USS Hilary P. Jones

Last updated

USS Hilary P Jones DD-427 01.jpg
USS Hilary P. Jones (DD-427)
History
US flag 48 stars.svgUnited States
NameHilary P. Jones
Namesake Hilary P. Jones
Builder Charleston Navy Yard
Launched14 December 1939
Commissioned6 September 1940
Decommissioned6 February 1947
Fateloaned to Taiwan, 1954
Stricken1 November 1974
Flag of the Republic of China.svgTaiwan
NameHan Yang
Acquired26 February 1954
IdentificationHull number: DD-15
FateBroken up for scrap, 1974
General characteristics
Class and type Benson-class destroyer
Displacement1,620 tons
Length348 ft 2 in (106.12 m)
Beam36 ft 1 in (11.00 m)
Draft17 ft 6 in (5.33 m)
Speed36.5 knots (67.6 km/h; 42.0 mph)
Complement276
Armament

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.

Contents

Hilary P. Jones was launched by the Charleston Navy Yard 14 December 1939; sponsored by Mrs. Hilary P. Jones, widow of Admiral Jones; and commissioned 6 September 1940 at Charleston Navy Yard.

World War II Atlantic Service

Following shakedown in the mid Atlantic and exercises off Newport, Rhode Island, Hilary P. Jones departed 11 December for duty with the Neutrality Patrol in the Caribbean. She performed escort duties in those waters until 11 March 1941, when she returned to Hampton Roads. Training exercises off New England followed until 28 April, when the destroyer departed New York as a convoy escort. She steamed to Newfoundland, and for the next dangerous months before the attack on Pearl Harbor escorted cargo ships and transports in the North Atlantic. During one of these voyages to Iceland, 31 October 1941, Reuben James, the first naval vessel to be lost in the war, was torpedoed and sunk. Hilary P. Jones rescued 11 survivors of the attack before arriving Reykjavík 3 November.

The destroyer continued the hazardous North Atlantic convoy duty after America's entry into the war, battling both German submarines and the elements to bring troops and supplies to the Allies. Jones transferred to Mediterranean duty in January 1944 as production of escort vessels and frigates allowed the larger destroyers to be used for other assignments. The destroyer departed with her squadron 16 January 1944 to screen Philadelphia off Anzio. She alternated at the bitterly contested Anzio beachhead with convoy duty between there and Naples until 20 March, often exchanging fire with German shore batteries off Anzio. After a brief respite the ship returned to her gunfire support duties at Anzio during April and early May, occasionally engaging in escort and antisubmarine patrol operations. With three escort vessels the destroyer detected and attacked U-516 off Algeria in May 1944, sinking it after a lengthy battle on 17 May.

During June and July, Hilary P. Jones acted as escort ship for Mediterranean convoys and took part in training for the invasion of Southern France. She departed Naples on 13 August in convoy with French and British ships for the invasion, arriving three days later. The destroyer not only 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.

Detached from her coastal support duties 1 October 1944, the destroyer continued convoy duties in the Mediterranean until returning to New York 12 January 1945. Following overhaul and training off Casco Bay, Maine, she sailed with her last transatlantic convoy 26 February – 9 April 1945. Jones was then designated for Pacific Fleet, and departed New York 24 April for the Panama Canal Zone and Pearl Harbor.

Convoys escorted

ConvoyEscort GroupDatesNotes
task force 191–7 July 1941 [1] occupation of Iceland prior to US declaration of war
ON 20 30 Sept-9 Oct 1941 [2] from Iceland to Newfoundland prior to US declaration of war
HX 156 24 Oct-1 Nov 1941 [3] from Newfoundland to Iceland prior to US declaration of war
ON 34 12-21 Nov 1941 [2] from Iceland to Newfoundland prior to US declaration of war
HX 163 5-15 Dec 1941 [3] from Newfoundland to Iceland; war declared while convoy was being escorted
ON 47 22-23 Dec 1941 [2] from Iceland to Newfoundland
AT 186-17 Aug 1942 [4] troopships from New York City to Firth of Clyde
UC 1 15 Feb-6 March 1943 [5] from Liverpool to Curacao
CU 1 20 March-1 April 1943 [6] from Curacao to Liverpool
UC 2 9–23 April 1943 [5] from Liverpool to Curacao
CU 2 21 May-5 June 1943 [6] from Curacao to Liverpool
UC 3 10–26 June 1943 [5] from Liverpool to Curacao
CU 4 26 Aug-9 Sept 1943 [6] from Curacao to Liverpool
UC 4 15-27 Sept 1943 [5] from Liverpool to Curacao

Pacific Service

Operating at Pearl Harbor from 18 May 1945, until 2 June, she then sailed for the advance base at Ulithi. Upon her arrival 13 June Hilary P. Jones joined the surface patrol forces in the Caroline Islands, making occasional escort voyages to Okinawa. At Ulithi when Japan surrendered, she steamed 18 August to Okinawa, Subic Bay, and then Tokyo. As an escort unit for 8th Army occupation troops, she entered Tokyo Bay 2 September as the surrender document was being executed onboard Missouri. Subsequently, she made two more voyages with occupation groups to Japan before ending her long war service and departed for the United States on 5 November.

Post World War II, Loan to ROC Navy and fate

Hilary P. Jones sailed to Charleston Navy Yard via Pearl Harbor and the Panama Canal and decommissioned there 6 February 1947. She was placed in the Charleston Group, Atlantic Reserve Fleet.

She was loaned to the Republic of China under the Military Assistance Program 26 February 1954. She served the Nationalist Chinese Navy as HanYan (DD-15). She was stricken on 1 November 1974 and broken up for scrap.

Awards

Hilary P. Jones received four battle stars for World War II service, in addition to her Navy Unit Commendation.

As of 2017, no other ship in the United States Navy has been named Hilary P. Jones.

Related Research Articles

USS <i>Herbert</i> (DD-160) Wickes-class destroyer

USS Herbert (DD-160) was a Wickes-class destroyer. She was named for Hilary A. Herbert (1834–1919), Secretary of the Navy from 1893 to 1897.

USS <i>Livermore</i> (DD-429) Gleaves-class destroyer

USS Livermore (DD-429), a Gleaves-class destroyer, was the 1st ship of the United States Navy to be named for Samuel Livermore, the first naval chaplain to be honored with a ship in his name.

USS <i>Kearny</i> (DD-432) Gleaves-class destroyer of the United States Navy, in service from 1940 to 1946

USS Kearny (DD-432), a Gleaves-class destroyer, was a United States Navy warship during World War II. She was noted for being torpedoed by a German U-boat in October 1941, before the U.S. had entered the war. She survived that attack, and later served in North Africa and the Mediterranean.

USS <i>Gleaves</i> (DD-423) Gleaves-class destroyer

USS Gleaves (DD-423) was the lead ship of the Gleaves class of destroyers. She is the only ship of the United States Navy to be named for Admiral Albert Gleaves, who is credited with improving the accuracy and precision of torpedoes and other naval arms.

USS <i>Woolsey</i> (DD-437) Gleaves-class destroyer

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 <i>Ludlow</i> (DD-438) Gleaves-class destroyer

USS Ludlow (DD-438), a Gleaves-class destroyer, was the third ship of the United States Navy to bear the name. The second and third Ludlow ships were named for Lieutenant Augustus C. Ludlow, second in command of USS Chesapeake. He was, like his captain, mortally wounded in their ship's engagement with HMS Shannon on 1 June 1813, and died at Halifax, Nova Scotia on 13 June.

USS <i>Edison</i> (DD-439) Gleaves-class destroyer

USS Edison (DD-439), a Gleaves-class destroyer, was the first ship of the United States Navy to be named for Thomas Alva Edison, an inventor and businessman who developed many important devices and received the Navy Distinguished Service Medal for his contributions to the Navy during World War I. Edison was one of the few U.S. Navy ships to be named for a civilian.

USS <i>Ericsson</i> (DD-440) Gleaves-class destroyer

USS Ericsson (DD-440), a Gleaves-class destroyer, was the third ship of the United States Navy to be named after John Ericsson, who is best known for devising and building the Civil War ironclad USS Monitor.

USS <i>Eberle</i> (DD-430) Gleaves-class destroyer

USS Eberle (DD-430) was a Gleaves-class destroyer of the United States Navy. The ship is named for Rear Admiral Edward Walter Eberle, who commanded the Atlantic and Pacific Fleets and was Chief of Naval Operations from 1923 to 1927. The destroyer entered service in 1940 and spent the majority of her career in the Atlantic Ocean. Placed in reserve following the war, the ship was transferred to the Hellenic Navy in 1951. Renamed Niki, the destroyer remained in service until 1972 when she was scrapped.

USS <i>Niblack</i> (DD-424) Gleaves-class destroyer

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 <i>Hall</i> (DD-583) Fletcher-class destroyer

USS Hall (DD-583) was a Fletcher-class destroyer of the United States Navy. Hall entered service in 1943 and deployed to the Pacific theater. Following the war, the ship was placed in reserve until 1959, when she was sold to the Hellenic Navy and renamed Lonchi. The destroyer remained in service with the Hellenic Navy until 1990 and was scrapped in 1997.

USS <i>Benson</i> Benson-class destroyer

USS Benson (DD-421) was the lead ship of her class of destroyers in the United States Navy during World War II. She was named for Admiral William S. Benson (1855–1932).

USS <i>Madison</i> (DD-425) Benson-class destroyer

USS Madison (DD-425) was a Benson-class destroyer in the United States Navy during World War II. She is the third Navy ship of that name, and the first named for Commander James J. Madison (1888–1922), who was awarded the Medal of Honor during World War I.

USS <i>Charles F. Hughes</i> Benson-class destroyer

USS Charles F. Hughes (DD-428) was a Benson-class destroyer in the United States Navy during World War II. She was named for Charles Frederick Hughes.

USS <i>Jacob Jones</i> (DE-130)

USS Jacob Jones (DE-130) was an Edsall-class destroyer escort built for the U.S. Navy during World War II. She served in the Atlantic Ocean and provided destroyer escort service against submarine and air attack for Navy vessels and convoys.

USS <i>Hammann</i> (DE-131)

USS Hammann (DE-131) was an Edsall-class destroyer escort built for the U.S. Navy during World War II. She served in the Atlantic Ocean and provided destroyer escort protection against submarine and air attack for Navy vessels and convoys.

USS <i>Herbert C. Jones</i> (DE-137)

USS Herbert C. Jones (DE-137) was an Edsall-class destroyer escort built for the U.S. Navy during World War II. She served in the Atlantic Ocean and provided destroyer escort protection against submarine and air attack for Navy vessels and convoys.

USS <i>Otterstetter</i> (DE-244)

USS Otterstetter (DE-244) was an Edsall-class destroyer escort built for the U.S. Navy during World War II. She served in the Atlantic Ocean the Pacific Ocean and provided destroyer escort protection against submarine and air attack for Navy vessels and convoys.

USS <i>Koiner</i> (DE-331)

USS Koiner (DE-331) was an Edsall-class destroyer escort built for the U.S. Navy during World War II. She served in the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean and provided destroyer escort protection against submarine and air attack for Navy vessels and convoys. Post-war, she was loaned to the U.S. Coast Guard, and also reclassified as a radar picket ship.

USS <i>Oliver Mitchell</i>

USS Oliver Mitchell (DE-417) was a John C. Butler-class destroyer escort built for the United States Navy during World War II. Post-war, after active participation in the Pacific War, her crew returned home with five battle stars to their credit.

References

  1. ↑ Morison, Samuel Eliot (1975). The Battle of the Atlantic September 1939-May 1943. Little, Brown and Company. pp. 74–79.
  2. 1 2 3 "ON convoys". Andrew Hague Convoy Database. Retrieved 19 June 2011.
  3. 1 2 "HX convoys". Andrew Hague Convoy Database. Retrieved 19 June 2011.
  4. ↑ "AT convoys". Andrew Hague Convoy Database. Retrieved 20 June 2011.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "UC convoys". Andrew Hague Convoy Database. Retrieved 20 June 2011.
  6. 1 2 3 "CU/TCU convoys". Andrew Hague Convoy Database. Retrieved 20 June 2011.

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

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.