USS Edison (DD-439)
![]() | |
History | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Name | Edison |
Namesake | Thomas Alva Edison |
Builder | Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Company |
Laid down | 18 March 1940 |
Launched | 23 November 1940 |
Commissioned | 31 January 1941 |
Decommissioned | 18 May 1946 |
Stricken | 1 April 1966 |
Fate | Sold 29 December 1966 and broken up for scrap |
General characteristics | |
Class and type | Gleaves-class destroyer |
Displacement | 1,630 tons |
Length | 348 ft 3 in (106.15 m) |
Beam | 36 ft 1 in (11.00 m) |
Draft | 11 ft 10 in (3.61 m) |
Propulsion |
|
Speed | 37.4 knots (69 km/h) |
Range | 6,500 nmi (12,000 km; 7,500 mi) at 12 kn (22 km/h; 14 mph) |
Complement | 16 officers, 260 enlisted |
Armament |
|
USS Edison (DD-439), a
Edison was
Service history
In the months following commissioning, Edison operated on the east coast, training and exercising with the fleet, with passenger and mail runs to
In February 1942 Edison escorted Convoy ON 67 from Iceland to Halifax, Nova Scotia. Between 21 and 25 February, Edison helped defend the convoy against three U-boat attacks.
On 24 October 1942 Edison set sail from Norfolk with a task group bound for the invasion at Fedhala,
A total of 362 rounds were fired, 74 at the shore battery, 20 in the first engagement, and 268 in the second destroyer engagement, of which it is estimated that 200 rounds were fired at the first destroyer and 68 at the second. All firing was director-controlled, rapid, continuous fire. The average gun range for the first firing was 9,500 yards, for the second 14,000 yards, and for the third 12,500 yards ... ... It is particularly pleasing that the guns maintained a sustained rapid fire of 268 rounds (average 68 rounds per gun) at an estimated rate of at least 12 shots per gun per minute without casualty.[3]
Returning to Norfolk 1 December, Edison made a voyage to Gulf ports escorting tankers, then resumed safeguarding convoys from New York City and Norfolk to Casablanca and Oran.
From July 1943 to February 1944, Edison served in the
Edison returned to the Mediterranean 1 May 1944 for escort and patrol off Italy. On 15 August she was in the thick of the invasion of southern France. Until the end of the year, she continued to pound shore batteries, railroads, and troop concentrations as well as patrol. At New York 17 January 1945, Edison underwent overhaul then escorted a convoy to Le Havre during April and May.
Convoys escorted
Convoy | Escort Group | Dates | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
ON 34
|
12–21 Nov 1941[4] | from Iceland to Newfoundland prior to US declaration of war | |
HX 163 | 5–15 Dec 1941[5] | from Newfoundland to Iceland; war declared during convoy | |
ON 47
|
22–23 Dec 1941[4] | from Iceland to Newfoundland | |
HX 170 | 16–24 Jan 1942[5] | from Newfoundland to Iceland | |
HX 173 | 3–10 Feb 1942[5] | from Newfoundland to Iceland | |
ON 67 | 19–28 Feb 1942[4] | from Iceland to Newfoundland | |
HX 180 | MOEF group A5
|
19–26 March 1942[5] | from Newfoundland to Northern Ireland |
ON 81 | MOEF group A5 | 30 March-9 April 1942[4] | from Northern Ireland to Newfoundland |
AT 17 | 1–12 July 1942[6] | troopships from New York City to Firth of Clyde |
Post-war
Edison sailed inter coastal from New York 8 June 1945, and was training at Pearl Harbor when the war ended. She reached Japan in September for the occupation. She left
Awards
- American Defense Service Medal with "FLEET" clasp
- battle star
- European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medalwith five battle stars
- Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
- World War II Victory Medal
- Navy Occupation Medalwith "ASIA" clasp
References
This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.
- ^ Edison was built with five 5in guns but one gun was removed almost immediately after completion and Edison entered the war with four 5in guns. https://web.archive.org/web/20160402184647/http://www.daileyint.com/seawar/seawar2.htm
- ^ Tony DiGiulian. "USA 5"/38 (12.7 cm) Mark 12". NavWeaps. Retrieved 20 August 2022.
- ^ United States Navy, AntiAircraft Action Summary, July 1942 to Dec 1942 (Information Bulletin No. 22), p. 161-163
- ^ a b c d "ON convoys". Andrew Hague Convoy Database. Retrieved 19 June 2011.
- ^ a b c d "HX convoys". Andrew Hague Convoy Database. Retrieved 19 June 2011.
- ^ "AT convoys". Andrew Hague Convoy Database. Retrieved 20 June 2011.
External links
- Photo gallery of Edison at NavSource Naval History
- hazegray.org: USS Edison