USS Meredith (DD-726)

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USS Meredith, April 1944
USS Meredith, April 1944
Overview
Type destroyer
Shipyard

Bath Iron Works

Keel laying July 26, 1943
Launch December 21, 1943
1. Period of service flag
Commissioning March 14, 1944
Whereabouts ran into a sea ​​mine on June 7, 1944 off the Seine estuary and sank on June 9
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 Meredith (DD-726) was a destroyer of Allen M. Sumner class of the United States Navy . She served the US Navy for three months in 1944 before sank off the French coast.

history

The Meredith was the third ship of this name and was laid down on July 26, 1943 at Bath Iron Works in Bath in the US state of Maine . After the ship was christened by Mrs. William Kepper, the destroyer was launched on December 21, 1943 and was officially put into service with the US Navy on March 14, 1944 under the command of Commander George Kauspfer.

After the first test drives off Bermuda , the Meredith left Boston on May 8th to escort a supply convoy to England. She arrived in Plymouth on May 27th . On June 5th and 6th, it secured the landing fleet for the Allied invasion of Normandy ( Operation Overlord ) and on June 6th supported the US troops landing on the Utah Beach section with its gunfire .

In the morning hours of June 7th, the Meredith ran into a German sea ​​mine while on patrol . Seven crew members were killed and another 50 wounded, the destroyer was badly damaged by the explosion and had to be towed.

On the morning of June 9th, he was caught in a German bombing at his anchorage off the Seine estuary . The damage was increased by the bomb hits, shortly afterwards the Meredith broke into two parts without warning and sank.

On August 5, 1960, the wreck was released for salvage and sold to the St. Française de Recherches company, lifted in September 1960 and then scrapped.

The Meredith received the Battle Star for its service in World War II .

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