USS Drayton (DD-366)

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For other ships with the same name, see USS Drayton.

USS Drayton (DD-366)
History
United States
NamesakePercival Drayton
BuilderBath Iron Works
Laid down20 March 1934
Launched26 March 1936
Commissioned1 September 1936
Decommissioned9 October 1945
Stricken24 October 1945
Nickname(s)"Blue Beetle"[1]
FateSold for scrap, 20 December 1946
General characteristics
Class and type
Mahan class destroyer
Displacement1,500 tons
Length341 ft 4 in (104.04 m)
Beam35 ft (10.67 m)
Draft9 ft 10 in (3 m)
Speed37 knots (69 km/h)
Complement158 officers and crew
Armament
  • As Built:1 x Gun director above bridge, 5 x
    Depth Charge
    stern racks
  • c1944:1 x Mk 33 Gun Fire Control System, 4 × 5" (127mm)/38cal DP (4x1),
    12 × 21" (533 mm) torpedo tubes (3x4), 2 x Mk 51 Gun Directors, 4 x
    K-gun
    depth charge projectors

USS Drayton (DD-366) was a

Mahan-class destroyer in the United States Navy before and during World War II. She was the second ship named for Captain Percival Drayton
, a career naval officer who served during the American Civil War.

Drayton was launched 26 March 1936 by the Bath Iron Works, Bath, Maine; sponsored by Miss B. E. Drayton, great-grandniece of Captain Drayton, and commissioned 1 September 1936.

Service history

After her shakedown cruise to

San Diego, California, 19 June. On 4 July she got underway to take part in the fruitless search for the lost aviator Amelia Earhart, participating in maneuvers at Pearl Harbor before her return to San Diego 30 July. For the next two years, Drayton exercised along the west coast, in the Hawaiian Islands, and in the Caribbean
.

Drayton's homeport from 12 October 1939 was Pearl Harbor. With war raging in Europe and tension increasing in the pacific, Drayton joined in the constant exercises and tactical problems preparing the fleet for action.

World War II

Underway as plane guard for

Suva Harbor, Fiji Islands, Drayton sailed for the United States 25 March and arrived at San Pedro, Los Angeles
, 5 April. She joined in training exercises and patrol duty on the west coast until 1 August 1942.

USS Drayton in October 1941.

Drayton sailed from Pearl Harbor 17 November 1942 for action in the

Munda, New Georgia, and protecting transports bound for the Russell Islands. She escorted the unladen transports to Wellington, New Zealand, then returned to Nouméa
7 March 1943 for exercises and patrol with TF 64.

Drayton sailed from Nouméa 13 May 1943 as escort for a transport convoy and arrived at Townsville, Australia 4 days later. Through the summer, she escorted Australian transports carrying troops from Townsville to Milne Bay for the lengthy fighting on vast New Guinea. Drayton patrolled and gave fire support during the invasion landings at Lae on 4 September and bombarded Finschhafen on 22 September.

After brief overhaul at

Buna Roads to the invasion of Saidor 2 January, and aside from a brief voyage to Sydney to replenish, remained on patrol and escort duty for the occupation of the Bismarck Archipelago
.

Drayton carried troops for the invasion of Los Negros Island in the Admiralty Islands. Here she joined in the bombardment 29 February 1944 and remained to provide fire support. She returned with reinforcement troops from Milne Bay 4 March and began operating as headquarters for the Landing Craft Control Officer for the Admiralties. Drayton bombarded Pityilu Island 12 March then sailed for Seeadler Harbor, Manus, escorting an LST convoy before returning to New Guinea.

The destroyer got underway from Milne Bay, New Guinea, 22 March 1944 and escorted transports to

Jaluit, and Mille—bypassed Japanese-held atolls in the Marshall Islands
.

USS Drayton wearing dazzle camouflage, in 1944.

Drayton reported to the

Humboldt Bay, New Guinea, on 20 October 1944; 5 days later, she got underway for patrol and escort duty in newly invaded Leyte Gulf, where she arrived 29 October. Her service in this operation included a voyage to New Guinea to bring back transports laden with reinforcements. On 6 December while screening a convoy of LCMs and LCIs to San Pedro Bay
, Drayton was attacked by a twin-engine bomber which scored a near miss, killing two and wounding seven of the destroyer's crew. The next day she repulsed a group of strafing planes before they could damage her charges, and later the same morning engaged 10 or 12 enemy fighters. One aircraft crashed into the No. One 5 inch gun mount, killing 6 and wounding 12 men. Drayton extinguished her fires and carried out her mission, convoying her charges safely to harbor and then sailing unassisted to Manus, New Guinea for repairs.

Her repairs completed, Drayton sailed from Manus 26 December 1944 for the invasion of Lingayen Gulf, Luzon, 9 January 1945. She gave fire support until the 13th, then sailed to San Pedro Bay to escort a support convoy to the beachhead. From 27 January to 18 February, she served on patrol and gave fire support, bombarding enemy troops in the foothills and destroying a strong point in a cave.

Continuing to operate in the Philippines, Drayton participated in the landings at

Cebu, Ormoc Bay, and Masbate City
.

On 23 April 1945, Drayton stood out of San Pedro Bay for the invasion of Borneo, screening the actions at Tarakan from 1 to 27 May and at Balikpapan from 1 to 21 July. Returning to Manila 29 July, she got underway 7 August, and arrived at New York 12 September.

Drayton was decommissioned 9 October 1945 and sold for scrap 20 December 1946.

Awards

Drayton received 11

battle stars
for World War II service.

Legacy

The USS Drayton is depicted on the insignia of the Bath, Maine Fire Department.

References

  1. ISBN 9780688062743
    .

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to USS Drayton (DD-366).
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