USS Hobson

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USS Hobson (DD-464)
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USS Hobson off Charleston, South Carolina, 4 March 1942.
USS Hobson off Charleston, South Carolina, 4 March 1942. She is painted in camouflage Measure 12 (Modified). This photograph has been censored to remove radar antennas atop her foremast and Mark 37 gun director.
History
United States
NameUSS Hobson
NamesakeRichmond P. Hobson
Builder
Charleston Navy Yard
Laid down14 November 1940
Launched8 September 1941
Commissioned22 January 1942
Reclassified15 November 1944 as Destroyer Minesweeper (DMS-26)
FateSunk in collision with USS Wasp in the North Atlantic 26 April 1952.
General characteristics
Class and typeGleaves-class destroyer
Displacement1,630 tons
Length348 ft 3 in (106.15 m)
Beam  36 ft 1 in (11.00 m)
Draft  11 ft 10 in (3.61 m)
Propulsion
  • 50,000 shp (37 MW);
  • 4 boilers;
  • 2 propellers
Speed37.4 knots (69 km/h)
Range6,500 nmi (12,000 km; 7,500 mi) at 12 kn (22 km/h; 14 mph)
Complement16 officers, 260 enlisted
Armament

USS Hobson (DD-464/DMS-26), a

congressman from the state of Alabama
.

Hobson, constructed at a cost of $5 million, was

Charleston Navy Yard on 8 September 1941; sponsored by Mrs. Grizelda Hobson, widow of Rear Admiral Hobson. As the new destroyer slid down the ways, she was cheered on by spectators and whistle blasts from other vessels on the Cooper River.[1] Hobson was commissioned on 22 January 1942.[2]

In 1952, Hobson collided with the aircraft carrier USS Wasp (CV-18) and sank with the loss of 176 crew. The ships had been undertaking amphibious exercises in the Atlantic, with Wasp practicing night flying, when Hobson attempted to turn in front of the carrier and collided with Wasp. Hobson was broken in two and quickly sunk, causing the greatest loss of life on a US Navy ship since World War II.

Service prior to D-day

Mrs. Grizelda Houston Hull Hobson, widow of Rear Admiral Richmond P. Hobson, christens USS Hobson.

Hobson was

P-40 aircraft, Ranger arrived safely via Trinidad, unloaded the planes and returned with Desdiv 20 on 5 August 1942. Hobson then conducted training exercises off Newport, Rhode Island, and Norfolk until 3 October 1942, when she departed Norfolk for Bermuda on escort duty.[2]

Operation Torch, the Invasion of North Africa

Map of Operation Torch.

As the

Rear Admiral Henry Kent Hewitt, flag on the cruiser USS Augusta (CA-31).[4][5] The Allies organized three amphibious task forces to seize the key ports and airports of Vichy French-controlled Morocco and Algeria simultaneously, targeting Casablanca, Oran
and Algiers. Successful completion of these operations was to be followed by an advance eastwards into Tunisia.

The Western Task Force (aimed at Casablanca) was composed of American army forces under the command of

depth charges on sight at shallow setting. As Ranger turned to port, Hobson dropped another full pattern at deep setting. Capt. Holloway later wrote, "I am convinced that this fortunate sight contact by Ellyson saved Ranger from torpedo attack at closer range."[7] Casablanca capitulated to the American forces on 11 November 1942 and Ranger departed the Moroccan coast 12 November, returning to Norfolk on the 23d.[8] Hobson screened Ranger until she sailed for Norfolk, leaving the Allies fully in command of the assault area.[2]

Atlantic Convoy Duty

Upon her return to Norfolk on 27 November 1942, the destroyer took part in exercises in Casco Bay, later steaming with a convoy to the

Portsmouth, England, seven days later.[10]

In April 1943, Hobson and Ranger arrived at

Quebec Conference. The veteran destroyer arrived in Boston 27 July 1943 to prepare for new duties.[2]

Operation Leader, Bodø, Norway

Hobson sailed with Ranger and other ships 5 August 1943 to join the

torpedo bombers and fighters staged a devastating attack on German shipping at Bodø, Norway. Following this operation, the destroyer continued to operate with Home Fleet. She screened the aircraft carrier HMS Formidable during flight operations in November and after two convoy voyages to Iceland, Hobson and Desdiv 20 returned to Boston and U.S. operational control 3 December 1943.[2]

Hunter-killer anti-submarine duty

During the first two months of 1944, Hobson trained in

Flying Fortress (No. 220 Squadron) sank her.[11] After further anti-submarine sweeps as far east as the Azores, Hobson detached from the HUK on 25 March 1944, and returned to Boston 2 April 1944.[2][3][12][13]

D-Day, Utah Beach

5-inch/38 caliber guns litter the deck, after firing in support of the Normandy invasion off Utah Beach
, 6 June 1944. This view was taken on the ship's afterdeck, with mount 54 at right.

For some time the Allies had been building up tremendous strength in

Operation Neptune that would transport and protect the soldiers and their mechanized equipment during Operation Overlord. Hobson spent a month on patrol off Northern Ireland, arriving at Plymouth on 21 May for final invasion preparations. Assigned to Rear Admiral Don P. Moon's Utah Beach Assault Group "U", flag on the USS Bayfield (APA-33), Hobson and her three sister-ships of DesDiv 20 were elements of Bombardment Group 125.8 that comprised the battleship USS Nevada (BB-36), the heavy cruisers Tuscaloosa, USS Quincy (CA-71), British cruiser HMS Black Prince (81), monitor HMS Erebus (I02), ten American destroyers, four British destroyers and a Dutch gunboat.[14]

The destroyers arrived off "Point Mike", the outermost area of Utah with the other ships of the bombardment group at 0140 on 6 June. All vessels entering into Utah had to remain in their assigned asymmetrical and exact mine-swept channels that had been drawn up and cleared to provide the maximum safety from the mine peril and to permit access to all the carefully designated positions of the bombardment ships.

Minesweepers cleared the area where transport craft would assemble and discharge; and provided adequate channels for all the amphibious boats between "Transport Area" and the landing beaches. The order of ships was the British destroyers HMS Enterprise (D52), HMS Hawkins (D86), and the Dutch gunboat HNLMS Soemba. The American destroyers USS Jeffers (DD-621), USS Glennon (DD-620)
, " Hobson and Forrest followed as screen for Bayfield and three other Allied transports carrying General Raymond O. Barton's 4th Infantry Division troops as far as the transport area. The destroyers then closed in on their action stations. Fire Support Unit 3, Hobson, Corry and Fitch, led the first waves of landing boats down the boat lane, breaking off in time to be in their stations at 0540.[15]

Map of the Normandy invasion area showing channels cleared of mines, location of vessels engaged in bombardment, and targets on shore.

The German shore batteries, having discovered the Allied invaders, began firing on the armada at 0530. At 0536, the group commander made the signal "Commence counter battery bombardment.", 14 minutes ahead of schedule. Hobson and the other ships began counter-firing as spent 5" and 8" shell casings littered their decks. Only the heavy ships had planes to spot for them. The destroyers were close enough to see their targets which consisted mostly of "strong points" just back of the beaches. Hobson, at station 1, was assigned firing on targets 70 and 72. At 0629, Hobson observed shell splashes near

enfilade and strafing fire on the Allied landing troops. At 0700, the smoke cover was clearing from Corry and the men on Hobson could see she was "in definite trouble with her back broken between the stacks" as targets 13A and 86 fired on the stricken destroyer. Corry, the worst naval loss of the D-Day landings, was hit by the Crisbecq Battery, whose three 210-millimeter (8.25-inch) guns had a range of 17–21 mi (27–34 km).[16]

Since target 74 was then inactive, Hobson began alternately taking targets 13A and 86 under fire while keeping watch on target 74. At 0721, it was clear that Corry was sinking and Hobson began to close range on her while continuing her firing on the two targets. At that time, the group commander ordered

glider bomb radio frequencies on 9–11 June and provided channel convoy protection.[2]

Bombardment of Cherbourg

After the Allies' successful establishment of a bridgehead at Normandy, the German strategy was to bottle them up there, deny the Allies access to the nearest major port at Cherbourg and break their supply line. By mid-June U.S. infantry had sealed off the Cotentin Peninsula, but their advance had stalled and the Germans began to demolish the port's facilities. With the Allies sorely in need of Cherbourg to continue advancing through France, they renewed their efforts to capture the city, and by 20 June three infantry divisions under General "Lightning Joe" Collins had advanced within a mile of German lines defending Cherbourg. Two days later, the general assault began and on 25 June, a large naval task force began a concentrated bombardment of the town to help neutralize the threat of German coastal artillery and to provide support to the assaulting infantry.[18]

Task Force 129 was divided into two divisions. Battle Group 1 under Admiral Morton Deyo's command, was assigned to bombard Cherbourg, the inner harbor forts, and the area west towards the Atlantic. Group 1 consisted of Tuscaloosa, Quincy, Nevada, HMS Glasgow (C21) and five destroyers: Ellyson (flag), USS Hambleton (DD-455), USS Rodman (DD-456), USS Emmons (DD-457), USS Murphy (DD-603), and USS Gherardi (DD-637).[19][20]

Rear Admiral Carleton F. Bryant's smaller Battle Group 2 was assigned "Target 2", the Battery Hamburg, which was located near Fermanville, inland from Cape Levi, 6 miles (9.7 km) east of Cherbourg. Nevada in Group 1 was to use its main battery to silence what was described as "the most powerful German strongpoint on the Cotentin Peninsula".[a] Battle Group 2 would then complete the destruction, and pass westward to join Deyo's group. Bryant's Group 2 consisted of USS Texas (BB-35), USS Arkansas (BB-33), and five destroyers.[21] These were USS Barton (DD-722) (flag), USS O'Brien (DD-725), USS Laffey (DD-724), Hobson (pennant), and USS Plunkett (DD-431).[22] During the bombardment. Group 2 was in place by 0950 and Hobson and the other destroyers fired at the large batteries, screened the battleships Texas and Arkansas; and when the battleships were dangerously straddled, Hobson and Plunkett made covering smoke which allowed all to retire. At 1500, Deyo ordered cease fire and began withdrawing from the bombardment area. Group 2 headed back to Portsmouth, England at 1501.[23]

After the action, Allied reports agreed that the most effective aspect of the bombardment was the fire that was provided by the small ships. Under the direction of army spotters, these ships were able to engage point targets up to 2,000 yards (1,800 m) inland, which proved invaluable in providing close support to the assaulting Allied infantry. In contrast, while the force's heavy guns disabled 22 of 24 assigned navy targets, they were unable to destroy any of them and, consequently, infantry assaults were required to ensure that the guns could not be reactivated.[24] By 29 June, Allied troops occupied Cherbourg and its crucial port.[2] Collins wrote to Deyo, stating that during the "naval bombardment of the coastal batteries and the covering strong points around Cherbourg ... results were excellent, and did much to engage the enemy's fire while our troops stormed into Cherbourg from the rear." After an inspection of the port defenses, an army liaison officer reported that the guns that had been targeted could not be reactivated, and those that could have been turned landward were still pointed out to sea when the city had fallen.[25]

Invasion of Southern France and Mediterranean Convoy Duty

Following the surrender of Cherbourg, Hobson and most of Task Force 129 that had not sustained battle damage, were ordered to

Mers-el-Kébir, Algeria, 11 July 1944, and for a month after, performed convoy duties to and from Taranto, Italy.[26]

The landing areas for

Hyeres and Cannes. The Western Naval Task Force was formed under the command of Vice Admiral Hewitt to carry the U.S. 6th Army Group, also known as the Southern Group or Dragoon Force onto the shore. Joining Rear Admiral Bertram J. Rodgers' Delta Assault Force, Task Group 85.12 was the gunfire support group for the central invasion force under Rear Admiral Bryant on Texas. It consisted of the American battleships Texas and Nevada; light cruiser USS Philadelphia (CL-41) and French light cruisers Georges Leygues, and Montcalm; the surviving eight destroyers of DesRon 10 (Destroyer Unit 85.12.4), Ellyson, Rodman, Emmons, Forrest, Fitch, Hambleton, Macomb, and Hobson; French destroyers La Fantasque, Le Terrible, Le Malin, and four gun support craft, which sailed from Taranto at 1400 on 11 August 1944. "H-hour" was set for 0800 on 15 August. Early on 15 August 1944, Hobson acted as spotter for Nevada and her preliminary bombardment from the Baie de Bougnon. As troops stormed ashore at Delta Beach (Le Muy, Saint-Tropez), Hobson provided direct fire support with her own batteries. By 0815, the bombardment had destroyed enemy defenses and Major General William W. Eagles' famed "Thunderbirds" of the 45th Infantry Division landed without opposition. Hobson remained in the assault area until the next evening, arriving at Palermo on 17 August 1944 to take up Mediterranean convoy duty.[2][26]

As the Allied offensive in Europe gained momentum, Hobson steamed as a convoy escort between Algeria, Italy, and France protecting vital supplies and troops. In the early morning darkness of 2 October 1944, Hobson was standing out from

fleet tugboat with no loss of life or injury to her personnel or troops.[27]

Service as a destroyer- minesweeper

In October 1944, with the Atlantic and Mediterranean theaters secured, all eight surviving destroyers of DesRon 10 returned to various east coast navy yards where over a period of approximately six weeks, they had their No. 4 5-inch guns replaced with gear for sweeping acoustic mines. On 15 November they were reclassified as

destroyer-minesweepers (DMS 19–26). Hobson sailed for the United States on 25 October and arrived at Charleston via Bermuda on 10 November 1944. There she entered the Naval Shipyard and was converted to destroyer-minesweeper and commissioned DMS-26 on 15 November 1944, Lt. Cmdr. Joseph I. Manning, commanding. Throughout the month of December, she underwent trials and shakedown training off Charleston and Norfolk. In January 1945, the eight newly converted destroyer-minesweepers made their way from their conversion shipyards to the Pacific as the core of the 12-ship Mine Squadron (MinRon) 20, with flag on the Ellyson.[2][28]

Hobson and several others in the squadron sailed on 4 January 1945 via the

Operation Iceberg, the assault on Okinawa.[2][28][29]

Okinawa, Kamikaze attacks

On 9 March 1945, Hobson arrived at Ulithi, the main staging area for the Okinawa Invasion 1,180 mi. away from the objective, where she and eight other members of her squadron engaged in exercises and calibration of their sweeping equipment until the remaining three sweepers arrived on the 12th. On the last day at sea Fitch wrecked her propeller on a reef and had to return to Pearl Harbor. The aircraft carriers departed for Okinawa on 14 March, and the eleven remaining sweeps of MinRon 20 left on the 19th. Given the nature of their task, the minesweepers had to be the first surface vessels at the target area and unlike the carriers, they headed directly to Okinawa, making the voyage in four days. While the four-day journey was uneventful, the two threats the minesweepers faced were Japanese air attacks and the deteriorating weather. Hobson arrived at

Okinawa well in advance of the assault troops to sweep the offshore areas, where she was often attacked by Japanese planes. In the early hours of L-Day, she and Emmons were on radar picket duty with Hobson as fire support ship. As the amphibious assault began on 1 April 1945, Hobson also took up patrol duties and provided night illumination during the first critical days of the campaign. As desperate enemy suicide attacks were repulsed with heavy losses, Hobson was called upon on 13 April 1945 to take up a radar picket station where USS Mannert L. Abele (DD-733) had been sunk in a heavy kamikaze attack the previous night.[2]

Hobson's

anti-aircraft fire. At 0853, one of the planes made a suicide run on Pringle but was shot down by gunners on both Hobson and Pringle. Another dived on Pringle at 0920, slamming into the destroyer's bridge, and plowing through the superstructure deck, abaft the base of number one stack. A single 1,000-pound bomb, or two 500-pounders, penetrated the main and superstructure decks and exploded with a violent eruption, buckling the keel and splitting the vessel in two at the forward fire room. Pringle sank in six minutes.[30]

Two minutes later, a single-engine aircraft began a suicide run on Hobson from the starboard side. Five-inch shells from the destroyer disintegrated the plane just short of the ship, but its 250-pound bomb penetrated the deck house. The explosion of the delayed action bomb started fires in the gunnery workshop, machine shop and electrical shop and blasted a hole in the deck over the forward engine room, wrecking steam and power lines. Four of her crew were killed and six wounded.[30]

Two more suicide planes attacked Hobson but her gunners shot them into the sea. The two gunboats shot down another. The remaining Japanese planes continued to make passes for an hour before they withdrew. Meanwhile, the Hobson's crew extinguished the fires in fifteen minutes, rigged emergency power lines in four minutes and the ship continued to maneuver. Thirty-five minutes after the attack ended, Hobson had picked up 136 of the Pringle's 258 survivors, clinging to rafts and wreckage. The two gunboats rescued the others. During the attack, Hobson's gunners shot down four Japanese suicide planes in 67 minutes. That same morning, about 40 minutes before Pringle was sunk, the destroyer USS Laffey (DD-724) and several other ships on radar picket duty, had also been hit by kamikazes about fifty miles away.[30]

After the attack, Hobson anchored at

Kerama Retto, returning to Ulithi on 29 April 1945 and Pearl Harbor on 16 May 1945. Hobson then sailed via San Diego and the Panama Canal Zone to Norfolk Naval Shipyard, where she arrived on 15 June 1945 for repairs.[2]

Post war and sinking

USS Hobson, in 1948.

The

Imperial Japan came with Hobson still undergoing repairs. With repairs completed and after shakedown training, she spent February 1946 on mine-sweeping operations out of Yorktown, Virginia. The remainder of the year was spent in training and readiness exercises in the Caribbean and off Norfolk. Until 1950, the ship continued to operate off the East Coast and in Caribbean waters on amphibious and mine warfare operations. In late 1948, she visited Argentia and Halifax, Nova Scotia on mine-sweeping exercises with Canadian ships. With the outbreak of the Korean War in June 1950, Hobson's schedule of training intensified. She took part in amphibious exercises off North Carolina and Puerto Rico during 1950–51, and participated in carrier operations as a plane guard and screening ship.[2]

During one such operation on the night of 26 April 1952 at 2220, Hobson was steaming in formation with the aircraft carrier USS Wasp (CV-18) and destroyers USS Rodman (DD-456) and USS Ross (DD-563) about 900 kilometres (490 nmi) southeast of St. John's, Newfoundland at 42°21′N 44°15′W / 42.350°N 44.250°W / 42.350; -44.250 during night flight operations en route to Gibraltar.[31] Hobson was moving at 24 knots and following the carrier 3,000 yards off her starboard quarter with Rodman following Wasp off her port quarter. Hobson's commanding officer, Lt. Comdr. William J. Tierney, had been in command of the ship for 5 weeks.[32] He anticipated that Wasp, preparing to recover her aircraft at 2300, would change course to 250–260 degrees to bring the carrier into the wind, necessary for the aircraft landings. The destroyer's executive officer, Lt. William A. Hoefer, was on the bridge with the conn and control of the ship when Tierney outlined a course to maneuver Hobson ahead of Wasp and then come up on the massive carrier's port quarter as the destroyer's new station. Rodman would move to the starboard quarter as her new station. Hoefer, who had been on Hobson for 16 months, was immediately concerned when he saw Tierney's plan and turned the conn over to Lt. Donald Cummings, so that he could voice his opposition and belief that Tierney's maneuver would put the two ships on a collision course. Since Wasp had to turn to starboard to recover aircraft, the trailing destroyer had two options, slow down and let Wasp turn, the conventional method, or cross in front of the carrier. A heated argument ensued that Hoefer lost and he strode off the bridge to the outside wing to cool off.[33]

Meanwhile, Wasp's commanding officer, Capt. Burnham C. McCaffree, was on his bridge, where Lt. Robert Herbst had the conn and ordered right standard rudder and flank speed to bring the carrier into the wind. McCaffree observed the red aircraft warning lights of the two destroyers and believed that they were also beginning the evolution. Tierney, now in control of Hobson ordered right standard rudder and a course of 130 degrees. The wind shifted and McCaffree ordered a necessary course change from 260 to 250 degrees to head into the wind. At that time Wasp's surface radar failed, while on Hobson, the port

Williamson turn that would bring the ship back to the point she had been. Tierney suddenly ordered full left rudder and within 30 seconds ordered full right rudder. Hoefer rushed back onto Hobson's bridge when he realized what Tierney was doing and yelled "Prepare for collision!, Prepare for collision!" At that moment, Tierney ordered left full rudder, intending to race ahead of Wasp which was bearing down on the destroyer. Aboard Wasp, Lt. Herbst told Capt. McCaffree, "We're in trouble" as McCaffree ordered "all back emergency."[34]

At first it looked as though Hobson might escape the massive carrier as her bow and number-one stack moved past the carrier's course, but then there was a horrendous, grinding crash as Wasp struck Hobson amidships. The force of the collision rolled the destroyer-minesweeper over onto her port side, breaking her in two. The aft section of Hobson trailed alongside of the carrier while the forward half was temporarily lodged in the Wasp's bow. The aft part of the ship sank first but 40 of the survivors came from that section as men were literally shot out of a scuttle hatch they had managed to open, propelled by the force of water and expelling air. Aboard the carrier, life rafts were being dropped over and lines lowered. One set of double rafts fell on top of a cluster of five men who were never seen again. One lucky man, a chief petty officer in the bow, managed to grab a pipe protruding from Wasp just as Hobson's bow began her descent under the waves and leaped onto Wasp without getting wet. Survival for the rest of Hobson's crew in the thick, glutinous fuel oil was incredible, yet it happened for some. Rodman and Wasp pulled aboard 61 oil-coated survivors, but the destroyer and 176 of her crew including Tierney, who dove from the bridge into the sea moments before the carrier plowed into Hobson, were lost in less than five minutes. Most of the deceased crew were recovered by Ross and placed on the blood soaked main deck. This horrific incident brought about the tragic end of the destroyer-minesweeper's valiant service.[2][35] The sinking of Hobson was the worst non-combat accident for the U.S. Navy since the disappearance of the collier USS Cyclops (AC-4) with 306 crew and passengers en route from Barbados to Baltimore, Maryland, in March 1918, during World War I.[36][37]

Aftermath and findings

Damage sustained by Wasp during the collision

A court of inquiry performed an investigation into the sinking of Hobson in an effort to determine the cause of the tragedy. The opinion of the court of inquiry was "that the sole cause of the collision was the unexplained left turn made by the Hobson about 2224. In making this left turn the Commanding Officer committed a grave error in judgement."[31] Since the commanding officer did not survive the collision, the reason for this error could not be determined. No one else was considered to be at fault and the crew of Wasp was absolved of any responsibility for the collision.[31] The commanding officer of Hobson had six months of prior command experience on a High-speed transport (APD), but had been in command of Hobson for only five weeks. Seven days of that were underway and only 3+1⁄2 days were with the task group.[32] The cost of repairs to Wasp was said to be $1 million ($11.5 million today).[32]

As a direct result of the sinking of Hobson, upon recommendation of the court of inquiry, the Allied Navy Signal Book was changed. A special signal was to be put into use for carriers during aircraft operations. The court of inquiry also stated in its findings that, in the future, proposed schedules for aircraft launching and recovery should be provided to the vessels performing plane guard duties.

The court of inquiry also noted that Wasp, Rodman, and Hobson were all running without normal marine navigation lights, just red aircraft warning lights on top of their masts.[31]

USS Hobson Memorial, Charleston, SC

In 1954, the USS Hobson Memorial Society erected an obelisk memorial of Salisbury Pink granite, quarried from Salisbury, North Carolina, at the city where Hobson had been built 14 years earlier, Charleston, South Carolina. The memorial is dedicated to the 176 men of the Hobson who perished in the collision with Wasp. Surrounding the obelisk are stones from each of the 38 states where the men came from. Their names are inscribed and can also be seen in the 1954 dedication program for the memorial.[38]

Honors and awards

Hobson received six

Presidential Unit Citation awarded to the ships in the Bogue antisubmarine task group in the Atlantic, for the period 26 February to 25 March 1944.[2]

Hobson's engagements were:

Hobson's captain, Lt. Cdr. Loveland, was awarded the

Chief Machinist's Mate, Howard B. Farris, were awarded the Silver Star.[43]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ The German Battery Hamburg, located six miles inland, had four eleven-inch guns, well separated, protected by steel shields similar to naval gun turrets, and reinforced concrete casemates. It was manned by naval gunners. Supporting them nearby were six 88-mm, six heavy and six light antiaircraft guns. The battery was distinguished by long range, 40,000 yards (36,576 m), and the arc of train. The guns were sited to cover the westerly sea approaches to Cherbourg. They had an easterly limit of fire.(Morison, p.206)

References

  1. ^ "Destroyer Launched at Charleston Yard". Los Angeles Times. 9 September 1941. p. 6.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q "USS Hobson". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Navy Department, Naval History and Heritage Command. Retrieved 16 October 2016.
  3. ^ a b "Destroyer Squadron 10". Destroyer History Foundation. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
  4. ISBN 978-1-61251-922-7
    .
  5. ISBN 978-1-78200-058-7
    .
  6. ^ Hague 2000 pp.179–180
  7. ISBN 978-0-8131-3768-1
    .
  8. ^ "USS Ranger (CV-4)". US Navy. 11 June 2009. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
  9. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "St. Margaret (British Steam merchant)". German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net. Retrieved 2 October 2011.
  10. ^ Davies, David S. (1948). "An Account of the sinking of SS St. Margaret". Reef Knot. Saint Line via www.39-45war.com.
  11. ^ "This Day in Naval History – March 13". Navy History and Heritage Command. 15 December 2001. Retrieved 16 October 2016.
  12. ^ "Presidential Unit Citation to Bogue HUK groups". Destroyer History Foundation. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
  13. ^ Boehmer; Gramlow. "Sinking Report (translated to English) of U-575". u575.de. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
  14. ^ "Task Force U". D-Day Overlord Encyclopedia.
  15. ^ Deyo, RADM Morton (1950). Naval Guns at Normandy. pp. 32–43.
  16. ^ "Action Report Excerpts, 6 June 1944, USS Hobson". uss-corry-dd463.com. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
  17. ^ "Action Report Excerpts, 6 June 1944, USS Hobson". www.uss-corry-dd463.com.
  18. ISBN 0-252-06963-3
    . Retrieved 18 July 2011.
  19. ISBN 0-87021-726-7
    . Retrieved 20 July 2011.
  20. ^ Cherbourg 1944: The first Allied victory in Normandy (2015), p. 70-72, By Steven J. Zaloga
  21. ^ Morison, Samuel E., op.cit., page 198-200
  22. ^ Rosco, Theodore. op.cit., p.361
  23. ISBN 0-252-06963-3
    . Retrieved 18 July 2011.
  24. ISBN 978-0-19-998612-5
    .
  25. ^ Morison, Samuel E., op.cit., page 210-211
  26. ^ a b The Emmons Saga, A History of the
    USS EMMONS (DD457-DMS22) (2005), p. 275-280 USS Emmons Assoc.
  27. ^ Commander Naval Forces Europe (28 December 1945). "Citation for Award of Navy and Marine Corps Medal to Cdr. Kenneth Loveland". valor.militarytimes.com. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
  28. ^ a b The Emmons Saga, A History of the
    USS EMMONS (DD457-DMS22) (2005), p. 275-280 USS Emmons Assoc.
  29. ^ "Elly Mae – One Ship, Many Jobs" (PDF). All Hands Magazine. No. 481. February 1957. p. 62.
  30. ^ a b c "Mine Sweeper's Heroic Suicide Battle Related". Los Angeles Times. 26 August 1945. p. 9.
  31. ^
    Judge Advocate General's Corps, U.S. Navy
    . Retrieved 16 October 2016.
  32. ^
    Judge Advocate General's Corps, U.S. Navy
    . pp. 545–565. Retrieved 16 October 2016.
  33. ISBN 978-1-56311-404-5
    .
  34. ISBN 978-1-56311-404-5
    .
  35. ^ "N.J. sailors who endured a naval catastrophe spill their stories of survival 60 years later".
  36. ^ History's Lost Moments Volume V, (2014) p.167, by Tom Horton
  37. ISBN 978-1-56311-404-5
    .
  38. ^ Jenkins, Dan (19 June 2010). "USS Hobson Memorial, Dedication Program". lost-at-sea-memorials.com blog. Retrieved 16 October 2016.
  39. ^ "Official War Time History of USS Hobson DD-464" (PDF). via Houston H. Stokes at uic.edu. 7 April 2000. Retrieved 16 October 2016.
  40. ^ "Kenneth Loveland". Military Times Hall of Valor. Retrieved 16 October 2016.
  41. ^ "Lt. Cdr. Joseph I. Manning". Home of Heroes. Archived from the original on 15 March 2009. Retrieved 16 October 2016.
  42. ^ "Obituary of Robert M. Vogel". Hartford Courant. 21 September 1991. Retrieved 16 October 2016.
  43. ^ "Howard B. Farris". Military Times Hall of Valor. Retrieved 16 October 2016.

External links

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