_off_the_Mare_Island_Naval_Shipyard%2c_California_(USA)%2c_on_3_July_1945_(80-G-450703).jpg) Howorth circa 1945 | |
| History | |
|---|---|
 United States | |
| Name | USSHoworth |
| Builder | Puget Sound Naval Shipyard |
| Laid down | 26 November 1941 |
| Launched | 10 January 1943 |
| Commissioned | 3 April 1944 |
| Decommissioned | 30 April 1946 |
| Identification | DD-592 |
| Fate | Sunk as target 8 March 1962 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Fletcher-classdestroyer |
| Displacement | 2,050 tons |
| Length | 376 ft 5 in (114.73 m) |
| Beam | 39 ft 7 in (12.07 m) |
| Draft | 17 ft 9 in (5.41 m) |
| Propulsion |
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| Speed | 38knots (70 km/h; 44 mph) |
| Range |
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| Complement | 329 officers and enlisted |
| Armament |
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USSHoworth (DD-592) was aFletcher-classdestroyer built for theUnited States Navy duringWorld War II.
William L. Howorth was born on 16 July 1841 inMassachusetts. He was appointed Acting Master's Mate on 29 April 1863. Attached toMonticello, a blockader offNorth Carolina, he accompaniedLieutenantWilliam B. Cushing on a reconnaissance up theCape Fear River toWilmington, North Carolina 23–24 June 1864, gaining valuable information aboutConfederate defenses. Later in the year, he joined Cushing's expedition up theRoanoke River to sink Confederate ramCSS Albemarle. The ram was destroyed 27 October, but the launch carrying the Union sailors was destroyed. Cushing and one other man escaped, while Howorth and others were captured. In his report Cushing noted: "Acting Master's Mate William L. Howorth, of the Monticello, showed, as usual conspicuous bravery." He was promoted to Acting Master and exchanged in February 1865. Honorably discharged in October, he reentered the Navy in 1866 and was appointedEnsign on 12 March 1868. He resigned from the Navy on 4 April 1869.
She was laid down on 26 November 1941,launched on 10 January 1943, andcommissioned on 3 April 1944 atPuget Sound Naval Shipyard inBremerton, Washington. She was the 161st ship of her class.
After a shakedown cruise,Howorth was assigned toDestroyer Squadron 21 (DesRon 21). The flotilla set sail on 22 July 1944, as part of the escort for aconvoy carryingMarines toPearl Harbor. The convoy arrived after seven days at sea, andHoworth remained inHawaii until 25 August, at which point she sailed forHollandia, along with theammunition shipSangay.Howorth was assigned to Destroyer Division 41 (DesDiv 41), of the7th Fleet. Her first combat experience was in theSolomon Islands onanti-submarine and escort duty.
Howorth arrived offLeyte on 22 October, three days after the initial landings began. She guarded the transport anchorages during theBattle of Leyte Gulf, and did not see direct action during the battle.Howorth made several convoy trips to Kossol Roads,Guam, and Manus, before returning to the Philippines for thebattle at Ormoc on 7 December 1944.Howorth also participated in theBattle of Mindoro, during which she was attacked by severalkamikazes, one of which slightly damagedHoworth's mast before the plane crashed into the sea.
On 9 January 1945, theInvasion of Lingayen Gulf began.Howorth arrived with the first reinforcement group four days later on the 13th, which came under kamikaze attacks while en route.Howorth provided fire support to the invasion forces, provided anti-aircraft support for the invasion fleet, and patrolled the flanks of the fleet.
Howorth also took part in theinvasion of Iwo Jima, arriving on 19 February.Howorth again provided fire support and anti-aircraft protection during the invasion and subsequent fighting onIwo Jima. On 14 March,Howorth departed Iwo Jima for a short rest atUlithi.
Howorth was assigned to screen a convoy fromUlithi bound forOkinawa, arriving on 1 April. After arrival at Okinawa, she again provided fire support and anti-aircraft defense. On her first day off Okinawa,Howorth was moving to her station with thecruiserSt. Louis and destroyerNewcomb, when she was attacked by eight kamikazes. One made it through the ships' anti-aircraft fire and struckHoworth in her superstructure, killing seven men and causing a fire that was quickly put out.[1]
Following the damage sustained at Okinawa,Howorth returned to the United States for repairs. She arrived atMare Island Naval Shipyard inCalifornia on 2 May 1945. Repairs were completed by early July, and after a brief shakedown cruise in July, she set sail for Pearl Harbor on 15 July. The ship was en route toAdak,Alaska on 15 August, when the news of the Japanese surrender reached the ship.
_being_sunk_as_a_target_off_San_Clemente_Island_on_8_March_1962_(USN_1059933).jpg)
Howorth arrived inYokohama,Japan on 17 September, where she escorted convoys back from Japan. Her final trip from Japan was on 11 November, and arrived in San Francisco on the 28th of that month. The ship was decommissioned on 30 April 1946, and was placed in thePacific Reserve Fleet. She remained in reserve until 8 March 1962 when she was sunk in the Pacific Ocean offSan Clemente Island, California, as atorpedo target by the submarinesUSS Volador (SS-490) andUSS Salmon (SS-573).[2]
Howorth received fivebattle stars for her service duringWorld War II.
This article incorporates text from thepublic domainDictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be foundhere.
Shipwrecks and maritime incidents in 1962 | |
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| Other incidents |
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