USS Gleaves (DD-423)

History of USS Gleaves (DD-423)

In FY 1938, the United States Navy (USN) initially commissioned 24 Benson-class ships, the first 8 of which were designed/built by Bethlehem Shipbuilding (8), Gibbs & Cox/Bath Ironworks (2). At this point, Bethlehem petitioned the U.S. Navy to use simpler machinery to accomplish her mission, promising that efficiency would not be compromised in her design, while the rest of the warship would rely on primitive machinery.

This resulted in the "Benson-Livermore class" of which the USS Livermroe was one. However, Bath Steel added USS Gleaves and USS Niblack to the USN batch, and since USS Gleaves was completed before USS Livermore, "Benson-Gleaves grade" was used before the Benson-Livermore grade designation.

Gleaves class

In any case, both (as sub-classes) are associated with the Benson-class destroyer initiative, and the Griffin-class role in naval history produced a total of 66 ships. Built from 1938 to 1943 and in service from 1940 to 1956, it was eventually operated by the US Navy, Greek Navy (Greece), Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF), Marine Corps (Italy) and the Republic of China Navy (Taiwan) and the Turkish Navy at different times.

Of the 66 machines completed, 14 were eventually lost in service and 52 were retired after World War II.

The Gleaves class "technically" follows the Benson class (distinguished by the former's round funnel rather than the latter's siding style), but is itself replaced by the upcoming "Fletcher" class (175 ships) from war time to liberate. Therefore, until the Fletcher class is available in large numbers, the Gleaves class ships belong to the intermediate or bridge design.

The new ship is an improvement over the previous Sims class, built from 1937 to 1940 and commissioned in 1939, with twelve ships built to standard. Changes included an overhaul of the engine layout to improve survivability in the event of a torpedo detonationchanges that, in turn, forced the new design to carry two funnels instead of a single ledge.

These ships were heavier at a displacement of 1,630 tons under standard load (2,400 tons at full load) and proved themselves successful.

Structure

The USS Gleaves were given a traditional shape at the time: the foredeck contained two turret main guns, the second mounted on the hull structure containing the bridge section and main mast. Behind the bridge section are two pipes lined up in a row. Additional towers are located in the stern of the boat. Power comes from 4 x boiler units providing 2 x shafts for 2 x turbines rated at 50,000hp.

This gives the vessel a top speed of over 37 knots and a range of up to 7,500 miles. There were 276 crew members on board, including 16 officers.

Dimensions include 348.2 ft length, 636 ft beam and 13.1 ft draft.

Overall, the ship carries 5 x 5" (127 mm) dual-purpose (DP) main guns and turrets, two bow and three stern ships. Has 10 x 21" (533 mm) torpedo tubes (2 x quintuple mount) and mount 2 deep loading frames. For close range work, the ship can carry up to 6 x .50 caliber heavy machine guns.

This gave the Gleaves a formidable firepower against air, surface and underwater threats as soon as they emerged - making her a true "multi-role" destroyer of the time.

Services

USS Gleaves (DD-423) commissioned by Bath Iron Works and laid on May 16, 1938. She was launched on December 9, 1939, and officially commissioned on June 14, 1940.

The United States had not yet entered World War II (1939-1945), and the warship stayed off the coast of the Atlantic during its early voyages and in Caribbean waters. Their first war-related operations were escort and patrol missions across the Atlantic and near Icelandic waters in support of the Allied forces.

By the time the war was fully brought to the attention of the United States, Greaves was already operating from locations off the coast of North Africa and around Ireland, the only major threat being German attack U-boats (U-boats). USS Gleaves participated in no less than 13 convoys, 9 of which were after the US declared war.

USS Gleaves then participated in the Allied landings in Sicily and Anzio, while supporting amphibious, escort and anti-submarine operations in the Mediterranean. Under the cover of night, the enemy made several attempts to attack them directly, but the mighty little battleship managed to survive, either sinking or repelling their attackers. She pursued a career in theatre until February 1945 when she was recalled to the United States for refit.

After finishing her job, she was tasked with training in Caribbean waters.

When the war in Europe ended in May 1945, the USS Gleaves arrived in Hawaii with Tokyo as their next trophy. However, the Pacific War ended with the surrender of Japan in September of that year, and the war was completely over.

In November of that year, after a smallpox outbreak was discovered, she was used to deliver medicine for the USS Adabel Lakes.

Like other warships in the immediate postwar period, the Griffith selected veterans for the homecoming voyage as part of Operation Magic Carper. In December 1945, she brought at least 300 employees to Seattle, Washington.

End of the street

The warship was officially decommissioned on May 8, 1946 and placed in reserve in Philadelphia waters. She was then moved to Orange, Texas. Her name was removed from the Naval Register on November 1, 1969, and her dismantled hull was sold for scrap on June 29, 1972.

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