USS Doyle (DD-494)

USS "Doyle" (DD-494/DMS-34), a "Gleaves"-class destroyer, was the only ship of the United States Navy to be named for Richard Doyle, who fought during the Barbary Wars, and died while in service in 1807.

"Doyle" was launched 17 March 1942 by Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Co., Seattle, Washington; sponsored by Mrs. C. M. Maloney; and commissioned 27 January 1943, Lieutenant Commander C. E. Boyd in command.

World War II

"Doyle" reached New York from Bremerton on 26 April 1943. Between 13 May and 29 November she made four voyages as a convoy escort: Two to Casablanca, French Morocco, one to Greenock, Scotland, and one to Londonderry, Northern Ireland. For the next few months she served on the Atlantic Coast, in antisubmarine operations and training exercises and cruised to the Caribbean in the screen of "Bataan" (CVL-29).

"Doyle" put out from Casco Bay, Maine, 18 April 1944, and arrived at Plymouth, England, ten days later to prepare for the invasion of Normandy. On 5 June she sortied with the 31st Minesweeping Flotilla to clear the assault area. She gave fire support to the landing forces on D-Day, 6 June, received on board 37 survivors of LCIs "93" and "487", and served on patrol until returning to Plymouth, England, 15 July for brief overhaul.

Sailing 1 August 1944 for Oran, "Doyle" departed from that port ten days later for the invasion of southern France, escorting a convoy to the assault area and patrolling to cover the landings. She continued to support the invasion by escorting convoys from Naples and patrolling off Marseilles until 21 September when she sailed for the United States, arriving at New York 3 October for overhaul.

"Doyle" made three more voyages to escort convoys to north Africa between 3 January and 10 June 1945. She arrived at Norfolk on 20 June for conversion to a highspeed minesweeper, and was reclassified DMS-34, 23 June 1945. After conversion, she sailed from Norfolk 27 August for the Pacific, calling at San Diego, Pearl Harbor, and Okinawa, and arriving at Sasebo 24 October. She served in the Far East on occupation duty, at Sasebo as flagship for Commander, Mine Force, Pacific, for most of her tour returning to San Francisco on 31 March 1946. Thereafter she operated on the west coast and in the western Pacific 18 August 1947 to 19 April 1948.

Korean War

On 30 June 1950, five days after the North Koreans crossed the 38th parallel, "Doyle" headed west from San Diego to support UN operations in Korea. She escorted troop transports from Sasebo to Korean ports and screened aircraft carriers providing air support for the ground troops. On 15 September 1950 an attempt by 800 South Korean guerillas to make a secret landing for a raid on the enemy's rear lines went awry when their LST broached and stranded. "Doyle" screened the touch and go 2-day rescue near Changea Dong.

After brief overhaul at Sasebo, "Doyle" sailed on 29 September 1950 to sweep mines on the east coast of Korea in preparation for the invasion landings near Wonsan. On 12 October she bombarded Rei To Island in support of an underwater demolition team from "Diachenko" (APD-123), then was assigned to clear the dangerous approaches to Wonsan Harbor. She continued operations in the Wonsan area, as well as sweeping in the Hungnam area, acting as fire-support ship for Korean landings at Suwon Dan on 3 November, and directing a check sweep of Wonsan by Japanese sweepers from 12 to 17 November until returning to Sasebo 20 November.

"Doyle" continued to operate from Sasebo to Korean waters, sweeping a special fire-support area used to cover the emergency evacuation from Hungnam between 2 and 23 December 1950. She returned to San Diego 4 March 1951, and after overhaul resumed local operations on the west coast. "Doyle" served again in U.N. operations in Korean waters between 5 October 1951 and 8 August 1952. She returned to the western Pacific between 2 February and 21 July 1953, visiting Midway, Guam, Kwajalein, and various ports in the Philippines, as well as serving as station ship at Hong Kong for five weeks.

"Doyle" arrived at Charleston, South Carolina, 7 September 1953 from Long Beach. She operated along the east coast and served in the Mediterranean with the U.S. 6th Fleet between 5 January and 27 May 1954 before going into reserve, in commissioned status, in October 1954. "Doyle" was placed out of commission in reserve 19 May 1955.

"Doyle" received two battle stars for World War II and six for Korean War service.

References

*DANFS|http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/d5/doyle.htm

External links

* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/05/494.htm navsource.org: USS "Doyle"]
* [http://www.hazegray.org/danfs/destroy/dd494txt.htm hazegray.org: USS "Doyle"]