USS Doneff

Last updated

USS Doneff (DE-49) at sea on 26 February 1945 (19-LCM-80086).jpg
History
US flag 48 stars.svgUnited States
NameUSS Doneff
Builder Philadelphia Navy Yard
Launched24 July 1942
Commissioned10 June 1943
Decommissioned22 December 1945
FateSold for scrapping, 9 January 1947
General characteristics
Type Evarts-class destroyer escort
Displacement
  • 1,140 long tons (1,158 t) standard
  • 1,430 long tons (1,453 t) full
Length
  • 289 ft 5 in (88.21 m) o/a
  • 283 ft 6 in (86.41 m) w/l
Beam35 ft 2 in (10.72 m)
Draft11 ft (3.4 m) (max)
Propulsion
Speed19 knots (35 km/h; 22 mph)
Range4,150 nmi (7,690 km)
Complement15 officers and 183 enlisted
Armament

USS Doneff (DE-49) was an Evarts-class destroyer escort which served in the United States Navy in the Pacific Theater of Operations. The only encounter with the Imperial Japanese Navy was the sighting of one or two A6M Zero fighters during the operational time spent in the Aleutian Islands.

Contents

DE-49, originally intended for transfer to Britain, was launched on 24 July 1942 by Philadelphia Navy Yard; retained by the U.S. Navy; named Doneff on 4 March 1943, and commissioned on 10 June 1943.

Namesake

John Lincoln Doneff was born on 12 February 1920 in Newark, Ohio He was appointed a Midshipman from the 17th Ohio District to the United States Naval Academy on 30 June 1939. His summer midshipman cruise (8-15 June 1940) saw him serving on the battleship USS New York. He graduated with the Class of 1943 on 19 June 1942. Commissioned Ensign upon graduation, he served briefly in the Twelfth Naval District (2-7 July 1942), then joined the heavy cruiser USS Pensacola on 16 July 1942. He was killed in action in the Battle of Tassafaronga on 30 November 1942.

Service history

Doneff arrived at San Diego, California, as escort for a convoy on 9 September 1943. On 27 September she got underway for Alaskan waters and escort duty. From April 1944 she cruised between Attu and the Kurile Islands to report enemy contacts, forced landings of aircraft, and weather, and to guide planes and serve as rescue vessels in case of forced landings. She returned to Attu on 19 May for escort duty between Alaskan ports. Except for a period as guard ship again from 1 to 21 August 1944, she continued to escort convoys until 7 January 1945 when she sailed for San Francisco, California, and overhaul.

Arriving at Pearl Harbor on 9 March 1945 for exercises, Doneff got underway on 20 March to escort a convoy to Eniwetok, arriving there on 28 March. She served at Guam on patrol and local escort duty, then made anti-submarine patrols off Saipan until 6 August, when she sailed for Okinawa as a convoy escort for the USS Indianapolis, which carried the atomic bomb that was dropped on Hiroshima, returning to Saipan on 19 August. From 25 August to 23 September, she joined the destroyer Mayrant (DD-402) to receive the surrender of the Japanese garrison on Marcus Island and support occupation of the island by American troops.

After brief overhaul at Guam, Doneff put to sea on 11 October, arriving at San Pedro on 26 October. Doneff was decommissioned on 22 December 1945 at San Diego, and sold for scrapping on 9 January 1947.

Awards

American Campaign Medal ribbon.svg American Campaign Medal
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal ribbon.svg Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
World War II Victory Medal ribbon.svg World War II Victory Medal

Related Research Articles

USS <i>Farragut</i> (DD-348) Farragut-class destroyer

The third USS Farragut (DD-348) was named for Admiral David Glasgow Farragut (1801–1870). She was the lead ship of her class of destroyers in the United States Navy.

USS <i>Dale</i> (DD-353) Farragut-class destroyer

The fourth USS Dale (DD-353) was a Farragut-class destroyer in the United States Navy during World War II. Dale received 14 battle stars for World War II service. She was named for American Revolutionary war hero Richard Dale.

USS <i>Dent</i> Wickes-class destroyer

USS Dent (DD–116) was a Wickes-class destroyer in the United States Navy during the World War I and later served as APD-9 in World War II. She was named for Captain John H. Dent.

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>Williamson</i> Tender of the United States Navy

USS Williamson (DD-244/AVP-15/AVD-2/APD-27) was a Clemson-class destroyer in the United States Navy during World War II. She was named for Commander William Price Williamson.

USS <i>Acree</i> Cannon-class destroyer escort

USS Acree (DE-167) was a Cannon-class destroyer escort in service the United States Navy from 1943 to 1946. She was scrapped in 1973.

USS <i>Decatur</i> (DD-341) Clemson-class destroyer

The third USS Decatur (DD-341) was a Clemson-class destroyer in the United States Navy following World War I. She was named for Stephen Decatur.

USS <i>Dewey</i> (DD-349) Farragut-class destroyer

The first USS Dewey (DD-349) was a Farragut-class destroyer of the United States Navy, launched in 1934 and named for Admiral George Dewey. Dewey served in the Pacific through World War II. After escaping damage during the Attack on Pearl Harbor, Dewey screened the aircraft carrier USS Lexington until the carrier was lost in the Battle of the Coral Sea; then screened USS Saratoga through the Invasion of Guadalcanal and the Battle of the Eastern Solomons. Following overhaul in San Francisco, Dewey spent 1943 in Alaskan waters supporting the invasions of Attu and Kiska. Dewey spent 1944 supporting raids in the Marshalls, Carolines, and Marianas, including screening carriers during the Battle of the Philippine Sea. After being damaged by Typhoon Cobra during the Recapture of the Philippines, Dewey supported the invasion of Iwo Jima and spent the remainder of the war screening replenishment oilers.

USS <i>Spangler</i> Buckley-class destroyer escort

USS Spangler (DE-696) was a Buckley-class destroyer escort of the United States Navy.

USS <i>Dunlap</i> Mahan-class destroyer

USS Dunlap (DD–384) was a Mahan-class destroyer in the United States Navy before and during World War II. She was named after Brigadier General Robert H. Dunlap, USMC. In some references, she is listed as a Dunlap-class destroyer. Captain was Clifton Iverson, who earned the Navy Cross during the Battle of Vella Gulf

USS <i>Edward C. Daly</i> Destroyer escort in the service of the United States Navy

USS Edward C. Daly (DE-17) was an Evarts-class "short-hull" destroyer escort in the service of the United States Navy.

USS Motive (AM-102) was an Auk-class minesweeper built for the United States Navy during World War II. She earned three battle stars for World War II service. She was decommissioned in 1946 and placed in reserve where she remained until struck from the Naval Vessel Register in December 1966. She was sunk as a target in April 1968.

USS <i>Fair</i> Evarts-class destroyer escort of the United States Navy

USS Fair (DE-35) was an Evarts-class destroyer escort of the United States Navy.

USS <i>Gilmore</i> Evarts-class destroyer escort

USS Gilmore (DE-18) was an Evarts-class short-hull destroyer escort in the service of the United States Navy.

USS <i>Wintle</i> (DE-25) Evarts-class destroyer escort

USS Wintle (DE-25) was an Evarts-class destroyer escort constructed for the United States Navy during World War II. The ship was promptly sent off into the Pacific Ocean to protect convoys and other ships from Japanese submarines and fighter aircraft. By the time she returned to the United States at the end of the war she had been awarded three battle stars.

USS <i>Lovering</i> (DE-39)

USS Lovering (DE-39) was an Evarts-class destroyer escort of the United States Navy during World War II. She was promptly sent off into the Pacific Ocean to protect convoys and other ships from Japanese submarines and fighter aircraft. She performed dangerous work in major battle areas and sailed home with three battle stars.

USS <i>Brackett</i>

USS Brackett (DE-41) was an Evarts-class destroyer escort of the United States Navy during World War II. She was sent off into the Pacific Ocean to protect convoys and other ships from Japanese submarines and fighter aircraft. She performed escort and anti-submarine operations in dangerous battle areas and was awarded three battle stars.

USS <i>Engstrom</i>

USS Engstrom (DE-50) was an Evarts class destroyer escort constructed for the United States Navy during World War II. She was sent off into the Pacific Ocean to protect convoys and other ships from Japanese submarines and fighter aircraft. She performed escort and antisubmarine operations in dangerous battle areas and returned home safely to the States.

USS <i>Dionne</i>

USS Dionne (DE-261) was an Evarts-class destroyer escort of the United States Navy during World War II. She was sent off into the Pacific Ocean to protect convoys and other ships from Japanese submarines and fighter aircraft. She performed escort and antisubmarine operations in dangerous battle areas and returned home with six battle stars, a high number for a ship of her type.

USS <i>Silverstein</i> John C. Butler-class destroyer escort of the United States Navy

USS Silverstein (DE-534) was a John C. Butler-class destroyer escort in service with the United States Navy from 1944 to 1947 and from 1951 to 1958. She was sold for scrapping in 1973.

References

PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships .The entry can be found here.