NAVSHIPS A-2 (374)

SUMMARY OF WAR DAMAGE

TO

U. S. BATTLESHIPS, CARRIERS, CRUISERS AND DESTROYERS

8 DECEMBER, 1942 TO 7 DECEMBER, 1943

Preliminary Design Section

Bureau of Ships

Navy Department

10 March, 1944  

Printed by U. S. Hydrographic Office


CONTENTS

Section

Page

I

Foreword

1

II

Summary Tables

2

III

Ships Lost During Second Year of War

6

IV

Ships Damaged During Second Year of War

13

LEGEND


* WAR DAMAGE REPORTS NOT YET ISSUED

--i--


References:

(a) BuShips ltr. C-FS/L11-1(374);C-EN28/A2-1 of 17 April, 1942.
(b) Navships A(374) - Summary of War Damage to U.S. Battleships, Carriers, Cruisers and Destroyers, 17 October, 1941 to 7 December, 1942 - of 15 September, 1943.

FOREWORD

1. This is the second in a series of annual summaries of war damage to U.S. naval vessels covering the second year of the war, 8 December, 1942 to 7 December, 1943. Reference (b) covered the first year of the war.

2. This summary Is based on the best Information available to this Bureau. Receipt of information in correction of any of the data which may be found in error will be appreciated.

3. Some of the cases listed have been described in detail in the war damage reports prepared by the Bureau of Ships. Where this has been done, the number of the report is given below the name of the vessel. The number of ships lost and damaged by enemy action continues to increase and it remains impracticable for the Bureau to Issue promptly a detailed report for each case. It has been necessary to continue the policy of issuing detailed reports of only the most important cases for which the data are reasonably complete. The rate of preparation of reports by the Bureau is increasing, however, and it is hoped that all cases covering important lessons can be issued. To this end it will be of great assistance to the Bureau to receive detailed reports from the forces afloat as soon as practicable after a ship is lost or damaged. Material lessons of great importance may be missed if reports covering essential data, in accordance with reference (a), are not received - particularly in cases when ships are lost.

--1--


TABLE I

SHIPS DAMAGED OR LOST DUE TO ENEMY ACTION

17 October, 1941 to 7 December, 1943

SUMMARY

Cause of Damage or Loss

Type of Ship

Aircraft

Submarine

Surface Craft

Mine

Disappeared

Total

Bomb

Torp.

Bomb + Torp.

Torp.

Gunfire

Gnf.

BB

4

1

4

1

-

2

-

-

-

12

CV

4

2

2

5

-

-

-

-

-

13

CA

2

1

-

1

4

5

4

-

1

18

CL

6

2

2

1

3

3

1

-

-

18

DD

22

5

1

12

8

20

2

1

4

75

Total

38

11

9

20

15

30

7

1

5

136

--2--


TABLE II

SHIPS DAMAGED OR LOST DUE TO ENEMY ACTION

17 October, 1941 to 7 December, 1943

SUMMARY

Cause of Damage or Loss by Years*

Type of Ship

*

Aircraft

Sub-

marine

Surface Craft

Mine

Disappeared

Total

Bomb

Torp.

Bomb +

Torp.

Torp.

Gun-

fire

Torp + Gnf.

BB

1

4

1

4

1

2

12

2

_

CV

1

4

2

4

_

10

2

1

1

CVL

1

_

2

1

1

CVE

1

2

1

1

CA

1

2

1

4

4

4

1

16

2

1

1

2

CL

1

3

1

1

1

2

1

9

2

3

1

1

3

1

9

DD

1

10

2

1

8

3

14

2

4

44

2

12

3

4

5

6

1

31

Total

1

23

4

8

15

7

22

7

5

91

2

15

7

1

5

8

8

1

45

* 1. Ships damaged and lost — 17 October, 1941 to 7 December, 1942.
2. Ships damaged and lost — 8 December, 1942 to 7 December, 1943.

--3--


TABLE III

SHIPS LOST DUE TO ENEMY ACTION

30 October, 1941 to 7 December, 1943

SUMMARY

Cause of Loss by Years*

Type

of

Ship

*

Aircraft

Sub-

marine

Surface Craft

Mine

Disappeared

Total

Bomb

Torp.

Bomb +

Torp.

Torp.

Gun-

fire

Torp. +

Gnf.

BB

1

1

1

2

2

CV

1

2

2

4

2

CVE

1

2

1

1

CA

1

1

1

2

1

5

2

1

1

CL

1

1

1

2

2

1

1

DD

1

5

1

1

5

3

4

2

4

25

2

3

1

4

3

11

Total

1

5

2

4

8

4

5

5

5

38

2

3

2

5

4

14


* 1. Ships lost — 30 October, 1941 to 7 December, 1942. 2. Ships lost — 8 December, 1942 to 7 December, 1943.

--4--


TABLE IV

SHIPS DAMAGED DUE TO ENEMY ACTION

17 October, 1941 to 7 December, 1943

SUMMARY

Cause of Damage by Years*

Type of Ship

*

Aircraft

Submarine

Surface Craft

Mine

Total

Bomb

Torp.

Bomb + Torp.

Torp.

Gunfire

Torp. + Gnf.

BB

1

4

3

1

2

10

2

CV

1

4

2

6

2

1

1

CVL

1

2

1

1

CA

1

2

1

3

3

2

11

2

1

1

CL

1

3

1

1

2

7

2

3

1

1

2

1

8

DD

1

5

1

3

10

19

2

9

2

2

6

1

20

Total

1

18

2

4

7

3

17

2

53

2

12

5

1

4

8

1

31


* 1. Ships damaged — 17 October, 1941 to 7 December, 1942.
2. Ships damaged — 8 December, 1942 to 7 December, 1943.

--5--


COMBATANT SHIPS LOST DURING SECOND YEAR OF WAR AIRCRAFT CARRIERS, ESCORT.

Ship

Date

Place

Source

Manner of Sinking

Remarks on Damage

LISCOME BAY (CVE56)
War Damage Report No. 45

11/24/43

Gilbert Islands

Sub. Torp - 1

After portion of ship destroyed by magazine explosion -plunged by stern with heavy starboard list.

Struck by Japanese submarine torpedo starboard side in vicinity of after bomb magazine, causing mass detonation of aircraft bombs, including depth bombs. Stern destroyed aft of frame 118. Bow section remained afloat for 23 minutes. Fire gutted forward portion above hangar deck.

--6--


SHIPS LOST

HEAVY CRUISERS

Ship

Date

Place

Source

Manner of Sinking

Remarks on Damage

CHICAGO (CA29)
*War Damage Report No. 37

1/29-30/43

Rennell Is.

Air. Torp - 6

Capsized

On 29 Jan. - struck by 2 deep-running Japanese aircraft torpedoes starboard side at frames 80 and 100. Extensive flooding. Propulsive power lost. Taken in tow. On 30 Jan. - struck by 4 Japanese aircraft torpedoes on starboard side, one at frame 33 and the others between frames 60 and 80. Capsized and sank in 20 minutes.

--7--


SHIPS LOST

LIGHT CRUISERS

Ship

Date

Place

Source

Manner or Sinking

Remarks on Damage

HELENA (CL50)

*War Damage Report No. 45

7/6/45

Kula Gulf, Solomon Islands

DD Torp - 5

Bow broke off and floated - remainder "jack-knifed" and sank bodily

Struck by 5 Japanese destroyer torpedoes on port side. One shallow hit near frame 52 severed bow at frame 56. Two deep hits near frames 82 and 88. Bottom structure destroyed and lower part of hull fractured about frame 85. Hull flooded and sank bodily in 7 minutes.

--8--


SHIPS LOST

DESTROYERS

Ship

Date

Place

Source

Manner of Sinking

Remarks on Damage

DeHAVEN (DD469)
DD445 Type

2/1/43

Guadalcanal Is.

Bomb - 4

Sank bodily

Severely damaged by 3 bomb hits and one near miss located amidships and forward. Ship settled by the bow and sank bodily in 2 minutes.

AARON WARD (DD485)
DD423 Type

4/7/43

Guadalcanal Is.

Bomb - 5

Sank bodily

One bomb hit on port side of No. 2 engine room. Four near misses within 10 feet of hull abreast machinery spaces. Sank bodily by stern while in tow 6 hours after attack. Three machinery spaces completely flooded. One machinery space partially flooded.

STRONG (DD468)
DD445 Type

7/5/43

Kula Gulf, Solomon Islands

Midget Sub. Torp - 1
Gunfire - 1

Buckled amidships - Sank bodily

Struck by Japanese torpedo (probably from midget submarine), port side, frame 90. Forward boiler and engine rooms flooded immediately, after boiler room flooded slowly. Listed 15 degrees to starboard. Projectile from shore battery struck after portion of hull. List increased. Vessel finally buckled amidships and sank bodily.

--9--


SHIPS LOST

DESTROYERS (continued)

Ship

Date

Place

Source

Manner of Sinking

Remarks on Damage

MADDOX (DD622)
DD423-type

7/10/43

Sicily

Bomb - 3-4

Capsized plunged by stern

One or possibly 2 direct bomb hits on stern and 2 near misses at stern. After portion of ship up to forward engine room flooded. Ship capsized and plunged by stern in 2 minutes.

GWIN (DD433)
DD423-type

7/13/43

Kula Gulf, Solomon Islands

DD Torp - 1

Plunged by stern

Struck by deep-running Japanese destroyer torpedo on port side at frame 150. Severe flooding aft. Remained afloat for 7 hours - finally sunk by U.S. forces.

ROWAN (DD405)

9/11/43

Salerno, Italy

"E" boat Torpedo - 1

Unreported

Struck by German "E" boat torpedo on port quarter probably abreast after magazines. Probably a mass detonation occurred in after magazine, possibly in depth charge magazine. Sank in 40 seconds.

-

--10--


SHIPS LOST

DESTROYERS (continued)

Ship

Date

Place

Source

Manner of Sinking

Remarks on Damage

HENLEY (DD591)

10/3/43

New Guinea

Sub. Torp - 1

Sank bodily

Japanese submarine torpedo struck port side, frame 70, in way of forward boiler room. Both boiler rooms and fuel oil tanks forward opened to the sea. Severe structural damage. Keel broken, main deck blown open and bridge structure wrecked. Sank in 15 minutes.

CHEVALIER (DD451)
DD445-type

10/6/43

Vella La Vella Is.

PT or DD Torp. - 1 Rammed by O'BANNON

Broke in two - destroyed by own forces

Struck by Japanese PT or DD torpedo port side forward of bridge. Bow severed - floated. Rammed by O'BANNON on starboard side after engine room. Forward boiler room and after engine room flooded completely. Other engineering spaces flooded slowly. Struck by torpedo from own forces aft, possibly in way of depth charge magazine, causing magazine explosion. Disintegrated and sank. Bow sunk by depth charges from own forces.

BUCK (DD420)

10/9/43

Salerno, Italy

Sub. Torp - 1

Plunged by bow

A German submarine torpedo probably struck starboard side abreast the bridge. Bow broke off about frame 74. Boiler rooms flooded immediately. Engine rooms intact except for loss of steam. Stern section sank in 4-5 minutes. A depth charge detonated - was not placed on safe.

--11--


SHIPS LOST

DESTROYERS (continued)

Ship

Date

Place

Source

Manner of Sinking

Remarks on Damage

BRISTOL (DD453)
DD423-type

10/13/43

Northwest African Waters

Sub. Torp - 1

Broke in two-stern sank bodily - bow section plunged

Struck by deep-running German submarine torpedo, port side, about frame 70. Keel severed. Vessel sagged and broke in two at frame 70. Stern sank first. Bow sank in 10 minutes.

BEATTY (DD640)
DD423-type

11/6/43

Northwest African Waters

Air. Torp - 1

Broke in two

Struck by German aircraft torpedo starboard side, frame 124. Structural damage severe. After engine and boiler rooms flooded immediately. Forward engine room flooded slowly. Progressive flooding aft resulted in increased list. Finally broke in two and sank, 3 hours and 22 minutes after hit.

--12--


COMBATANT SHIPS DAMAGED DURING SECOND YEAR OF WAR

AIRCRAFT CARRIERS

Ship

Date

Place

Source

Remarks on Damage

INDEPENDENCE (CVL22)

11/20/43

Gilbert Islands

Air. Torp - 1

Struck by shallow-running Japanese aircraft torpedo on starboard side at or aft of frame 103. Both starboard shafts damaged. After engine room and 10 spaces next abaft engine room flooded immediately; after boiler room flooded slowly. One propeller remained in operation.

LEXINGTON (CV16)

12/4/43

Marshall Islands

Air. Torp - 1

Struck by Japanese aircraft torpedo starboard side frame 186 about 12 feet below the waterline. Average amount of structural damage end flooding. No. 2 tail shaft assembly lost with strut. No. 3 shaft suffered slight misalignment. Nos. 1 and 4 shafts undamaged. Steering control lost.

--13--


SHIPS DAMAGED

HEAVY CRUISERS

Ship

Date

Place

Source

Remarks on Damage

SALT LAKE CITY (CA25)
War Damage Report No. 42

3/26/43

Bering Sea

Gunfire - 5

Incurred damage from three 8-inch projectile hits and two 8-inch shorts. Damage of a minor nature except for a hit which penetrated the hull just aft of after engine room and detonated in after fuel oil tank. An operating casualty caused temporary loss of steam.

--14--


SHIPS DAMAGED

LIGHT CRUISERS

Ship

Date

Place

Source

Remarks on Damage

HONOLULU (CL48)

7/13/43

Kula Gulf, Solomon Islands

DD Torp - 2

Struck by deep-running Japanese destroyer torpedo, starboard side, at frame 10. All of bow except main deck destroyed forward of frame 15. Main deck folded down over remainder of bow. Dud torpedo struck and penetrated light plating at stern. Minor flooding. Speed reduced.

ST. LOUIS (CL49)

7/13/43

Kula Gulf, Solomon Islands

DD Torp - 1

Struck by deep-running Japanese destroyer torpedo, starboard side, at frame 6. Bow destroyed below second deck forward of frame 23. Minor flooding. Speed reduced.

--15--


SHIPS DAMAGED

LIGHT CRUISERS (continued)

Ship

Date

Place

Source

Remarks on Damage

PHILADELPHIA (CL41)

9/11/43

Salerno, Italy

Radio controlled bomb - 1

A 1400 Kg (3080-lb.) German radio-controlled A.P. bomb struck abreast starboard side frame 110 about 15 feet from hull. Some flexural vibrations. Slight damage to hull aft. Minor electrical damage due to shock. No. 4 shaft out of alignment.

SAVANNAH (CL42)
*War Damage Report No. 44

9/11/43

Salerno, Italy

Radio controlled bomb - 1

Struck by 1400 Kg (3080-lb.) German radio-controlled A.P. bomb on top of No. III turret. Penetrated roof plate, passed through gun room and downward inside of barbette detonating in handling room. Bottom holed on port side. Ship flooded frames 23-61 to third deck. Flash and fire in No. III turret.

DENVER (CL58)

11/2/43

Bougainville Is.

Gunfire - 3

Struck by 3 dud 8-Inch projectiles; one on No. 1 stack (hood), one at frame 37 starboard just below main deck, and one at frame 6 starboard 3 feet below second deck. All projectiles passed through vessel without detonating. Three small compartments flooded. Structural damage slight.

--16--


SHIPS DAMAGED

LIGHT CRUISERS (continued)

Ship

Date

Place

Source

Remarks on Damage

MONTPELIER (CL57)

11/2/43

Bougainville Is.

Bomb - 2

Two small Japanese demolition bombs struck starboard catapult. No apparent damage except to catapult.

BIRMINGHAM (CL62)

11/8/43

Bougainville Is.

Air. Torp - 1 Bomb - 2

Small Japanese aircraft torpedo struck the port side at frame 20 about 10 feet below the waterline. Damage small for torpedo. Two bombs caused moderate damage. One struck starboard side of counter above waterline. The other (anti-personnel bomb) detonated above center and left guns on No. IV turret.

DENVER (CL58)

11/13/43

Bougainville Is.

Air. Torp - 1

Struck by Japanese aircraft torpedo starboard side frame 99 about 10 feet below the waterline. Average structural damage. After engine room and spaces abaft after engine room flooded immediately. After boiler room flooded slowly. No. 3 shaft remained in operation.

--17--


SHIPS DAMAGED DESTROYERS

Ship

Date

Place

Source

Remarks on Damage

LaVALLETTE (DD448)
DD445-type

1/30/43

Rennell Is.

Air. Torp - 1

Struck by deep-running Japanese aircraft torpedo on port side at frame 94 in way of forward engine room and boiler room; rapid flooding in these two spaces. Slow flooding into after boiler room. Towed into port.

BAILEY (DD492)
DD421-type

3/26/43

Bering Sea

Gunfire - 5

One 8-Inch projectile struck at frame 67, main deck. One 8-inch dud projectile struck No. 4 gun mount. One 8-inch short holed forward engine room at frame 100. Engine room flooded. Machinery damage caused by lubricating oil failure due to vibration at high speeds after damage. Minor damage from 2 other shorts.

COGHLAN (DD606)
DD421-type

3/26/43

Bering Sea

Gunfire -numerous shorts

No direct hits. Minor fragment damage from shorts. Director damaged. Small fire in after uptakes.

--18--


CONFIDENTIAL

SHIPS DAMAGED

DESTROYERS (continued)

Ship

Date

Place

Source

Remarks on Damage

GWIN (DD433)
DD423-type

6/30/43

Rendova Strait,

Solomon Islands

Gunfire - 1

A 5-inch common projectile struck at frame 129, port side. Minor fragment damage. Torpedo warheads penetrated by fragments.

MAYRANT (DD402)

7/26/43

Palermo, Sicily

Bomb - 1

Extensive damage was incurred from a near miss on the port side frame 102-1/2 within 6 feet of the bilge. The 3 after engineering spaces flooded immediately. The forward boiler room flooded partially. Listed 4° to starboard due to displacement of heavy engineering weights. No fragment damage. Towed to repair base.

RHIND (DD404)

7/26/43

Palermo, Sicily

Bomb - 2

Two bomb near misses on starboard side 15 feet and 25 feet from hull at frames 60 and 118 respectively, caused shock derangement of I.C. equipment. Slight fragment damage to hull. Rudder jammed temporarily. No flooding.

--19--


SHIPS DAMAGED

DESTROYERS (continued)

Ship

Date

Place

Source

Remarks on Damage

SHUBRICK DD639)
DD423-type

84/43

Palermo, Sicily

Bomb - 1

Direct hit, 500-pound German bomb in forward engine room. Passed through bottom and detonated 5-6 feet below hull. Structural damage severe but localized. Forward engine room and after boiler room flooded. Shock was minor.

ABNER READ (DD526)
DD445-type

8/18/43

Kiska Is.

Mine - 1

Japanese mine detonated on contact with stern. Stern destroyed aft of frame 170. Flooding forward of frame 170 was slight.

KENDRICK (DD612)
DD421-type

9/2/43

Northwest African Waters

Air. Torp - 1

Struck by shallow-running German torpedo on rudder from directly astern. Stern deflected upward about 4 feet at after perpendicular with sharp knuckle in hull at frame 183. Propeller shafts out of alignment. Maximum safe speed 6-1/2 knots.

--20--


SHIPS DAMAGED

DESTROYERS (continued)

Ship

Date

Place

Source

Remarks on Damage

CONYNGHAM (DD571)

9/4/45

Huon Gulf, New Guinea

Bomb - 3

Three near misses on port quarter between 25 and 50 yards from hull resulted in minor fragment damage to hull aft. One fragment penetrated a torpedo warhead - warhead jettisoned.

SAUFLY (DD465)
DD445-type

10/1/43

Kula Gulf, Solomon Islands

Bomb - 3

Three near misses about 25 feet from shell along port side. Minor fragment damage.

SELFRIDGE (DD557)

10/6/43

Vella La Vella Is.

PT or DD Torp - 2

Struck by torpedo at frame 40 starboard. Possibly struck by torpedo frame 30 port. Torpedoes were fired by Japanese PT boat or destroyer Bow missing forward of bridge. No fire or magazine explosions. Flooding in intact portions slight.

--21--


SHIPS DAMAGED

DESTROYERS (continued)

Ship

Date

Place

Source

Remarks on Damage

PERKINS (DD377)

10/20/43

Finschhafen, New Guinea

Bomb - 1

An anti-personnel bomb abreast frame 40 starboard side about 30 feet from hull. Severe fragment damage - 135 fragment holes in bridge structure starboard side.

CONY (DD508)
DD445-type

10/27/43

Treasury Is.

Bomb - 2

Bomb struck and detonated on starboard side main deck frame 163. A second bomb struck port side main deck frame 157 and detonated In a fuel oil tank. After engine room flooded slowly. Oil vapor fire extinguished in 4 hours.

DYSON (DD572)
DD445-type

11/1/43

Shortland Is.

Gunfire - 1

Six-inch dud projectile struck bow chock. Minor damage.

WADSWORTH (DD516)
DD445-type

11/1/43

Bougainville Is.

Bomb - 1

An anti-personnel bomb struck water port side abreast frame 208 about 25 yards from hull. Minor fragment damage to port side of hull and topside structure abaft No. 3 mount.

--22--


SHIPS DAMAGED

DESTROYERS (continued)

Ship

Date

Place

Source

Remarks on Damage

FOOTE (DD511)
DD445-type

11/2/43

Bougainville Is.

DD Torp - 1

Struck by shallow-running Japanese destroyer torpedo on starboard side about frame 202. Stern missing aft of frame 200. Remainder of stern aft of frame 182 bent sharply upward. Severe flexural vibration. Main deck buckled at frame 29. Moderate flooding. Shafts damaged.

SPENCE (DD512)
DD445-type

11/2/43

Bougainville Is.

Gunfire - 1

Struck by one dud 8-inch projectile at frame 157 starboard side 3 feet above first platform deck. Damage slight.

RINGGOLD (DD500)
DD445-type

11/20/43

Tarawa Is.

Gunfire - 2

Struck by 2 dud 5-inch projectiles: one at frame 142 at the waterllne on the starboard side, and one on the forward torpedo mount. Slight structural damage. Minor flooding. After switchboard damaged.

CONVERSE (DD509)
DD445-type

12/3/43

Bougainville Is.

Bomb - 1

A near miss on starboard side about frame 116 resulted in slight wrinkling of shell. Slight leakage. Minor shock damage.

--23--