USS Kearny (DD-432)

USS "Kearny" (DD-432), a "Gleaves"-class destroyer, is the only ship of the United States Navy to be named for Commodore Lawrence Kearny, who was known for his tenacity in capturing slave traders in West-Indian waters and his tireless efforts in fighting Greek pirates in the Mediterranean.

"Kearny" was launched 9 March 1940 by the Federal Ship Building & Dry Dock Co., Kearny, New Jersey; sponsored by Miss Mary Kearny; and commissioned on 13 September 1940, Commander Anthony L. Danis in command.

After shakedown and sea trials, "Kearny" got underway 19 February 1941 from New York Harbor for St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, where she took part in the Neutrality Patrol off Fort de France, Martinique, French West Indies, until 9 March. The new destroyer patrolled around San Juan, Puerto Rico, and escorted ships in the Norfolk area until August when she sailed for NS Argentia, Newfoundland, to escort North Atlantic convoys.

While "Kearny" was escorting a convoy in the North Atlantic before the United States entered the war, three convoy merchant ships were torpedoed 16 October. "Kearny" immediately began dropping depth charges and continued to barrage throughout the night. At the beginning of the midwatch 17 October, a torpedo fired by "U-568" struck "Kearny" on starboard side. The capable crew confined flooding to the forward fire room enabling the ship to get out of the danger zone with power from the aft fire room. Regaining power in the forward fire room, "Kearny" steamed to Iceland at convert|10|kn|km/h|-1, arriving 19 October. "Kearny" lost 11 bluejackets and 22 others were injured in this attack. After temporary repairs "Kearny" got underway Christmas Day 1941, and moored six days later at Boston, Massachusetts, for permanent repairs.

From 5 April to 28 September 1942, "Kearny" was busy escorting convoys to the British Isles, Panama Canal, and Galveston, Texas. Late in September, she sailed to act as a fire support unit in the North African invasion. There she screened USS "Texas" (BB-35) and USS "Savannah" (CL-42) on fire support missions, shot down an enemy plane, and escorted troop ships to Safi, French Morocco. "Kearny" departed the invasion theater and escorted a convoy back to New York, arriving 3 December 1942.

"Kearny" escorted ships to Port of Spain, Recife, Brazil, and Casablanca until 15 November 1943, then joined the hunter-killer task group based on the escort carrier "Core" (CVE-13) on 25 November. During the day of 1 January 1944, in coordination with antisubmarine planes from "Core", "Kearny" fired a depth charge attack on a submarine resulting in a large oil slick, she returned to New York 18 January.

Next month "Kearny" joined the U.S. 8th Fleet in French Algeria. She reported to USS "Brooklyn" (CL-40) on 10 March for duty in Italy, where both warships engaged in supplying fire support for the U.S. 5th Army. Due to their daily fire-support trips to the Anzio beachhead area, the warships became known as the "Anzio Express." They later were commended by General Mark W. Clark for the accuracy of this fire support.

"Kearny" was detached from the group the beginning of June and steamed to Anzio alone to give Allied troops their last naval fire support prior to their breakthrough and capture of Rome. The veteran destroyer saw more convoy duty before sailing for the invasion of Southern France.

"Kearny" was inner fire support ship for Red Beach, Cavalaire Bay, France, and rendered counter-battery fire and pre-H-hour bombardment. She screened heavy fire support ships; laid smoke screens off Toulon; and, on 19 August 1944, began two months of duty screening transports carrying troops between Naples and southern France.

Afterward, "Kearny" made several cross-Atlantic voyages from New York to Oran. On 6 August 1945, "Kearny" transited the Panama Canal for duty in the Pacific, arriving at Pearl Harbor late in August after hostilities had ended. She escorted a transport squadron carrying occupation troops to Japan via Saipan, arriving at Wakayama, Japan, 27 September. During the next month "Kearny" made voyages to Philippine Islands and Okinawa before returning to Japan in October. She sailed from Wakayama, Japan, 29 October 1945 for home via Pearl Harbor, San Diego, and the Panama Canal, arriving Charleston, South Carolina, 5 December 1945. She decommissioned there 7 March 1946, and went into reserve. "Kearny" was subsequently moved to Orange, Texas.The ship was stricken from the Naval Vessel Register on 1 June 1971, sold 6 October 1972, and broken up for scrap.

"Kearny" received three battle stars for service in World War II.

ee also

* Battle of the Atlantic (1939-1945)

References

External links

* [http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/k2/kearny.htm history.navy.mil: USS "Kearny"]
* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/05/432.htm navsource.org: USS "Kearny"]
* [http://www.hazegray.org/danfs/destroy/dd432txt.htm hazegray.org: USS "Kearny"]
* [http://users.erols.com/sepulcher/USSKearny.htm "Kearny" veterans' website]