USS Drexler (DD-741)

USS Drexler off Cape Elizabeth, Maine, November 14, 1944
Overview
Type	destroyer
Shipyard	Bath Iron Works
Keel laying	April 24, 1944
Launch	September 3, 1944
1. Period of service
Commissioning	March 14, 1945
Whereabouts	Sunk by Kamikaze on May 28, 1945
Technical specifications
length	114.8 m
width	12.2 m
Draft	4.8 m
crew	336
drive	4 oil-fired steam boilers 2 sets of steam turbines, driven by 2 shafts 60,000 WPS
speed	34 kn
Range	6500 nm at 15 kt
Armament	6 × 12.7 cm L / 38 in twin towers 12 × 40 mm flak (two quadruple and two twin guns) 11 × 20 mm Fla- MK 10 torpedo tubes Ø 533 mm 6 × hedgehog

The USS Drexler (DD-741) was a destroyer of Allen M. Sumner class of the United States Navy . She served the US Navy for six months in 1944 and 1945 before sank off Okinawa.

history

The Drexler was laid on April 24, 1944 at Bath Iron Works in Bath , Maine, USA . After being baptized by Mrs. LA Drexler, the mother of the namesake, the destroyer was launched on September 3, 1944 and entered service with the US Navy on November 14, 1944 under the command of Commander RL Wilson.

On January 23, 1945, the destroyer left Norfolk to escort the USS Bon Homme Richard to Trinidad , then crossed the Panama Canal and arrived in San Diego on February 10 . Three days later, the course was set for Hawaii, where anti-aircraft and artillery exercises took place. On February 23, the Drexler set course for Guadalcanal and Ulithi , the preparation areas for the invasion of Okinawa .

On March 27, 1945, the Drexler left the Ulithi Atoll in the direction of Okinawa, where she was used as a radar warning ship. On the morning of May 28 at around 7:00 a.m., two kamikaze planes attacked the Drexler and her escort ship USS Lowry . The first aircraft could be shot down, but the second missed the Lowry and crashed on the Drexler . Despite severe fires and failed machinery, three more Kamikaze planes were shot down before another kamikaze hit in the superstructure caused the Drexler to explode at 07:03 . The destroyer capsized to starboard and sank stern first within a minute. 158 seafarers lost their lives and 52 were wounded, including the ship's captain.

The Drexler received a Battle Star for its service during World War II .

Web links

Commons : USS Drexler (DD-741)  - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files

• History of Drexler in the Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (English)