USS Ludlow (DD-438)

USS "Ludlow" (DD-438), a "Gleaves"-class destroyer, was the 3rd 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 the USS "Chesapeake". He was, like his captain, mortally wounded in their ship's engagement with HMS "Shannon" 1 June 1813, and died at Halifax, Nova Scotia, 13 June.

"Ludlow" was laid down 18 December 1939 by Bath Iron Works, Bath, Maine. She was launched 11 November 1940, sponsored by Miss Frances Nicholson Chrystie, a descendant of Lieutenant Ludlow, and commissioned at Boston 5 March 1941, Lieutenant Commander Claude H. Bennett, Jr., (eldest son of Claude Bennett, General Manager of the world renowed Bellevue-Stratford Hotel, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) in command.

History

Commissioning

"Ludlow" commissioned at a time when the North Atlantic saw daily evidence of the struggle of British ships and planes against German U-boats. At this time, too, the vital Lend-Lease Act was destined to demonstrate America's concern for Great Britain's survival.

First tour

Having completed shakedown, "Ludlow" left Boston in October 1941 for Newfoundland and Iceland, convoying supplies ultimately destined for the British Isles. The 7 December attack on Pearl Harbor, and the declaration of war between Germany and the United States soon lengthened "Ludlow"'s convoy runs to include the ports of Derry, Liverpool, Greenoch, and Freetown, South Africa.

Operation TORCH

Assigned to Task Force 34 (TF 34) for the invasion of north Africa, "Ludlow" arrived off Cape Fedhala, French Morocco, late 7 November 1942. Shortly after the first wave of landing craft headed tor shore, "Ludlow" found herself engaging shore batteries, bombers, and a Vichy French naval force comprised of a cruiser and two destroyers. A 6 inch shell struck her forward and straddling shots were falling close aboard when "Augusta" and "Brooklyn" — arrived and helped to dispose of the French ships.

Operation HUSKY

"Ludlow" returned to New York to repair battle damage, then conducted training off the coast of Maine before departing 14 January 1943 for the first of three convoy runs to Casablanca. After the third of these, in June, she remained in the Mediterranean Sea for the forthcoming invasion of Sicily. With the invasion forces on 10 July, Ludlow gave fire support off Licata and Porsa Empedocle. Daily enemy air attacks followed, and on 11 August she splashed her first airplane.

Participating in the invasion of Italy on 9 September, "Ludlow" led a section of the assault wave through a known minefield to the bloody landing at Salerno. She and her sister ships were warmly commended by the commanding general ashore for their effective close range fire support. She then served on convoy duty between Naples and Oran, until 11 January 1944. Returning to the beachheads, she covered Allied troops storming ashore at Anzio 22 January. This Joint American–British operation initially met little opposition, but later in the day the Germans struck with a fierce counterattack. Heavy air attacks marked the following days and, in less than a week, "Ludlow" splashed two bombers one fighter, and three rocket glider bombs. A 5 inch shell crashed through the torpedo director deck and the pilothouse, causing "Ludlow" to retire, but serious damage was averted when Chief Gunners Mate James D. Johnson located the hot, unexploded shell and managed to get it topside and overboard.

Antisubmarine duty

"Ludlow" repaired at New York, then trained along the Atlantic coast and returned to the Mediterranean 20 April for antisubmarine patrols. On 19 May, "Ludlow" and "Niblack" depth charged "U-960" to the surface, where "Ludlow"'s main battery sank her. After convoy alignments in the western Mediterranean, "Ludlow" steamed 11 August from Palermo for the invasion of southern France. Following preinvasion bombardment and beachhead screening off Frejus, she joined "Augusta" (CA-31) from 25 to 30 August to help overcome the last resistance at Marseilles. While on coastal fire support missions around Monaco, she encountered not only floating mines and E-boats, but also attacks by explosive-laden boats and human torpedoes. "Ludlow" captured three operators of these one man diving machines on 5 September after a series of depth charge attacks. Fire support, convoy and patrol duty continued until 23 January 1945, when "Ludlow" sailed for a month's plane guard duty off the west coast of Africa, returning to Boston on 28 February. In April she sailed to England to escort a convoy of LSTs stateside, then prepared for duty in the Pacific.

Pacific Theater

Transiting the Panama Canal 27 June, she reached Pearl Harbor 17 July and began training for operations with the fast carriers. The surrender of Japan, however diverted her to the job of escorting ships filled with occupation troops to the home islands of the defeated Empire. She departed Pearl Harbor 7 September and arrived at Wakayama, Japan on the 27th. "Ludlow" operated in the Far East until 3 November, then sailed for the Aleutians where she saw a brief period of "Magic Carpet" duty.

Decommissioning

Early in 1946, "Ludlow" was ordered back to the east coast, and on 20 May 1946 she was placed out of commission in reserve at Charleston, South Carolina. After this she was utilized for reserve training. She was placed in commission in reserve on 6 June 1960, and on 21 November of the same year she was placed on active status. "Ludlow" decommissioned 22 January 1961 and was transferred to the Royal Hellenic Navy where she was renamed HHMS "Doxa" (D-20).

Awards

"Ludlow" received six battle stars for World War II service.

References

External links

* [http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/l33/ludlow-iii.htm history.navy.mil: USS "Ludlow"]
* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/05/438.htm navsource.org: USS "Ludlow"]
* [http://www.hazegray.org/danfs/destroy/dd438txt.htm hazegray.org: USS "Ludlow"]