History:
The third Perry (DD-340) was
laid down 15 September 1920 at the Mare Island Navy Yard,
Vallejo, Calif.; launched 29 October 1921, sponsored by Miss
Anne R. Seudder, and commissioned 7 August 1922, Lt. Richard H.
Booth in command.
Perry operated out of San
Diego until 17 January 1923. Then decommissioned, she remained
in reserve until recommissioned 1 April 1930. Operations off
California were followed in late summer by a cruise to Alaska
with members of the US Senate embarked for an inspection trip.
Squadron, fleet and joint Army Navy Coast Guard exercises in the
eastern Pacific, the Caribbean and the western Atlantic filled
her schedule for the next decade.
On 2 April 1940, Perry
departed San Diego for her new homeport, Pearl Harbor. For the
next five months she patrolled in Hawaiian waters, then in
October, entered the naval shipyard at Pearl Harbor for
conversion to a high speed minesweeper. Redesignated DMS-17,
effective 19 November 1940, she joined MinRon 2 at Pearl Harbor
in January 1941. In late spring, she sailed back to San Diego,
whence, on 1 July, she departed to escort Arqzona to Pearl
Harbor.
On 7 December 1941, Perry was
moored at Pearl Harbor. Promptly after the Japanese attack she
got underway and having already splashed one of the attackers,
took up patrol and sweeping duties in the approaches to the
harbor entrance. She continued offshore patrols until 31 May
1942, then sailed east to California. Alterations at Mare Island
followed and on 31 July, she departed, as convoy escort, for
Pearl Harbor. From Hawaii, she steamed to Kodiak to assist in
the Aleutian campaign. For the next year, until after the
retaking of Kiska, 15 August 1943, Perry performed minesweeping
and rescue missions and escorted troop and supply convoys in the
foggy waters of the north Pacific.
On 8 September, Perry
departed Adak and sailed south. Stopping first in Hawaii, she
continued on to San Francisco for repairs. Back at Pearl Harbor
27 November, she joined the 5th Fleet, then staging for the
Marshall Islands campaign. On 31 January 1944, she arrived off
Kwajalein and took up antisubmarine station in the transport
area. She departed that atoll five days later, escorted
troopships to Noumea, conducted sweeping operations in the
Solomons, and then, on 3 April, sailed with MinRon 2 for New
Guinea. Three days later, she joined the 7th Fleet at Milne Bay.
In mid-month she got underway, with TG 77.3 and, acting as ocean
escort and anti-submarine screen, arrived with that group off
Aitape on the 22nd. Prior to the assault there, she swept
between Tamara and Alli Islands, then took up antisubmarine
patrol and shore bombardment duties.
Perry remained in New Guinea
waters until 6 May, when she steamed east to rejoin the 5th
Fleet in the Solomons and prepare for the invasion of the
Marianas. Assigned to TG 51.17, Perry arrived off Saipan and
commenced sweeping operations 13 June under cover from the
battleships of TF 58. Completing sweeping operations the
following day, she resumed screening duties in the forward area,
maintaining her protective posture over the transports off the
assault beaches through the landings and the Battle of the
Philippine Sea. On 26 June, she departed Saipan for Eniwetok
whence she sailed, with TG 53.1, for Guam. Between the 14th and
the 20th she screened vessels delivering the preinvasion
bombardment; then, as troops were landed on the 21st, joined the
screen of the fire support units.
Prior to departing the
Marianas, five days later, Perry participated in the shelling of
Rota, then returned to Guam, whence she sailed, the same day,
for Eniwetok in the transport screen. Further exercises in the
Solomons preceded her next, and last, assignment, the Palau
invasion.
On 6 September MinRon 2
sortied from Florida Island. On the 12th they reached their
objective and the units commenced sweeping operations off
Peleliu Island. At 0811, a mine explosion destroyed Perry's port
sweep gear. By 1028 she had replaced the gear and was back in
formation to continue operations until early afternoon. That
night she carried out antisubmarine patrols and early the next
morning, 13 September resumed her sweeping mission. At 1418, off
Anguar, a violent underwater explosion, starboard side
amidships, shook the ship. All steam to her main engines was
lost and the forward fireroom was demolished and flooded. Steam
and oil sprayed in all directions and the ship took on a 30°
list to port. The list increased and, at 1420, the commanding
officer ordered "abandon ship". With the aid of Preble
(DD-345) final attempts to save the vessel were made, but, at
1515, all remaining personnel were ordered off. At 1605, Perry
capsized. She broke in two at the point of damage and, at 1607,
sank in 40 fathoms of water.
Perry (DMS-17) earned 6
battle stars during World War II. |
|
|
