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DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
805 KIDDER BREESE SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060

Online Library of Selected Images:
-- U.S. NAVY SHIPS --

USS McCalla (DD-488), 1942-1949

USS McCalla, a 1630-ton Gleaves class destroyer built at Kearny, New Jersey, was commissioned on 27 May 1942. After shakedown and anti-submarine operations off the U.S. east coast, she was sent to the south Pacific, where she arrived in late September 1942. During the next four months, McCalla took part in the campaign to hold Guadalcanal, seeing combat in the Battle of Cape Esperance on 11-12 October 1942 and in action against Japanese landing craft in late November.

Once the enemy abandoned Guadalcanal in early February 1943, McCalla participated in escort and patrol duties and in the Central Solomons campaign. She supported amphibious attacks on Rendova and New Georgia in late June and early July 1943 and shelled Japanese positions on the latter island on 9 July. Damaged in collision during an anti-barge sweep north of Kolombangara on 29 September, McCalla was sent back to the U.S. for repairs and overhaul.

After returning to the war zone in early 1944, McCalla performed patrol and escort duties in the central Pacific. From late May until late October, she served with the fast carrier task forces during their operations against the Japanese Empire. Among her engagements during this time were the Battle of the Philippine Sea in mid-June and the Battle of Leyte Gulf in October. For the rest of 1944 and well into 1945, McCalla was mainly employed on escort service in the central Pacific and Philippines areas.

McCalla steamed back to the United States in August 1945, just before Japan surrendered. She went to the Atlantic early in 1946 and was decommissioned at Charleston, South Carolina, in May of that year. She recommissioned in December 1948 in order to train Turkish Navy personnel and was formally transferred to that nation late in April 1949. Renamed Giresun, the destroyer served as a Turkish warship until 1973.

This page features all the views we have of USS McCalla (DD-488).

Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.

Photo #: 80-G-13393 USS McCalla (DD-488) Underway on her delivery voyage from the Federal Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company shipyard, at Kearny, New Jersey, to the New York Navy Yard, 26 May 1942. She was commissioned on the following day. Note the Federal SB & DD Co. flag flying just below her starboard yardarm. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. Online Image: 88KB; 740 x 520 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.
Photo #: NH 97933 USS McCalla (DD-488) Off the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, 11 January 1944. This image has been retouched by the wartime censor to remove radar antennas on the ship's foremast and Mark 37 gun director. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center. Online Image: 66KB; 740 x 480 pixels
Photo #: NH 97934 USS McCalla (DD-488) Photographed from directly ahead, while off the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, on 11 January 1944. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center. Online Image: 70KB; 740 x 620 pixels
Photo #: NH 97935 USS McCalla (DD-488) Photographed from directly astern, while off the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, on 11 January 1944. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center. Online Image: 80KB; 740 x 610 pixels
Photo #: NH 89288 USS McCalla (DD-488) Moored with other destroyers off San Diego, California, circa 1945-1946. Courtesy of John Hummell, 1979. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 92KB; 740 x 605 pixels
Photo #: NH 84805 Antenna for Mark 4 ("FD") Fire Control Radar Mounted on the Mark 37 Gun Director of USS McCalla, 5 January 1944. This image is cropped from a photograph of the ship's forward superstructure, taken while she was at the Mare Island Navy Yard, California. Note the Japanese flags painted on the gun director. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center. Online Image: 113KB; 600 x 725 pixels
Photo #: 80-G-K-3970 (Color) Tulagi, Solomon Islands Photograph taken circa 1943. A submarine chaser (SC) is near the island, toward the right, and the bow of USS McCalla (DD-488) is visible at the extreme right. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. Online Image: 95KB; 740 x 605 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

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Page made 14 April 2002