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USS Breese (DD-122)
Encyclopedia
USS Breese (DD–122) was a Wickes class
destroyer
in the United States Navy
during World War I
, and later redesignated, DM-18 in World War II
. She was the first ship named for Captain
Kidder Breese
.
Breese was launched 11 May 1918 by Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company, Newport News, Virginia
; sponsored by Mrs. Gilbert McIlvaine, daughter of Captain Breese; and commissioned 23 October 1918, Lieutenant J.g.
B. Smith in command.
and cruised for several days as a convoy escort at the close of World War I. Returning to Norfolk
, she was assigned to Division 12, Destroyer Force Atlantic Fleet, and served in Cuba
n waters during the spring of 1919. In July 1919, Division 12 was assigned to the Pacific Fleet, based at San Diego
. For a year, she served with Squadron 4 and, from June 1920, was in Rotating Reserve. From October 1920 to June 1922, she participated in division maneuvers and fleet maneuvers with the Battle Force, in the Pacific, and went out of commission 17 June 1922.
Breese was redesignated a light minelayer
(DM-18) on 5 January 1931. Recommissioned 1 June 1931, following overhaul and conversion at Mare Island Navy Yard, she returned to San Diego for trials and standardization tests before departing for Pearl Harbor
. Assigned to Division 1, Minecraft, Battle Force, U. S. Fleet, in Hawaii
an waters, she engaged in training exercises, served with submarine divisions as target ship, and as station ship for airplane flights until her return to San Diego in June 1937. She was out of commission in reserve from 12 November 1937 until 25 September 1939.
Upon recommissioning, Breese Joined Mine Division 5 Battle Force. On 2 November 1939, she arrived at Puget Sound Navy Yard for Neutrality Patrol
off the Oregon
and Washington coasts. The next year, she made an inspection trip to Alaska
n bases with Commander, Alaskan Sector, embarked. Upon returning, she rejoined her Division in San Francisco and prepared for a cruise to Hawaii, where she arrived 10 December 1940. Attached to Mine Division 2, Minecraft, Battle Force, Pacific Fleet, through the succeeding year she took part in training exercises in the operating area and on the Maui
range. On 7 December 1941, Breese was anchored at Pearl Harbor and by 0767; she opened with her machine guns at close range on the attacking Japan
ese planes. Although she received no material damage from the Japanese attack
, she aided in the sinking of one midget submarine
and damaged numerous enemy planes.
Breese operated in the Central Pacific from 7 December 1941 until 10 October 1944. She then extended her sphere of duty westward to include various islands in the Marianas-Philippine
area and continued to serve as a mine layer and patrol ship until 7 November 1945.
During her wartime career she carried out minesweeping duties during the consolidation of the Solomon Islands
(1–13 May 1943); New Georgia
-Rendova Vangunu
operation (29 June-25 August); occupation and defense of Cape Torokina
(1 November-8 November); Leyte
landings (12–24 October 1944); Lingayen Gulf
landings (4–18 January 1945); Iwo
Jima operation (7 February-7 March); Okinawa seizure (25 March-30 June); and 3rd Fleet operations against Japan (5 July-31 July). In August and September 1945 Breese swept mines in the East China Sea
and Kyūshū
-Korea
n area.
On 7 November 1945, Breese steamed to the west coast arriving 26 November. She transited the Panama Canal
and put into New York
13 December. She was decommissioned 15 January 1946 and sold 16 May 1946.
There were no casualties from enemy action although a considerable amount of shell fragments fell on deck. Two men injured slightly during the firing of the 3"/23 caliber by recoil while acting as loaders:
FORD, Wesley Ernest, #337-24-95, F2c, USN, abrasions right index finger.
Wickes class destroyer
The Wickes-class destroyers were a group of 111 destroyers built by the United States Navy in 1917-1919. Along with the 6 preceding Caldwell class and 155 subsequent Clemson-class destroyers, they formed the "flush-deck" or "four-stack" class. Only a few were completed in time to serve in World...
destroyer
Destroyer
In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy or battle group and defend them against smaller, powerful, short-range attackers. Destroyers, originally called torpedo-boat destroyers in 1892, evolved from...
in the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, and later redesignated, DM-18 in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. She was the first ship named for Captain
Captain (naval)
Captain is the name most often given in English-speaking navies to the rank corresponding to command of the largest ships. The NATO rank code is OF-5, equivalent to an army full colonel....
Kidder Breese
Kidder Breese
Captain Kidder Randolph Breese USN was an officer in the United States Navy during the Mexican-American War and the American Civil War.-Early life and career:...
.
Breese was launched 11 May 1918 by Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company, Newport News, Virginia
Newport News, Virginia
Newport News is an independent city located in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of Virginia. It is at the southeastern end of the Virginia Peninsula, on the north shore of the James River extending southeast from Skiffe's Creek along many miles of waterfront to the river's mouth at Newport News...
; sponsored by Mrs. Gilbert McIlvaine, daughter of Captain Breese; and commissioned 23 October 1918, Lieutenant J.g.
Lieutenant, Junior Grade
Lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer rank in the United States Navy, the United States Coast Guard, the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, United States Merchant Marine USMM, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Corps, with the pay grade...
B. Smith in command.
Service history
She reported to Commander, Cruiser Force, Atlantic FleetU.S. Atlantic Fleet
The United States Fleet Forces Command is an Atlantic Ocean theater-level component command of the United States Navy that provides naval resources that are under the operational control of the United States Northern Command...
and cruised for several days as a convoy escort at the close of World War I. Returning to Norfolk
Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. With a population of 242,803 as of the 2010 Census, it is Virginia's second-largest city behind neighboring Virginia Beach....
, she was assigned to Division 12, Destroyer Force Atlantic Fleet, and served in Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
n waters during the spring of 1919. In July 1919, Division 12 was assigned to the Pacific Fleet, based at San Diego
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
. For a year, she served with Squadron 4 and, from June 1920, was in Rotating Reserve. From October 1920 to June 1922, she participated in division maneuvers and fleet maneuvers with the Battle Force, in the Pacific, and went out of commission 17 June 1922.
Breese was redesignated a light minelayer
Minelayer
Minelaying is the act of deploying explosive mines. Historically this has been carried out by ships, submarines and aircraft. Additionally, since World War I the term minelayer refers specifically to a naval ship used for deploying naval mines...
(DM-18) on 5 January 1931. Recommissioned 1 June 1931, following overhaul and conversion at Mare Island Navy Yard, she returned to San Diego for trials and standardization tests before departing for Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor, known to Hawaiians as Puuloa, is a lagoon harbor on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, west of Honolulu. Much of the harbor and surrounding lands is a United States Navy deep-water naval base. It is also the headquarters of the U.S. Pacific Fleet...
. Assigned to Division 1, Minecraft, Battle Force, U. S. Fleet, in Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
an waters, she engaged in training exercises, served with submarine divisions as target ship, and as station ship for airplane flights until her return to San Diego in June 1937. She was out of commission in reserve from 12 November 1937 until 25 September 1939.
Upon recommissioning, Breese Joined Mine Division 5 Battle Force. On 2 November 1939, she arrived at Puget Sound Navy Yard for Neutrality Patrol
Neutrality Patrol
At the beginning of World War II, when Nazi Germany's invasion of Poland on 1 September 1939 started the hostilities in Europe, President Franklin D...
off the Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
and Washington coasts. The next year, she made an inspection trip to Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
n bases with Commander, Alaskan Sector, embarked. Upon returning, she rejoined her Division in San Francisco and prepared for a cruise to Hawaii, where she arrived 10 December 1940. Attached to Mine Division 2, Minecraft, Battle Force, Pacific Fleet, through the succeeding year she took part in training exercises in the operating area and on the Maui
Maui
The island of Maui is the second-largest of the Hawaiian Islands at and is the 17th largest island in the United States. Maui is part of the state of Hawaii and is the largest of Maui County's four islands, bigger than Lānai, Kahoolawe, and Molokai. In 2010, Maui had a population of 144,444,...
range. On 7 December 1941, Breese was anchored at Pearl Harbor and by 0767; she opened with her machine guns at close range on the attacking Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese planes. Although she received no material damage from the Japanese attack
Attack on Pearl Harbor
The attack on Pearl Harbor was a surprise military strike conducted by the Imperial Japanese Navy against the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on the morning of December 7, 1941...
, she aided in the sinking of one midget submarine
Midget submarine
A midget submarine is any submarine under 150 tons, typically operated by a crew of one or two but sometimes up to 6 or 8, with little or no on-board living accommodation...
and damaged numerous enemy planes.
Breese operated in the Central Pacific from 7 December 1941 until 10 October 1944. She then extended her sphere of duty westward to include various islands in the Marianas-Philippine
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
area and continued to serve as a mine layer and patrol ship until 7 November 1945.
During her wartime career she carried out minesweeping duties during the consolidation of the Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands is a sovereign state in Oceania, east of Papua New Guinea, consisting of nearly one thousand islands. It covers a land mass of . The capital, Honiara, is located on the island of Guadalcanal...
(1–13 May 1943); New Georgia
New Georgia
New Georgia is the largest island of the Western Province of the Solomon Islands.-Geography:This island is located in the New Georgia Group, an archipelago including most of the other larger islands in the province...
-Rendova Vangunu
Vangunu
Vangunu Island is an island, part of the New Georgia Islands in the Solomon Islands. It is located between New Georgia and Nggatokae Island, at , between the islands of New Georgia and Nggatokae. In the north of the island is Lake Marovo, the largest salt water in the world....
operation (29 June-25 August); occupation and defense of Cape Torokina
Cape Torokina
Cape Torokina is a promontory at the north end of Empress Augusta Bay, along the central part of the southeastern coast of Bougainville, in Papua New Guinea....
(1 November-8 November); Leyte
Battle of Leyte
The Battle of Leyte in the Pacific campaign of World War II was the invasion and conquest of the island of Leyte in the Philippines by American and Filipino guerrilla forces under the command of General Douglas MacArthur, who fought against the Imperial Japanese Army in the Philippines led by...
landings (12–24 October 1944); Lingayen Gulf
Lingayen Gulf
The Lingayen Gulf is an extension of the South China Sea on Luzon in the Philippines stretching . It is framed by the provinces of Pangasinan and La Union and sits between the Zambales Mountains and the Cordillera Central...
landings (4–18 January 1945); Iwo
Iwo
*International Workers Order was the acronym of the International Workers Order, a pro-Communist fraternal organization and insurance company.*Iwo Jima, a small island in Japan, site of the Battle of Iwo Jima during World War II.*Iwo, Nigeria, a city in Nigeria....
Jima operation (7 February-7 March); Okinawa seizure (25 March-30 June); and 3rd Fleet operations against Japan (5 July-31 July). In August and September 1945 Breese swept mines in the East China Sea
East China Sea
The East China Sea is a marginal sea east of China. It is a part of the Pacific Ocean and covers an area of 1,249,000 km² or 750,000 square miles.-Geography:...
and Kyūshū
Kyushu
is the third largest island of Japan and most southwesterly of its four main islands. Its alternate ancient names include , , and . The historical regional name is referred to Kyushu and its surrounding islands....
-Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
n area.
On 7 November 1945, Breese steamed to the west coast arriving 26 November. She transited the Panama Canal
Panama Canal
The Panama Canal is a ship canal in Panama that joins the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean and is a key conduit for international maritime trade. Built from 1904 to 1914, the canal has seen annual traffic rise from about 1,000 ships early on to 14,702 vessels measuring a total of 309.6...
and put into New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
13 December. She was decommissioned 15 January 1946 and sold 16 May 1946.
Awards
Breese received ten battle stars for her World War II service.There were no casualties from enemy action although a considerable amount of shell fragments fell on deck. Two men injured slightly during the firing of the 3"/23 caliber by recoil while acting as loaders:
FORD, Wesley Ernest, #337-24-95, F2c, USN, abrasions right index finger.
See also
- List of United States Navy destroyers
- List of World War II ships
- List of ship launches in 1918
- List of ship commissionings in 1918
- List of ship decommissionings in 1946