History:
Note: Karl Kristiansen, a Mansfield crew member in the '60s has provided addition information re Mansfield history; this is posted on his site http://web.meganet.net/kman/index.htm.
USS MANSFIELD
(DD-728; dp. 2,200; l. 376'6"; b. 40'10"; dr. 15'8"; s. 34.2 k., cpL 345; a. 6 5", 12 40mm., 10 21" tt. cl. Allen M. Sumner)
MANSFIELD (DD-728) was laid down 28 August 1943 by the Bath Iron Works Corp., Bath, Maine, Iaunched 29 January 1944, sponsored by Mrs. Edmond F. Jewell, and commissioned 1 April 1944, Comdr. Robert E.
Brady, Jr., in command.
After shakedown off Bermuda and further training at Norfolk and Casco Bay, Maine, MANSFIELD steamed via the Panama Canal for the west coast, arriving San Diego 10 September 1944. A week later, in company
with DesDiv 122, she headed for Pearl Harbor, conducting training exercises en route. After antiaircraft and shore bombardment exercises at Pearl Harbor, MANSFIELD and four other destroyers escorted a convoy
to Ulithi.
There MANSFIELD Joined TG 38.1 to screen and serve as picket during carrier strikes against central Luzon, including the Manila area. On 10 December 1944, MANSFIELD, with DesRon 61 in TG 38.2, again
screened raids on Luzon. After several successful strikes, a sudden typhoon canceled further strikes and capsized destroyers Hull, Spence, and Monaghan. MANSFIELD's task group picked up survivors and returned
to Ulithi.
On 30 December, MANSFIELD Joined TG 30.1 for air strikes against Formosa and central Luzon. Afterwards, Admiral Halsey took the 3d Fleet, with TG 30.1, through the Bashi Strait into the South China Sea, up
to then a private lake of the Japanese Navy. However, no Japanese units challenged Halsey's fleet during its 3,800 mile foray along the China coast from Hong Kong to Saigon. From 10 to 20 January 1945, 3d
Fleet aircraft battered enemy facilities and merchant ships and destroyed 112 Japanese planes.
In early February 1945, MANSFIELD screened in TG 58.1 as carriers flew strikes against targets in the Tokyo industrial area. On 15 February MANSFIELD helped Bush splash an enemy fighter closing the
formation. From 17 to 23 February, TG 58.1 lent fighter support for the Iwo Jima assault, then steamed at full speed back to the Tokyo area for bombing runs on Nagoya and Kobe. As heavy weather set in, the
task group retired southward, pounding enemy shore installations on Okinawa while en route to Ulithi for replenishment.
From 14 March to 27 April 1945, MANSFIELD Screened carriers during strikes against southern Kyushu, followed by sweeps against Okinawa Gunto. On 9 May 1945, her flattops again pounded Kyushu, Okinawa, and
the island groups between. From 28 May, when the 5th Fleet again became the 3d Fleet and TG 58.1 became TG 38.1, to the Japanese surrender 15 August, the destroyer operated off the Japanese homeland. Three
weeks before V-J Day, MANSFIELD, with eight destroyers of DesRon 61, conducted a daring high-speed torpedo run into Nojima Saki, sinking or damaging four enemy ships.
After witnessing the formal Japanese surrender ceremony in September in Tokyo Bay, MANSFIELD returned to the west coast. During the postwar years, the combat veteran trained reservists from the west coast
and made annual cruises to WestPac as part of the Destroyer Force, Pacific Fleet.
On 27 June 1950, 2 days after the North Korean invasion of South Korea, MANSFIELD steamed from Sasebo, Japan, to South Korea to provide gunfire support and escort services. Three months later, as flagship
for DesDiv 91, she led the division into Inchon Channel, openly inviting shore batteries to unmask themselves. Once the Communists fired,MANSFIELD smothered them with a 5 inch bombardment; she suffered no
damage or casualties in the action.
Two weeks after Inchon, MANSFIELD, while searching for a downed Air Force B-26, struck a mine which severed the bow below the main deck and seriously injured 27 crew members. Receiving a stub bow at Subic
Bay, she steamed to Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, Wash., for repairs, rejoining the U.N. Fleet off South Korea late in 1951 for gunfire support, escort, and shore bombardment duty.
After Korea, MANSFIELD alternated between duty in WestPac and training west coast reservists. Overhauled in the fall of 1955 at the Naval Shipyard, Long Beach, Calif., she returned there in 1960 for FRAM.
The Mark II overhaul and conversion replaced her 3 inch 50 cal. battery with Mark 25 and Mark 32 antisubmarine torpedo batteries, and configured the after superstructure for DASH. From October 1960 to October
1961, the "new" destroyer conducted training exercises with the 1st Fleet off the west coast. For the following 3 years, home ported at Yokosuka, she provided escort service for the 7th Fleet's Fast
Carrier Attack Force.
To be home ported at Long Beach, the destroyer returned to the United States in June 1964. On 20 August 1965 MANSFIELD again sailed westward for duty with the 7th Fleet. For the next 6 months she carried
out screening and plane guard duties with fast carriers, and provided gunfire support for South Vietnamese, Australian, and American forces fighting in South Vietnam.
In June of 1966, MANSFIELD was once again assigned Yokosuka as her home port, after which her deployment schedule repeatedly took her back to the South China Sea for operations off the coast of Vietnam.
Excluding 2 weeks in September with TF 130 as an alternate recovery ship for Gemini XI and 2 weeks in late November as station ship at Hong Kong, she spent the remainder of 1966 off the Vietnamese coast in
roles which ranged from blockade patrol in the I Corps area and the interdiction of Junk and sampan traffic from the north into South Vietnam, to gunfire support south of Saigon. Adding air-sea rescue to her
services in 1967, she has continued to carry out similar missions in support of Allied operations in Vietnam throughout 1967,1968, and into 1969.
MANSFIELD received five battle stars for World War II service, and three for Korean service.
USN Years
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History:
USS BRUSH
(DD-745: dp. 2200; l. 376'6"; b. 40'10"; dr. 19'; a. 34.2 k.; cpl. 345; a. 6 5", 10 21" TT.; cl. Allen M. Sumner)
BRUSH (DD-745) was launched 28 December 1943 by Bethlehem Steel Co., Staten Island, N. Y.; sponsored by Miss Virginia Perkins, great-granddaughter of Charles BRUSH; and commissioned 17 April 1944,
Commander J. E. Edwards in command.
On 30 August 1944 BRUSH arrived at Pearl Harbor and after training got underway for Eniwetok, Marshall Islands, 28 September. From Eniwetok she escorted convoys to Ulithi and the Palau Islands.
Serving with the 5th and 3d Fleets she took part in the Leyte operation (5 November-16 December 1944); Luzon-Formosa-China coast-Nansei Shoto strikes (3-22 January 1945); invasion of Iwo Jima and the
supporting 5th Fleet raids (15 February-5 March), and Okinawa operation (17 March-27 April), including the 21 April bombardment of Minami Daito Shima. She retired to Ulithi, Caroline Islands, where she lay 30
April-10 May before joining the 5th Fleet for the projected invasion of Kyushu, Japan. BRUSH lay at anchor in Leyte Gulf from 13 June to 1 July 1945 and then departed for a raid on the Japanese island of
Hokkaido. On 22 July BRUSH and other destroyers of her squadron conducted an anti-shipping sweep near the entrance of Tokyo Bay. She remained in this area on air-sea rescue duty until 14 September when she
steamed into Tokyo Bay. On 24 September 1945 she left the Far East for the United States.
She arrived at Seattle, Wash., 15 October 1945 and operated along the west coast until early 1946 when she departed for Guam. She remained at Guam until 9 March and then steamed to Tsingtao, China,
arriving on the 19th. With the exception of two voyages to the Philippine Islands, she operated in the East China Sea between Tsingtao and Shanghai until January 1947. BRUSH returned to Guam 18 January 1947
for repairs.
Repairs completed 16 February 1947, she sailed to San Diego, via Saipan, Kwajalein, and Pearl Harbor, arriving 24 March. Until May 1950 BRUSH remained on the west coast participating in local operations,
plane guard duties, and type training. In May 1950 she was ordered to the Far East and entered Formosan waters as a unit of TF 77 on 29 June 1950. She screened the carrier units during the United Nations air
strikes against North Korea and participated in shore bombardment. On 26 September 1950 while shelling the shore off Tanchon, Korea, BRUSH struck a mine, ripping her midships section and breaking her keel.
Thirteen men were killed and 31 injured. BRUSH received temporary repairs at Japan and returned under her own power to Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, arriving 22 December 1950.
Almost a year later BRUSH departed on her second Korean cruise. She stopped at Pearl Harbor for one month and then joined TF 77 for anti-submarine and anti-aircraft duties off Korea until 25 February 1952.
In March BRUSH was assigned to the Formosan patrol and then participated in hunter-killer exercises off Okinawa. She returned to Japan 12 April and joined the blockade of Korea's west coast with TF's 95 and
77. She returned to San Diego 26 June 1952.
BRUSH operated off the California coast until February 1953 when she commenced her third Korean cruise. She returned to the United States 30 August. Since September 1953 BRUSH has operated along the west
coast and has completed three more Far Eastern cruises.
BRUSH received five battle stars for World War II service and four battle stars for her Korean operations.
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APRIL 26, 1952 HOBSON SINKING
USS HOBSON
(DD-464: dp. 1630, l. 348'1" b. 36'1"; dr. 15'S"; s. 38 k.; cpl. 208; a. 4 5", 4 1.1", 5 21" tt., 5 dcp., 2 dct.; cl. Bristol )
Hobson (DD-464) was launched by Charleston Navy Yard, Charleston, S.C., 8 September 1941; sponsored by Mrs. R. P.Hobson, widow of Rear Admiral Hobson, and commissioned 22 January 1942, Comdr. R. N.
McFarlane in command.
Following extensive shakedown and training operations in Casco Bay, Maine, the new destroyer joined veteran carrier Ranger at Norfolk and sailed 1 July to escort her to Africa. Carrying a vital cargo of 72
P 40 aircraft Ranger arrived safely via Trinidad, unloaded the planes and returned with Hobson 5 August 1942. The destroyer then conducted training exercises off Newport and Norfolk until 3 October, when she
departed Norfolk for Bermuda on escort duty.
As the Allies prepared to land in North Africa in a bold amphibious assault across the Atlantic, Hobson joined the Center Attack Group. Her main Job was to screen and to protect Ranger while the carrier's
mobile air power supported the assault. Departing 25 October from Bermuda, Hobson's group arrived off Fedhala 8 November and as the landings proceeded provided the indispensable air support. Ranger's planes
hit shore batteries, immobile French battleship Jean Bart, and later helped turn back the attack by French ships on the transport area. Hobson screened Ranger until she sailed 11 November for Norfolk leaving
the Allies, fully in command of the assault area.
Upon her return to Norfolk 27 November 1942, the destroyer took part in exercises in Casco Bay, later steaming with a convoy to the Canal Zone in December. The ship again joined Ranger in early 1943 and
the antisubmarine patrol group sailed 8 January to patrol the western Atlantic. Groups such as Ranger's did much to protect Allied shipping in the Atlantic from U-boats and contributed mightily to the
eventual victory in Europe. Typical of Hobson's versatile performance was her rescue of a group of survivors from SS St. Margaret off Bermuda 2 March 1943.
In April a Hobson and Ranger arrived Argentia and began operations out of that base. The ships provided air cover for convoys and antisubmarine patrol, and in July 1943 had the honor of convoying HMS Queen
Mary, carrying Prime Minister Churchill to the Quebec Conference. The veteran destroyer arrived Boston 27 July to prepare for new duties.
Hobson sailed with Ranger and other ships 5 August to join the British Home Fleet at Scapa Flow. Arriving 19 August, she operated under Royal Navy orders in northern waters, helping to provide cover for
vital supply convoys to Russia. While at Scapa Flow 21 September, she was inspected by Secretary of the Navy Knox and Admiral Stark. Hobson accompanied Ranger on a daring raid 24 October 1943, as carrier
aircraft staged a devastating attack on German shipping at Bodo, Norway. Following this operation the destroyer continued to operate with Home Fleet. She screened HMS Formidable during flight
operations. In November and after two convoy voyages to Iceland returned to Boston and U.S. control on 3 December 1943.
During the first 2 months of 1944, Hobson trained in Chesapeake Bay and operated with carriers between the East Coast and Bermuda. She joined escort carrier Bogue and other escorts at Norfolk, departing 26
February. These hunter-killer groups played a major part in driving German U-boats from the sea lanes, and this cruise was no exception. After patrolling for over 2 weeks, the destroyers spotted an oil slick,
made sonar contact, and commenced depth charge attacks on the afternoon of 13 March. Weather-reporting submarine U-575 was severely damaged and was forced to surface, after which gunfire from Hobson and the
other ships sank her. After further antisubmarine sweeps as far east as the Azores, Hobson returned to Boston 2 April.
For some time the Allies had been building up tremendous strength in England for the eventual invasion of France, and the destroyer sailed 21 April 1944 to join the vast armada which would transport and
protect the soldiers. She spent a month on patrol off Northern Ireland, arriving Plymouth 21 May for final preparations for the invasion, Assigned to Rear Admiral Moon's Utah Beach Assault Group, Hobson
arrived off Normandy with other ships of the bombardment group at 0140 6 June, and blazed away at German shore batteries. During the early hours Corry struck a mine and sank, after which Hobson and Fitch
fired at German shore positions while simultaneously rescuing survivors from the water. Hobson continued to lend powerful fire support until returning to Plymouth later that afternoon.
The destroyer was not long out of the fray, however, returning 8 June to screen the assault area. She also jammed glider bomb radio frequencies 9-11 June and provided channel convoy protection. With the
Allies sorely in need of a good port in France, Hobson steamed to Cherbourg 25 June to assist in the bombardment. She fired at the large batteries, screened battleships Texas and Arkansas; and when the
battleships were dangerously straddled, Hobson and Plunkett made covering smoke which allowed all to retire. A few days later the Allies occupied Cherbourg.
Hobson's next duty took her to the Mediterranean; she arrived Mers el Kebir, Algeria, 11 July, and for a month performed convoy duties to and from Taranto, Italy. Joining Rear Admiral Rodgers Delta Assault
Force, she sailed from Taranto 11 August for the invasion of Southern France. Early on 15 August she acted as spotter for Nevada's preliminary bombardment; and, as troops stormed ashore, provided direct fire
support with her own batteries. The destroyer remained in the assault area until the next evening, arriving Palermo 17 August to take up Mediterranean convoy duty.
As the allied offensive in Europe gained momentum, Hobson steamed as a convoy escort between Algeria, Italy, and France protecting vital supplies and troops. She sailed for the United States 25 October
1944, and arrived Charleston via Bermuda 10 November. There she entered the Naval Shipyard and was converted to destroyer-mine sweeper, and reclassified DMS-26, 15 November 1944. Through December she
underwent trials and shakedown training off Charleston and Norfolk.
Hobson sailed 4 January 1945 via the Panama Canal to join the naval strength deployed against Japan in the Pacific. Arriving Pearl Harbor 11 February, the ship underwent further mine warfare training
before sailing 24 February for Eniwetok and a part in the last and greatest of the Pacific amphibious operations, Okinawa.
Sailing 19 March with the minesweeping group, Hobson arrived Okinawa well in advance of the assault troops to sweep the of shore areas, and was often attacked by Japanese planes. As the assault began 1
April, the ship also took up patrol duties and provided night illumination during the first critical days of the campaign. As desperate enemy suicide attacks were repulsed with heavy losses, Hobson was called
upon 13 April to take up a radar picket station on which Mannert L. Abele had been sunk in a heavy attack the previous night. She continued picket and sweeping duty into 16 April, when another suicide attack
approached at about 0900. Hobson splashed one of the attackers, but another crashed Pringle, causing a violent explosion. Only minutes later, another plane was splashed just off Hobson's starboard side, but
her bomb exploded on the main deck starting a major fire. Still firing on kamikazes the ship restored power, fought fires, and picked up over 100 survivors from the sunken Pringle. After the attack she
anchored at Kerma Retto, returning to Ulithi 29 April and Pearl Harbor 16 May. Hobson then sailed via San Diego and the Canal Zone to Norfolk Naval Shipyard, where she arrived 16 June 1945 for repairs.
The surrender of Japan came with Hobson still undergoing repairs, and, after completing shakedown training, she spent February 1946 on minesweeping operations out of Yorktown, Va. The remainder of the year
was spent in training and readiness exercises in the Caribbean and off Norfolk. Until 1950 the ship continued to operate off the East Coast and in Caribbean waters on amphibious and mine warfare operations.
In late 1948 she visited Argentina and Halifax on minesweeping operations with Canadian ships.
With the outbreak of the Korean conflict in June 1950, Hobson's schedule of training intensified. She took part in amphibious exercises off North Carolina and in Puerto Rico 1950-51 and took part in
carrier operations as a plane guard and screening ship. During one such operation, with carrier Wasp, Hobson was steaming in formation 700 miles west of the Azores on the night of 26 April 1952. While
the ships turned into the wind so that Wasp could recover aircraft, Hobson crossed the carrier's bow from starboard to port and was struck amidships. The force of the collision rolled Hobson over, breaking
her in two. Rodman and Wasp rescued many survivors, but the ship and 176 of her crew were lost, including her Commanding Officer, Lt. Comdr. W. J. Tierney. Thus ended in tragedy the long career of a gallant
ship. Hobson received six battle stars for World War II service, and shared in the Presidential Unit Citation awarded to the ships in the Bogue antisubmarine task group in the Atlantic.
USN Years
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USS EVERGLADES
This may be the final salute to a grand lady. Walter Johnson, a "keeper of the flame" for AD-24, AV-7 and other
great ships, has passed this message to us:
So all can know, from the horse's mouth, the fate of the USS EVERGLADES AD24, I quote the following from a letter I received, May 05, 1993, from the U.S. Department of
Transportation, Maritime Administration, George L. Clarke, Jr., Chief, Division of Reserve Fleet: quote "Title to the EVERGLADES was transferred to the Maritime Administration (MARAD) at
Philadelphia Naval Shipyard on July 02, 1990. She was sold for scrap to INCOM Limited (a Singapore
company) on September 04, 1991, for $715,112." unquote
A further letter from: Naval Sea Systems Command Detachment, Bldg 52, Naval Base, Philadelphia, PA 19112-5095, dated May 18, 1993, states, and again I quote:
"It is disheartening to inform you that your "Swamp Lady" was sold for scrap on 11 December 1991. (the date discrepancy is not important, wwj) Ex-EVERGLADES was purchased by
Lavino Shipping Agencies, Inc. 700 Lafayette Building, Philadelphia, PA, for further transfer to INCOM LIMITED, c/o A.L. Burbank (Shipbrokers), Ltd, Fort Lee, New Jersey.
This Detachment does not have any EVERGLADES memorabilia.
I'm sorry that I could not provide you with a more favorable reply. For many years AD-24 was the "accommodation" vessel for this "Inactive Ships" Detachment.
She served the officers and men of the "mothball fleet" well.
Signed: Gerald P. Lanzilotti, Acting Chief "
unquote
USN Years
- Intro - Prologue - Ships
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- Some Later Years Material -
The 1 January 1957 Crew's Mess Menu
(What a difference 6 years make ...
we didn't eat this well in '51)
Items Contributed By Anthony Ferrarese 02/2000.
