USS Lansdowne, a 1630-ton Gleaves class destroyer, was built at Kearny, New Jersey. Commissioned in late April 1942, she initially served along the U.S. east coast and in the Caribbean area and sank the German submarine U-153 off the Panama Canal Zone on 13 July 1942. A little over a month later, Lansdowne was sent to the south Pacific, where she joined the campaign to hold Guadalcanal. She was present when a Japanese submarine fatally damaged the aircraft carrier Wasp on 15 September, and was also employed on escort and shore bombardment duties. After an accidental grounding during the occupation of the Russell Islands in late February, she returned to the United States for repairs and an overhaul.
When this work was completed in May 1943, Lansdowne went to the Aleutians, where she participated in a bombardment of Japanese-held Kiska Island on 6 July. Later that month, she steamed back to the south Pacific, where she again took up escort work and supported the effort to take Bougainville and other islands in the northern Solomons and the Admiralties. In February 1944, the destroyer took part in two surface sweeps near Rabaul, attacking enemy shipping and positions ashore. In March and April, Lansdowne covered strikes along the north shore of New Guinea, and in June and July was part of the armada that seized the Marianas.
Following another overhaul, Lansdowne provided patrol and escort services in the central Pacific from October 1944 into May 1945. She then participated in the later part of the Ryukyus campaign and in carrier raids on Japan. In late August, after Japan had capitulated, she was sent into Tokyo Bay to help with the recovery of Allied prisoners of war and to support the surrender ceremonies on 2 September. During October-December 1945, the destroyer voyaged to the U.S. east coast by way of the Cape of Good Hope. Decommissioned in May 1946, USS Lansdowne was part of the Atlantic Reserve Fleet until June 1949, when she was transferred to Turkey. Under the name Gaziantep, she served in the Turkish Navy until 1973.
USS Lansdowne was named in honor of Lieutenant Commander Zachary Lansdowne, USN (1888-1925), who was killed while commanding the airship Shenandoah (ZR-1) when she crashed on 3 September 1925.
This page features our only views of USS Lansdowne (DD-486).
If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions." |
Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.
Photo #: NH 97914 Bombardment of Kiska, 6 July 1943 USS Lansdowne (DD-486), at right, and USS Hughes (DD-410), at left, take stations to commence the bombardment. Photographed from USS Louisville (CA-28). Collection of Vice Admiral Robert C. Giffen. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 92KB; 740 x 595 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 92884 Destroyer Squadron NINETEEN (DesRon 19) Homeward bound from the Pacific, via the Cape of Good Hope, circa October-December 1945. Ships present include USS Stevenson (DD-645), USS Stockton (DD-646), USS Lansdowne (DD-486), USS Thorn (DD-647), USS Nelson (DD-623) and USS Lardner (DD-487). Courtesy of Vice Admiral F.H. Schneider, USN (Retired). U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 67KB; 740 x 580 pixels |
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Photo #: SC 329103 Surrender of Japan, Tokyo Bay, 2 September 1945 The Japanese representatives follow their escort officer along the deck of USS Lansdowne (DD-486), after the surrender ceremonies. Foreign Minister Mamoru Shigemitsu is leading the delegation, followed by General Yoshijiro Umezu. Photograph from the Army Signal Corps Collection in the U.S. National Archives. Online Image: 110KB; 600 x 765 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system. |
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In addition to the images presented above, the National Archives appears to hold other views of USS Lansdowne (DD-486). The following list features two of these images:
The images listed below are NOT in
the Naval Historical Center's collections.
DO NOT try to obtain them using the procedures described in our
page "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions".
USS Lansdowne (DD-486), probably at the New York Navy Yard when she was first commissioned, circa spring 1942. Port bow surface view, with powerplant smokestacks and a shipyard crane in the background. USS Lansdowne (DD-486) off the New York Navy Yard, 9 June 1942. Port broadside surface view. The ship is wearing pattern camouflage, possibly a version of Measure 12 (Modified). USS Lansdowne (DD-486) coming alongside USS Nassau (ACV-16) on 17 March 1943. Port bow surface view, fairly tight on the bow. The ship is painted overall dark grey or blue-grey. USS Lansdowne (DD-486) following astern of USS Ticonderoga (CV-14) in October 1944. Photographed by LCdr. Horace Bristol, USNR. Port bow surface view, fairly distant (Lansdowne occupies only about a fifth of the image width). She is making good speed, with a considerable white wake behind her, and appears to be painted in pattern camouflage of the Measure 31-32-33 series. Scene on board USS Lansdowne (DD-486) during her commissioning ceremonies, at the New York Navy Yard, 29 April 1942. View was taken on the ship's after deck, with the National Ensign flying from her flagstaff. Her Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Commander W.R. Smedberg, is standing at a microphone, addressing the ship's company. Six officers are standing in a line behind him, with another officer and several crewman to the right. Scene on board USS Lansdowne (DD-486) during her commissioning ceremonies, at the New York Navy Yard, 29 April 1942. View shows the ship's Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Commander W.R. Smedberg, and Rear Admiral E.J. Marquart (Commandant of the New York Navy Yard) on the gangway, about to come on board. RAdm. Marquart is saluting, with LCdr. Smedberg beside and slightly behind him. Reproductions of these images should be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system for pictures not held by the Naval Historical Center. The images listed in this box are NOT in the Naval Historical Center's collections. DO NOT try to obtain them using the procedures described in our page "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions". |
If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions." |
Page made 7 March 2002
Text and links added 14 December 2002