USS Kalk (DD-611)

USS Kalk (DD-611)

The second USS "Kalk" (DD-611) was a "Benson"-class destroyer in the United States Navy during World War II. She was named for Stanton Frederick Kalk.

"Kalk" was laid down 30 June 1941 by the Bethlehem Steel Corporation, San Francisco, California; launched 18 July 1942; sponsored by Mrs. Flora Stanton Kalk, mother of Lieutenant Kalk; and commissioned 17 October, Lieutenant Commander C. T. Singleton, Jr., in command.

Following shakedown along the California coast, "Kalk" departed San Francisco 28 December for patrol and escort duty in the Aleutian Islands. Steaming via Dutch Harbor, she arrived Adak 9 January and patrolled from Adak to Amchitka Island. On the 16th she embarked 185 survivors of SS "Arthur Middleton" and "Worden" (DD-352) which had foundered in an Arctic storm. She transported them to Adak, then continued intermittent patrols until she sailed 26 February for home, arriving San Francisco 4 March.

After repairs, "Kalk" steamed from San Francisco 7 April and proceeded via the Panama Canal to New York, where she arrived a fortnight later for Atlantic convoy escort duty. She cleared New York 28 April and the next day joined a 35-ship convoy, UGF-8, headed for Oran, Algeria. Arriving 12 May, she searched for a suspected U-boat. The destroyer departed Casablanca, French Morocco, 19 May escorting a westbound convoy. Arriving New York 31 May, she sailed 13 June via Casco Bay, Maine, and NS Argentia, Newfoundland, to Norfolk for further convoy-escort duty. From 27 June to 6 December she escorted three convoys between the United States and North Africa. After overhaul at New York and Boston, she arrived Norfolk 29 December and then sailed 2 January 1944 for the Pacific.

She departed Balboa, Canal Zone, 8 January with DesDiv 38, escorting battleships "New Jersey" (BB-62) and "Iowa" (BB-61). Reaching Funafuti, Ellice Islands 27 January, "Kalk" searched for downed fighter planes before sailing for New Guinea 31 January to join the 7th Fleet at Milne Bay 7 February. She operated in the New Guinea area, primarily on patrol and convoy escort duty, until 12 June. During the protracted struggle for New Guinea, she also covered amphibious invasions, bombarding Manus, Pityilu, Los Negros, and Rambutye Islands, Admiralties: Tanahmerah Bay and Wakde-Sarmi, New Guinea; and Biak and Owi, Schouten Islands.

After providing fire support during the invasion of Biak Island 27 May, "Kalk" continued escort and picket duty between Biak and Humboldt Bay. While on patrol 12 June off the southern coast of Biak, an enemy plane dived out of the sun and released a bomb which struck abaft her forward stack at the base of her starboard torpedo tubes. As "Kalk's" 20mm. gunfire downed the attacker, the bomb exploded the air flasks of her torpedoes, destroying several 20mm. guns, showering her crew with shrapnel, and damaging her superstructure amidships. Though suffering 70 casualties, her crew rallied to save the destroyer. Firefighters extinguished each blaze; and, while other hands tended the wounded, volunteers detached the warheads from torpedoes scattered about the deck.

The only Allied ship seriously damaged in more than 2 weeks of repeated air attacks at and near Biak, "Kalk" retired to Hollandia, New Guinea, for emergency repairs and sailed 20 June via the Admiralties and Pearl Harbor for the United States. Reaching San Francisco 31 July, she received complete repairs and underwent alteration at Mare Island Naval Shipyard.

Then the destroyer departed 26 October for Pearl Harbor, arriving 1 November. On 12 November she headed via Eniwetok to Ulithi, Western Carolines, where she arrived 26 November to resume her duty in the western Pacific.

For more than 8 months "Kalk" operated out of Ulithi on anti-submarine warfare patrols screening sea logistics forces during offensive operations from Luzon to Okinawa. From 16 to 23 December she patrolled northeast of Luzon during replenishment of the 3rd Fleet. Sailing from Ulithi 29 December, she screened supply units which supported TF 38 during the crucial Lingayen Gulf operations on western Luzon. She continued this duty until returning to Ulithi 27 January 1945.

As a unit of DesDiv 38, "Kalk" rendezvoused with TG 50.8 on 18 February for refueling and replenishment operations of TF 58 during the campaign on Iwo Jima. Returning to Ulithi 6 March, she sailed northward 13 March with TG 50.8 to screen logistic support for the 5th Fleet which was then clearing Ryūkyū waters of Japanese shipping and aircraft in preparation for the invasion of Okinawa 1 April. From then to the end of the war, "Kalk" operated with the 5th and 3rd Fleets off the Ryūkyūs as escort, plane guard, and ASW screen. Concerned primarily with screening supply ships between Ulithi and Okinawa, she destroyed numerous Japanese mines during patrols. While steaming for Okinawa 5 June with logistic support group TG 30.8, she passed through a raging typhoon with destructive winds of more than 90 knots. Suffering only minor damage, "Kalk" continued screening patrols. When the war ended 15 August, she was steaming from Okinawa to Ulithi.

Departing Ulithi 20 August, "Kalk" sailed via Saipan and Okinawa to Japan, arriving Tokyo Bay 1 September escorting "Detroit" (CL-8). Present at the formal Japanese surrender 2 September, she departed the 3rd on an escort run to Eniwetok. After returning to Tokyo Bay 16 September, she departed for the United States 12 October via the Philippines, Eniwetok, and Pearl Harbor. Reaching San Diego 17 November, she proceeded on the 17th for the East Coast, arriving Boston 11 December. After overhaul, she departed Boston 18 January 1946 and arrived Charleston, South Carolina, on the 20th. "Kalk" decommissioned at Charleston 3 May 1946, entered the Atlantic Reserve Fleet at Orange, Texas. "Kalk" was stricken from the Naval Vessel Register in June 1968. She was sunk as a target in March 1969.

"Kalk" received eight battle stars for World War II service.

References

*DANFS|http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/k1/kalk-ii.htm
*NHC


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужно решить контрольную?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • USS Kalk (DD-611) — DD 611 Kalk (Корабль соединённых штатов Кэлк)  американский эсминец типа Benson. Заложен на верфи Bethlehem Steel, San Francisco 30 июня …   Википедия

  • USS Kalk — may refer to:*USS|Kalk|DD 170, was a sclass|Wickes|destroyer laid down as Rodgers on 4 March 1917; renamed Kalk 23 December 1918; transferred to the Royal Navy 23 September 1940; transferred to the Royal Canadian Navy in June 1941 and finally… …   Wikipedia

  • USS Jacob Jones (DD-61) — USS Jacob Jones Geschichte Bauwerft New York Shipbuilding Company Kiellegung 3. August 1914 …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • USS Stockton (DD-646) — USS Stockton (DD 646), a Gleaves class destroyer, was the third ship of the United States Navy to be named for Commodore Robert F. Stockton. Stockton was laid down on 24 July 1942 at Kearny, New Jersey, by Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Co.;… …   Wikipedia

  • Liste der Zerstörer der United States Navy — Schiffe der United States Navy A B C D E F …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • List of World War II topics (U) — # U 571 (film) # U A # U boat Front Clasp # U boat War Badge # U Boote westwärts # U Man # U.S. British Staff Conference (ABC 1) # U.S. 20th Air Base Group # U.S. 5th Interceptor Command # U.S. Army Forces Far East # U.S. Army Forces in the… …   Wikipedia

  • Список эскадренных миноносцев США по типам — …   Википедия

  • Эскадренные миноносцы типа «Бенсон» — Эскадренные миноносцы типов «Бенсон»/«Гливс» Benson/Gleaves class destroyer …   Википедия

  • List of Allied ships at the Japanese surrender — These ships of the Allied navies of World War II were present in Tokyo Bay on Victory over Japan Day (2 September 1945) when the Japanese Instrument of Surrender was signed on board the battleship USS Missouri (BB 63). Battleships * USS Colorado… …   Wikipedia

  • List of United States Navy destroyers — This is a list of destroyers of the United States Navy, sorted by hull number. It includes all of the series DD, DL, DDG, DLG, DLGN.CG 47 Ticonderoga and CG 48 Yorktown were approved as destroyers (DDG 47 and DDG 48) and redesignated cruisers… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”