USS Johnston (DD-557)

Coordinates: 11°46′N 126°9′E / 11.767°N 126.150°E / 11.767; 126.150
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Johnston in Seattle, 27 October 1943
History
United States
NameJohnston
NamesakeJohn V. Johnston
BuilderSeattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corporation
Laid down6 May 1942
Launched25 March 1943
Commissioned27 October 1943
Stricken27 November 1944
Nickname(s)"GQ Johnny"[1][2]
Honors and
awards
Battle Stars
FateSunk 25 October 1944, Battle off Samar
General characteristics
Class and typeFletcher-class destroyer
Displacement2,100 long tons (2,134 t) (standard)
Length376 ft 6 in (114.76 m)
Beam39 ft 8 in (12.1 m)
Draft17 ft 9 in (5.4 m)
Installed power
  • 4 ×
    Babcock & Wilcox boilers
  • 60,000 
    kW
    )
Propulsion2 × shafts; 2 × geared steam turbines
Speed38 knots (70 km/h; 44 mph)
Range6,500 nmi (7,500 mi; 12,000 km) at 15 kn (28 km/h; 17 mph)
Complement273
Sensors and
processing systems
Armament

USS Johnston (DD-557) was a

liberation of the Philippines
.

On 25 October 1944, while assigned as part of the escort to six escort carriers, Johnston, two other Fletcher-class destroyers, and four

capital ships and a destroyer squadron, Johnston was sunk with 187 dead, including Evans. Johnston's wreck was discovered on 30 October 2019 but was not properly identified until March 2021. Lying more than 20,000 feet (6,100 m) below the surface of the ocean, it was the deepest shipwreck ever surveyed until the 22 June 2022 discovery of USS Samuel B. Roberts
, sunk during the same engagement.

Design and characteristics

To rectify the

deep load,[4] roughly 30 percent more than the Bensons and Gleaves.[5]

In early 1942, the design of the Fletchers was modified to reduce top weight and to simplify the construction of the

fire-control director above the bridge was shortened by six feet (1.8 m). The splinter plating protecting the bridge and the director was also reduced in thickness. In addition, visibility from the bridge was improved by the addition of an open platform connected to the bridge wings.[6]

The ships had an

kW) which was intended to give the ships a top speed of 37.8 knots (70.0 km/h; 43.5 mph). The destroyers carried enough fuel oil to give them a range of 4,490 nautical miles (8,320 km; 5,170 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph). They were crewed by 9 officers and 264 enlisted men.[7]

Armament, fire control, protection and sensors

The

5 in (127 mm)/38 caliber guns[a] in single mounts which were grouped in superfiring pairs fore and after of the superstructure. The fifth mount was positioned on the aft superstructure forward of the aft pair. The guns were controlled by the Mark 37 director. Their anti-aircraft battery depended on the availability of the weapons, but Johnston was built with ten 40 mm (1.6 in) Bofors guns in five powered twin-gun mounts and seven manually operated 20 mm (0.8 in) Oerlikon cannons. The forward pair of Bofors mounts were located forward of the bridge and the second pair were on platforms abreast the aft funnel with one mount on each broadside; the last mount was positioned between the aft superfiring pair of guns and the single mounts forward of them. Each mount was controlled by a nearby Mark 51 director. Four Oerlikons were located amidships, two on each broadside, and three were grouped in a triangle at the stern, next to the depth charge racks.[8]

The ships were fitted with two racks, each holding eight 600-pound (270 kg) depth charges and adjacent to them were two storage racks with five depth charges each. Abreast the aft superstructure were six "K-gun" throwers, three on each side, with five 300-pound (140 kg) depth charges. The destroyers were equipped with two quintuple rotating 21-inch (533 mm) torpedo tube mounts for Mark 15 torpedoes.[9]

The Fletchers had only minimal armor that was intended to protect against shell splinters and fragments. The sides of the propulsion machinery compartments consisted of plates 0.75 inches (19 mm) of special treatment steel (STS) while the deck above them consisted of 0.5-inch (12.7 mm) STS. The "square bridge" ships like Johnston had the splinter armor of the bridge reduced from the 0.75-inch armor of the earlier "round bridge" ships to 0.25 inches (6.4 mm). Furthermore, the protective plating of the Mark 37 director was reduced from the earlier 0.75 inches to 0.5 inches.[10]

Ernest E. Evans, the Commander of Johnston for the entirety of her service, present at her commissioning, October 27th 1943.

The Fletcher-class destroyers were equipped with a Mark 4 or Mark 12

foremast.[6] For anti-submarine work, the ships used a QC series sonar.[7]

Construction and service history

Construction of Johnston, named after

San Diego, California. From 19 November to 1 January 1944, Johnston put out to sea for her shakedown cruise and her crew trained with fleet units near San Diego.[12]

Gilbert and Marshall Islands campaign

Photograph of Johnston's christening and launch by Marie S. Klinger
Marie S. Klinger, grandniece of Lt. John V. Johnston, at the ceremonial launch of USS Johnston on March 25, 1943

On 13 January 1944 Johnston set sail for

cruisers Santa Fe, Biloxi, Indianapolis, and the battleship Maryland as they provided naval gunfire support for American forces in the Wotje Atoll. Johnston sailed for the Kwajalein Atoll,[12] where from 31 January to 3 February she provided gunfire support for American forces attacking Roi-Namur Island.[12][14]

Johnston was reassigned on 5 February 1944 to escort transport ships to the

destroyer-minesweeper Long. The convoy set sail on 6 February but en route Johnston was ordered to return to the Marshalls for resupply. She arrived on 8 February, refueled, and then set sail for Kwajalein on 10 February. Her arrival was delayed until the next day after jellyfish clogged and overheated her condensers.[12]

Almost as soon Johnston arrived, she was tasked with investigating a sighting of a Japanese submarine. No such vessel was detected.

Operation Catchpole, the American attack on Enewetak Atoll.[16][17] From 16 February to 18 February,[12] Johnston screened for Pennsylvania, Colorado, Tennessee, Indianapolis, and cruisers Portland and Louisville as they bombarded Engebi Island.[12][17] Then, from 19 February to 25 February, Johnston provided gunfire support for American troops herself and patrolled for submarines.[12][18]

Solomon Islands campaign

On 25 February 1944, Johnston was relieved of patrol duty and was assigned to screen the

Johnston began May 1944 moored in Purvis Bay undergoing minor repairs. On 6 May, she sailed to

minelaying operation between Bougainville and Buka Island on 10 May.[12] Two days later, Haggard, Franks and Johnston were alerted by an American scout plane to the presence of the Japanese submarine I-176 off Buka. The destroyers immediately began searching for the vessel and, late on 16 May, discovered it. Haggard, then Johnston, and then Franks attacked the submarine with depth charges and sank it after midnight on 17 May.[19] The destroyers resumed their anti-submarine patrols on 18 May, then screened for Montpelier, Cleveland, and Birmingham as they shelled Japanese coastal guns on the Shortland Islands two days later. Johnston thereafter resumed patrol and escort duty, then docked with the destroyer tender Dixie for minor repairs from 27 May to 2 June.[12]

Mariana and Palau Islands campaign

Millicoma
, 12 August 1944

On 3 June 1944, Johnston joined a convoy of US warships headed to Kwajalein to join a fleet gathering to

Guest, Minneapolis, Cleveland, and Honolulu to return to the Marshalls.[12]

The flotilla arrived on 12 August, resupplied, and then sailed for Espiritu Santo from 19 August to 24 August. Three days later, after undergoing minor repairs, Johnston set sail for Purvis Bay with Pennsylvania,

Gambier Bay. Johnston and her charges received orders on 21 September to proceed to Ulithi, an atoll in the Caroline Islands, where they arrived on 23 September.[12]

Battle off Samar

The flotilla departed Ulithi on 25 September 1944 and arrived in

Fanshaw Bay, St. Lo, White Plains, Gambier Bay, Kalinin Bay, and Kitkun Bay.[22][23] These ships formed TU 77.4.3 (call sign "Taffy 3"), a sub-unit of the 7th Fleet's Escort Carrier Group (TG 77.4) commanded by Rear Admiral Clifton Sprague, aboard Fanshaw Bay,[24] and sailed into Leyte Gulf on 17 October.[22]

In response to the Invasion of the Philippines, on 18 October, the

Vice Admiral Takeo Kurita and took a path that, on 25 October, led it to TG 77.4.[25][26]

Though Kurita's fleet – by 25 October numbering four battleships, eight cruisers, and 11 destroyers[27] – had been attacked by US submarines and aircraft over the previous two days,[28][29] TG 77.4 was not made aware of the Japanese force until Taffy 3's surface radar detected it at 0646.[30] Johnston, 34,000 yards (31,000 m) south-east from the Japanese, was informed of its presence at 0650;[12] eight minutes later, the Japanese opened fire, beginning the Battle off Samar.[31] The force was led by Kurita's flagship, the battleship Yamato, the largest and most powerfully armed and armored battleship ever built, displacing 72,808 tons and armed with nine 18.1-inch (46 cm) guns. Escorting Yamato came the older but still capable battleships Nagato, Kongō, and Haruna, six heavy cruisers, two light cruisers, and eleven destroyers.[32]

Johnston's torpedo charge

Escort ships of Taffy 3 laying smoke while under fire, 25 October 1944
Escort ships of Taffy 3 laying smoke while under fire, 25 October 1944

At 0657, Sprague ordered Taffy 3 to head east at top speed and lay smoke.[33] Despite the overwhelming odds against the force, finding Johnston at the rear of the formation,,[1][34] Commander Ernest E. Evans ordered a turn to the northeast so that Johnston could charge the Japanese for a torpedo attack and lay smoke to cover the flotilla's escape.[12][35] Charging at the enemy, Johnston would come under fire from several ships. Nagato fired a single full salvo from her 16.1-inch (41 cm) guns, while Haruna fired numerous 6-inch (152 mm) secondary shells, but all missed their mark as Johnston remained undamaged. At 07:10, Johnston singled out a target, the heavy cruiser Kumano, leading a column of cruisers, as she sailed into the 18,000-yard (16,000 m) range of Johnston's 5-inch (127 mm) main battery. Kumano and her sister ship Suzuya fired off numerous salvos, but again, not a single Japanese shell hit the American destroyer. On the contrary Johnston fired more than 200 main battery shells at Kumano over the next five minutes, striking the cruiser at least 45 times and setting her superstructure on fire.[36][37][38] Then, having closed to 10,000 yards (9,100 m), Johnston fired all 10 of her torpedoes at Kumano and then turned to hide in her own smoke.[38][39][40] The exact amount of hits is unknown, but at least one torpedo hit Kumano and blew off her bow, forcing her out of the battle alongside Suzuya to escort her, right as a 14-inch (356 mm) shell from Kongo landed mere inches from Johnston (but did not hit her), spraying red dye on the hull. Dashing back to the escort carriers, Commander Evans forced two heavy cruisers out of the engagement without being hit by a single Japanese projectile.[36][41]

Damage from Yamato

However, at 0730, at 20,300 yards (18,600 m), battleship Yamato engaged a US "cruiser" and fired a single full nine gun broadside. Suddenly, three 18.1-inch (46 cm) shells smashed into Johnston.[42][43] Seconds later, three 6.1-inch (155 mm) shells out of six fired from Yamato's secondary battery made their mark. The damage was initially recorded as three 14-inch (356 mm) shells from Kongō at a distance of 14,250 yards (13,030 m), but Japanese records displayed Kongō to be much farther and blinded by a rain squall, unable to fire her guns, as where Yamato claimed numerous hits with her main and secondary guns on a US "cruiser" at the same exact moment Johnston was hit.[44] The light cruiser Noshiro and the destroyer Kishinami also observed Yamato sinking a US "cruiser" matching Johnston's location.[36][45][44]

Having mistaken Johnston for a cruiser, Yamato fired armour-piercing ammunition from her main guns, which over penetrated Johnston's unarmored hull without exploding. Still, the damage resulted in numerous casualties as Yamato's 6.1-inch (155 mm) shells mostly landed upon her superstructure. One landed amidships, taking out an AA fire director, while the remaining two hit forward, tearing into the torpedo director and shredding the bridge, blowing off two of Evans's fingers and his shirt, and causing the loss of her gyrocompass.[41][46][36] Meanwhile, two 18.1-inch (46 cm) shells landed amidships, severely damaging Johnston's engines, cutting her speed to 17 knots (31 km/h; 20 mph). The remaining 18.1-inch (46 cm) shell hit two thirds down the ship, cutting power to all of Johnston's 5-inch (127 mm) guns.[47] Hidden in her smoke and a rain squall for the next ten minutes, Johnston's crew restored power to the forward main guns. The third was permanently disconnected from fire control and had to be operated manually.[12][42]

Defense of the escort carriers

After turning south to rejoin Taffy 3, Johnston encountered Hoel, Heermann, and Samuel B. Roberts, en route to make their own torpedo attacks.[48] Despite such immense damage, Evans turned Johnston around to follow and support them,[43][49][50] in the process exchanging gunfire with the heavy cruiser Haguro. By 0820, the escorts had launched their torpedoes and turned south, making smoke and still exchanging fire with the Japanese, to rejoin Taffy 3. This was accomplished by 0840,[51] when Heermann and Johnston, enveloped in smoke, nearly collided.[12][52][53] At that time, Johnston spotted Kongō, 7,000 yards (6,400 m) distant, fired 30 shells at her, and then evaded returned fire from Kongō.[54][55] Johnston next sighted Gambier Bay, immobile, listing to port, and under fire from numerous warships, and briefly fired on the heavy cruiser Chikuma as the remaining destroyers attempted to cover her, achieving partial success at their own risk as Hoel was sunk by gunfire from Kongō, a heavy cruiser, and Yamato's secondary battery, while Chikuma engaged in an intense point blank range duel with Heermann and Samuel B. Roberts (Yamato still targeted Gambier Bay with her main guns, which would later sink at 0911).[56][57] Johnston ceased fire as six Japanese destroyers led by the light cruiser Yahagi approached the other carriers.[58][59][41]

Johnston engaged the entire squadron, opening fire on Yahagi at 0850 from 10,000 yards and closed to 7,000 yards (6,400 m). Johnston attempted to

Navy Register on 27 November 1944.[12]

Awards

Johnston received six

battle stars and, for the action at Samar, a Presidential Unit Citation.[12] For the same action, Commander Evans was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.[67]

Wreck discovery

On 30 October 2019, the research vessel (RV) Petrel, belonging to Vulcan Inc., discovered the remains of what was believed to be Johnston at the bottom of the Philippine Trench. The remains consisted of a deck gun, a propeller shaft, and some miscellaneous debris that could not be used to identify the wreck,[68] but additional debris was observed lying deeper than the RV could reach.[69] On 31 March 2021, the research vessel DSV Limiting Factor of Caladan Oceanic, financed and piloted by Victor Vescovo,[70] surveyed and photographed the deeper wreck and definitively identified it as Johnston at a depth of 21,180 ft (6,460 m). Until Samuel B. Roberts was discovered on 22 June 2022, Johnston was the deepest discovered shipwreck in the world.[69][71][72]

  • Starboard bow of the wreck of USS Johnston
    Starboard bow of the wreck of USS Johnston
  • Bridge and Mk 37 Gun Fire Control System (top) of wreck
    Bridge and Mk 37 Gun Fire Control System (top) of wreck
  • Gun turret No. 51 on the bow of the wreck
    Gun turret No. 51 on the bow of the wreck

Naval historian Parks Stevenson created a 3-D model of Johnston's wreck which shows just how much damage the ship took, and the state the wreck is in. The forward two thirds of the hull still sit upright with her forward 5-inch (127 mm) guns and rangefinder turned to starboard at the enemy ships she faced before she went down. Her hull number, 557, is still a bright white and clearly visible, and her hull is buried in the sand up to the waterline. Enemy damage plagues Johnston as shell holes from numerous destroyers and Yahagi riddle the ship, punching into the sides and wrecking her superstructure, and Johnston split in two where she was hit by an 18.1-inch (46 cm) shell from Yamato, leaving Johnston's back third undiscovered, if it is even recognizable. Despite that, the bridge is still fully intact and recognizable, with damage from a 6.1-inch (155 mm) shell from Yamato's secondary battery putting a hole beneath where Evans commanded the ship. Her AA guns are still trained, and several holes in Johnston line up with accounts of enemy damage (such as a 5-inch (127 mm) destroyer shell plunging into the superstructure and disabling her radio control).[47]

Notes

  1. ^ /38 refers to the length of the gun in terms of calibers. A /38 gun is 38 times long as its bore diameter.

Citations

  1. ^ a b Morison 1958c, p. 255.
  2. ^ Hornfischer 2004, p. 52.
  3. ^ Friedman 2005, pp. 111–118.
  4. ^ McComb 2010, p. 46.
  5. ^ Friedman 2005, pp. 470–472.
  6. ^ a b Raven 1986, p. 10.
  7. ^ a b Friedman 2005, p. 472.
  8. ^ Raven 1986, pp. 60–61, 64–66, 140.
  9. ^ Friedman 2005, p. 117.
  10. ^ Friedman 2005, pp. 115, 117.
  11. ^ "Evans, Ernest Edwin". public1.nhhcaws.local. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
  12. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w DANFS: Johnston (DD-557).
  13. ^ Rohwer 2005, p. 303.
  14. ^ Morison 1958a, p. 245.
  15. ^ Morison 1963, p. 310.
  16. ^ Morison 1958a, p. 347.
  17. ^ a b Rohwer 2005, p. 306.
  18. ^ Roscoe 1953, p. 393.
  19. ^ Roscoe 1953, pp. 396–97.
  20. ^ a b Morison 1958b, p. 419.
  21. ^ Rohwer 2005, p. 344.
  22. ^ a b Rohwer 2005, p. 366.
  23. ^ Roscoe 1953, p. 425.
  24. ^ Morison 1958c, pp. 244, 420–21.
  25. ^ Morison 1958c, pp. 160–62, 167–68.
  26. ^ Hornfischer 2004, pp. 94–95.
  27. ^ Hornfischer 2004, pp. 153–54.
  28. ^ Rohwer 2005, p. 367.
  29. ^ Hornfischer 2004, pp. 119–23, 126.
  30. ^ Morison 1958c, p. 246.
  31. ^ Morison 1958c, pp. 246, 250.
  32. .
  33. ^ Morison 1958c, pp. 250, 252.
  34. ^ Hornfischer 2004, p. 156.
  35. ^ Hornfischer 2004, p. 159.
  36. ^ a b c d "Johnston I (DD-557)". public2.nhhcaws.local. Retrieved 4 February 2024.
  37. ^ Hornfischer 2004, pp. 178–80.
  38. ^ a b Morison 1958c, p. 256.
  39. ^ Hornfischer 2004, pp. 185–86.
  40. ^ Morison 1958c, pp. 256–57.
  41. ^ a b c d USS Johnston's Last Stand. Yarnhub. Retrieved 4 February 2024 – via YouTube.
  42. ^ a b Morison 1958c, p. 257.
  43. ^ a b Roscoe 1953, p. 430.
  44. ^ a b Dogfights: U.S. Beats Back the Japanese Navy (S1, E8) | Full Episode. History. Retrieved 4 February 2024 – via YouTube.
  45. .
  46. ^ Hornfischer 2004, pp. 203–05.
  47. ^ a b c d Newly Released Computer Model of USS Johnston Shipwreck Displays Evidence of Explosions. History X. Retrieved 4 February 2024 – via YouTube.
  48. ^ Morison 1958c, pp. 262–63.
  49. ^ Hornfischer 2004, pp. 226–27.
  50. ^ Morison 1958c, p. 263.
  51. ^ Morison 1958c, pp. 266–67.
  52. ^ Morison 1958c, p. 267.
  53. ^ Hornfischer 2004, p. 256.
  54. ^ Hornfischer 2004, p. 264.
  55. ^ Morison 1958c, pp. 267–68.
  56. ^ "Yamato and Musashi Internet Photo Archive". 30 March 2022. Archived from the original on 30 March 2022. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
  57. ^ "Hoel I (DD-533)". public1.nhhcaws.local. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
  58. ^ Hornfischer 2004, pp. 264, 272–73.
  59. ^ a b Morison 1958c, p. 272.
  60. ^ Dogfights: U.S. Beats Back the Japanese Navy (S1, E8) | Full Episode, retrieved 19 February 2024
  61. ^ Morison 1958c, pp. 272–73.
  62. ^ Hornfischer 2004, pp. 273–75.
  63. ^ a b Morison 1958c, pp. 273–74.
  64. ^ Hornfischer 2004, p. 316.
  65. ^ Roscoe 1953, p. 431.
  66. ^ Morison 1958c, p. 274.
  67. ^ Hornfischer 2004, p. 416.
  68. USNI News
    . Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  69. ^ a b Morelle, Rebecca (2 April 2021). "USS Johnston: Sub dives to deepest-known shipwreck". BBC. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
  70. ^ "Wreckage Confirmed as Heroic USS Johnstion (DD 557)". Naval History and Heritage Command News. Naval History and Heritage Command. 1 April 2021. Archived from the original on 14 December 2021. Retrieved 31 December 2021.
  71. ^ "US Navy ship sunk nearly 80 years ago reached in world's deepest shipwreck dive". The Guardian. Agence France-Presse. 4 April 2021. Retrieved 4 April 2021.
  72. ^ Buckley, Julia (24 June 2022). "Explorers find the world's deepest shipwreck four miles under the Pacific". CNN. Retrieved 24 June 2022.

References

Further reading

External links

11°46′N 126°9′E / 11.767°N 126.150°E / 11.767; 126.150