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USS Crosby (DD-164)
Encyclopedia
USS Crosby (DD–164) was a Wickes class
destroyer
in the United States Navy
during World War II
, later reclassified as APD-17. She was named for Admiral
Peirce Crosby
.
Crosby was launched 28 September 1918 by Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation
, Quincy, Massachusetts
, sponsored by Mrs. C. Tittman; commissioned 24 January 1919, Lieutenant Commander
Fred Thomas Berry in command; and reported to the Atlantic Fleet.
, Newfoundland
in May 1919, to serve as plane guard during the historic flight of Navy seaplane
s, the first aerial crossing of the Atlantic
.
On 1 July 1919, Crosby was assigned to the Pacific Fleet
, and a week later she sailed from New York for San Diego
, arriving 7 August. She visited Portland, Oregon
, and Seattle, Washington
, then was placed in reserve status with reduced complement at San Diego 30 January 1920. She continued in reserve and was decommissioned 7 June 1922.
out of San Pedro from 1 April 1940. On 1 July 1940, she was assigned to the 11th Naval District Defense Forces, and after a reserve training cruise resumed her patrols and provided services to Destroyer Base, San Diego for the training of destroyer crews.
With the entry of the United States into the war, Crosby continued to patrol the waters of the 11th Naval District and to escort convoys locally until 1 February 1943 when she entered Mare Island Navy Yard for conversion to a high-speed transport. She was reclassified APD-17, 22 February 1943.
Clearing San Francisco 27 February 1943, Crosby sailed by way of Pearl Harbor
, Samoa
, Viti Levu
, and Noumea
to Espiritu Santo
, arriving 27 March for training exercises with the 4th Marines
. Beginning the distinguished active service which was to bring her a Navy Unit Commendation
, Crosby cleared 29 April for Guadalcanal
as a transport screen. She made two similar voyages until 6 June, and then reported for patrol and escort duty in the Solomons. Crosby effectively aided in the consolidation of the Solomons, landing troops on New Georgia
between 30 June and 5 July; on the Treasury Islands
under heavy gunfire on 27 October; and on Bougainville
on 6 and 17 November. She sailed 21 November for overhaul at Brisbane, Australia, returning to Milne Bay, New Guinea, 12 December. She trained Army
and Marine personnel in amphibious landings, then landed troops at Cape Gloucester
, New Britain
, between 24 and 29 December 1943 and at Dekays Bay, New Guinea on 2 January 1944.
Clearing Milne Bay 6 January 1944, Crosby escorted convoys from Espiritu Santo to the Solomon Islands through January, remaining in the Solomons on antisubmarine patrol and screening duty. She landed troops on Green Island from 15 to 20 February and on Emirau Island
on 20 March. Returning to the New Guinea operations 6 April, she landed troops at Aitape
on 22 and 26 April; escorted convoys to Hollandia
; participated in the invasion of Biak Island on 27 May; and served as flagship
for landing craft in Humboldt Bay
from 31 May to 6 July. Following a brief overhaul at Manus
, she landed troops on Cape Sansapor on 30 July, then sailed to Sydney
, Australia
, for replenishment and repairs. She returned to Humboldt Bay on 30 August and landed troops on Morotai
15 September to complete her operations in the New Guinea area.
Crosby put out from Humboldt Bay 12 October 1944 and put men of the 6th Rangers ashore on Suluan Island
, Leyte, 17 October, for a reconnaissance mission. In preparation for the invasion landings, she landed troops on Dinagat Island
, at the opening of Leyte Gulf
on 19 and 20 October. Reloading troops at Humboldt Bay, she landed them in Ormoc Bay
7 December. She recovered the survivors of which was sunk by American gunfire after severe damage from Japanese kamikaze
s. Crosby participated in the landings on Mindoro
15 December and again returned to Humboldt Bay for additional men. After landing her troops at Lingayen Gulf
on 11 January 1945, Crosby continued to support the Luzon
landings, landing men successfully at Nasugbu on 31 January; Mariveles
on 15 February; and Corregidor
on 17 February. On 25 February she cleared for Ulithi
and an overhaul.
Crosby arrived at Okinawa 18 April and for hazardous antisubmarine patrol and radar picket duty, narrowly escaping damage from a suicide plane
13 May. She stood out for San Francisco
18 May and arrived 19 June. Overage and badly battered from her long and strenuous service, it was considered unfeasible to repair her. Crosby was decommissioned 28 September 1945 and sold 23 May 1946, to Boston Metals Co., Baltimore Maryland.
As of 2004, no other ship in the United States Navy has borne this name.
Wickes class destroyer
The Wickes-class destroyers were a group of 111 destroyers built by the United States Navy in 1917-1919. Along with the 6 preceding Caldwell class and 155 subsequent Clemson-class destroyers, they formed the "flush-deck" or "four-stack" class. Only a few were completed in time to serve in World...
destroyer
Destroyer
In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy or battle group and defend them against smaller, powerful, short-range attackers. Destroyers, originally called torpedo-boat destroyers in 1892, evolved from...
in the United States Navy
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 II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, later reclassified as APD-17. She was named for Admiral
Admiral
Admiral is the rank, or part of the name of the ranks, of the highest naval officers. It is usually considered a full admiral and above vice admiral and below admiral of the fleet . It is usually abbreviated to "Adm" or "ADM"...
Peirce Crosby
Peirce Crosby
Peirce Crosby was an rear admiral in the United States Navy, whose active duty career included service in the Mexican-American War and the Civil War.-Early life and career:...
.
Crosby was launched 28 September 1918 by Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation
Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation
Bethlehem Steel Corporation Shipbuilding Division was created in 1905 when Bethlehem Steel Corporation acquired the San Francisco shipyard Union Iron Works in 1905...
, 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 Mrs. C. Tittman; commissioned 24 January 1919, Lieutenant Commander
Lieutenant Commander
Lieutenant Commander is a commissioned officer rank in many navies. The rank is superior to a lieutenant and subordinate to a commander...
Fred Thomas Berry in command; and reported to the Atlantic Fleet.
Service history
Crosby joined in exercises in Guantanamo Bay until sailing for Trepassey BayTrepassey Bay
Trepassey Bay is a natural bay located on the southeast end of the Avalon Peninsula of the island of Newfoundland, in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador.Communities located in Trepassey Bay are; Trepassey, Biscay Bay and Portugal Cove South....
, Newfoundland
Dominion of Newfoundland
The Dominion of Newfoundland was a British Dominion from 1907 to 1949 . The Dominion of Newfoundland was situated in northeastern North America along the Atlantic coast and comprised the island of Newfoundland and Labrador on the continental mainland...
in May 1919, to serve as plane guard during the historic flight of Navy seaplane
NC-4
The NC-4 was a Curtiss NC flying boat which was designed by Glenn Curtiss and his team, and manufactured by Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company. In May 1919, the NC-4 became the first aircraft to fly across the Atlantic Ocean, starting in the United States and making the crossing as far as Lisbon,...
s, the first aerial crossing of the Atlantic
Transatlantic flight
Transatlantic flight is the flight of an aircraft across the Atlantic Ocean. A transatlantic flight may proceed east-to-west, originating in Europe or Africa and terminating in North America or South America, or it may go in the reverse direction, west-to-east...
.
On 1 July 1919, Crosby was assigned to the Pacific Fleet
United States Pacific Fleet
The United States Pacific Fleet is a Pacific Ocean theater-level component command of the United States Navy that provides naval resources under the operational control of the United States Pacific Command. Its home port is at Pearl Harbor Naval Base, Hawaii. It is commanded by Admiral Patrick M...
, and a week later she sailed from New York for San Diego
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
, arriving 7 August. She visited Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
, and Seattle, Washington
Seattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
, then was placed in reserve status with reduced complement at San Diego 30 January 1920. She continued in reserve and was decommissioned 7 June 1922.
World War II
Recommissioned 18 December 1939, Crosby sailed on Neutrality PatrolNeutrality Patrol
At the beginning of World War II, when Nazi Germany's invasion of Poland on 1 September 1939 started the hostilities in Europe, President Franklin D...
out of San Pedro from 1 April 1940. On 1 July 1940, she was assigned to the 11th Naval District Defense Forces, and after a reserve training cruise resumed her patrols and provided services to Destroyer Base, San Diego for the training of destroyer crews.
With the entry of the United States into the war, Crosby continued to patrol the waters of the 11th Naval District and to escort convoys locally until 1 February 1943 when she entered Mare Island Navy Yard for conversion to a high-speed transport. She was reclassified APD-17, 22 February 1943.
Clearing San Francisco 27 February 1943, Crosby sailed by way of Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor, known to Hawaiians as Puuloa, is a lagoon harbor on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, west of Honolulu. Much of the harbor and surrounding lands is a United States Navy deep-water naval base. It is also the headquarters of the U.S. Pacific Fleet...
, Samoa
Samoa
Samoa , officially the Independent State of Samoa, formerly known as Western Samoa is a country encompassing the western part of the Samoan Islands in the South Pacific Ocean. It became independent from New Zealand in 1962. The two main islands of Samoa are Upolu and one of the biggest islands in...
, Viti Levu
Viti Levu
Viti Levu is the largest island in the Republic of Fiji, the site of the nation's capital, Suva, and home to a large majority of Fiji's population.- Geography and economy :...
, and Noumea
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,...
to Espiritu Santo
Espiritu Santo
Espiritu Santo is the largest island in the nation of Vanuatu, with an area of . It belongs to the archipelago of the New Hebrides in the Pacific region of Melanesia. It is in the Sanma Province of Vanuatu....
, arriving 27 March for training exercises with the 4th Marines
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
. Beginning the distinguished active service which was to bring her a Navy Unit Commendation
Navy Unit Commendation
The Navy Unit Commendation of the United States Navy is an award that was established by order of the Secretary of the Navy James Forrestal on 18 December 1944...
, Crosby cleared 29 April for 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...
as a transport screen. She made two similar voyages until 6 June, and then reported for patrol and escort duty in the Solomons. Crosby effectively aided in the consolidation of the Solomons, landing troops on New Georgia
New Georgia
New Georgia is the largest island of the Western Province of the Solomon Islands.-Geography:This island is located in the New Georgia Group, an archipelago including most of the other larger islands in the province...
between 30 June and 5 July; on the Treasury Islands
Treasury Islands
Treasury Islands are a small group of islands a few kilometers to the south of Bougainville and 24 kilometers from the Shortland Islands. They form part of the Western Province of the Solomon Islands. The two largest islands in the Treasuries are Mono Island and the smaller Stirling Island...
under heavy gunfire on 27 October; and on Bougainville
Bougainville Island
Bougainville Island is the main island of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville of Papua New Guinea. This region is also known as Bougainville Province or the North Solomons. The population of the province is 175,160 , which includes the adjacent island of Buka and assorted outlying islands...
on 6 and 17 November. She sailed 21 November for overhaul at Brisbane, Australia, returning to Milne Bay, New Guinea, 12 December. She trained Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
and Marine personnel in amphibious landings, then landed troops at Cape Gloucester
Cape Gloucester
Cape Gloucester is a headland, in the northwest of the island of New Britain, Papua New Guinea, at . During World War II, the Japanese captured New Britain, and had driven most of Cape Gloucester's native population out to construct two airfields...
, New Britain
New Britain
New Britain, or Niu Briten, is the largest island in the Bismarck Archipelago of Papua New Guinea. It is separated from the island of New Guinea by the Dampier and Vitiaz Straits and from New Ireland by St. George's Channel...
, between 24 and 29 December 1943 and at Dekays Bay, New Guinea on 2 January 1944.
Clearing Milne Bay 6 January 1944, Crosby escorted convoys from Espiritu Santo to the Solomon Islands through January, remaining in the Solomons on antisubmarine patrol and screening duty. She landed troops on Green Island from 15 to 20 February and on Emirau Island
Landing on Emirau
The Landing on Emirau was the last of the series of operations that made up Operation Cartwheel, General Douglas MacArthur's strategy for the encirclement of the major Japanese base at Rabaul. A force of nearly 4,000 United States Marines landed on the island of Emirau on 20 March 1944. The island...
on 20 March. Returning to the New Guinea operations 6 April, she landed troops at Aitape
Aitape
Aitape is a small town of about 8,000 people on the north coast of Papua New Guinea in the Sandaun Province. It is a coastal settlement that is almost equidistant from the provincial capitals of Wewak and Vanimo, and marks the midpoint of the highway between these two capitals...
on 22 and 26 April; escorted convoys to Hollandia
Jayapura
Jayapura City is the capital of Papua province, Indonesia, on the island of New Guinea. It is situated on Yos Sudarso Bay . Its approximate population in 2002 was 200,000....
; participated in the invasion of Biak Island on 27 May; and served as flagship
Flagship
A flagship is a vessel used by the commanding officer of a group of naval ships, reflecting the custom of its commander, characteristically a flag officer, flying a distinguishing flag...
for landing craft in Humboldt Bay
Teluk Yos Sudarso
Yos Sudarso Bay also known earlier as Humboldt Bay is a small bay in Indonesia. It is on the north coast of New Guinea, about 50 kilometers west of the border between Indonesia's province of Papua and the country of Papua New Guinea...
from 31 May to 6 July. Following a brief overhaul at Manus
Manus Island
Manus Island is part of Manus Province in northern Papua New Guinea and is the largest island of the Admiralty Islands. It is the fifth largest island in Papua New Guinea with an area of 2,100 km², measuring around 100 km × 30 km. According to the 2000 census, Manus Island had a...
, she landed troops on Cape Sansapor on 30 July, then sailed to Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, for replenishment and repairs. She returned to Humboldt Bay on 30 August and landed troops on Morotai
Morotai
Morotai Island Regency is a regency of North Maluku province, Indonesia, located on Morotai Island. The population was 54,876 in 2007.-History:...
15 September to complete her operations in the New Guinea area.
Crosby put out from Humboldt Bay 12 October 1944 and put men of the 6th Rangers ashore on Suluan Island
Suluan Island
Suluan Island is a small island in the Philippines, in the province of Eastern Samar. It lies east of Leyte Gulf, near Homonhon Island and Calicoan Island....
, Leyte, 17 October, for a reconnaissance mission. In preparation for the invasion landings, she landed troops on Dinagat Island
Dinagat Island
' is a province in the Philippines, located on the south side of Leyte Gulf. Leyte is to its west, across Surigao Strait, and Mindanao is to its south...
, at the opening of Leyte Gulf
Leyte Gulf
Leyte Gulf is a body of water immediately east of the island of Leyte in the Philippines, adjoining the Philippine Sea of the Pacific Ocean, at . The Gulf is bounded on the north by the island of Samar, which is separated from Leyte on the west by the narrow San Juanico Strait, and on the south by...
on 19 and 20 October. Reloading troops at Humboldt Bay, she landed them in Ormoc Bay
Ormoc Bay
Ormoc Bay is a bay on the island of Leyte in the Philippines. The bay is an inlet of the Camotes Sea. The city of Ormoc lies at the head of the bay and exports rice, copra and sugar. The World War II Battle of Ormoc Bay took place from November 11 until mid-December in Ormoc Bay during late 1944....
7 December. She recovered the survivors of which was sunk by American gunfire after severe damage from Japanese kamikaze
Kamikaze
The were suicide attacks by military aviators from the Empire of Japan against Allied naval vessels in the closing stages of the Pacific campaign of World War II, designed to destroy as many warships as possible....
s. Crosby participated in the landings on Mindoro
Mindoro
Mindoro is the seventh-largest island in the Philippines. It is located off the coast of Luzon, and northeast of Palawan. The southern coast of Mindoro forms the northeastern extremum of the Sulu Sea.-History:...
15 December and again returned to Humboldt Bay for additional men. After landing her troops at Lingayen Gulf
Lingayen Gulf
The Lingayen Gulf is an extension of the South China Sea on Luzon in the Philippines stretching . It is framed by the provinces of Pangasinan and La Union and sits between the Zambales Mountains and the Cordillera Central...
on 11 January 1945, Crosby continued to support the Luzon
Luzon
Luzon is the largest island in the Philippines. It is located in the northernmost region of the archipelago, and is also the name for one of the three primary island groups in the country centered on the Island of Luzon...
landings, landing men successfully at Nasugbu on 31 January; Mariveles
Mariveles
Mariveles may refer to:* Mariveles, Bataan * Mariveles Mountains...
on 15 February; and Corregidor
Corregidor
Corregidor Island, locally called Isla ng Corregidor, is a lofty island located at the entrance of Manila Bay in southwestern part of Luzon Island in the Philippines. Due to this location, Corregidor was fortified with several coastal artillery and ammunition magazines to defend the entrance of...
on 17 February. On 25 February she cleared for Ulithi
Ulithi
Ulithi is an atoll in the Caroline Islands of the western Pacific Ocean, about 191 km east of Yap. It consists of 40 islets totalling , surrounding a lagoon about long and up to wide—at one of the largest in the world. It is administered by the state of Yap in the Federated States of...
and an overhaul.
Crosby arrived at Okinawa 18 April and for hazardous antisubmarine patrol and radar picket duty, narrowly escaping damage from a suicide plane
Kamikaze
The were suicide attacks by military aviators from the Empire of Japan against Allied naval vessels in the closing stages of the Pacific campaign of World War II, designed to destroy as many warships as possible....
13 May. She stood out for San Francisco
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
18 May and arrived 19 June. Overage and badly battered from her long and strenuous service, it was considered unfeasible to repair her. Crosby was decommissioned 28 September 1945 and sold 23 May 1946, to Boston Metals Co., Baltimore Maryland.
Awards
In addition to her Navy Unit Commendation, Crosby earned 10 battle stars for World War II service.As of 2004, no other ship in the United States Navy has borne this name.