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USS Colhoun (DD-85)
Encyclopedia
USS Colhoun (DD-85/APD-2) was a in the United States Navy
during World War I and as APD-2 in World War II. She was the first Navy ship named for Edmund Colhoun.
Colhoun was launched 21 February 1918 by Fore River Shipbuilding Company, Quincy, Massachusetts
, sponsored by Miss A. Colhoun, commissioned 13 June 1918, Commander
B. B. Wygant in command, and reported to the United States Atlantic Fleet.
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From 30 June to 14 September 1918, Colhoun served as convoy escort between New York
and European ports. On 10 November 1918, she reported to New London
to conduct experiments with sound equipment then under development. On 1 January 1919, she rushed to assist the transport Northern Pacific which was stranded at Fire Island, carrying 194 of her returning troops to Hoboken, New Jersey
.
After operations in the Caribbean and off the East Coast, Colhoun was placed in reduced commission at Philadelphia Navy Yard 1 December 1919. Following overhaul at Norfolk Navy Yard and a reserve period at Charleston, South Carolina
, she returned to Philadelphia
, where she was decommissioned 28 June 1922.
Towed to Norfolk Navy Yard 5 June 1940, Colhoun underwent conversion to a high-speed transport and was recommissioned as APD-2 on 11 December 1940. She operated between Norfolk and the Caribbean on training exercises until sailing for Nouméa
, New Caledonia
, where she arrived 21 July 1942.
She carried units of the 1st Marine Raider Battalion in the initial assault landings on Guadalcanal
on 7 August and continued to serve as both transport and antisubmarine vessel in support of the invasion.
At 1400 on 30 August 1942, while Colhoun was on patrol off Guadalcanal, she was struck in a Japanese air raid. The first hits wrecked the ship's boats and the after davits, and started a diesel fire from the boat wreckage. In a second attack, a succession of hits on the starboard side brought down the foremast, blew two 20 mm guns and one 4" gun off the ship, and damaged the engineering spaces. Two more direct hits killed all the men in the after deck house. Tank lighters from Guadalcanal rescued the crew, and Colhoun sank in 09°24′S 160°01′E. Fifty-one men were killed and 18 wounded in this action.
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
during World War I and as APD-2 in World War II. She was the first Navy ship named for Edmund Colhoun.
Colhoun was launched 21 February 1918 by Fore River Shipbuilding Company, Quincy, Massachusetts
Quincy, Massachusetts
Quincy is a city in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. Its nicknames are "City of Presidents", "City of Legends", and "Birthplace of the American Dream". As a major part of Metropolitan Boston, Quincy is a member of Boston's Inner Core Committee for the Metropolitan Area Planning Council...
, sponsored by Miss A. Colhoun, commissioned 13 June 1918, Commander
Commander
Commander is a naval rank which is also sometimes used as a military title depending on the individual customs of a given military service. Commander is also used as a rank or title in some organizations outside of the armed forces, particularly in police and law enforcement.-Commander as a naval...
B. B. Wygant in command, and reported to the United States Atlantic Fleet.
Service history
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and European ports. On 10 November 1918, she reported to New London
New London, Connecticut
New London is a seaport city and a port of entry on the northeast coast of the United States.It is located at the mouth of the Thames River in New London County, southeastern Connecticut....
to conduct experiments with sound equipment then under development. On 1 January 1919, she rushed to assist the transport Northern Pacific which was stranded at Fire Island, carrying 194 of her returning troops to Hoboken, New Jersey
Hoboken, New Jersey
Hoboken is a city in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population was 50,005. The city is part of the New York metropolitan area and contains Hoboken Terminal, a major transportation hub for the region...
.
After operations in the Caribbean and off the East Coast, Colhoun was placed in reduced commission at Philadelphia Navy Yard 1 December 1919. Following overhaul at Norfolk Navy Yard and a reserve period at Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
, she returned to Philadelphia
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
, where she was decommissioned 28 June 1922.
Towed to Norfolk Navy Yard 5 June 1940, Colhoun underwent conversion to a high-speed transport and was recommissioned as APD-2 on 11 December 1940. She operated between Norfolk and the Caribbean on training exercises until sailing for Nouméa
Nouméa
Nouméa is the capital city of the French territory of New Caledonia. It is situated on a peninsula in the south of New Caledonia's main island, Grande Terre, and is home to the majority of the island's European, Polynesian , Indonesian, and Vietnamese populations, as well as many Melanesians,...
, New Caledonia
New Caledonia
New Caledonia is a special collectivity of France located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, east of Australia and about from Metropolitan France. The archipelago, part of the Melanesia subregion, includes the main island of Grande Terre, the Loyalty Islands, the Belep archipelago, the Isle of...
, where she arrived 21 July 1942.
She carried units of the 1st Marine Raider Battalion in the initial assault landings on Guadalcanal
Guadalcanal
Guadalcanal is a tropical island in the South-Western Pacific. The largest island in the Solomons, it was discovered by the Spanish expedition of Alvaro de Mendaña in 1568...
on 7 August and continued to serve as both transport and antisubmarine vessel in support of the invasion.
At 1400 on 30 August 1942, while Colhoun was on patrol off Guadalcanal, she was struck in a Japanese air raid. The first hits wrecked the ship's boats and the after davits, and started a diesel fire from the boat wreckage. In a second attack, a succession of hits on the starboard side brought down the foremast, blew two 20 mm guns and one 4" gun off the ship, and damaged the engineering spaces. Two more direct hits killed all the men in the after deck house. Tank lighters from Guadalcanal rescued the crew, and Colhoun sank in 09°24′S 160°01′E. Fifty-one men were killed and 18 wounded in this action.