USS Palmer (DD-161)

USS "Palmer" (DD-161) was a "Wickes"-class destroyer in the United States Navy, later converted to a minesweeper and reclassified as DMS-5. She was named for Rear Admiral James Shedden Palmer USN (1810–1867).

History

"Palmer" was laid down 29 May 1918 by Fore River Shipbuilding Company, Quincy, Massachusetts; launched 18 August 1918; sponsored by Mrs. Robert C. Hilliard; and commissioned 22 November 1918, Commander R. R. Stewart in command.

Assigned to the Pacific, "Palmer" joined in fleet operations until decommissioning at San Diego 31 May 1922. There she was in reserve until recommissioning 7 August 1940. Converted to a minesweeper with the designation DMS–5 from 19 November 1940, she returned to the Atlantic and joined Mine Division 19 out of Norfolk for escort duty in the Atlantic and Caribbean. She sortied 24 October 1942 screening TF 34 to the invasion of North Africa, arriving 7 November off Fedala, where she made an exploratory sweep before taking station in the antisubmarine screen. Next day "Palmer" seized French trawler "Joseph Elise", and engaged an enemy shore battery.

"Palmer" served on patrol and escort off North Africa until 12 December, then returned to Atlantic escort duty through 1943, plying coastal, Caribbean and Northwestern Atlantic routes. Ordered to the Pacific, she trained out of San Diego, then joined TF 53 at Pearl Harbor, sailing with it 22 January 1944 for the assault on Kwajalein. "Palmer" remained in the Marshalls until 12 February laying buoys and screening transports, then made escort voyages to Pearl Harbor and Majuro.The captain of the Palmer in WW 2 was Captain William Edward Mcguirk. He was captain until the ship went down from the attack of Japanese planes.

Preceding the invasion force by two days, "Palmer" arrived off Saipan for a five hour sweep 13 June, then screened transports during the landings. Screening duty to Eniwetok caused her to miss the Battle of the Philippine Sea, but she returned to Saipan for screening duties, 22 June–8 July.

"Palmer" arrived off Guam 22 July, the day after the island was invaded, to screen transports off Apra for 5 days. Returning to Pearl Harbor, "Palmer" prepared for the return to the Philippines, a vast operation in which the aging converted destroyers would once again prove themselves. Staging at Manus, her force arrived in Leyte Gulf 17 October to sweep the main channels and transport areas during the three days before the landings. After escorting the transports through the safe channels, the minesweepers made a quick sweep in Surigao Strait, then returned to Manus 23 October, the eve of the Battle for Leyte Gulf.

Fate

Replenished, "Palmer" cleared Manus 23 December for Lingayen Gulf, where she was to repeat the successful operations carried out at Leyte. Harassed en route by enemy ships and planes, "Palmer" and her force successfully penetrated Lingayen Gulf early 7 January 1945, and began their sweep under enemy air attack. At about 1545, a violent explosion occurred, knocking out "Palmer's" port low pressure turbine. She began recovering sweeping gear and left formation to make repairs. Three hours later, at 1840, a Japanese twin-engine bomber flew low overhead and dropped two bombs which hit portside. A huge fire, threatening the magazines, billowed skyward, and "Palmer" sank in six minutes. Of her crew, 2 were killed, 38 wounded, and 26 missing in action.

"Palmer" received 5 battle stars for World War II service.

As of 2005, no other ship in the US Navy has been named "Palmer".

ee also

*List of United States Navy destroyers

References

*DANFS|http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/p1/palmer.htm

External links

* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/05/161.htm NavSource.org DD-161]
* [http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/sh-usn/usnsh-p/dd161.htm Naval Historical Center]