USS Meredith (DD-726)
USS Meredith, April 1944 |
|
Overview | |
---|---|
Type | destroyer |
Shipyard |
Bath Iron Works |
Keel laying | July 26, 1943 |
Launch | December 21, 1943 |
1. Period of service | |
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 |
|
speed |
34 kn |
Range |
6500 nm at 15 kt |
Armament |
|
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 .
Web links
- History of Meredith in the Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (English)
- Pictures of Meredith at navsource.org