Jump to content

USS Gunason: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous edit
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
m date format audit, link maintenance, minor formatting
update template syntax
 
(6 intermediate revisions by 6 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Short description|Buckley-class destroyer escort}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2021}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin}}
Line 41: Line 42:
|Ship honors=
|Ship honors=
|Ship captured=
|Ship captured=
|Ship fate=sunk as target 28 July 1973
|Ship fate=Sunk as target 28 July 1973
|Ship status=
|Ship notes=
|Ship notes=
|Ship badge=
|Ship badge=
Line 92: Line 92:
| work = DoD
| work = DoD
| publisher = NVR
| publisher = NVR
| url = {{NVR url|id=DE795}}
| url = {{Naval Vessel Register URL|id=DE795}}
| access-date =1 January 2007 }}</ref>
| access-date =1 January 2007 }}</ref>


''Gunason'' was launched 16 October 1943 by the Consolidated Steel Corp., Orange, Texas; sponsored by Mrs. Mabel Meneley, the namesake's mother; and commissioned 1 February 1944, Comdr. H. G White, [[USNR]], commanding.<ref name="HIST">{{cite DANFS | title = Gunason | url = http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/g9/gunason.htm | access-date =17 June 2009 }}</ref>
''Gunason'' was launched 16 October 1943 by the Consolidated Steel Corp., Orange, Texas; sponsored by Mrs. Mabel Meneley, the namesake's mother; and commissioned 1 February 1944.<ref name="HIST">{{cite DANFS | title = Gunason | url = http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/g9/gunason.htm | access-date =17 June 2009 }}</ref>


== History ==
== History ==
Line 102: Line 102:
Subsequently, following repairs at Boston, ''Gunason'' reached [[Casco Bay, Maine]] on 25 June and joined sister destroyer escorts bound for Hampton Roads, where all arrived 2 July to form Task Force 61. ''Gunason'' served with this task force until early 1945, making three transatlantic escort voyages out of [[Hampton Roads]] to [[Bizerte]], [[Plymouth]], and [[Oran]] respectively from 4 July 1944 to 8 January 1945. Highlights included herding a stricken slow tow [[convoy]] which had been attacked by [[U-boat]]s. ''Gunason'' spent Christmas and New Year's standing by this convoy as it steamed into winter seas at {{convert|4|kn|lk=in}}.<ref name="HIST"/>
Subsequently, following repairs at Boston, ''Gunason'' reached [[Casco Bay, Maine]] on 25 June and joined sister destroyer escorts bound for Hampton Roads, where all arrived 2 July to form Task Force 61. ''Gunason'' served with this task force until early 1945, making three transatlantic escort voyages out of [[Hampton Roads]] to [[Bizerte]], [[Plymouth]], and [[Oran]] respectively from 4 July 1944 to 8 January 1945. Highlights included herding a stricken slow tow [[convoy]] which had been attacked by [[U-boat]]s. ''Gunason'' spent Christmas and New Year's standing by this convoy as it steamed into winter seas at {{convert|4|kn|lk=in}}.<ref name="HIST"/>


''Gunason'' was soon to change her theater of operations. She sailed from Boston on 27 January 1945 for the [[South Pacific Ocean]] the [[Panama Canal]], arriving at [[Manus Island|Manus]] on 4 March. A round trip escort voyage thence to [[Leyte]] in March set the pattern she was to follow for the next three months—escorting convoys entering and departing Philippine waters—supporting the United States' efforts in the Pacific. In June, ''Gunason'' escorted [[troopship]]s from [[Jayapura|Hollandia]] to [[Manila]] and after visiting [[Ulithi]], put in at Manila again early in July.<ref name="HIST"/>
''Gunason'' was soon to change her theater of operations. She sailed from Boston on 27 January 1945 for the [[South Pacific Ocean]] via the [[Panama Canal]], arriving at [[Manus Island|Manus]] on 4 March. A round trip escort voyage thence to [[Leyte]] in March set the pattern she was to follow for the next three months—escorting convoys entering and departing Philippine waters—supporting the United States' efforts in the Pacific. In June, ''Gunason'' escorted [[troopship]]s from [[Jayapura|Hollandia]] to [[Manila]] and after visiting [[Ulithi]], put in at Manila again early in July.<ref name="HIST"/>


The ship departed [[Subic Bay]] on 26 July in company with three destroyer escorts and a [[flotilla]] of [[landing craft]] bound for [[Okinawa]], arriving nine days later. A pre-dawn air attack on 5 August sent all ships off Hagushi Beach to [[General Quarters]], but ''Gunason'' and her charges escaped damage. She returned to Leyte on 8 August and, following an escort voyage thence to Ulithi and return, got underway on 30 August with one of the first Leyte-[[Tokyo]] convoys, a flotilla of [[Landing craft infantry|LCIs]] that entered [[Tokyo Bay]] on 7 September. ''Gunason'' sailed the next day for Manila, arriving on 17 September, and remained in the Philippines until November. Duties included a trip to [[Batan Island]] with a War Crimes Investigating Detail in which facts, later brought forth in the [[Yamashita War Crimes Trial]], were gleaned. A search mission for a downed plane and a training exercise with submarines in Subic Bay occupied ''Gunason'' until 26 November when she stood out of Subic Bay for the United States, arriving at [[San Diego]], California on 17 December 1945. She operated out of there until 10 February 1947 when she sailed for the Far East via [[Pearl Harbor]] and [[Guam]]. ''Gunason'' arrived at [[Sasebo]], Japan on 10 March. She sailed three days later for patrol off the eastern coast of [[Korea]]. ''Gunason'' remained in this service, with calls at [[Tsingtao]] and [[Yokosuka]], until 10 September 1947, when she departed for California.<ref name="HIST"/>
The ship departed [[Subic Bay]] on 26 July in company with three destroyer escorts and a [[flotilla]] of [[landing craft]] bound for [[Okinawa Island|Okinawa]], arriving nine days later. A pre-dawn air attack on 5 August sent all ships off Hagushi Beach to [[General Quarters]], but ''Gunason'' and her charges escaped damage. She returned to Leyte on 8 August and, following an escort voyage thence to Ulithi and return, got underway on 30 August with one of the first Leyte-[[Tokyo]] convoys, a flotilla of [[Landing craft infantry|LCIs]] that entered [[Tokyo Bay]] on 7 September. ''Gunason'' sailed the next day for Manila, arriving on 17 September, and remained in the Philippines until November. Duties included a trip to [[Batan Island]] with a War Crimes Investigating Detail in which facts, later brought forth in the [[Yamashita War Crimes Trial]], were gleaned. A search mission for a downed plane and a training exercise with submarines in Subic Bay occupied ''Gunason'' until 26 November when she stood out of Subic Bay for the United States, arriving at [[San Diego]], California on 17 December 1945. She operated out of there until 10 February 1947 when she sailed for the Far East via [[Pearl Harbor]] and [[Guam]]. ''Gunason'' arrived at [[Sasebo]], Japan on 10 March. She sailed three days later for patrol off the eastern coast of [[Korea]]. ''Gunason'' remained in this service, with calls at [[Qingdao]] and [[Yokosuka]], until 10 September 1947, when she departed for California.<ref name="HIST"/>


[[File:USS Gunason (DE-795) being sunk c1973.jpg|thumb|''Gunason'' after being hit by a [[Harpoon missile]], 1973.]]
[[File:USS Gunason (DE-795) being sunk c1973.jpg|thumb|''Gunason'' after being hit by a [[Harpoon missile]], 1973.]]

Latest revision as of 18:27, 20 September 2024

History
United States
NameUSS Gunason
Laid down9 August 1943
Launched16 October 1943
Commissioned1 February 1944
Decommissioned13 November 1948
Stricken1 September 1973
FateSunk as target 28 July 1973
General characteristics
Class and typeBuckley-class destroyer escort
Displacement1,400 to 1,740 tons full load
Length306 ft (93 m) oa
Beam36 ft (11 m)
Draft9.6 ft (2.9 m)
Propulsion
  • 2 × "D" Express boilers
  • 2 × Electric turbines
  • 2 × Screws
  • 12,000 shp (8,900 kW)
Speed24 + Knots (44.4 km/h)
Range4,940 nm
Complement
  • Officers: 15
  • Enlisted: 198
Armament

USS Gunason (DE-795) a Buckley-class destroyer escort of the United States Navy, was named in honor of Lieutenant Robert W. Gunason who was killed in action while serving on USS Astoria during the Battle of Savo Island.[1]

Gunason was launched 16 October 1943 by the Consolidated Steel Corp., Orange, Texas; sponsored by Mrs. Mabel Meneley, the namesake's mother; and commissioned 1 February 1944.[2]

History

[edit]

After shakedown, Gunason sailed from Boston 6 April 1944 for the Caribbean, reaching Trinidad four days later, and began inter-island escort duties. Until June she made frequent escort voyages between Trinidad and Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, delivering her convoys safely. Departing Trinidad on 2 June, she rendezvoused at Barbados with a merchantman carrying one of the first loads of Barbadians to the United States to relieve the wartime farm labor shortage, and escorted the ship safely to Miami.[2]

Subsequently, following repairs at Boston, Gunason reached Casco Bay, Maine on 25 June and joined sister destroyer escorts bound for Hampton Roads, where all arrived 2 July to form Task Force 61. Gunason served with this task force until early 1945, making three transatlantic escort voyages out of Hampton Roads to Bizerte, Plymouth, and Oran respectively from 4 July 1944 to 8 January 1945. Highlights included herding a stricken slow tow convoy which had been attacked by U-boats. Gunason spent Christmas and New Year's standing by this convoy as it steamed into winter seas at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph).[2]

Gunason was soon to change her theater of operations. She sailed from Boston on 27 January 1945 for the South Pacific Ocean via the Panama Canal, arriving at Manus on 4 March. A round trip escort voyage thence to Leyte in March set the pattern she was to follow for the next three months—escorting convoys entering and departing Philippine waters—supporting the United States' efforts in the Pacific. In June, Gunason escorted troopships from Hollandia to Manila and after visiting Ulithi, put in at Manila again early in July.[2]

The ship departed Subic Bay on 26 July in company with three destroyer escorts and a flotilla of landing craft bound for Okinawa, arriving nine days later. A pre-dawn air attack on 5 August sent all ships off Hagushi Beach to General Quarters, but Gunason and her charges escaped damage. She returned to Leyte on 8 August and, following an escort voyage thence to Ulithi and return, got underway on 30 August with one of the first Leyte-Tokyo convoys, a flotilla of LCIs that entered Tokyo Bay on 7 September. Gunason sailed the next day for Manila, arriving on 17 September, and remained in the Philippines until November. Duties included a trip to Batan Island with a War Crimes Investigating Detail in which facts, later brought forth in the Yamashita War Crimes Trial, were gleaned. A search mission for a downed plane and a training exercise with submarines in Subic Bay occupied Gunason until 26 November when she stood out of Subic Bay for the United States, arriving at San Diego, California on 17 December 1945. She operated out of there until 10 February 1947 when she sailed for the Far East via Pearl Harbor and Guam. Gunason arrived at Sasebo, Japan on 10 March. She sailed three days later for patrol off the eastern coast of Korea. Gunason remained in this service, with calls at Qingdao and Yokosuka, until 10 September 1947, when she departed for California.[2]

Gunason after being hit by a Harpoon missile, 1973.

Arriving at San Diego on 19 September, Gunason conducted coastal operations until 12 December 1947, when she entered Long Beach for inactivation. Gunason decommissioned on 13 March 1948 and was placed in reserve at Mare Island. In 1969 she was berthed at Stockton, California.[2] In 1973 she was sunk as a target.

References

[edit]

Public Domain This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.

  1. ^ "USS Gunason (DE-795)". DoD. NVR. Retrieved 1 January 2007.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "Gunason". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Navy Department, Naval History and Heritage Command. Retrieved 17 June 2009.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=USS_Gunason&oldid=1246728058"