Hambleton

U.S.S. Hambleton

DMS-20

1944

(Neptun 1380)

Class: Ellyson - 24 highspeed minesweepers of 1940-41
Displacement: 1,630 tons
Dimensions: 341(wl) 348'3"(oa) x 36'1" x 13'9" ft.
Machinery: 2-shaft geared turbines, S.H.P. 50,000 = 37 knots
Armament: 3-5"/38 (3x1), 4-40mm (2x2)
Complement: 290

Builder: Bath Iron Works
Keel Laid: 16 Dec 1940
Launched: 26 Sep 1941
Commissioned: 22 Dec 1941
Decommissioned: 15 Jan 1955

Notes: Commissioned as DD-455, a member of the Gleaves class. Atlantic escort duties after shakedown in 1942. Participated in Operation Torch, invasion of North Africa; torpedoed off Fedala, Morocco 11 Nov 1942 by German U-boat U-173. Towed into Casablanca for temporary repairs: cut in two to remove a 40' section of hull, then joined back together. Escorted by a tug to Boston for permament repairs. Returned to Atlantic escort duties in 1944, during which she participated in sinking of U-616 on 17 May. During Normandy invasion, escorted LST's to Omaha Beach 7 Jun 1944 (D+1); engaged German E-boats on 9 Jun, sinking one and damaging another. Participated in Cherbourg bombardment, 25 Jun, then headed to Mediterranean for invasion of Southern France in Aug 1944. Returned to Boston where she was reclassified and converted to high-speed minesweeper 15 Nov 1944. Proceeded to Pacific, arriving off Okinawa on 23 Mar 1945 to sweep, screen, and provide fire support for landings on 1 Apr. Slightly damaged by kamikaze near miss on 3 Apr. Later participated in major sweeping activities in East China Sea, and in Tokyo Bay from 28 Aug, after Japanese surrender. After sweeping 184 mines in Japanese waters, she departed Nov 1945 via Pearl Harbor and Panama for Norfolk. She remained in commission for ten more years in the Atlantic and Caribbean, with several deployments to the Mediterranean. Reclassified back to DD-455 when decommissioned and laid up in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet, Orange, Texas. Struck in 1971 and scrapped in 1972.