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| History | |
|---|---|
 United States | |
| Namesake | Esek Hopkins |
| Builder | New York Shipbuilding |
| Laid down | 30 July 1919 |
| Launched | 26 June 1920 |
| Commissioned | 21 March 1921 |
| Decommissioned | 21 December 1945 |
| Stricken | 8 January 1946 |
| Fate | Sold for scrapping, 8 November 1946 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type | Clemson-classdestroyer |
| Displacement | 1,190 tons |
| Length | 314 feet 5 inches (95.83 m) |
| Beam | 31 feet 8 inches (9.65 m) |
| Draft | 9 feet 3 inches (2.82 m) |
| Propulsion |
|
| Speed | 35knots (65 km/h) |
| Range | 4,900nm @ 15 kn (9,100 km @ 28 km/h) |
| Complement | 101 officers and enlisted |
| Armament | 4 x4 in (100 mm) guns, 1 x3 in (76 mm) gun, 12 x21 inch (533 mm) tt. |
USSHopkins (DD-249/DMS-13) was aClemson-classdestroyer built in 1920 and inUnited States Navy service between 1921 and 1946. The third Navy ship named in honor of Commodore of theContinental NavyEsek Hopkins, she saw extensive action in thePacific Theatre duringWorld War II, emerging the most decoratedClemson-class warship of that conflict.
Hopkins was launched 26 June 1920 by theNew York Shipbuilding Corporation, one of 156Clemson-classdestroyers built. She was sponsored by Miss Sarah Babbitt, a descendant of Commodore of theContinental NavyEsek Hopkins; and commissioned 21 March 1921 atPhiladelphia.
After shakedownHopkins arrived atNewport, Rhode Island, 31 May for battle practice training during the summer. In November, she was assigned to Destroyer Squadron 15 for tactical training with theAtlantic Fleet along the East Coast.
Hopkins sailed fromHampton Roads 2 October 1922, and reachedConstantinople 22 October for duty inTurkish waters. She protected American interests and cooperated with the relief mission in theNear East, ranging toBeirut,Jaffa, andSmyrna. She departed Constantinople 18 May 1923 forNew York, arriving 12 June. For the next seven years,Hopkins operated out ofNew England ports in the summer,Charleston, South Carolina, in the winter, and theCaribbean Sea in the spring. During the spring of 1930,Hopkins participated in force battle practice with aircraft.
On 3 February 1932,Hopkins was one of the two naval ships rendering medical aid to earthquake victims atSantiago,Cuba. She departed 5 February to join thePacific Fleet atSan Diego, California. She had escort duty forPresidentFranklin D. Roosevelt's cruise toCanada in July 1936, then resumed training along the Western Seaboard.
Hopkins returned toNorfolk, Virginia in April 1939, and performedNeutrality Patrol from September 1939 until sailing for San Diego 37 May, and from there toPearl Harbor. She converted to a high-speedminesweeper (DMS-13) in thePearl Harbor Naval Shipyard.
When the Japaneseattacked Pearl Harbor,Hopkins was atJohnston Island for war maneuvers, but immediately headed back toHawaii. She continued patrol of theHawaiian Sea Frontier, with a short break for overhaul in the States, until late summer 1942, when she joined the invasion fleet bound forGuadalcanal. As America's first offensive of the Pacific war began 7 August,Hopkins swept the transport area and covered the landings onTulagi. During a heavy enemy air attack 9 August, she shot down two enemy planes, and in the following months,Hopkins escorted transports, swept mines, and carried badly needed supplies to Guadalcanal.
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Hopkins served asflagship for AdmiralRichmond K. Turner as theRussell Islands were invaded 21 February 1943. During the action, she shot down a Japanese plane. Remaining in the southwest Pacific, she joined in the initial invasion ofRice Anchorage,New Georgia, 4 July, and ofBougainville 1 November. Convoy escort,antisubmarine patrol, and sweeping duties kept the destroyer busy until theSolomon Islands were secured.
As the Navy moved farther across the Pacific in the island-hopping campaign,Hopkins arrived offSaipan 13 June 1944 to sweep the invasion approaches. She provided screen and fire support for the amphibious landings of 15 June 1944. She picked up 62 prisoners from sunken Japanese ships as well as rescuing a downed fighter pilot and a seaplane crew. A brief rest atEniwetok was followed by a role in the capture ofGuam.Hopkins reached that importantMarianas island 14 July to participate in the preinvasion sweeping and bombardment. She also gave fire-support to the landings 16 July.
Following overhaul at San Francisco, CA,Hopkins arrived inLeyte Gulf 27 December 1944 to prepare for theLingayen landings. The minesweepers sailed 2 January 1945 to sweep Lingayen Gulf under attack from Japanese dive bombers andkamikazes. When her sister shipPalmer was hit and sank in 13 minutes the morning of 7 January,Hopkins rescued 94 survivors.
Hopkins departed thePhilippines 15 January 1945 for a brief rest at Eniwetok, then swept the transport areas and channels offIwo Jima to prepare for invasion 19 February 1945. She remained on patrol off Iwo Jima, emerging from heavy air and shore fire unscathed. Departing Iwo Jima 6 March,Hopkins next headed into battle offOkinawa, the "last stepping stone to Japan." While fighting off the constant raids and suicide attacks she shot down several Japanese planes. On 4 May 1945 she was struck a glancing blow by a burningkamikaze just before it plunged into the sea. There was one casualty during this attack. Coxswain Morris Dee Garrett was the only casualty on that day and was the only casualty from the USS Hopkins during World War II.
On 7 June 1945,Hopkins steamed for overhaul at Leyte, Philippine Islands where she remained until cessation of hostilities.Hopkins then rendezvoused with units of the3rd Fleet headed forTokyo Bay. After two days of sweeping the entrances to Tokyo Bay,Hopkins anchored in sight ofMount Fuji 30 August 1945.Hopkins rode out twotyphoons with winds raging to 125 knots before her departure from Tokyo Bay 10 October 1945 for the Eastern Seaboard of the United States.
Hopkins arrived in Norfolk 28 November and decommissioned there 21 December 1945. She was sold for scrapping 8 November 1946 to Heglo Sales Corporation,Hillsdale, New Jersey.
Hopkins was awarded twoNavy Unit Commendations for heroism off Guadalcanal and in Lingayen Gulf. She also received 10battle stars for her service in World War II.Hopkins is the most decorated member of the Clemson-class destroyers.
This article incorporates text from thepublic domainDictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be foundhere.
