USS Belknap (DD-251)

Last updated

DD251.jpg
History
US flag 48 stars.svgUnited States
Namesake George Belknap
Builder Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation, Fore River Shipyard, Quincy
Cost$1,233,888.43 (hull and machinery) [1]
Laid down31 July 1918
Launched14 January 1919
Commissioned28 April 1919
Decommissioned4 August 1945
Stricken13 August 1945
FateSold for scrap, 30 November 1945
General characteristics
Class and type Clemson-class destroyer
Displacement1,215 tons
Length314 ft 4 in (95.8 m)
Beam31 ft 8 in (9.7 m)
Draft9 ft 10 in (3.0 m)
Propulsion
  • 26,500 shp (19,800 kW);
  • Geared turbines,
  • 2 screws
Speed35 knots (65 km/h)
Range4,900  nmi (9,100 km) at 15 knots (28 km/h)
Complement130 officers and enlisted
Armament

USS Belknap (DD-251/AVD-8/DD-251/APD-34) was a Clemson-class destroyer in the United States Navy during World War II. She was named for Rear Admiral George Belknap.

Contents

History

Belknap was launched 14 January 1919 by Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation; sponsored by Miss Frances Georgiana Belknap, granddaughter of Admiral Belknap; and commissioned 28 April 1919.

Following her shakedown cruise, Belknap joined US naval forces in the eastern Mediterranean. After several months she returned to the United States and served with Division 28, Atlantic Fleet, until placed in reserve at Charleston Navy Yard in 1920. She was decommissioned 28 June 1922 at Philadelphia Navy Yard and remained there until 1940.

World War II

During 1940 Belknap was converted into a seaplane tender (reclassified AVD-8, 2 August 1940) and recommissioned 22 November 1940. She was assigned to Patrol Wing 5 at Hamilton, Bermuda, and remained there until early 1941 when she returned to Newport, Rhode Island. Between May and September 1941 she made three voyages from Newport to Newfoundland and Iceland. She remained at Reykjavík, Iceland, during September 1941 May 1942 and then went to Charleston Navy Yard for an extensive overhaul From August 1942 to January 1943 she patrolled in the Caribbean and between February 194S and January 1944 she served with the escort carriers Bogue, Croatan, and Core offensive antisubmarine groups in the Atlantic. Reclassified DD-251, 14 November 1943, Belknap received the Presidential Unit Citation (US) for her service with TG 21.12 (Bogue group), 20 April-20 June 1943. Following convoy duty along the east and Gulf coasts (February–June 1944), Belknap underwent conversion into a high speed transport (reclassified APD-34, 22 June 1944).

Conversion completed, Belknap arrived in the Pacific during September 1944. During 18–22 October she served as a screen ship during the Leyte invasion and during 3–11 January 1945 as a shore bombardment and beach reconnaissance vessel at the Lingayen Gulf landings. On 11 January she trained all her guns on a Japanese kamikaze which eventually crashed into Belknap's number two stack, crippling her engines, killing 38 and wounding 49 including the UDTs on board. UDT 9 was on board when she was hit. It cost the team one officer, 7 enlisted, 3 MIA and 13 wounded. The ship remained at Lingayen for emergency repairs until 18 January when USS Hidatsa, ATF-102 towed her to Manus, Admiralty Islands. Following temporary repairs at Manus, Belknap proceeded to Philadelphia Navy Yard via the west coast, arriving 18 June. Decommissioned 4 August 1945, Belknap was sold 30 November 1945 for scrapping. In addition to her Presidential Unit Citation, Belknap received three battle stars for her World War II service.

Related Research Articles

USS <i>Dickerson</i> (DD-157) Wickes-class destroyer

USS Dickerson (DD-157) was a Wickes-class destroyer in the United States Navy, and was converted to a high-speed transport at Charleston, South Carolina and designated APD-21 in 1943. She was named for Mahlon Dickerson (1770–1853), Secretary of the Navy from 1834 to 1838.

USS <i>Stringham</i> (DD-83) Wickes-class destroyer

USS Stringham (DD–83) was a Wickes-class destroyer in the United States Navy during World War I. Later she served in World War II as APD-6. She was the second ship named for Silas Horton Stringham.

USS <i>Schley</i> (DD-103) Wickes-class destroyer

USS Schley (DD-103) was a Wickes-class destroyer in the United States Navy during World War I and later designated, APD-14 in World War II. She was the first ship named in honor of Winfield Scott Schley.

USS <i>Rathburne</i> (DD-113) Wickes-class destroyer

USS Rathburne (DD–113) was a Wickes-class destroyer in the United States Navy during both World Wars. She was the first ship named for John Peck Rathbun.

USS <i>Dorsey</i> (DD-117) Wickes-class destroyer

USS Dorsey (DD–117), reclassified DMS-1 on 19 November 1940, was a Wickes-class destroyer in the United States Navy during World War I. She was named for John Dorsey.

USS <i>Crosby</i> (DD-164) Wickes-class destroyer

USS Crosby (DD–164) was a Wickes-class destroyer in the United States Navy during World War II, later reclassified as APD-17. She was named for Admiral Peirce Crosby.

USS <i>Manley</i> (DD-74) Caldwell-class destroyer

USS Manley (DD-74/AG-28/APD-1), a Caldwell-class destroyer, served in the United States Navy. She was the second Navy ship named for Captain John Manley (c.1733–1793).

USS <i>Clemson</i> (DD-186) Clemson-class destroyer

USS Clemson (DD-186/AVP-17/AVD-4/APD-31) was the lead ship of her class of destroyers which served in the United States Navy during World War II. She was named for Midshipman Henry A. Clemson (1820–1846), who was lost at sea when the brig USS Somers capsized in a sudden squall off Vera Cruz on 8 December 1846 while chasing a blockade runner. Entering service in 1919, the ship had a brief active life before placed in reserve in 1922. Converted to an aircraft tender in 1939, the ship reactivated in 1940. In 1943, Clemson reconverted to a destroyer and served in the Battle of the Atlantic during World War II. In 1944, the ship was converted into a high speed transport and transferred to the Pacific taking part in several invasions. Following the end of the war, the ship was taken out of service again and sold for scrapping in 1946.

USS <i>Goldsborough</i> (DD-188) Clemson-class destroyer

USS Goldsborough (DD-188/AVP-18/AVD-5/APD-32) was a Clemson-class destroyer in the United States Navy during World War II. She was the second Navy ship named for Rear Admiral Louis M. Goldsborough (1805–1877). Entering service in 1920, the ship had a brief active life before being placed in reserve in 1922. Goldsborough was reactivated for World War II and was used as an aircraft tender, destroyer and high speed transport in both Atlantic and Pacific theaters. Following the war, the ship was sold for scrapping in 1946.

USS <i>George E. Badger</i> (DD-196) Clemson-class destroyer

USS George E. Badger (DD-196/CG-16/AVP-16/AVD-3/APD-33) was a Clemson-class destroyer in the United States Navy during World War II; she was named for Secretary of the Navy George E. Badger (1795–1866).

USS <i>Brooks</i> Clemson-class destroyer

USS Brooks (DD-232/APD-10) was a Clemson-class United States Navy destroyer who served primarily in Europe and the Atlantic, the Adriatic, and both the Pacific and Caribbean after WWI. Between 1931 and 1939 she was placed out of commission. She was recommissioned in 1939 and served in the Atlantic until 1941, switching to the Pacific Theatre during World War II where she was badly damaged at the Battle of Lingayen Gulf in January 1945. She was named for Lieutenant John Brooks, Jr.

USS <i>Kane</i> (DD-235) Clemson-class destroyer

USS Kane (DD-235/APD-18) was a Clemson-class destroyer in the United States Navy during World War II. She was the first ship named for Elisha Kent Kane.

USS <i>Humphreys</i> (DD-236) Clemson-class destroyer

USS Humphreys (DD-236/APD-12) was a Clemson-class destroyer in the United States Navy during World War II. She was named for Joshua Humphreys, a pioneer US shipbuilder.

USS <i>Overton</i> Clemson-class destroyer

USS Overton (DD-239/APD–23) was a United States Navy Clemson-class destroyer and high-speed transport that saw service during World War II.

USS <i>Osmond Ingram</i> (DD-255) Tender of the United States Navy

USS Osmond Ingram (DD-255/AVD–9/APD-35) was a Clemson-class destroyer in the United States Navy during World War II. She was named for Gunners Mate First Class Osmond Ingram, who posthumously received the Medal of Honor.

USS <i>Greene</i> (DD-266) Clemson-class destroyer in the United States Navy

USS Greene (DD-266/AVD-13/APD-36) was a Clemson-class destroyer in the United States Navy in service from 1919 to 1922. She was recommissioned in 1940 and wrecked in a storm in October 1945.

USS <i>Ballard</i> (DD-267) Tender of the United States Navy

The second USS Ballard (DD-267/AVD-10) was a Clemson-class destroyer in the United States Navy during World War II. She was named for Edward J. Ballard.

USS <i>Bull</i> (DE-693) Buckley-class destroyer escort

USS Bull (DE-693/APD-78) was a Buckley-class destroyer escort, later converted to a Charles Lawrence-class high speed transport. She was the second Navy ship named after Lieutenant Richard Bull (1914–1942), a naval aviator who was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.

USS <i>Loy</i> (DE-160) Buckley-class destroyer escort

USS Loy (DE-160/APD-56), a Buckley-class destroyer escort in service with the United States Navy from 1943 to 1947. She was converted to high-speed transport (APD) in late 1945. Following her decommissioning, she spent another 19 years in reserve before being sold for scrap in 1966.

USS <i>Lloyd</i> (DE-209) Buckley-class destroyer escort

USS Lloyd (DE-209/APD-63), a Buckley-class destroyer escort of the United States Navy, was named in honor of Ensign William R. Lloyd (1916–1942).

References

  1. "Table 21 – Ships on Navy List June 30, 1919". Congressional Serial Set. U.S. Government Printing Office: 762. 1921.