Destroyer Squadron 7 | |
---|---|
Active | 1920–22, 1939–45, 1946–present |
Country | United States of America |
Branch | United States Navy |
Type | destroyer squadron |
Role | Naval surface/strike/anti-aircraft warfare |
Part of | United States Seventh Fleet |
Engagements | Neutrality Patrol World War II Operation Husky Operation Avalanche Operation Shingle Operation Dragoon Korean War Operation Chromite Vietnam War Operation Desert Storm Operation Enduring Freedom Operation Iraqi Freedom Operation Enduring Freedom – Afghanistan Operation New Dawn |
Website | |
Commanders | |
Commodore | Captain Tom Ogden, USN [1] |
Notable commanders | James L. Kauffman |
Destroyer Squadron 7 (DesRon 7) is a naval unit of the United States Navy stationed in Singapore. It is assigned to the United States Seventh Fleet.
Destroyer Squadron 7 (DesRon 7) was first established in September 1920 as a reserve squadron of 15 destroyers homeported at Charleston, South Carolina (USA). The squadron was deactivated in July 1922.
In April 1939, DesRon 7 was reactivated at Naval Base San Diego, California. In December 1940, the squadron was reformed at Naval Station Newport, Rhode Island. It was equipped with newly built Benson- and Gleaves-class destroyers between June and September 1940. In December 1940, DesRon 7 consisted of the Destroyer Divisions (DesDiv) 13 and 14 with the following ships:
Between March and December 1941, DesRon 7 operated 31 in the "Atlantic Convoy Support Force" from Argentia, Newfoundland and Iceland with the Wickes- and Clemson-classdestroyers of DesRon 30 and DesRon 31. During these “short-of-war” operations, Niblack fired the first U.S. depth charges of the war on 10 April 1941 (on the German submarine U-52), while rescuing survivors the Dutch cargo ship Saleier. On 31 October, Niblack and Hilary P. Jones rescued 45 survivors of USS Reuben James (DD-245) which was sunk by a torpedo attack from German submarine U-552 near Iceland on 31 October 1941. On 3 September 1942, while escorting Convoy TA-18, bound for New York City, a large fire broke out aboard the troop transport USS Wakefield (AP-21). Mayo and the light cruiser USS Brooklyn (CL-40) closed to windward to take off passengers, a badly-burned officer, and members of the crew not needed to man pumps and hoses. Other survivors were disembarked by boat and raft, to be picked up forthwith by the screening ships, among them Niblack and Hilary P. Jones. DesRon 7 continued to serve in the Atlantic Ocean until the Allied invasion of Sicily in August 1943, when Plunkett and Gleaves accepted the surrender of the small island of Ustica in the Tyrrhenian Sea.
The following month, Plunkett and the ships of DesDiv 13 operated in the screen of the Southern Attack Force during the Allied invasion of Italy. On 9 October 1943, Gleaves and a British LCT rescued 57 survivors of USS Buck (DD-420) which had been sunk by the German submarine U-616 off the coast of Salerno when it was working in support of Operation Avalanche. DesDiv13 (less Benson) operated with the multinational Task Force 81 in “Operation Shingle,” the landings at Anzio, in January 1944. While providing fire support, Mayo succeeded in breaking up a German counterattack 23 January, before she was heavily damaged by a mine the following day. Plunkett suffered major damage from a bomb hit on the same day. On 20 April 1944, Lansdale was torpedoed and sunk by German bombers off the coast of Algeria while escorting Convoy UGS-37. Gleaves and Hilary P. Jones sank the German submarine U-616 with other ships and aircraft off Spain on 17 May 1944. Afterwards they rescued 53 members of her crew. Niblack and Ludlow sank the German submarine U-960 north-west of Algiers with gunfire on 19 May 1944.
In August and September 1944, DesDiv 13 participated Operation Dragoon, the invasion of Southern France. Hilary P. Jones provided gunfire support missions during the assault, but also acted as electronic jamming vessel in the successful attempt to prevent radio-controlled bombs from harassing the area. In the weeks that followed she continued to range up and down the coast in support of the First Airborne Task Force destroying bridges, gun emplacements, railroad facilities and coastal vessels. She was attacked by a German E-boat 21 August, but destroyed the craft with gunfire. For her outstanding record during this period the ship received the Navy Unit Commendation.
Convoy duty and overhauls followed these actions. In the spring of 1945, DesRon 7 was transferred to the Pacific Ocean, where it was mainly engaged in escort duties. Benson, Mayo, Madison and Hilary P. Jones entered Tokyo Bay on 2 September 1945 during the surrender ceremony. Returning to the United States, DesRon 7 was deactivated in November 1945. [2]
In January 1946, DesRon 60 was redesignated DesRon 7. Ships of the squadron participated in Operation Crossroads, the atomic bomb tests at Bikini Atoll. The squadron saw extended action during the Korean War, including the Battle of Inchon. During the Vietnam War, the squadron was deployed in support of Operation Market Time and engaged in shore bombardments.
In January and February 1979, DesRon 7 participated in the evacuation of Americans from Iran during the Iranian Revolution. During the 1991 Gulf War, the commander of DesRon 7 acted as the "North Arabian Gulf Local Anti-Surface Warfare Commander" and directed multi-national forces in offensive operations which eliminated the Iraqi Navy.
In 1994-2003, DesRon 7 was assigned the battle group of the aircraft carrier USS Constellation (CV-64). In 1992, 1994, 1997 and 1999, DesRon 7 participated in Operation Southern Watch in the Arabian Gulf. [3]
In 2002, the following ships were assigned to DesRon 7: [4]
From 2004 to 2012, DesRon 7 was assigned to the battle group of the newly commissioned aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76). [5]
In December 2012, DesRon 7 shifted its homeport to Singapore where it acts as the tactical commander of littoral combat ships rotationally deployed to Southeast Asia. It also leads the execution of the CARAT exercises. [6] Exercise CARAT is a series of annual bilateral military exercises conducted by the United States Pacific Fleet with several member nations in Southeast Asia since 1995.
USS Parsons (DD-949/DDG-33) began her career as a Forrest Sherman-class destroyer of the United States Navy. She was named in honor of Rear Admiral William S. Parsons (1901–1953), who worked on the Manhattan Project during World War II.
The first ship named in honor of Rear Admiral Aaron Ward, USS Aaron Ward (DD-132) was a Wickes-class destroyer in service with the United States Navy. In 1940, she was transferred to the Royal Navy and renamed HMS Castleton.
A destroyer squadron is a naval squadron or flotilla usually consisting of destroyers rather than other types of vessel. In some navies other vessels, such as frigates, may be included. In English the word "squadron" tends to be used for larger and "flotilla" for smaller vessels; both may be used for destroyer units. Similar formations are used in non-English-speaking countries, e.g., the "escadrille"—which would translate directly as "squadron"—in France.
The first USS Twiggs (DD–127) was a Wickes-class destroyer in the United States Navy during World War I. She was named for Major Levi Twiggs. She was later transferred to the Royal Navy, as HMS Leamington and to the Soviet Navy as Zhguchy, before returning to Britain to star in the film The Gift Horse, which depicts the St. Nazaire Raid.
The first USS Tillman (DD–135) was a Wickes-class destroyer in the United States Navy. She was named for Senator Benjamin Tillman. Transferred to the United Kingdom in World War II, she was commissioned in the Royal Navy as HMS Wells.
USS Bulmer (DD-222/AG-86) was a Clemson-class destroyer in the United States Navy during World War II. It was the last warship of the Asiatic Fleet in USN commission.
The Benson class was a class of destroyers of the U.S. Navy built 1939–1943. The thirty 1,620-ton Benson-class destroyers were built in two groups. The first six were authorized in fiscal year 1938 (FY38) and laid down at Bethlehem Steel, Quincy, Massachusetts, and three naval shipyards. The remaining 24 "repeat Bensons" were authorized in 1940–42 and built at four Bethlehem Steel yards. They were laid down after the first group was commissioned. These plus the "repeat Livermores" were also known at the time as the Bristol class. During World War II the Bensons were usually combined with the Livermores as the Benson-Livermore class; this persisted in references until at least the 1960s. In some references both classes are combined and called the Benson class. The Benson- and Gleaves-class destroyers were the backbone of the pre-war Neutrality Patrols and brought the action to the enemy by participating in every major campaign of the war.
The Gleaves-class destroyers were a class of 66 destroyers of the United States Navy built 1938–42, designed by Gibbs & Cox. The first ship of the class was USS Gleaves. They were the production destroyer of the US Navy when it entered World War II.
USS Grayson (DD-435), a Gleaves-class destroyer, is the only ship of the United States Navy to be named for Rear Admiral Cary Travers Grayson, who served as personal physician and aide to President Woodrow Wilson during World War I. He also served as chairman of the American Red Cross from 1935 until his death on 15 February 1938.
USS Woolsey (DD-437), a Gleaves-class destroyer, was the second ship to be named Woolsey in the United States Navy. It is the first to be named for both Commodore Melancthon Brooks Woolsey and his father Commodore Melancthon Taylor Woolsey.
USS Niblack (DD-424), a Gleaves-class destroyer, is the only ship of the United States Navy to be named for Albert Parker Niblack. Niblack became the Director of Naval Intelligence 1 March 1919, and Naval Attache in London 6 August 1920. As Vice Admiral, he commanded U.S. Naval Forces in European waters 15 January 1921 to 17 June 1922.
USS Macomb (DD-458/DMS-23) was a Gleaves-class destroyer of the United States Navy, named for Commodore William H. Macomb (1819–1872) and Rear Admiral David B. Macomb (1827–1911).
USS Baldwin (DD-624), was a United States Navy Gleaves-class destroyer, in service from 1943 to 1946. She was the only ship of the U.S. Navy to be named for Charles H. Baldwin, an 1864 Medal of Honor recipient.
USS Hobson (DD-464/DMS-26), a Gleaves-class destroyer, was the only ship of the United States Navy to be named for Richmond Pearson Hobson, who was awarded the Medal of Honor for actions during the Spanish–American War. He would later in his career attain the rank of rear admiral and go on to serve as a congressman from the state of Alabama.
USS Mayo (DD-422) was a Benson-class destroyer in the United States Navy during World War II. She was named for Admiral Henry Thomas Mayo.
USS Hilary P. Jones (DD-427) was a Benson-class destroyer in the United States Navy during World War II. She was named for Admiral Hilary P. Jones.
USS Nields (DD-616) was a Benson-class destroyer in the United States Navy during World War II.
Commander, Naval Surface Force, Atlantic (COMNAVSURFLANT) is a post within the United States Fleet Forces Command. As Naval Surface Force Atlantic, it is a military formation, but the organization is often known as SURFLANT. Its headquarters are at the Naval Station Norfolk, Norfolk, Virginia. The current commander is Rear Admiral Brendan R. McLane. COMNAVSURFLANT supervises all surface ships based on the Eastern United States and Gulf Coast of the United States, as well as ships forwarded deployed to Naval Station Rota, Spain.
SS Louise Lykes was a Type C2-F ship built in 1941 at Federal Shipbuilding of Kearny, New Jersey. She sailed for the Lykes Brothers Steamship Company out of New Orleans, Louisiana. On 9 January 1943, she was sunk with all hands in the North Atlantic by German submarine U-384.
Destroyer Squadron 2 is a destroyer squadron of the United States Navy. It is administratively part of Commander, Naval Surface Forces Atlantic. As of 2012, the following destroyers are assigned to this squadron: USS Forrest Sherman, USS James E. Williams, USS Winston S. Churchill, USS Porter, USS Mahan, USS Mitscher, and USS Laboon. Destroyer Squadron 2 is assigned to Carrier Strike Group 12.