picket ship north of that base. On 27 May she returned to Okinawa where, until 28 June, she alternated escort duty with picket ship responsibilities. She then returned to Leyte, joined TG 32.1 and between 1 July and 6 August covered minesweeping operations in the East China Sea
in support of the blockade of the Japanese home islands. On 7 August she returned to Okinawa where she was employed in escort work for the remainder of the war. From the mid-August cessation of hostilities until late September, she continued escort runs, including one to Jinsen, Korea
. Then, on 22 September, she sailed for Japan. There she supported occupation forces in the Wakayama-Wakanoura area through October. On 1 November, she was en route home.
, she remained a unit of the Reserve Fleet until struck from the Navy List
on 15 March 1972. She was sold 13 June 1973 to the National Metal and Steel Corporation, Terminal Island
, California
for scrapping.
John C. Butler class destroyer escort
The John C. Butler class destroyer escort originated during World War II. The lead ship was the , commissioned on 31 March 1944. The class was also known as the WGT type from their Westinghouse Geared Turbine drive...
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...
. It was named after Lieutenant (Junior Grade) Richard Wayne Suesens
Richard Wayne Suesens
-Navy career:Suesens enlisted in the Naval Reserve 31 May 1938. Appointed Aviation Cadet 4 October 1938 and commissioned ensign 15 October 1939, he reported for duty in Torpedo Squadron 3, on board USS Saratoga 20 November 1939.-Awarded the Navy Cross:...
(30 July 1915-5 June 1942) who died during the Battle of Midway
Battle of Midway
The Battle of Midway is widely regarded as the most important naval battle of the Pacific Campaign of World War II. Between 4 and 7 June 1942, approximately one month after the Battle of the Coral Sea and six months after Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor, the United States Navy decisively defeated...
and was posthumously 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 "extraordinary heroism".
Richard W. Suesens was laid down 1 November 1943 by the Consolidated Steel Corporation
Consolidated Steel Corporation
Consolidated Steel Corporation was an American steel and shipbuilding business. Consolidated built ships during World War II in two locations: Wilmington, California and Orange, Texas...
, of 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...
; launched on 11 January 1944, sponsored by Mrs. R. W. Suesens, widow of Lieutenant (junior grade) Suesens; and commissioned on 26 April 1944, with 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...
Milford McQuilkin in command.
History
Completing shakedown off BermudaBermuda
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...
and post-shakedown availability at Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, Richard W. Suesens sailed for Long Island Sound
Long Island Sound
Long Island Sound is an estuary of the Atlantic Ocean, located in the United States between Connecticut to the north and Long Island, New York to the south. The mouth of the Connecticut River at Old Saybrook, Connecticut, empties into the sound. On its western end the sound is bounded by the Bronx...
on 29 June 1944. That night, in Buzzard's Bay
Buzzards Bay (bay)
Buzzards Bay is a bay of the Atlantic Ocean adjacent to the U.S. state of Massachusetts. It is approximately 28 miles long by 8 miles wide. It is a popular destination for fishing, boating, and tourism. Since 1914, Buzzards Bay has been connected to Cape Cod Bay by the Cape Cod Canal...
, she collided with . The coastal minesweeper sank and the DE transported survivors to Newport, Rhode Island
Newport, Rhode Island
Newport is a city on Aquidneck Island in Newport County, Rhode Island, United States, about south of Providence. Known as a New England summer resort and for the famous Newport Mansions, it is the home of Salve Regina University and Naval Station Newport which houses the United States Naval War...
. Then she continued on, reported for duty at New York City
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...
, thence, on 4 July, proceeded south. A unit of CortDiv 69, she served as escort for ships en route to Mayport, then steamed on through 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...
, reporting to the Pacific Fleet 23 July. On 2 August she arrived at San Diego, whence she sailed with TransDiv 10 to 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...
. Arriving on 19 August, she trained there until mid-September, then headed west with convoy PD-89-T, bound for Eniwetok. There, on 22 September, she joined TF 33 and 8 days later sailed for Manus
Manus Island
Manus Island is part of Manus Province in northern Papua New Guinea and is the largest island of the Admiralty Islands. It is the fifth largest island in Papua New Guinea with an area of 2,100 km², measuring around 100 km × 30 km. According to the 2000 census, Manus Island had a...
and duty with the 7th Fleet.
Assigned to TU 77.4.24, an escort carrier unit, Richard W. Suesens sailed for 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...
14 October. On 16 October, TG 77.4 rendezvoused with TG 78.6 to provide air coverage for transports en route from 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....
to Leyte. Through the landings on 20 October and the covering operations which followed, the DE, alternating plane guard and screening duties continued to operate with the "jeep" carriers. On 22 October TU 77.4.24 was dissolved. Richard W. Suesens with six CVE
Escort aircraft carrier
The escort aircraft carrier or escort carrier, also called a "jeep carrier" or "baby flattop" in the USN or "Woolworth Carrier" by the Royal Navy, was a small and slow type of aircraft carrier used by the British Royal Navy , the Imperial Japanese Navy and Imperial Japanese Army Air Force, and the...
's, three DD
DD
- Computing :* dd , a program that copies and convert files and data* dd, an HTML element for specifying definition data* Dolby Digital, the name for audio compression technologies developed by Dolby Laboratories...
's, and four other DE
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...
's formed TU 77.4.2 and with TU 77.4.1 and TU 77.4.3 took up patrol duties to the east of Leyte Gulf
Leyte Gulf
Leyte Gulf is a body of water immediately east of the island of Leyte in the Philippines, adjoining the Philippine Sea of the Pacific Ocean, at . The Gulf is bounded on the north by the island of Samar, which is separated from Leyte on the west by the narrow San Juanico Strait, and on the south by...
whence their planes could provide air support for the amphibious forces, fly CAP
Combat air patrol
Combat air patrol is a type of flying mission for fighter aircraft.A combat air patrol is an aircraft patrol provided over an objective area, over the force protected, over the critical area of a combat zone, or over an air defense area, for the purpose of intercepting and destroying hostile...
and ASP
ASP
ASP may refer to:-Electronics:* Analog signal processing, processing electronic signals that represent continuous variables by use of analog circuitry* Anti-skip protection or electronic skip protection, a protection of an audio compact disc playback...
for the Leyte areas, interdict 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 supply movements, and drop supplies to 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...
units inland. Called "Taffy 1", "Taffy 2", and "Taffy 3" from the radio call sign used by each unit commander, the units proceeded to their operational areas: Taffy 1 off northern Mindanao
Mindanao
Mindanao is the second largest and easternmost island in the Philippines. It is also the name of one of the three island groups in the country, which consists of the island of Mindanao and smaller surrounding islands. The other two are Luzon and the Visayas. The island of Mindanao is called The...
, Taffy 2 off the entrance to Leyte Gulf, Taffy 3 off Samar.
During the early morning hours of 25 October, the Battle of Surigao Strait was fought and daybreak searches were ordered flown to hunt down the retiring Japanese ships. Planes from Taffy 1 were designated to fly the searches while other units continued air support and patrol operations. At dawn the planes were launched on their missions. At 0645 Suesens intercepted ship plane traffic on VHF reporting an enemy 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...
and cruiser
Cruiser
A cruiser is a type of warship. The term has been in use for several hundreds of years, and has had different meanings throughout this period...
force closing on Taffy 3 as its carriers made every effort to get torpedo
Torpedo
The modern torpedo is a self-propelled missile weapon with an explosive warhead, launched above or below the water surface, propelled underwater towards a target, and designed to detonate either on contact with it or in proximity to it.The term torpedo was originally employed for...
planes airborne along with fighters to drive off the enemy ships. All available planes from Taffy 2 were dispatched to join those of Taffy 3. The Battle off Samar had begun. By 0720 the enemy force had closed to within 20 miles of Taffy 2. The destroyers formed a line between the carriers' circular disposition and the approaching enemy. The escorts remained with the carriers as they continued to rearm returning planes and send them northward into the now visible gunsmoke clouds over Taffy 3.
Through the morning Richard W. Suesens, screening Taffy 2, listened as torpedo planes and fighters conducted aerial attacks and Taffy 3's 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...
s and escorts challenged the enemy's larger ships on the surface. By 0920 the latter were only 12 miles from Taffy 2 and their shells splashed among the destroyers, but the battle was turning. The Japanese now so close to their objective-entrance into Leyte Gulf-were no longer on the offensive. TG 77.4, despite staggering losses while protecting shipping in the Gulf, now commenced the pursuit, which, taken up by others, continued until 29 October. Rescue operations and logistic resupply followed on 26 October. On the night of 27 October – 28 October, Richard W. Suesens resumed screening and plane guard duties and at the end of the month she headed south.
Arriving at Manus 3 November, Richard W. Suesens spent the next 3 weeks undergoing upkeep and maintenance, then reported for duty in TF 79, the force staging for the invasion of 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...
. On 31 December the force sortied from Seeadler Harbor
Seeadler Harbor
Seeadler Harbor, also known as Port Seeadler, is located on Manus Island, Admiralty Islands, Papua New Guinea and played an important role in World War II...
and headed for the Philippines. On 8 January 1945, the Japanese attacked. (CVE-71) and HMAS Westralia (F95) were damaged by 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....
s, but the force continued on to arrive in 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...
in the early hours of 9 January. During the assault, and after, Richard W. Suesens patrolled off the transport area. On 12 January as she rescued survivors from (DE-508), she was closed by a kamikaze in a steep, full-power dive. Anti-aircraft fire apparently killed the pilot, but the plane kept its momentum and, after skimming the after 40 mm gun, crashed into the sea. The subsequent explosion injured 11 of the DE's crew and caused minor damage to the hull.
Richard W. Suesens then retired to Leyte, whence she sailed on 27 January to screen landing craft to Nasugbu. There, on 31 January, she covered the assault forces as they began their fight to 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,...
. Retiring to Mindoro
Mindoro
Mindoro is the seventh-largest island in the Philippines. It is located off the coast of Luzon, and northeast of Palawan. The southern coast of Mindoro forms the northeastern extremum of the Sulu Sea.-History:...
on 2 February, she screened resupply runs to Nasugbu and brought out casualties through 23 February, witnessing on 16 February the paratroop landing on Corregidor
Corregidor
Corregidor Island, locally called Isla ng Corregidor, is a lofty island located at the entrance of Manila Bay in southwestern part of Luzon Island in the Philippines. Due to this location, Corregidor was fortified with several coastal artillery and ammunition magazines to defend the entrance of...
.
Returning to Leyte, she prepared for Operation Iceberg, the invasion of the Ryukyus, and on 21 March sailed with the Western Islands Attack Force. Arriving off Kerama Retto
Kerama Retto
The are a group of 22 islands located southwest of Okinawa Island in Japan. Four of the islands are inhabited:,., and. The islands are within Shimajiri District. The Kerama-shotō coral reef is a Ramsar Site....
on 26 March she screened the transport area there during the initial assault, then remained on patrol off that anchorage into mid-April when she shifted to the Hagushi Beach anchorage. Employed as a picket ship in the antisubmarine and antiaircraft ring around the Kerama Retto-Okinawa area, she survived the nightly air raids and numerous kamikaze attacks, splashing four planes and assisting in the destruction of two more before retiring to Ulithi
Ulithi
Ulithi is an atoll in the Caroline Islands of the western Pacific Ocean, about 191 km east of Yap. It consists of 40 islets totalling , surrounding a lagoon about long and up to wide—at one of the largest in the world. It is administered by the state of Yap in the Federated States of...
on 26 April.
In early May she underwent availability at Ulithi, then served as radar picket ship north of that base. On 27 May she returned to Okinawa where, until 28 June, she alternated escort duty with picket ship responsibilities. She then returned to Leyte, joined TG 32.1 and between 1 July and 6 August covered minesweeping operations in the East China Sea
East China Sea
The East China Sea is a marginal sea east of China. It is a part of the Pacific Ocean and covers an area of 1,249,000 km² or 750,000 square miles.-Geography:...
in support of the blockade of the Japanese home islands. On 7 August she returned to Okinawa where she was employed in escort work for the remainder of the war. From the mid-August cessation of hostilities until late September, she continued escort runs, including one to Jinsen, 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, on 22 September, she sailed for Japan. There she supported occupation forces in the Wakayama-Wakanoura area through October. On 1 November, she was en route home.
Fate
On 21 November Richard W. Suesens arrived at San Diego for inactivation. In commission, in reserve, from March 1946, she decommissioned on 15 January 1947 and was berthed with the San Diego Group, Pacific Reserve Fleet. Although she was later moved to Stockton, CaliforniaStockton, California
Stockton, California, the seat of San Joaquin County, is the fourth-largest city in the Central Valley of the U.S. state of California. With a population of 291,707 at the 2010 census, Stockton ranks as this state's 13th largest city...
, she remained a unit of the Reserve Fleet until 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....
on 15 March 1972. She was sold 13 June 1973 to the National Metal and Steel Corporation, Terminal Island
Terminal Island
Terminal Island is an island located in Los Angeles County, California between Los Angeles Harbor and Long Beach Harbor. Originally a mudflat known to the Spanish as Isla Raza de Buena Gente, and later called Rattlesnake Island, it has officially been Terminal Island since 1918...
, 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...
for scrapping.