USS Strong (DD-467)

Coordinates: 8°5′S 157°15′E / 8.083°S 157.250°E / -8.083; 157.250
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
For other ships with the same name, see USS Strong.
USS Strong highlines mail to USS Honolulu during operations in the Solomon Islands area, c. early July 1943
History
United States
NameStrong
NamesakeRear Admiral James Hooker Strong
BuilderBath Iron Works
Laid down30 April 1941
Launched17 May 1942
Commissioned7 August 1942
Stricken15 July 1943
FateSunk in action, 5 July 1943
General characteristics
Class and typeFletcher-class destroyer
Displacement2,050 tons
Length376 ft 6 in (114.76 m)
Beam39 ft 8 in (12.09 m)
Draft17 ft 9 in (5.41 m)
Propulsion60,000 
kW
); 2 propellers
Speed35 knots (65 km/h; 40 mph)
Range6,500 nmi (12,000 km; 7,500 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph)
Complement329
Armament

USS Strong (DD-467), was a

ironclad CSS Tennessee during the Battle of Mobile Bay, receiving a commendation and promotion to captain
.

Construction and commissioning

Strong was

laid down on 30 April 1941 at Bath, Maine, by Bath Iron Works, launched on 17 May 1942, sponsored by Mrs. Hobart Olson, and commissioned on 7 August 1942.[1][2]

History

After completing her shakedown cruise and working-up, Strong sailed on 15 October with a

New York. On 13 November, she sailed with convoy UGS-2 bound for North African ports. She arrived at Casablanca on 29 November and returned to New York with convoy GUF-2. Following a yard availability period, 11 to 26 December, the destroyer moved to Norfolk.[2]

Strong sailed on 27 December 1942; transited the

Noumea on 27 January 1943. Strong then escorted a convoy northwest for two days and was relieved to return to Nouméa. On 1 February, she and USS Cony escorted a convoy bound for Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides. She sailed from there on 5 February for the Solomon Islands and patrolled off Guadalcanal until the 13th when she joined Task Force 67 (TF 67) composed of four cruisers and their destroyer screen.[2]

The task force devoted most of the next month to patrol duty in waters in and around the

depth charges and her crew observed debris rising to the surface at 10°05′S 162°08′E / 10.083°S 162.133°E / -10.083; 162.133 (Ro-34)
.

Strong, with TF 18, accompanied three destroyers minelayers to Blackett Strait, between Kolombangara and Arundel Island and mined it in the early morning hours of 7 May. The next morning, four Japanese destroyers sailed around Kolombangara strait and into the minefield. One was sunk, two were damaged and later sunk by aircraft, the fourth was badly damaged but managed to escape.[2]

On the night of 12–13 May, Strong and the task force bombarded Kolombangara, then commenced escort and patrol duty off Guadalcanal. On the afternoon of 16 June, she was halfway between Guadalcanal and Tulagi when a flight of approximately 15 Japanese dive bombers attacked the American ships. Strong was the closest ship to the bombers as they approached in a shallow dive and she claimed three shot down.[2]

On the morning of 5 July, American forces

star shells, and opened fire with high explosive rounds. O'Bannon began a counter-battery fire at the enemy guns that were hitting Strong and Chevalier who were forced to withdraw.[2]

Strong began to settle rapidly with a 40° to 60° list to starboard, she broke in half just prior to sinking and several of her depth charges exploded. Forty-six men were killed and she was struck from the

Navy list on 15 July 1943.[2]

Wreck discovered

In mid-February 2019, the research vessel Petrel located the wreck in 300 meters (980 ft) meters of water.[4] The ship is well broken up with the heavily damaged forward part of the ship resting on its port side in a compact debris field that contains the rest of the ship, including her fairly well-preserved wheelhouse, torpedo tubes, propellers and propeller shafts, 5" guns, boilers, and at least one intact funnel.[5]

Honors

Strong received two battle stars for World War II service.[2]

References

  1. ^ "Wellings, Joseph H." public2.nhhcaws.local.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "DANFS - Strong I". US Navy - NHC. 21 May 2023. Archived from the original on 25 Aug 2012.
  3. ^ "H-027-1 Search for Wasp and Hornet". public2.nhhcaws.local.
  4. ^ "Lost in 1943, the USS Strong is found again by Paul Allen's Petrel research vesse". Geekwire. Geekwire. 25 February 2019. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
  5. ^ "R/V Petrel surveys the USS Strong". Archived from the original on 2021-12-12 – via www.youtube.com.

External links

8°5′S 157°15′E / 8.083°S 157.250°E / -8.083; 157.250

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