USS Gridley (DD-380)
USS Gridley
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History | |
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United States | |
Name | Gridley |
Namesake | Charles Vernon Gridley |
Builder | Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation, Fore River Shipyard |
Laid down | 3 June 1935 |
Launched | 1 December 1936 |
Commissioned | 24 June 1937 |
Decommissioned | 18 April 1946 |
Stricken | 25 February 1947 |
Identification | DD-380 |
Fate | Sold 20 August 1947 and scrapped |
General characteristics | |
Class and type | Gridley-class destroyer |
Displacement | 1590 tons, 2219 tons full |
Length | 340 ft 10 in (103.89 m) |
Beam | 35 ft 10 in (10.92 m) |
Draft | 12 ft 9 in (3.89 m) |
Propulsion | 50,000 shp (37,000 kW) Bethlehem geared turbines, 2 screws |
Speed | 38.5 knots (71.3 km/h; 44.3 mph) |
Range | 6,500 nmi (12,000 km; 7,500 mi) at 12 kn (22 km/h; 14 mph) |
Complement | 158 |
Armament |
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The second USS Gridley (DD-380) was the lead ship of her class of destroyers in the United States Navy. She was the second US Navy ship named for Charles Vernon Gridley. She served with distinction in the Pacific Theater during the Second World War and shared in the sinking of a Japanese submarine.
History
Gridley was launched at the Fore River Shipyard of Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation, Quincy, Massachusetts, 1 December 1936; sponsored by Mrs. Lewis Buddy III, daughter of Captain Gridley; and commissioned 24 June 1937.
Gridley fitted out at Boston Navy Yard, and conducted shakedown in the Caribbean area until 27 October 1938, visiting Puerto Rico, Cuba, and Venezuela. She then underwent alterations at the Boston Navy Yard until 13 June 1938, when she departed that port, transited the Panama Canal, and entered San Diego harbor 5 July 1938. Joining Destroyer Division 11, Gridley spent the next months in tactical maneuvers off the coast of California, and 4 January 1939 departed with the Battle Force for combined maneuvers in the Caribbean. She participated in Fleet Problem 20 with the Fleet off Cuba and Haiti, after which she returned to Boston for repairs.
The destroyer again sailed into San Diego 13 July 1939 and became flagship of Division 11. She conducted maneuvers off California until 2 April 1940, when Gridley and other ships of the fleet conducted Fleet Problem 21 in Hawaiian waters. Subsequently, Gridley operated out of Hawaii.
World War II
Gridley cleared
Departing Dutch Harbor 25 September 1942, Gridley joined the
Gridley returned to Pearl Harbor with escort carriers Suwanee and Long Island on 4 September 1943 and then departed for San Diego, where she remained for repairs 11 September to 26 October 1943. The Gilbert Islands were her next destination, and Gridley left Pearl Harbor once more 10 November 1943 for Makin Island. She assisted in the bombardment of that island, screened aircraft carriers, and then conducted independent patrol in the area until setting course for Hawaii 1 December.
1944
Gridley was with American forces in the pivotal
Gridley departed Eniwetok Atoll 30 June 1944 bound with the carriers for strikes on
1945
Gridley was soon at sea again, however, clearing Ulithi 5 November with the fast carrier task force for the Leyte operation. She later joined a group of escort carriers and served as a bombardment and patrol ship during the landings in Lingayen Gulf until 10 February 1945.
After stopping again at Ulithi, Gridley escorted
Fate
Gridley was decommissioned on 18 April 1946. She was sold for scrap in August 1947.
Awards
- American Defense Service Medal
- battle stars
- World War II Victory Medal
- Navy Occupation Medalwith "Europe" clasp
References
- This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.