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USS Endicott (DD-495)
Encyclopedia
USS Endicott (DD-495), a Gleaves-class
destroyer
, was the only ship of the United States Navy
to be named for Samuel Endicott, who served as a quarter gunner on board Enterprise
in the Barbary Wars
. He volunteered to participate in the expedition under Lieutenant Stephen Decatur, Jr., which destroyed the former U.S. Frigate Philadelphia
.
Endicott was launched by the Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corp., Seattle, Washington
, on 5 April 1942; sponsored by Miss Bettie L. Rankin; and commissioned 25 February 1943, with Lieutenant Commander W. S. Heald, in command. She was reclassified DMS-35 on 30 May 1945.
off San Diego
, was ordered to the U.S. Atlantic Fleet
and in her first year escorted two convoy
s to Africa
and one to Ireland
, Panama
, and Trinidad
.
In preparation for the European invasion Endicott served as escort for merchantmen and transports until 24 May 1944 when she collided with the freighter
SS Exhibitor and was forced to undergo repairs at Cardiff
, South Wales
.
s and LCI
s into the Mediterranean for the buildup preparatory to the attack on southern France
(Operation Dragoon
). The destroyer, together with British gunboats
HMS Scarab, Aphis
, and 17 motor torpedo boat
s, was scheduled to make a diversionary attack
against the coast at La Ciotat
. The feint successfully deceived the enemy and Endicott sank a German
merchantman during the bombardment. She then hastened to rescue the British gunboats in their uneven match against two German
warships, Nimet Allah and Capriola, and though battle weary she destroyed both. She continued to support coastal operations off southern France by escorting a convoy to Corsica
, and HMS Eastway to Salerno
.
Endicott underwent overhaul and refresher training from October through the end of 1944. In January 1945 she sailed via Bermuda
on the scouting line, then proceeded to rendezvous with Task Group 21.5 (TG 21.5) to escort Quincy
(CA-71) — on which President Franklin D. Roosevelt
was embarked — to Yalta
and back to New York
.
in mid-April and then entered the Charleston Navy Yard for conversion to a high-speed minesweeper. Dispatched to the Pacific, she arrived in San Diego three days after the Japanese surrender.
Endicott reported to Task Force 52 at Okinawa on 23 September 1945 to begin the huge task of ridding the Yellow Sea
of mines
. Designated flagship
of the sweeping group, she conducted similar operations in the Inland Sea and Kure
area as well.
After a period of overhaul in May 1946, she operated out of San Diego in peacetime patrols and local exercises until the outbreak of the Korean War
.
s Badoeng Strait
(CVE-116) and Sicily
(CVE-118). Steaming to Chinhae Wan
in August, she lent direct fire support to the U.N. troops and on 15 September escorted a Korea
n LST in a feint attack against Chang Sa Dong. When the LST broached, Endicott stood guard until help arrived.
She continued her harassment of the enemy following the Inchon landings
, cruising along the east coast of Korea and supporting the minesweeping force. For the remainder of the year she afforded sweeping assistance at Wonsan
and then at Hungnam
prior to the evacuation of troops forced by the penetration of the Chinese Communists. She participated in the Action of 12 October 1950
, an engagement in which two American minesweepers were sunk.
In January 1951 she rescued the crew of the grounded Siamese frigate Prase and stood guard until the latter had to be destroyed. Early in February she led a mine-sweeping force in bombarding the port of Wonsan and sweeping to the northward.
An overhaul in San Diego was succeeded by Endicott's second tour in Korean waters. She reported to Commander Naval Forces in October and returned to shore bombardment and patrol. During the first half of 1952 she cruised on the Songjin Patrol and devoted the last four months of the year to overhaul at Long Beach Naval Shipyard
. Early in 1953 she again sailed for the Far East to patrol and provide gun support for minesweepers operating in the Korean area. Endicott received repairs at Long Beach in August and thereafter conducted individual and fleet exercises in local waters. On 17 August 1954 she was decommissioned and placed in reserve at San Diego. Endicott was reclassified DD-495 on 15 July 1955.
Gleaves class destroyer
The Gleaves-class destroyers were a class of 66 destroyers of the United States Navy built 1938–1942, and designed by Gibbs & Cox. The first ship of the class was the USS Gleaves . The U.S. Navy customarily names a class of ships after the first ship of the class; hence the Gleaves class...
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...
, was the only ship of 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...
to be named for Samuel Endicott, who served as a quarter gunner on board Enterprise
USS Enterprise (1799)
The third USS Enterprise, a schooner, was built by Henry Spencer at Baltimore, Maryland, in 1799, and placed under the command of Lieutenant John Shaw...
in the Barbary Wars
Barbary Wars
The Barbary Wars were a series of wars between the United States of America and the Barbary States of North Africa in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. At issue was the Barbary pirates' demand of tribute from American merchant vessels in the Mediterranean Sea. If ships failed to pay, pirates...
. He volunteered to participate in the expedition under Lieutenant Stephen Decatur, Jr., which destroyed the former U.S. Frigate Philadelphia
USS Philadelphia (1799)
The second USS Philadelphia was a 1240-ton, 36-gun sailing frigate of the United States Navy.Originally named City of Philadelphia, she was built in 1798–1799 for the United States government by the citizens of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Funding for her construction was the result of a...
.
Endicott was launched by the Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corp., Seattle, Washington
Seattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
, on 5 April 1942; sponsored by Miss Bettie L. Rankin; and commissioned 25 February 1943, with Lieutenant Commander W. S. Heald, in command. She was reclassified DMS-35 on 30 May 1945.
Initial operations
The destroyer underwent shakedownShakedown (testing)
A shakedown is a period of testing or a trial journey undergone by a ship, aircraft or other craft and its crew before being declared operational. Statistically, a proportion of the components will fail after a relatively short period of use, and those that survive this period can be expected to...
off 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...
, was ordered to the U.S. Atlantic Fleet
U.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 in her first year escorted two convoy
Convoy
A convoy is a group of vehicles, typically motor vehicles or ships, traveling together for mutual support and protection. Often, a convoy is organized with armed defensive support, though it may also be used in a non-military sense, for example when driving through remote areas.-Age of Sail:Naval...
s to Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
and one to Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, Panama
Panama
Panama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
, and Trinidad
Trinidad
Trinidad is the larger and more populous of the two major islands and numerous landforms which make up the island nation of Trinidad and Tobago. It is the southernmost island in the Caribbean and lies just off the northeastern coast of Venezuela. With an area of it is also the fifth largest in...
.
In preparation for the European invasion Endicott served as escort for merchantmen and transports until 24 May 1944 when she collided with the freighter
Cargo ship
A cargo ship or freighter is any sort of ship or vessel that carries cargo, goods, and materials from one port to another. Thousands of cargo carriers ply the world's seas and oceans each year; they handle the bulk of international trade...
SS Exhibitor and was forced to undergo repairs at Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
, South Wales
South Wales
South Wales is an area of Wales bordered by England and the Bristol Channel to the east and south, and Mid Wales and West Wales to the north and west. The most densely populated region in the south-west of the United Kingdom, it is home to around 2.1 million people and includes the capital city of...
.
European theater
Endicott rejoined the fleet on 12 July and escorted LSTTank landing ship
Landing Ship, Tank was the military designation for naval vessels created during World War II to support amphibious operations by carrying significant quantities of vehicles, cargo, and landing troops directly onto an unimproved shore....
s and LCI
Landing Craft Infantry
The Landing craft, Infantry or LCI were several classes of sea-going amphibious assault ships of the Second World War utilized to land large numbers of infantry directly onto beaches. They were developed in response to a British request for a vessel capable of carrying and landing substantially...
s into the Mediterranean for the buildup preparatory to the attack on southern France
Southern France
Southern France , colloquially known as le Midi is defined geographical area consisting of the regions of France that border the Atlantic Ocean south of the Gironde, Spain, the Mediterranean, and Italy...
(Operation Dragoon
Operation Dragoon
Operation Dragoon was the Allied invasion of southern France on August 15, 1944, during World War II. The invasion was initiated via a parachute drop by the 1st Airborne Task Force, followed by an amphibious assault by elements of the U.S. Seventh Army, followed a day later by a force made up...
). The destroyer, together with British gunboats
Insect class gunboat
The Insect class patrol boats were a class of small, but well-armed Royal Navy ships designed for use in shallow rivers or inshore. They were intended for use on the Danube...
HMS Scarab, Aphis
HMS Aphis
HMS Aphis was a Royal Navy Insect class gunboat. She was built by Ailsa Shipbuilding Company, launched on 15 September 1915 and completed in November 1915. She served in Romania during World War I, then the China Station until 1940...
, and 17 motor torpedo boat
Motor Torpedo Boat
Motor Torpedo Boat was the name given to fast torpedo boats by the Royal Navy, and the Royal Canadian Navy.The capitalised term is generally used for the Royal Navy boats and abbreviated to "MTB"...
s, was scheduled to make a diversionary attack
Battle of La Ciotat
The Battle of La Ciotat was a naval engagement that occurred in August 1944 during World War II as part of Operation Dragoon. Allied forces, engaged at the main landings in Vichy France, ordered a small flotilla of American and British warships to make a feint against the port city of La Ciotat...
against the coast at La Ciotat
La Ciotat
La Ciotat is a commune in the Bouches-du-Rhône department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southern France. It is part of the metropolitan area of Marseille Provence. La ciotat is located to the east of Marseille at an equal distance from Marseille and Toulon...
. The feint successfully deceived the enemy and Endicott sank a German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
merchantman during the bombardment. She then hastened to rescue the British gunboats in their uneven match against two German
Kriegsmarine
The Kriegsmarine was the name of the German Navy during the Nazi regime . It superseded the Kaiserliche Marine of World War I and the post-war Reichsmarine. The Kriegsmarine was one of three official branches of the Wehrmacht, the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany.The Kriegsmarine grew rapidly...
warships, Nimet Allah and Capriola, and though battle weary she destroyed both. She continued to support coastal operations off southern France by escorting a convoy to Corsica
Corsica
Corsica is an island in the Mediterranean Sea. It is located west of Italy, southeast of the French mainland, and north of the island of Sardinia....
, and HMS Eastway to Salerno
Salerno
Salerno is a city and comune in Campania and is the capital of the province of the same name. It is located on the Gulf of Salerno on the Tyrrhenian Sea....
.
Endicott underwent overhaul and refresher training from October through the end of 1944. In January 1945 she sailed via Bermuda
Bermuda
Bermuda is a British overseas territory in the North Atlantic Ocean. Located off the east coast of the United States, its nearest landmass is Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, about to the west-northwest. It is about south of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, and northeast of Miami, Florida...
on the scouting line, then proceeded to rendezvous with Task Group 21.5 (TG 21.5) to escort Quincy
USS Quincy (CA-71)
USS Quincy , a Baltimore class heavy cruiser of the United States Navy. She was the third ship to carry the name.Quincy was authorized on 17 June 1940; laid down by the Bethlehem Steel Company, Shipbuilding Division, Quincy, Massachusetts as St...
(CA-71) — on which President Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...
was embarked — to Yalta
Yalta
Yalta is a city in Crimea, southern Ukraine, on the north coast of the Black Sea.The city is located on the site of an ancient Greek colony, said to have been founded by Greek sailors who were looking for a safe shore on which to land. It is situated on a deep bay facing south towards the Black...
and back to New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
Pacific theater
She escorted a convoy to OranOran
Oran is a major city on the northwestern Mediterranean coast of Algeria, and the second largest city of the country.It is the capital of the Oran Province . The city has a population of 759,645 , while the metropolitan area has a population of approximately 1,500,000, making it the second largest...
in mid-April and then entered the Charleston Navy Yard for conversion to a high-speed minesweeper. Dispatched to the Pacific, she arrived in San Diego three days after the Japanese surrender.
Endicott reported to Task Force 52 at Okinawa on 23 September 1945 to begin the huge task of ridding the Yellow Sea
Yellow Sea
The Yellow Sea is the name given to the northern part of the East China Sea, which is a marginal sea of the Pacific Ocean. It is located between mainland China and the Korean Peninsula. Its name comes from the sand particles from Gobi Desert sand storms that turn the surface of the water golden...
of mines
Naval mine
A naval mine is a self-contained explosive device placed in water to destroy surface ships or submarines. Unlike depth charges, mines are deposited and left to wait until they are triggered by the approach of, or contact with, an enemy vessel...
. Designated flagship
Flagship
A flagship is a vessel used by the commanding officer of a group of naval ships, reflecting the custom of its commander, characteristically a flag officer, flying a distinguishing flag...
of the sweeping group, she conducted similar operations in the Inland Sea and Kure
Kure, Hiroshima
is a city in Hiroshima prefecture, Japan.As of October 1, 2010, the city has an estimated population of 240,820 and a population density of 681 persons per km². The total area is 353.74 km².- History :...
area as well.
After a period of overhaul in May 1946, she operated out of San Diego in peacetime patrols and local exercises until the outbreak of the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
.
Korean War
In June 1950 she weighed anchor for the coast of Korea where she screened aircraft carrierAircraft carrier
An aircraft carrier is a warship designed with a primary mission of deploying and recovering aircraft, acting as a seagoing airbase. Aircraft carriers thus allow a naval force to project air power worldwide without having to depend on local bases for staging aircraft operations...
s Badoeng Strait
USS Badoeng Strait (CVE-116)
USS Badoeng Strait was an of the United States Navy during the Korean War.She was named after the Badung Strait, located between the Indonesian islands of Bali and Nusa Besar, which was the site of a World War II battle in February 1942, between American–Netherlands and Japanese naval forces.San...
(CVE-116) and Sicily
USS Sicily (CVE-118)
USS Sicily was a in the United States Navy. She was named in honor of the island of Sicily, which was the site of a major invasion during World War II. Sicily was laid down on 23 October 1944 by Todd-Pacific Shipyards, Tacoma, Washington, as Sandy Bay; launched on 14 April 1945; sponsored by Mrs...
(CVE-118). Steaming to Chinhae Wan
Jinhae
Jinhae is a district in Changwon City, South Korea. This region is served by the Korean National Railroad, and is famous for its annual cherry blossom festival every spring....
in August, she lent direct fire support to the U.N. troops and on 15 September escorted a 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 LST in a feint attack against Chang Sa Dong. When the LST broached, Endicott stood guard until help arrived.
She continued her harassment of the enemy following the Inchon landings
Battle of Inchon
The Battle of Inchon was an amphibious invasion and battle of the Korean War that resulted in a decisive victory and strategic reversal in favor of the United Nations . The operation involved some 75,000 troops and 261 naval vessels, and led to the recapture of the South Korean capital Seoul two...
, cruising along the east coast of Korea and supporting the minesweeping force. For the remainder of the year she afforded sweeping assistance at Wonsan
Wonsan
Wŏnsan is a port city and naval base in southeastern North Korea. It is the capital of Kangwŏn Province. The population of the city is estimated to have been 331,000 in 2000. Notable people from Wŏnsan include Kim Ki Nam, diplomat and Secretary of the Workers' Party.- History :The original name of...
and then at Hungnam
Hungnam
Hŭngnam was the third largest city in North Korea.It is a port city on the eastern coast, in South Hamgyong Province, on the Sea of Japan . The city covers an area of 250 square kilometers...
prior to the evacuation of troops forced by the penetration of the Chinese Communists. She participated in the Action of 12 October 1950
Action of 12 October 1950
The Action of 12 October 1950 was a battle fought during the Korean War. While conducting Operation Wonsan against sea mines in Wonsan Harbor, a squadron of United States Navy warships was attacked by North Korean Army batteries. During the operation, two American ships struck mines and sank while...
, an engagement in which two American minesweepers were sunk.
In January 1951 she rescued the crew of the grounded Siamese frigate Prase and stood guard until the latter had to be destroyed. Early in February she led a mine-sweeping force in bombarding the port of Wonsan and sweeping to the northward.
An overhaul in San Diego was succeeded by Endicott's second tour in Korean waters. She reported to Commander Naval Forces in October and returned to shore bombardment and patrol. During the first half of 1952 she cruised on the Songjin Patrol and devoted the last four months of the year to overhaul at Long Beach Naval Shipyard
Long Beach Naval Shipyard
thumb|right|300px|Long Beach Naval Shipyard in 1993The Long Beach Naval Shipyard, which closed in 1997, was located at Terminal Island between the city of Long Beach and the San Pedro district of Los Angeles and approximately 23 miles south of the Los Angeles International Airport.The Long Beach...
. Early in 1953 she again sailed for the Far East to patrol and provide gun support for minesweepers operating in the Korean area. Endicott received repairs at Long Beach in August and thereafter conducted individual and fleet exercises in local waters. On 17 August 1954 she was decommissioned and placed in reserve at San Diego. Endicott was reclassified DD-495 on 15 July 1955.