USS Cowell (DD-547)

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
For other ships with the same name, see USS Cowell.
USS Cowell (DD-547) underway, c. 1951
USS Cowell (DD-547) underway, c. 1951
History
United States
NamesakeJohn G. Cowell
BuilderBethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation, San Pedro, California
Laid down7 September 1942
Launched18 March 1943
Commissioned23 August 1943
Decommissioned17 August 1971
Stricken17 August 1971
FateTransferred to Argentina, 17 August 1971
History
Argentina
NameAlmirante Storni
Acquired17 August 1971
Stricken1982
FateScrapped, 1982
General characteristics
Class and typeFletcher-class destroyer
Displacement2,050 long tons (2,080 t)
Length376 ft 6 in (114.8 m)
Beam39 ft 8 in (12.1 m)
Draft17 ft 9 in (5.4 m)
Propulsion
  • 60,000 shp (45 MW)
  • 2 propellers
Speed35 knots (65 km/h; 40 mph)
Range6,500 nmi (12,000 km) at 15 knots (28 km/h)
Complement273
Armament

USS Cowell (DD-547), a Fletcher-class destroyer, was the second ship of the United States Navy to be named for John G. Cowell (1785–1814).

Cowell was

San Pedro, California, sponsored by Mrs. R. Hepburn; and commissioned
23 August 1943.

Central Pacific campaigns

Sailing from San Pedro 28 October 1943, Cowell arrived at

strike on Truk
of 16 and 17 February 1944, then sailed to Pearl Harbor to replenish.

Cowell returned to

Marcus Island and Wake Island from 19 to 23 May, Cowell continued to screen the carriers during the Marianas operation. She sortied from her base at Majuro from 6 June to 14 July for strikes on Guam and Rota, raids to neutralize Japanese bases in the Bonins, and to give protective antiaircraft cover for the carriers in the Battle of the Philippine Sea
on 19 and 20 June.

After an overhaul at Eniwetok, Cowell put to sea 29 August 1944 with Task Group 36.5 (TG 38.5) for air strikes on the western

Seattle
and an overhaul.

Battle of Okinawa

Returning to action, Cowell sailed from

Presidential Unit Citation (US). Until 20 June Cowell braved the hazards of the picket line to direct combat air patrol successfully and to shoot down her own share of Japanese aircraft with antiaircraft fire. On at least three occasions skillful maneuvering, accurate fire and courage saved Cowell from severe damage. On 4 May she shot down two planes within 50 feet of the ship, receiving a shower of gasoline and burning debris, then aided Gwin by firing on another kamikaze. On 13 May Cowell fired on several attacking planes, then brought firefighting and medical assistance to the stricken Bache, screening her from further attack. In another attack on 25 May Cowell shot down a diving kamikaze which exploded in midair scattering shell fragments and its cockpit door on Cowell's deck and causing small fires. Relieved of picket duty 20 June, Cowell joined TG 32.15 to patrol off Okinawa in the East China Sea. On 22 July she sent rescue and fire-fighting parties to aid Marathon
.

Cowell sailed from Okinawa 20 September 1945 to support the occupation landings at Matsuyama. She cleared for home from Nagoya 31 October and arrived at San Diego 17 November, where Cowell was placed out of commission in reserve 22 July 1946.

1951 – 1960

Recommissioned 21 September 1951, Cowell was assigned to the

Atlantic
and Mediterranean for like operations from 4 January to 11 March 1954.

Cowell cleared Norfolk 7 January 1955 and arrived at

guided missile exercises en route to Pearl Harbor, served as plane guard for Essex, served on the Taiwan Patrol
, and participated in hunter-killer exercises with TF 77. Cowell returned to the Far East for similar duty annually through 1960, joining in exercises and training from Long Beach when not deployed.

In addition to the Presidential Unit Citation, Cowell received 11

battle stars for World War II service and two for Korean War
service.

ARA Almirante Storni

For other ships with the same name, see ARA Almirante Storni.

On 17 August 1971, the ship was decommissioned, stricken from the U.S. Naval Vessel Register, and transferred to Argentina. She served in the Argentine Navy as ARA Almirante Storni.

In October 1975, the British Government tasked Lord Shackleton (son of the Antarctic explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton) with an economic survey of the Falkland Islands. The Argentine Government reacted furiously and refused permission for Shackleton to travel via Argentina. Later, on 4 February 1976, the ship transporting Shackleton to the islands, the RRS Shackleton, was fired upon by the Almirante Storni.[1] In 1982, she was stricken and scrapped.

References

  1. House of Commons
    . col. 1414–1417.

External links

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