- USS Stevens (DD-479)
USS "Stevens" (DD-479), a "Fletcher"-class
destroyer , was the second ship of that name in theUnited States Navy . This ship was named for bothRear Admiral Thomas H. Stevens, Jr. (1819 –1896 ), and his father, CaptainThomas Holdup Stevens (1795 –1841 )."Stevens" (DD-479) was laid down on
30 December 1941 atCharleston, South Carolina , by theCharleston Navy Yard ; launched on24 June 1942 , co-sponsored by Mrs. Roland Curtin and Mrs. Frederick Stevens Hicks; and commissioned on1 February 1943 at Charleston, withCommander Frank H. Ball in command.1943
"Stevens" was one of the three "Fletcher"-class destroyers to be completed with a
catapult for afloat plane , the others being "Pringle" (DD-477) and "Halford" (DD-480). The catapult and an aircraft crane were located just aft of the number 2smokestack , in place of the aftertorpedo tube mount, 5 inch mount number 3, and the 2nd deck of the after deck house which normally carried a twin 40 mm anti-aircraft gun on most ships of the class. (The twin 40 mm mount was moved to thefantail , just forward of the depth charge racks, where most ships of the class carried 20 mm mounts.) It was intended that the float plane be used for scouting for the destroyer flotilla which the ship was attached to. It would be launched by the catapult, land on the water next to the ship, and be recovered by the aircraft crane. It turned out to be not operationally suitable for the intended purpose, and the 3 ships were ultimately converted to the standard Fletcher-class configuration."Stevens" completed shakedown in the Atlantic during the spring of 1943, then escorted coastal
convoy s before heading for thePanama Canal in July. On the 26th she transited the canal, and moored at Balboa the following day. She departed on the 28th, headed west toHawaii , and enteredPearl Harbor on9 August . By that time, American industrial prowess was beginning to produce and put into action the powerful naval force which, within two years, brought the Japanese Empire to its knees. "Stevens", one of a new class of fast, well-armed destroyers, joined three new "Essex"-classaircraft carrier s and the fastbattleship s "Alabama" (BB-60) and "South Dakota" (BB-57) in augmenting theU.S. Pacific Fleet . In late August, she accompanied the Task Force 15 (TF 15) carriers to warm-up raids on theGilbert Islands . Their planes hitMarcus Island on the 31st and Tarawa on18 September , but "Stevens" parted company with them and steamed for the West Coast before their 5 and6 October raids onWake Island . By the time of her departure from the west coast on the 6th, the assaults on Makin and on Tarawa had been made, and theatoll s were all but secure.1944: Central and South Pacific
Though she had missed out on the first hop of the leapfrog across the
Central Pacific , "Stevens" rejoined the 5th Fleet in time to be part of the second jump. Attached to Task Group 52.8 (TG 52.8), the fire support group, the destroyer participated inOperation Flintlock , the Kwajalein phase of the conquest of the Marshall Islands, in late January and early February of1944 . She bombarded the islands before the landings and afterward delivered support gunfire to the Marines until it was no longer necessary.However, "Stevens"' tour of duty with the 5th Fleet in the Central Pacific soon ended, for she cleared
Kwajalein on4 February 1944 for the South Pacific area. She stopped atFunafuti , in theEllice Islands , from 8 to13 February ; then joined "Lang" (DD-399), "Hogan" (DD-178), "Hamilton" (DD-141), and "Stansbury" (DD-180) to screen Transport Divisions 24 and 26. The convoy divided on the 15th, and theGuadalcanal detachment, consisting of "Stevens" and "Lang" screening "DuPage" (APA-41), "Aquarius" (AKA-16), and "Almaack" (AK-27), arrived offKoli Point three days later. On the 19th, "Stevens" departed Guadalcanal to accompany "Almaack" toNew Caledonia . They reachedNouméa on22 February . After four days at the French port, the destroyer got underway in company with SS "Japara" back to theSolomons . On4 March , she screened the merchantman intoTulagi harbor; fueled atPort Purvis ; then took station ahead of SS "Mormacwren" for a voyage toEfate . The "Stevens" put intoHavannah Harbor on5 March after parting company with the merchantman, which continued on independently to Auckland, New Zealand.Following 10 days in the Efate area, the "Stevens" sortied with
Task Force 37 to bombard theKavieng area of northwestern New Ireland. Until mid-March, an assault upon this area had been assumed to be necessary to complete the circle around the huge Japanese base atRabaul onNew Britain Island and to provide a base for operations north to the Philippines. However, the decision to occupy part of theAdmiralty Islands obviated Kavieng as a base; and the planners felt that the air campaign against Rabaul was proceeding so well that it was neutralizing that large Japanese base without the occupation of Kavieng. Consequently, the naval bombardment, during which the "Stevens" concentrated on the islands ofNusa andNusalik , was the only phase of the operation carried out, but it was nevertheless highly effective.Samuel Eliot Morison quotesJapan ese sources which attest to the "demoralizing" effect of the bombardments, in which "Stevens", two escort carriers, and 14 other destroyers joined the battleships "New Mexico" (BB-40), "Mississippi" (BB-41), "Tennessee" (BB-43), and "Idaho" (BB-42).The "Stevens" returned to Efate on
25 March , 1944, and she remained there almost two weeks. On5 April , she got underway withDestroyer Squadron 25 (DesRon 25) to steam up the eastern coast ofNew Guinea . After stopovers atMilne Bay andCape Sudest , the destroyers rendezvoused with TG 77.4 offCape Cretin on19 April and steamed on to theHollandia , New Guinea, invasion area. TG 77.4, the second echelon of theHollandia invasion force, divided on the 22nd, and the "Stevens" screened the western reinforcement group while its troops landed atTanamerah Bay . She departed from Hollandia on30 April , 1944, and retraced her steps down the east coast of New Guinea, then she headed east to the Solomon Islands, entering Purvis Bay on10 May .For almost a month, she remained in the Solomons, escorting convoys, conducting combat training, and resting and resupplying in port. Then, on
4 June , 1944, she steamed on a course for theMarshall Islands , reaching Kwajalein on the 8th, patrolling there until the 12th, and then steaming forEniwetok . She entered that lagoon on28 June , and stayed there until17 July , when she departed in the screen of TG 53.3, transporting troops to the Guam assault. The task group arrived offGuam early on the morning of the day of the landings,21 July , 1944; and the "Stevens" fired on enemy positions as the troops disembarked from the transports and landed on the island. The destroyer continued her fire support role of delivering harassing, interdiction, and call fire in support of the American troops and Marines ashore until her departure on26 July , 1944.The "Stevens" returned to Eniwetok on the 30th, and then she steamed for Guadalcanal the following day. "Stevens" reached Guadalcanal on
5 August , but continued on toEspiritu Santo , which she reached the next day. She departed Espiritu Santo on14 August and moored in Purvis Bay two days later. On the 17th, the "Stevens" headed for New Guinea. The "Stevens" arrived at Humboldt Bay on the 21st, and then made a trip toMaffin Bay and back; then, on7 September , she stood out of Humboldt Bay for Aitape. She joinedTask Force 77 at Aitape and, on10 September , sortied with that task force forMorotai in theEast Indies . Five days later, the assault troops stormed ashore on Morotai, to little opposition. The "Stevens" patrolled while the transports unloaded men and equipment. Late that afternoon, she steamed back towards Humboldt Bay, escorting HMAS "Manoora" and HMAS "Kanimbla". This small convoy reached its destination on18 September ; and the following day, "Stevens" joined "McKee" (DD-575) in the screen of another echelon bound for Morotai . Upon her arrival back at Morotai, the "Stevens" began patrolling as aradar andanti-submarine picket offKaoe Bay , and serving on night'spatrol south of Morotai.The "Stevens" remained in the vicinity of Morotai from
23 September until3 October . During that time, she continued her various patrols; fought off air attacks; and, after25 September , served as headquarters for the landing craft control officer. On3 October , she cleared Morotai in company with the "Lang" (DD-399). The two destroyers put into Humboldt Bay two days later. On the 16th, the "Stevens" got underway in the screen of TG 78.6, Leyte Reinforcement Group One. After a six-day voyage, the convoy arrived inLeyte Gulf , and the "Stevens" refueled before escorting TG 78.10 back to New Guinea. Between28 October and9 December , 1944, the "Stevens" accompanied three more convoys from the New Guinea area to Leyte Gulf.1945: Philippines and Borneo
From
9 December 1944, until7 June 1945, the "Stevens" operated primarily in thePhilippines ; her only break being a voyage fromLingayen Gulf to Manus; she then proceeded back via Hollandia to Leyte, where she remained from13 February to4 March . From 20 to23 December 1944, she escorted the "Ruticulus" (AK-113) toGuiuan on Samar and back to Leyte. Between27 December , 1944, and1 January , 1945, while screening a resupply echelon (TU 78.3.15) toMindoro and back, the "Stevens" shot down three enemy planes during frequent air attacks that occurred in the area. On9 January , 1945, she got underway to escort asupply echelon toLingayen Gulf . On the day before the convoy's arrival, it was attacked by six Japanese planes; four were downed by the screen'santi-aircraft fire, and the other two departed.The "Stevens"' convoy reached Lingayen Gulf on
13 January , and she patrolled on aradar picket station until the 18th, and also stood by to deliver fire support if necessary. On the 23rd, she returned to Leyte Island. On2 February , she rendezvoused with Task Unit 78.12.9 (TU 78.12.9), and then escorted it into San Pedro Bay on5 February ; then she departed again to rendezvous with TU 78.7.2 offDulag , Philippines. The "Stevens" guarded that convoy to Lingayen Gulf, arriving on9 February and remaining there until13 February , 1945.After returning from a voyage to Manus and
Hollandia , back to the Philippines, she put intoManila Bay ,Luzon , on6 March , and on the 9th, she headed for Lingayen Gulf. En route, she stopped over at Mindoro on the night of 10 through11 March ; then she arrived at Lingayen on the 12th. From 13 to15 March , she joined the "Frazier" (DD-607) in a search for downed American flyers. The "Frazier" picked up six men of aB-24 crew, and the "Stevens" was released to overtake and join TG 72.4 on the 16th. She refueled atMangarin Bay ,Mindoro , that day, and then got underway with the "Cleveland" (CL-55), "Conway" (DD-507), and "Eaton" (DD-510) to support the landings atIloilo onPanay Island from 18 to20 March . She cleared Panay on the 20th, arrived at Mindoro on the 21st, and then joined the screen of TG 74.2.For the next month, the "Stevens" operated out of
Subic Bay ,Luzon . Next, on14 April , she got underway with TG 74.2 to participate in the landings in theParang -Malabang -Cotabato area ofMindanao Island. The "Stevens" arrived offPolloc Harbor on17 April and patrolled the landing area, screening the "Denver" (CL-58) and delivering fire support for the troops, until the 19th. She returned to Subic Bay, Luzon, on21 April , and then remained for a week and a day. On29 April , 1945, the "Stevens" steamed back to Mindanao, and, after a stop atPolice Harbor , she reachedDavao Gulf , Mindanao on1 May . On3 May , she supported the minesweeping units in the Santa Cruz area and again screened the USS "Denver", while thecruiser delivered fire support with her 6" guns. The "Stevens" headed back to Subic Bay, Luzon, that same day, and she arrived on6 May . She spent the following month in the Manila Bay-Subic Bay area, engaged in exercises, upkeep, repairs, and shore leave.On
7 June , the "Stevens" departed the Philippines with TG 74.2 to support the invasion ofBorneo in theEast Indies . From9 June to11 June , she patrolled offBrunei Bay , Borneo, in the support force for the attack group. On the 11th, she steamed forTawi Tawi with most of the task force. After stopping at Tawi Tawi over the night of12 June and13 June , she arrived atBalikpapan , Borneo, onJune 15 , and supported the Balikpapan invasion until2 July . From 15 to17 June , she supported the minesweepers. On the 17th, she bombarded the beaches atKlandasan and also fought off an air attack that evening during night retirement. She conducted another shore bombardment on19 June , and then engaged shore batteries on21 June and23 June , silencing two of them on the 23rd. The troops landed on1 July , and the "Stevens" helped cover them with counter-battery and harassing fire throughout the day and into the night. The following day, she departed Balikpapan en route toLeyte Gulf , the Philippines.The "Stevens" entered San Pedro Bay on
5 July and then remained there for one week. On12 July , she steamed out of the bay, and then reached Subic Bay three days later. The USS "Stevens" conducted tactical andanti-submarine warfare [ASW] exercises in the Manila Bay-Subic Bay area of Luzon for the duration of the War in the Pacific.On
28 August , 1945, almost two weeks after the cessation of hostilities, the USS "Stevens" departed from Subic Bay with TG 71.1 and headed for theYellow Sea and western Korea. On30 August , the "Stevens", the "Bell" (DD-587), and the "Burns" (DD-588) were dispatched toBuckner Bay ,Okinawa , where they reported to Carrier Division 5 for duty.The "Stevens" exited that bay two days later in the screen of the carriers of TF 72 and steamed for
Inchon ,Korea . On10 September , she put into Inchon for repairs and, from19 September to20 September , she screened the "New Orleans" (CA-32) to Tsingtao, China. There, she assisted in the internment of Japanese ships until29 September ; then she shifted toTaku Bar where she supported troop landings until6 October . On7 October , the "Stevens" arrived atChefoo Harbor , joined TU 71.1.5, and then steamed for Inchon. Following a five-day stay there, she departed on13 October with troops, sailors, and Marines, bound for the United States. The "Stevens" stopped at Guam on19 October , and after steaming to Hawaii, she spent two days atPearl Harbor ,Oahu . From there, she steamed to the West Coast, reachingSan Diego ,California , on7 November , 1945.On
8 November , after discharging her passengers, the "Stevens" steamed toSan Pedro, California , and there reported for duty to the 19th (Reserve) Fleet for a deactivation overhaul. The "Stevens" was decommissioned on2 July ,1946 , and she remained with thePacific Reserve Fleet until1 December ,1972 when her name was stricken from the Navy list. On27 November ,1973 , her hulk was sold toZidell Explorations, Inc. , ofPortland, Oregon , for scrapping.The USS "Stevens" was awarded nine
battle star s for her service duringWorld War II .In comic books
Comic book artistSam Glanzman served aboard the "Stevens" from 1941 until 1945, and chronicled his years aboard her in a series of short stories forDC Comics and in a pair ofMarvel Comics graphic novels, "A Sailor's Story" and "A Sailor's Story, Book Two: Winds, Dreams, and Dragons".Other ships named "USS Stevens"
See USS "Stevens" for other ships of the same name.
References
*DANFS|http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/s18/stevens-ii.htm
External links
* [http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/s18/stevens-ii.htm history.navy.mil: USS "Stevens"]
* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/05/479.htm navsource.org: USS "Stevens"]
* [http://www.hazegray.org/danfs/destroy/dd479txt.htm hazegray.org: USS "Stevens"]
* [http://wgordon.web.wesleyan.edu/kamikaze/books/comics/stevens/index.htm Kamikaze] and [http://wgordon.web.wesleyan.edu/kamikaze/books/comics/baka/index.htm Ride the Baka] - comics on wartime adventures of "Stevens"
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