- USS Haggard (DD-555)
USS "Haggard" (DD-555) was a "Fletcher"-class
destroyer of theUnited States Navy named for Captain Haggard of the "Louisa", who fought in theQuasi-War ."Haggard" was launched by
Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Co. , Seattle, Wash.,9 February 1943 , sponsored by Mrs. E. B. McKinney; and commissioned31 August 1943, Commander D. A. Harris in command."Haggard" departed for shakedown training off
California 29 September and after completing it departed Seattle24 November forPearl Harbor . The ship arrived30 November 1943 and spent the next 2 months in tactical exercises with other destroyers inHawai ian waters. Her first combat operation was to be the forthcoming invasion of the Marshall Islands, next step on the island road to Japan.Central Pacific
The ship sailed
22 January 1944 for the Marshalls. She covered the unopposed landings onMajuro 31 January and then sailed toKwajalein Atoll . Taking up firing position inside thelagoon 2 February , she provided gunfire support for the advancing Marines until the island was secured 3 days later. Then "Haggard" patrolled and escorted transports in the Kwajalein area until sailing forEngebi ,Eniwetok Atoll 17–19 February . There the destroyer again provided close fire support with her 5 inch guns, helping to secure Eniwetok. With the Marshalls in American hands, "Haggard" arrived7 March atEspiritu Santo ,New Hebrides .For the next months, "Haggard" operated with 3rd Fleet in the
New Guinea -Solomons area. Her duties included reconnaissance patrols,convoy ing, and screening escort carriers. She also worked occasionally with minecraft and screened a minelaying operation9 May in the Solomons, passing within 800 yards of an enemy-held beach onBuka Passage . During the night of 16–17 May the destroyer was patrolling with "Franks" (DD-554) and "Johnston" (DD-557) when she picked up an underwater sound contact. With quickness and accuracy the three ships delivereddepth charge attacks and were credited with the sinking of Japanesesubmarine "I-116"."Haggard" joined 5th Fleet at Eniwetok
21 May to prepare for the Marianas operation, as America's amphibious might pressed across the Pacific. Departing Eniwetok8 July , "Haggard" arrivedGuam withbattleship s "Pennsylvania" (BB-38) and "New Mexico" (BB-40) and other fleet units17 July and began a devastating bombardment of the beach fortifications. With the landing on Guam of Marines21 July , the destroyer turned to close fire support, lending her accurate gunfire to the battle ashore.Next on the timetable of the Pacific island campaign was the Palau group, needed to provide an air base for further advances. "Haggard" was withdrawn from Guam to Espiritu Santo
24 August 1944 and later joined the Western Escort Carrier Group off the Solomons4 September . During the invasion of Peleliu15 September "Haggard" screened carrier groups as they provided bombardment and close fire support for Marines ashore. Aircraft from her group also bombardedUlithi before the ships returned to Manus'Seeadler Harbor 1 October .Philippines
"Haggard"’s next operation was the long-awaited invasion of the Philippines. She was assigned to an escort carrier group off
Samar in support of the invasion of Leyte and the fleet surface actions 23–25 October . A part of Rear AdmiralFelix Stump 's "Taffy 2" (Task Unit 77.4.2) in theBattle off Samar , "Haggard" and her group were surprised on the morning of25 October by heavy units to the northward under AdmiralTakeo Kurita heading toward the invasion beaches onLeyte Gulf . As the carriers of "Taffy 3" (TU 77.4.3) retired at top speed and the gallant destroyers, including "Hoel" (DD-533), "Heermann" (DD-532), and "Johnston", attacked the Japanese at close range, planes from both carrier groups attacked repeatedly and effectively in the hope of diverting the overwhelming Japanese force and allowing the American light units to escape. "Haggard" took position astern of her carriers to protect them, and took many near misses from the big guns of the Japanese fleet. Although two escort carriers and three destroyers were sunk, quick thinking and the great courage of the attacks saved the smaller American group and inflicted damage on its attackers. Admiral Kurita decided not to steam into Leyte Gulf and returned to the northward."Haggard" remained with the escort carrier groups through November during air operations in support of the Philippines campaign. After a brief stay at Ulithi
25 November –10 December , the destroyer joinedTask Force 38 (TF 38) in support of the Luzon invasion. Then, 10–20 January 1945 , AdmiralWilliam Halsey 's 3d Fleet made a striking incursion into theSouth China Sea . With "Haggard" and other destroyers screening, the carrier groups struckLuzon , Formosa,Indochina , and the Chinese mainland destroying shipping and airfields in a memorable demonstration of mobile sea power.Japan
The destroyer returned to Ulithi
26 January 1945, but soon sailed with Task Group 58.4 (TG 58.4) for strikes against Japan itself. Departing9 February , the group, including carriers "Randolph" (CV-15) and "Yorktown" (CV-10), hitTokyo 16–17 February , just before the important landings onIwo Jima . Turning then to that stoutly defended island, "Haggard"’s carrier group lent air support to the assault until returning to Ulithi4 March 1945.With the Pacific campaign then reaching its climax, "Haggard" sortied again with Vice Admiral
Marc Mitscher 's 5th Fleet carriers for attacks on Japan. During strikes onHonshū 18–19 March , Japanese suicide planes struck back at the task force. "Haggard"’s gunners shot down severalkamikaze s, as carriers "Franklin" (CV-13) and "Enterprise" (CV-6) were damaged. After fueling at sea, the fast carrier group, moved towardOkinawa 22 March , with "Haggard" acting as picket destroyer ahead of the formation. Shortly before midnight she detected a surfaced submarine withradar , and after it dived attacked with depth charges. Ten minutes later the submarine surfaced on "Haggard"’s port beam. Commander Soballe brought his ship into a hard left turn toward his adversary. With full throttle and guns blazing, "Haggard" rammed the submarine "I-371" amidships, sinking her in three minutes. After this daring duel, "Haggard"’s crew made emergency repairs to her damaged bow and took her back to Ulithi25 March .Her repairs completed, "Haggard" sailed from Ulithi
21 April with battleship "Iowa" (BB-61) to support the Okinawa operation. Again occupied with screening carriers in the area, "Haggard" and other fleet units were constantly threatened by suicide planes as the Japanese tried desperately to stop the invasion. While proceeding to picket station29 April the ship was attacked by a kamikaze making a shallow dive to starboard. Though nearly blown apart by the fury of the destroyer's guns, the aircraft crashed close aboard and penetrated her hull near the waterline. Soon afterward, her bomb exploded in "Haggard"’s engine room. As water gushed through the gaping hole in the destroyer's side and she began to settle, another suicide plane attacked, but was splashed by anti-aircraft fire. Through fast and skillful damage control the flooding was stopped and "Haggard" was kept afloat. Wounded were taken bycruiser "San Diego" (CL-53) and destroyer "Walker" (DD-517) arrived to tow the stricken ship toKerama Retto , near Okinawa. The ship arrived1 May 1945.Hampered by lack of materials and almost constant air alerts, "Haggard"’s crew succeeded in repairing her so that she could get underway. She departed Kerama Retto
18 June 1945 and arrived Pearl Harbor viaSaipan and Guam12 July . From there she steamed toSan Diego and thePanama Canal Zone , arriving at Norfolk5 August 1945. Decommissioned1 November 1945, "Haggard" was scrapped because of war damage.Honors
"Haggard" received three
battle star s forWorld War II service.References
*DANFS|http://history.navy.mil/danfs/h1/haggard.htm
External links
* [http://history.navy.mil/danfs/h1/haggard.htm history.navy.mil: USS "Haggard"]
* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/05/555.htm navsource.org: USS "Haggard"]
* [http://www.hazegray.org/danfs/destroy/dd555txt.htm hazegray.org: USS "Haggard"]
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