USS Bristol (DD-453)

USS "Bristol" (DD 453) was a "Gleaves"-class destroyer of the United States Navy, named for Rear Admiral Mark Lambert Bristol. She was launched 25 July 1941 by Federal Shipbuilding, Kearny, New Jersey; sponsored by Mrs. Powell Clayton, and commissioned 22 October 1941, Lieutenant Commander C. C. Wood in command.

During her first year of service "Bristol" operated as a patrol and convoy escort in the North Atlantic, making several trans-Atlantic voyages to Ireland. On 24 October 1942 she made her first voyage to North Africa, as part of the TORCH landings at Fedhala, French Morocco (8 November – 17 November). Returning to the United States in late November, she operated out of Norfolk, Virginia until 14 January 1943 when she again steamed to the Mediterranean where, with the exception of one trip to the Panama Canal Zone in April 1943, she served exclusively until 13 October 1943.

While on duty in that area, she took part in Operation HUSKY (9 July – 17 August 1943) and the Salerno landings (9 September – 21 September). On 11 September 1943 "Bristol" rescued 70 survivors from the torpedoed "Rowan" (DD-405).

At 04:30 on 13 October 1943, while escorting a convoy to Oran, Algeria, "Bristol" was struck on the port side at the forward engine room by a single torpedo from U-boat "U-371". [Lenton, H.T., "American Fleet and Escort Destroyers of World War Two" (Doubleday, 1971), Volume 1, p. 90.] "Bristol" was broken in half by the single explosion. No fires resulted, but steam, electrical power, and communications were lost and the ship had to be abandoned. Eight minutes after the explosion the after section sank, followed four minutes later by the foreparts. "Bristol" suffered the loss of 52 of her crew, The survivors were rescued by "Trippe" (DD-403) and "Wainwright" (DD-419).

"Bristol" received three battle stars for her World War II service.

References

*DANFS|http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/b9/bristol-i.htm

External links

* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/05/453.htm navsource.org: USS "Bristol"]
* [http://www.hazegray.org/danfs/destroy/ hazegray.org: USS "Bristol"]