USSBrooks(DD-232/APD-10)was aClemson-classUnited States Navydestroyerwho served primarily in Europe and the Atlantic, the Adriatic, and both the Pacific and Caribbean after WWI. Between 1931 and 1939 she was placed out of commission. She was recommissioned in 1939 and served in the Atlantic until 1941, switching to the Pacific Theatre duringWorld War IIwhere she was badly damaged at the Battle of Lingayen Gulf in January 1945. She was named forLieutenantJohn Brooks, Jr.
 USSBrooks(DD-232) underway during trials in 1920
| |
| History | |
|---|---|
 United States | |
| Namesake | John Brooks, Jr. |
| Builder | New York Shipbuilding |
| Cost | $1,096,655.06 (hull & machinery)[1] |
| Laid down | 11 June 1918 |
| Launched | 24 April 1919 |
| Commissioned | 18 June 1920 |
| Decommissioned | 20 January 1931 |
| Recommissioned | 18 June 1932 |
| Decommissioned | 2 September 1938 |
| Recommissioned | 25 April 1939 |
| Reclassified | High-speed transport,APD-10, 1 December 1942 |
| Decommissioned | 2 August 1945 |
| Stricken | 17 September 1945 |
| Fate | Sold for scrap 30 January 1946 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Variant ofClemson-classdestroyer |
| Displacement | 1,215 tons |
| Length | 314 feet 4 inches (95.81 m) |
| Beam | 31 feet 8 inches (9.65 m) |
| Draft | 9 feet 10 inches (3.00 m) |
| Propulsion |
|
| Speed | 33.2 knots (61.5 km/h) |
| Range |
|
| Complement | 130 officers and enlisted |
| Armament | 4 x5 in (130 mm),1 x3 in (76 mm),12 x21 inch (533 mm)tt. |
Construction and commissioning
editBrookswas launched 24 April 1919 byNew York Shipbuilding Company,sponsored by Mrs. George S. Keyes, grandniece of Lieutenant Brooks, and commissioned 18 June 1920.[2]
Service history
editBrooksleftPhiladelphiafor European waters 26 August 1920. She was first assigned to the Baltic Patrol for a short time and then the Naval Forces in theAdriatic Sea.She joined the United States Naval Forces in Turkish waters in June 1921. Brooks departed for the United States 26 September 1921 and arrived at New York City 19 October. She was then assigned to theScouting Fleet,U. S. Fleet,and participated in fleet maneuvers in theCaribbean,Atlantic,andPacificuntil placed out of commission in reserve atPhiladelphia Navy Yard20 January 1931.[2]
Brookswas recommissioned at Philadelphia Navy Yard 18 June 1932, and assigned to the Scouting Force, participating in fleet operations on both coasts until going out of commission in reserve at Philadelphia on 2 September 1938. She was recommissioned 25 April 1939 and assigned to theNeutrality Patrolon the Atlantic coast, where she remained until she joined the Local Defense Force, 13th Naval District, in November 1940.Brookswas operating with this force when the United States enteredWorld War II.[2]
World War II
editAs a patrol and escort ship,Brooksoperated betweenCalifornia,Washington,andAlaskaduring the first year of World War II. On 20 September 1942, she arrived atSeattle,to commence conversion to a high-speed transport. On 1 December 1942, her classification was changed toAPD-10and she was assigned to the South Pacific.[2]
WWII Pacific stations
editShe served as a transport and minesweeper during the Lae,New Guinea,landings (4–14 September 1943);Finschhafen,New Guinea, landings (22 and 29–30 September);Cape Gloucester,New Britain,assault (26 and 28–29 December);Saidor,New Guinea, landings (2 January-17 February 1944);Admiralty Islandslandings (29 February-5 March and 19 March);Hollandia,New Guinea, assault (22–28 April); capture ofSaipan(14–22 June);Leyteoccupation (18 November-4 December);Mindoroinvasion (12–18 December); and theLingayen Gulflandings (3–6 January 1945).[2]
Fate
editAt 1252 on 6 January 1945, the worst day for the Navy during the costly Invasion of Lingayen Gulf, a Japanesekamikazecrashed intoBrooks'port side, causing extensive damage and starting a fire amidships. The main and auxiliary steam lines were severed, the fire main was broken, and the sea valve to the condenser was pierced, causing the forward engine room to flood. Three ofBrooks'crew were killed and 11 wounded. A number ofBrooks'sabandoned survivors, were rescued by the adjacentHMAS Warramunga (I44)and later transferred to her sister ship theUSS Hovey,a minesweeper staged in Minesweeping Unit 1 for the Lingayen invasion, as wasBrooks.Five more ofBrooks'screw were killed when theUS Hoveywas sunk by an aerial torpedo at 455 on the following morning of 7 January. The badly damagedBrookswas towed toSan Pedro, California,Watch Hill and decommissioned there on 2 August 1945.Brookswas sold 30 January 1946.[2][3]
Awards
editBrooksreceived theNavy Unit Commendationand sixbattle starsfor her World War II service.[2]
As of 2015, no other U.S. Navy ships have been namedBrooks.
Former crew
edit- Sherman A. Minton,World War II
See also
edit- USSBrooke(FFG-1)for a ship with a similar name.
References
edit
This article incorporates text from thepublic domainDictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.The entry can be foundhere.
Citations
edit- ^"Table 21 – Ships on Navy List June 30, 1919".Congressional Serial Set.U.S. Government Printing Office: 762. 1921.
- ^abcdefg"Brooks I".Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.Navy Department,Naval History and Heritage Command.
- ^"MaritimeQuest, USS Brooks Role of Honor".MaritimeQuest, USS Brooks Role of Honor.MaritimeQuest.Retrieved4 May2021.
External links
edit- "USS BROOKS (DD-232 / APD-10)".Navsource.org.
- Roll of Honor