USS Braine (DD-630)

USS "Braine" (DD-630), a "Fletcher"-class destroyer, was a ship of the United States Navy named for Rear Admiral Daniel L. Braine (1829–1898), who served in the Civil War and explored the Arctic.

"Braine" was launched 7 March 1943 by Bath Iron Works Corp., Bath, Maine; sponsored by Mrs. Daniel L. Braine, wife of a grandson of Rear Admiral Braine, and commissioned 11 May 1943, Commander J. F. Newman, Jr., in command.

World War II

Departing the United States east coast in the summer of 1943 "Braine" sailed via San Francisco to Pearl Harbor as an escort for troop transports. She then proceeded directly to Wake Island where she participated in its bombing and bombardment (5–6 October 1943). Between 1 and 3 November "Braine" took part in the initial landings in Empress Augusta Bay, Bougainville. During the following two months she escorted resupply echelons to the Bougainville beachhead.

1944

On 15 February 1944 "Braine" participated in the Green Island landing. She steamed into Rabaul Harbor under enemy fire for night shore bombardment of enemy installations (24–25 February). On 20 March she supported landings on Emirau Island, Bismarck Archipelago. "Braine" spent the ensuing months in escort work and training for the Marianas invasion.

On 14 June she took part in the bombardment of Tinian Island and received minor damage from a small caliber shell but continued operations in the Marianas until 23 June. After spending almost a month in the United States she sailed for the Philippines, via Pearl Harbor. "Braine" rendered fire support during the Leyte landings (20 October) and repelled an enemy air attack on 18 November.

1945

From 4 to 15 January 1945 she participated in the Lingayen Gulf landings. "Braine" then proceeded to Manila Bay to support landings on the Bataan Peninsula and Corregidor (14–28 February 1945). She served as a radar picket and support ship for the landing forces at Zamboanga and subsequently at Pollack Harbor, Mindanao (17 March–23 April). She took part in the Okinawa operations as a radar picket ship (16–25 May). On 27 May the destroyer was hit in quick succession by two suicide planes. The first hit forward seriously damaged the bridge, and the second hit amidships blew number two funnel overboard and demolished the amidships superstructure. "Braine" retired to Kerama Retto, Ryukyu Islands, for emergency repairs; departed 19 June; and arrived in the United States 19 July 1945.

On 21 July "Braine" steamed to Boston for repairs and then proceeded to Charleston Navy Yard for inactivation. She was placed out of commission in reserve 26 July 1946 at Charleston.

1951 – 1971

Recommissioned 6 April 1951, "Braine" conducted training in the Atlantic and Caribbean and in the spring of 1952 sailed to the Mediterranean for duty with the 6th Fleet. In October she returned to duty in coastal waters. She joined the 6th Fleet again in May 1953 and remained until October. Between October 1953 and 2 November 1954 she underwent a yard period, conducted refresher training in the Caribbean, and local operations in the vicinity of Newport. On 30 November 1954 she departed for the Pacific and became a unit of Cruisers-Destroyers Pacific Fleet, in mid-December 1954.

Early in January 1955 she proceeded to Yokosuka, Japan, and joined Task Force 77. "Braine" participated in the evacuation of the Tachen Islands in February and later operated on the Formosa patrol. She returned to the west coast 19 June 1955.

"Braine"'s next departure from the west coast was on 13 February 1956 to conduct another Western Pacific cruise. She returned to California 22 July 1956 and operated in the San Diego and San Francisco areas.

In 1964 "Braine" took part in the movie "In Harm's Way".

On 17 August 1971 "Braine" was decommissioned, stricken from the US Navy List, and transferred to Argentina.

"Braine" earned nine battle stars for her World War II service.

ARA "Almirante Domecq Garcia" (D23)

The Argentine Navy took possession of ex-"Braine" on 17 August 1971, and renamed her ARA "Almirante Domecq Garcia" (D23), after Admiral Manuel Domecq Garcia. For more information see ARA Almirante Domecq Garcia (D23). Sunk as a target in 19 November 1986, final Resting Place coord|39|57|S|057|57|W. [ussbrainedd630.com [http://ussbrainedd630.com/argentine.htm Argentine service] .]

References

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

External links

* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/05/630.htm navsource.org: USS "Braine"]
* [http://www.hazegray.org/danfs/destroy/dd630txt.htm hazegray.org: USS "Braine"]
* [http://www.ussbrainedd630.com/ USS "Braine" website]