USS Emmons (DD-457/DMS-22)

USS Emmons (DD-457) was a Gleaves class destroyer that took part in Operation Torch, served with the British Home Fleet, took part in the D-Day landings and the invasion of the South of France before being hit by five kamikaze aircraft off Okinawa leaving her so damaged she had to be sunk by US gunfire.

The Emmons was named after George Foster Emmons, who served in the US Navy during the Mexican War and the US Civil War, retiring as a rear admiral in 1873.

The Emmons was laid down by the Bath Iron Works at Bath, launched on 23 August 1941 when she was sponsored by Admiral Emmons’ grand-daughter Mrs F.E. Reacock, and commissioned on 5 December 1941.

The Emmons was originally classified as a Bristol class ship, which were built with four 5in guns instead of the five installed on the Livermore/ Gleaves class. However after the fifth gun was removed from the those ships all of the Bristol class ships joined the Livermore/ Gleaves class.

1942

The Hambleton and Emmons left Norfolk on 31 January 1942 on the only wartime destroyer shakedown cruise that moved from the Atlantic to the Pacific. After passing through the Panama Canal the two destroyers visited Callao (Peru), Valparaiso (Chile) and Guayaquil, (Ecuador), then after returning to the Caribbean visited Cartagena in Colombia.

USS Emmons (DD--457) in camo measure 12 modified, 1942

On 15 March she joined a patrol ground based around the Ranger (CV-4) that was patrolling in the Caribbean.

In April she escorted the Ranger (CV-4) as the carrier crossed the Atlantic to a point where she could launch USAAF fighters that were heading for Accra, at the start of the long flight across Africa to Egypt.

After operating in New England the Emmons moved to Argentia, where she patrolled the local area and escorted troopships moving from Boston to Halifax. On 5 July she left Halifax to escort an Army transport and a merchant ship to a mid-ocean meeting with a British escort unit. The Emmons then continued on to Britain and became part of the US contribution to the British Home Fleet at Scapa Flow.

Between 26-31 July she escorted HMS Duke of York to Iceland and back. She was then used to escort convoys along the Scottish coast.

On 17 August the Tuscaloosa (CA-37), Emmons and two other destroyers left Scapa Flow to carry medical personnel and supplies and men and equipment for Nos.144 and 145 Squadrons, RAF, which were operating Hampden bombers from northern Russia. This small force reached Kola Inlet late on 23 August, dropped off their supplies, picked up stranded merchant sailors, stuck in Russia after the loss of their ships on earlier convoys, then departed on 24 August. On the way back British ships who had joined the formation detected and sank the German minelayer Ulm.

Emmons returned to New York on 9 September 1942. She had originally been withdrawn from the Home Fleet in order to move to the Pacific, but instead she joined the forces gathering to take part in Operation Torch, the invasion of North Africa, and took part in training exercises in Casco and Chesapeake Bays.

From 22-23 September she formed part of the screen for the Massachusetts (BB-59) as she trained the Gulf of Maine.

She left Bermuda on 25 October with the invasion fleet. From 8-13 November she screened the carriers operating off Safi.

After returning to the US she moved to Cristabal to wait for a convoy that was heading to New York.  

1943

While waiting for the convoy on 9 January 1943 she passed through the Panama Canal and trained with officers of the Ecuadorean Navy, before returning back through the Canal to escort the convoy.

In February she escorted a convoy to North Africa, returning to New York on 11 March. A period of training then followed, before on 2 April she departed for Scapa Flow.

On 19 May she joined the Home Fleet at Scapa, and she spent the next two months operating in northern waters, guarding against and sorties by the powerful German ships based in Norway (in particular the Tirpitz). In July she screened British carriers as they attacked Norway.

The Emmons returned to Norfolk on 9 August 1943.

Between 3 November and 19 December she voyaged to Gibraltar and back, on the way out forming part of the escort for the Iowa (BB-61) as she carried President Roosevelt to North Africa, on the first stage of his journey to the Teheran Conference.

After returning from this voyage she began several months of plane guard and screen duties for aircraft carriers being used to train naval aviators around Newport and in Casco Bay.

1944

On 20 April she departed for Mers-el-Kebir, arriving on 1 May. Once there she joined a hunter-killer anti-submarine group, and on 14-17 May was one of many destroyers to take part in the hunt that ended with the sinking of U-616.

On 18 May she departed for England to join the forces gathering to support the D-Day invasion.

After guarding preassault minesweeping, she joined in the heavy bombardment prior to the landing.

After supporting the minesweepers operating in front of the invasion fleet the Emmons took part in the pre-invasion naval bombardment. She then became involved in a duel with a group of German 88mm guns near Port-en-Bessin, firing 250 5in shells at them. She was also used to knock down the 15th century spire of the church at Colleville-Sur-Mer, to prevent it being used as a Gemran observation post. She was one of the destroyers that came in close to Omaha Beach, helping secure the American victory on that beach. Although she wasn’t hit during the day there were several near misses.

The Emmons remained off the beaches for three days, forming part of the screen for the massive invasion fleet. She then returned to Plymouth with the Texas (BB-35).

She returned to the beaches from 11-20 June, where she once again formed part of the anti-submarine screen. She was forced to return to English waters by the Great Storm which hit the beaches on 19-20 June, destroying the Mulberry harbour on Omaha Beach.

On 25 June she took part in the naval bombardment of the German coastal guns around Cherbourgh.

The Emmons was then ordered to the Mediterranean to support Operation Dragoon, the invasion of the South of France. She escorted a convoy from Portland to Mers-el-Kebir, arriving on 10 July. She was then used to escort ships moving around the Mediterranean to prepare for the invasion.

On 11 August she left Taranto heading for the landing area. On 15 August she took part in the pre-invasion bombardment and then provided fire support for the troops. She spent most of the time between then and October operating off the south of France, with a few breaks to escort convoys to and from Italy and Corsica.

On 9 November she returned to Boston to be converted into a high-speed minesweeper, ready for service in the Pacific. She was redesignated as DMS-22.

1945

On 1 January 1945 the Rodman and Emmons joined USS Vicksburg (CL-86) at the entrance to Chesapeake Bay. The three ships formed TG 21.12 for the voyage to the Panama Canal, passing through the canal on 5 January. The task group was then dissolved. The Emmons continued on, eventually reaching Ulithi.

On 19 March the Emmons and her squadron departed for Okinawa, where they swept the channels needed by the invasion fleet. After the invasion itself on 1 April she was used as a picket ship.

On 6 April she was one of the targets for the first major Japanese air attack of the battle, Kikusui Attack No.1. The Emmons and Rodman were guarding a group of six smaller minesweepers clearing a channel off the island. One of the first attacking kamikaze aircraft hit the Rodman, and the Emmons came in to circle her and provide more AA fire. Between them they were able to shoot down several attackers, with US Marine Corps Corsairs also coming to their aid. However the Emmons was eventually hit by five kamikaze aircraft in quick succession. Two hit the stern, blowing off the fantail and rudder. One hit the forward 5in gun. One hit under the bridge killed the 14 men in the Combat Information Centre and forcing the commanding officer to leave the burning pilot house. However the bridge had already been destroyed, so he was forced to jump overboard. The fifth hit also struck the superstructure. Sixty men were killed and seventy-seven wounded. The gunnery officer, Lt J.J. Griffin ended up in command after the executive officer was killed, and for several hours he led the efforts to save the ship. However after an hour the forward handling room exploded, reducing the chances of the Emmons being able to save herself. With all nearby ships already occupied, Griffin had to give the order to abnaodn ship. The Emmons actually stayed afloat for several hours, but had to be sunk by the Ellyson (DMS-19) to prevent her falling into Japanese hands.

In addition to her Navy Unit Commendation, Emmons received four battle stars for World War II service, for North Africa, sinking U-616, Normandy and the South of France

U.S. Destroyers: An Illustrated Design History, Norman Friedmann . The standard history of the development of American destroyers, from the earliest torpedo boat destroyers to the post-war fleet, and covering the massive classes of destroyers built for both World Wars. Gives the reader a good understanding of the debates that surrounded each class of destroyer and led to their individual features.

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