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Photo # NH 93170:  USS Woolsey during builder's trials, 22 April 1941

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

USS Woolsey (DD-437), 1941-1974

USS Woolsey, a 1620-ton Gleaves class destroyer built at Bath, Maine, was commissioned in May 1941. She began operations with the Atlantic Fleet that September, taking part in the Neutrality Patrol and escorting convoys to Iceland. Convoy service continued after the United States formally entered World War II in December 1941, with destinations extended eastwards to the United Kingdom and south to Puerto Rico. In November 1942 Woolsey was a unit of Operation "Torch", the invasion of North Africa, covering the landings at Fedhala, Morocco, on the Eighth. She also protected the invasion force during German submarine counterattacks and, on 16 November, helped to sink U-173.

Training, anti-submarine patrols and more convoy work followed during late 1942 and the first half of 1943. In June Woolsey moved into the Mediterranean Sea to participate in the following month's invasion of Sicily. Two months later she provided gunfire support when the Allies landed at Salerno, on the Italian mainland. On 16 December 1943 she took part in attacks that sank the German submarine U-73 off Oran, Algeria. Woolsey used her guns to assist troops ashore and escorted shipping during the Anzio operation in January and February 1944. Following brief repairs in the U.S. she returned to the Mediterranean for more antisubmarine work, and was involved in sinking U-960 off Oran on 19 May. During August 1944 she participated in the Southern France invasion, continuing to serve in that area for much of the time until January 1945, when she went to the Atlantic for more convoy and patrol duty.

Woolsey's anti-aircraft gun battery was enhanced later in the spring of 1945, in preparation for transfer to the Pacific. By mid-August, when Japan agreed to surrender, she had arrived at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. She then escorted occupation forces across the ocean to Japan, and subsequently visited China and the Philippines before steaming back to the U.S. in November. A transit of the Panama Canal promptly followed, and by early December Woolsey was at Charleston, South Carolina, to begin inactivation preparations. After an extended period of inactivity, she decommissioned there in February 1947. Later towed to Boston, she was part of the Atlantic Reserve Fleet for two dozen years. USS Woolsey was stricken from the Naval Vessel Register in July 1971 and sold for scrapping in mid-1974.

USS Woolsey was named in honor of Commodore Melancthon Taylor Woolsey, USN, (1782-1838) and his son, Commodore Melancthon Brooks Woolsey, USN, (1817-1874).

This page features all our views of USS Woolsey (DD-437).


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 93170

USS Woolsey (DD-437)


Off Kennebec River, Maine, during her builder's trials, 22 April 1941.
Note the Bath Iron Works flag at the top of her foremast.

Courtesy of the U.S. Naval Institute Photo Collection.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 100KB; 740 x 600 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 93171

USS Woolsey (DD-437)


Off Kennebec River, Maine, during her builder's trials, 22 April 1941.
Note that Woolsey carries both sets of torpedo tubes, but only has one 5"/38 gun installed.

Courtesy of the U.S. Naval Institute Photo Collection.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 81KB; 740 x 525 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 93172

USS Woolsey (DD-437)


Off Kennebec River, Maine, during her builder's trials, 22 April 1941.

Courtesy of the U.S. Naval Institute Photo Collection.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 106KB; 740 x 605 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 93173

USS Woolsey (DD-437)


Off the Boston Navy Yard, Massachusetts, following overhaul, 5 August 1942.

Courtesy of the James C. Fahey Collection, U.S. Naval Institute.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 80KB; 740 x 525 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 93169

USS Woolsey (DD-437)


Launching, at the Bath Iron Works shipyard, Bath, Maine, 12 February 1941.

Courtesy of the U.S. Naval Institute Photo Collection.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 86KB; 585 x 765 pixels

 


In addition to the images presented above, the National Archives appears to hold several other views of USS Woolsey (DD-437). The following list features some 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".



  • Photo #: 80-G-10087
    USS Woolsey (DD-437) refueling in heavy seas from USS Kaweah (AO-15), 2 February 1942. Photographed from on board the oiler, looking to port at Woolsey, which is only seen partially. The original caption states: "Two 10-inch tow lines, one 8-inch spring and one 4-inch fuel hose forward were used as it was too rough to use after tanks."
    Starboard side view, looking aft, showing Woolsey from her pilothouse to the stern. Water is streaming off her deck amidships.

  • Photo #: 80-G-10088
    As 80-G-10087, but looking more directly to port showing Woolsey from her forecastle to her Number 3 five-inch gun. Her forward (Number One) five-inch gun is not installed, with only a plated-over circle where it would be mounted. There is a large spray of water between the two ships.

  • Photo #: 80-G-10089
    As 80-G-10087, but looking aft showing Woolsey from her Number 2 five-inch gun to the stern. She is rolling strongly to starboard (toward Kaweah). The view is shot from higher up than others in this series, and looks down on Woolsey's superstructure.

  • Photo #: 80-G-10090
    As 80-G-10087. View is similiar to 80-G-10088, but shows a little more of Woolsey's forecastle and no plume of water spray.

  • Photo #: 80-G-10091
    As 80-G-10087, but looking aft showing Woolsey from well up on her forecastle to her stern. The two ships are farther apart in this view than in others of the series, and some of Kaweah's superstructure is visible on the left side of the image. The entire fuel line is also seen.

  • Photo #: 80-G-10092
    As 80-G-10087, but showing Woolsey from well up on her forecastle (her entire bow hull number is visible) to beyond her Number 3 five-inch gun. This view is taken from a lower vantage point than the others in the series and shows Woolsey's hull to advantage, as well as the lines rigged to assist the ships' station keeping.

  • Photo #: 80-G-10093
    As 80-G-10087, but looking forward showing Woolsey from the after side of her pilothouse to the bow.

  • Photo #: 80-G-10094
    As 80-G-10087. View is similiar to 80-G-10088, but shows less of Woolsey's hull side. Her forward superstructure and Number 2 five-inch gun are seen rather well in this view.

    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."


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    Page made 13 June 2003