U.S.S. Somers
DD-381
1942
(Neptun 1365)
- Class: Somers - 5 destroyers of 1934-35
- Displacement: 1,850 tons
- Dimensions: 371(wl) 381.25(oa) x 37 x 10.25 ft.
- Machinery: 2-shaft geared turbines, S.H.P. 52,000 = 37.5 knots
- Armament: 6-5"/38 (3x2), 6-40mm (4x2) AA,
6-20mm (6x1) guns; 8-21"(2x4) TT
- Complement: 270
- Builder: Federal, Kearny
- Keel Laid: 27 Jun 1935
- Launched: 13 Mar 1937
- Commissioned: 1 Dec 1937
- Decommissioned: 13 Oct 1945
- Notes: Served in Neutrality Patrol in western Atlantic. On 6 Nov 1941 she assisted cruiser USS Omaha in the capture of the German blockade runner Oldenwald off the coast of Africa. After American entry into WW2, she escorted convoys in the South Atlantic. On 21 Nov 1942 she intercepted another German blockade runner, Anneliese Essberger, which scuttled herself, survivors being picked up by cruiser USS Milwaukee. In Jan 1943 she served as escort for cruiser USS Memphis while the latter served as flagship for President Franklin Roosevelt during the Casablanca conference. She stopped and disabled still another German blockade runner, the Westerland, in Jan 1944. Escorted convoys in the English Channel during the D-Day invasion, Jun 1944, and then covered landings in southern France. On 15 Aug 1944 she intercepted two German corvettes, Escabort and Comascio, sinking both. Dueled with German shore batteries on 22 Aug, receiving some shrapnel damage.
Returned to U.S. on 12 May 1945.
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