USS Murphy (DD-603)

Last updated

603murphy 01.jpg
History
US flag 48 stars.svgUnited States
NameUSS Murphy
Namesake John McLeod Murphy
Builder Bethlehem Mariners Harbor, Staten Island
Laid down19 May 1941
Launched29 April 1942
Commissioned25 July 1942
Decommissioned9 March 1946
Stricken1 November 1970
IdentificationDD-603
FateSold for scrap, 6 October 1972
General characteristics
Class and type Benson-class destroyer
Displacement1,620 tons
Length348 ft 4 in (106.17 m)
Beam36 ft 1 in (11.00 m)
Draft17 ft 4 in (5.28 m)
Speed37 knots (69 km/h; 43 mph)
Complement265
Armament

USS Murphy (DD-603) was a Benson-class destroyer in the United States Navy during World War II. She was named for Lieutenant John McLeod Murphy.

Contents

Murphy's keel was laid down 19 May 1941 by Bethlehem Steel Corporation at their shipyard in Staten Island, New York. The destroyer was launched on 29 April 1942, sponsored by Miss M. Elsie Murphy, daughter of Lieutenant Murphy. The vessel was commissioned on 25 July 1942.

Operational history

Following shakedown to Casco Bay, Maine, and escort duty off Halifax, Nova Scotia, Murphy joined the Center Attack Group, Western Naval Task Force, at Norfolk, Virginia, sailing in late October for Fedhala, Morocco, to participate in Operation Torch, the invasion of North Africa. Arriving off the landing beaches 7 November, the destroyer regulated the waves of landing craft hitting the beach the next day, then gave fire support off Point Blondin at which time the ship was hit in the after engine room during a furious exchange of fire with the Sherkhi battery, losing three men killed and 25 wounded. Immediate damage control measures prevented any serious damage and Murphy's crew effected repairs in time to join other fire support ships in silencing the Cape Blondin guns. Murphy remained off Fedhala through the Naval Battle of Casablanca, driving off an air attack 9 November, until sailing for Boston to complete repairs, arriving on the 24th.

The destroyer next escorted convoys between New York and Panama, and Norfolk and Casablanca, until joining the "Dime" attack force screen for the Amphibious Battle of Gela, Sicily, in July 1943, "Operation Husky". [1] On 10 July, while engaged in patrolling the beachhead, Murphy was straddled by near misses from a night air attack, puncturing her stern and wounding one man. She was again attacked two nights later, being missed by 100 yards (91 m) by a German dive bomber, but continued her fire support off Sicily into August. Then, while escorting a group of transports to Palermo, she was once again attacked by dive bombers; but this time she downed two planes.

Partial sinking and repair

Stern section of USS Murphy after the collision. Murphy 01.jpg
Stern section of USS Murphy after the collision.

Murphy returned to the United States following the end of the invasion of Sicily, next escorting United Kingdom bound convoys. Heading out of New York Harbor 21 October 1943, the destroyer, in a convoy (17 cargo freighters, 7 destroyers, and 2 battleships) [1] was struck on the port side between the bridge and forward stack by the oil tanker SS Bulkoil, 75 miles (121 km) off the coast of New Jersey. The forward third of the ship sank in 265 feet (81 m) [2] of water, taking 35 officers and men with it. The aft two-thirds was kept afloat and was towed into New York Navy Yard for seven months of repairs, which included the replacement of the entire bow. This accident and the subsequent discovery of the exact location of the lost bow section, almost 60 years later, were the basis for the History Channel Deep Sea Detectives "Destroyer Down" episode (Season 2 episode 6, Aired on 05/18/2004).

Normandy Invasion

The veteran warship rejoined the fleet in time for the Normandy invasion. On 5 June 1944, Murphy departed Portland, England, assigned to the assault area off Vierville, France, better known as Omaha Beach. She remained there, giving fire support and conducting screen duty for the transports through mid-June, engaging in a gun duel with shore batteries 8 June, and repelling numerous German U-boat and torpedo attacks.

In July, Murphy steamed south to the Mediterranean, operating with Task Force 88, the Aircraft Carrier Force in "Operation Dragoon", the invasion of southern France. She conducted fire support, plane guard, and screening duties during the landings and then departed for New York for overhaul in early September.

Saudi Arabia

The destroyer resumed operations in late 1944, joining Quincy at Norfolk to escort that ship carrying President Franklin D. Roosevelt to the Malta and Great Bitter Lake, Egypt, Conferences. Upon arrival at Great Bitter Lake, Murphy was detached and ordered to Jidda, Arabia, to transport King Ibn Saud of Saudi Arabia and his party to the Conference. After transiting the Suez Canal, Murphy became the first United States warship to enter the harbor of Jidda. Murphy anchored on 11 February, and the royal party came aboard the next day. King Ibn Saud had not previously left his country and had never previously traveled by ship. A large canvas tent was constructed over the forecastle to accommodate the King's entourage of 48 and rugs were laid over all weather decks for the King to walk upon. A corral was built between the depth charge racks on the stern to hold sheep to be slaughtered for the King's meals. [3] The destroyer got underway immediately with her valuable cargo settled in a tent on her forecastle and arrived Great Bitter Lake on the 15th. [4] With her passengers disembarked, the warship then sailed for New York for a minor yard period, joined an antisubmarine "killer" group on duty off New England and Nova Scotia, and then in May escorted one of the last convoys to Oran, Algeria, and back. On 2 June 1945, with war in the Atlantic won, Murphy entered the Boston Navy Yard for refit prior to assignment to the Pacific Fleet.

The veteran warship departed Boston 10 July, steamed via the Panama Canal to the west coast, and then on to Okinawa, arriving 9 September. Being assigned to the 5th Fleet on occupation duty in southern Japanese waters, she visited Nagasaki, Yokosuka, Wakayama, and Nagoya until departing Okinawa 21 November for the United States. She steamed via Saipan, Pearl Harbor, San Diego, and the Panama Canal, arriving at Charleston, South Carolina to prepare for inactivation. She decommissioned there 9 March 1946, and joined the Charleston Group, Atlantic Reserve Fleet. She was struck 1 November 1970, and sold for scrap 6 October 1972. [5]

Awards

Murphy received four battle stars for World War II service.

Related Research Articles

USS <i>Brooklyn</i> (CL-40) Brooklyn-class light cruiser

USS Brooklyn (CL-40) was a light cruiser, the lead ship of her class of nine, and the third United States Navy ship to bear its name. Commissioned in 1937, she served in the Atlantic during World War II, as a convoy escort and as fire support for amphibious landings.

USS <i>Ellyson</i> Gleaves-class destroyer

USS Ellyson (DD-454/DMS-19), a Gleaves-class destroyer, is the only ship of the United States Navy to be named for Theodore Gordon Ellyson, a submariner who became the first officer of the U.S. Navy to be designated a naval aviator.

USS <i>Dickerson</i> 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>Abel P. Upshur</i> Clemson-class destroyer

USS Abel P. Upshur (DD-193) was a Clemson-class destroyer in the service of the United States Navy and United States Coast Guard until transferred to the United Kingdom in 1940. During World War II, she served in the Royal Navy as HMS Clare.

USS <i>Abercrombie</i>

USS Abercrombie (DE-343) was a John C. Butler-class destroyer escort in the service of the United States Navy from 1944 to 1946. She was finally sunk as a target in 1968.

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

USS Hogan (DD-178/DMS-6) was a Wickes-class destroyer in the United States Navy during World War II.

USS <i>Hopkins</i> (DD-249) Clemson-class destroyer

USS Hopkins (DD-249/DMS-13) was a Clemson-class destroyer built in 1920 and in United States Navy service between 1921 and 1946. The third Navy ship named in honor of Commodore of the Continental Navy Esek Hopkins, she saw extensive action in the Pacific Theatre during World War II, emerging the most decorated Clemson-class warship of that conflict.

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>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>Swanson</i> Gleaves-class destroyer

USS Swanson (DD-443) was a Gleaves-class destroyer of the United States Navy, named for Secretary of the Navy Claude A. Swanson (1862–1939).

USS <i>Emmons</i> Gleaves-class destroyer

USS Emmons (DD-457/DMS-22) was a Gleaves-class destroyer of the United States Navy, named for Rear Admiral George F. Emmons (1811–1884).

USS <i>Knight</i> Gleaves-class destroyer

USS Knight (DD-633), a Gleaves-class destroyer, is the only ship of the United States Navy to be named for Admiral Austin M. Knight.

USS <i>Cowie</i> Gleaves-class destroyer

USS Cowie (DD-632), a Gleaves-class destroyer, is the only ship of the United States Navy to be named for Rear Admiral Thomas Jefferson Cowie.

USS <i>Forrest</i> Gleaves-class destroyer

USS Forrest (DD-461/DMS-24), was a Gleaves-class destroyer of the United States Navy.

USS <i>Rowan</i> (DD-405) Benham-class destroyer

The third USS Rowan (DD-405) was a Benham-class destroyer named for Stephen C. Rowan. Rowan was in the Atlantic when the United States entered World War II, and was one of the United States Navy ships joining the British Home Fleet for the battle of convoy PQ 17. Rowan later engaged French warships in the Naval Battle of Casablanca while supporting Operation Torch. Rowan then defended convoy UGS 6 before supporting the invasion of Sicily. Rowan was sunk by E-boats off Salerno during the allied invasion of Italy.

USS <i>Wainwright</i> (DD-419) Sims-class destroyer

USS Wainwright (DD-419) was a World War II-era Sims-class destroyer in the service of the United States Navy. The ship was named to honor Lieutenant Jonathan Mayhew Wainwright, Jr., USN; his son, Master Jonathan Wainwright, III, USN; his cousin, Commander Richard Wainwright, USN; and also Rear Admiral Richard Wainwright, USN.

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>Stewart</i> (DE-238)

USS Stewart (DE–238) is an Edsall-class destroyer escort, the third United States Navy ship so named. This ship was named for Rear Admiral Charles Stewart, who commanded USS Constitution during the War of 1812. Stewart is one of only two preserved destroyer escorts in the U.S. and is the only Edsall-class vessel to be preserved. She is on display in Galveston, Texas as a museum ship and is open to the public.

USS <i>Gherardi</i> Gleaves-class destroyer

USS Gherardi (DD-637/DMS-30), a Gleaves-class destroyer, is the only ship of the United States Navy to be named for Rear Admiral Bancroft Gherardi.

HMS <i>Hambledon</i> (L37) Destroyer of the Royal Navy

The second HMS Hambledon was a Hunt-class destroyer of the Royal Navy in commission from 1940 to 1945. She was a member of the first subgroup of the class, and saw service throughout World War II.

References

  1. 1 2 Quest for Sunken Warships-USS Murphy,2007, Military Channel, 19 July 2009, 2-3am, MDT
  2. TV Documentary, In Search of Sunken Warships, retrieved from Netflix 4 August 2012
  3. Keating, John S., CAPT USN "Mission to Mecca: The Cruise of the Murphy" United States Naval Institute Proceedings January 1976 pp.54–63
  4. Article re U.S.-Saudi relations and role of USS Murphy Archived 28 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  5. Allmon, William B., "Long Service in Wartime", WWII History, July 2011, pp. 16–21.

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