Historic World War II Destroyer Avoids Sinking Off Okinawa

Off the coast of Okinawa, a legendary WWII warship escaped the prospect of sinking. Fifty-two submarines lost their personnel throughout the war, with 84 fatalities and 3,131 unaccounted for. Ackerman was awarded a Silver Star after his death for his work aboard the ship.

The destroyer was in danger of sinking, although it had already fended off multiple assaults. When the crew tried to save survivors from the downed Callaghan, a kamikaze hit the ship. Two crew members were killed by the Japanese destroyer, which also almost split in two. The boat was struck by a Japanese bomb another time. Thankfully, the I-53 avoided this destiny, although it sustained significant damage.

The Memorial Room on the Historic WWII Destroyer was unharmed throughout the attack, which was fortunate. The ship's exquisite 3-D self-portrait, letters from the Sullivan brothers who gave it its name, and two original flags were all recovered by rescuers. But unfortunately, a battered American flag that had been fastened to the destroyer's mast during combat close to the Japanese islands was also visible.

The Trigger had previously been sunk by the Japanese aircraft that spotted the U-boat, but the crew was unaware of this until a few days before the attack. Then, on March 28, the Japanese directed the CD-33 and CD-59 escort ships onto a datum so they could launch a depth-charge bombardment. This caused a significant oil slick. The Japanese submarines ultimately sunk the American warship and the two-masted U-boats.

The Mary Ann McLaughlin, a radio relay for the Japanese suicide mission, survived a sink threat during World War II. Only one of the 24 P1Y Frances aircraft that the Japanese dispatched to Ulithi Atoll was successful. Twenty-five sailors were killed, and 106 were injured when a P1Y Frances collided with the USS Randolph (CV-15).

The Juneau's crew avoided the threat of sinking. Those who survived were lauded as heroes, and their names went down in history. All around the nation, propaganda posters with their images were displayed. The Navy decided to construct a destroyer in their honour after the war. On April 4, 1943, The Sullivans (DD-537) was launched.

When the sinking danger materialized, the USS Enterprise was undergoing a significant refurbishment. Along with replacing her primary weapons, the ship had upgraded its fire control and radar systems. It had extra anti-aircraft weaponry as well. The ship's survival depended on these fixes.

The Indianapolis was dispatched to the Mariana Islands before the end of July 1945. Parts for an atomic weapon were among the cargo on board. It took ten days to get from San Francisco to Tinian. On July 26, the ship's delivery was complete. It then made its way to the Philippine island of Leyte Gulf. The Japanese submarine I-58 fired two torpedoes against it, striking it. The USS Tranquility, AH-14, rescued the survivors.

Commander Frank De Vere "Sparrow" Latta (USNA '32), who oversaw the USS Torsk, is credited with launching the final American torpedo of the conflict. Later, Latta received a Legion of Merit and the Navy Cross. In addition, he received the Navy Cross and the Silver Star for leading the Narwhal's fourth through ninth combat patrols.

The Nakagusuku Bay was to be screened by the USS Cassin Young (DD-793). The destroyer was assaulted by five enemy planes but could shoot down all of them while minimizing damage to its ship. This made it possible for the crew to flee the onslaught and return to a friendly base.

An amphibious squadron followed the destroyer after the strike. The company comprises three new destroyers, an Australian frigate, and 21 PT boats. Tomcat radars shielded the crew from harm. However, the destroyer continued to sustain damage and could not reenter the combat area.

On July 12, 1945, Pennsylvania sailed from San Francisco and arrived in Okinawa. On August 18, it was dragged away from her floating dry dock. She then underwent significant renovations and received eight Battle Stars as a result. Pennsylvania took part in the final battleship vs battleship encounter in history during the conflict.