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USS Douglas A. Munro (DE-422)
Encyclopedia
USS Douglas A. Munro (DE-422) was a acquired by the U.S. Navy during World War II
. The primary purpose of the destroyer escort was to escort and protect ships in convoy
, in addition to other tasks as assigned, such as patrol or radar picket
.
Douglas A. Munro was named in honor of Signalman First Class Douglas Albert Munro
, USCG, who was awarded the Medal of Honor
posthumously for his brave actions during the Guadalcanal campaign
.
Douglas A. Munro was launched 8 March 1944 by Brown Shipbuilding
Co., Houston, Texas
; sponsored by Lieutenant (junior grade) Edith Munro, USCGR, mother of Petty Officer Munro; and commissioned 11 July 1944, Lieutenant Commander G. Morris in command.
defenses. She voyaged to Casablanca
as escort for between 24 October and 14 November.
She then left Norfolk, Virginia
, 7 December, for the Pacific Ocean
. After exercising at Manus
, she sailed to Biak
, Schouten Islands
, to pick up a convoy of LSTs and merchant ships bound for Lingayen Gulf
, arriving there 9 February.
Douglas A. Munro returned to San Pedro Bay
, Leyte
, and on the 20th sailed to escort a convoy of U.S. Army tugs to Subic Bay
. Upon her arrival a week later she was assigned to screen a minesweeping unit clearing the San Bernardino Strait
and the approaches to Manila Bay
, and also supported naval and amphibious
operations on nearby shores. She operated at Subic Bay until 6 May.
Douglas A. Munro served in the assault and occupation of Borneo
from 19 May to 5 July 1945. She escorted supply convoys from Leyte, bombarded enemy positions, and served as antisubmarine patrol vessel. She escorted transports from Ulithi
to the Philippines
from 19 July to 26 July, then patrolled against submarines between Leyte and Okinawa until the end of the war.
Douglas A. Munro cleared Leyte 6 September to join the South China Force, arriving in the approaches to the Yangtze River
on the 19th. She served with this force until 5 January 1946 when she got underway from Hong Kong
for the U.S. West Coast, arriving at San Francisco, California
, 1 February. Moving to San Diego, California
, 30 March, she was placed out of commission in reserve there 15 January 1947.
, and during the passage rescued a civilian who had been washed overboard during the Transpacific Yacht Race
. After training until 29 October, she sailed for Korea
n waters to serve with the United Nations
Blockading and Escort Force, participating in the siege and bombardment of Wonsan
Harbor. She was also active in rescue work. While on patrol in the Formosa Straits on 25 January 1952 she aided the Chinese Nationalist
dredger Chien Wong, and on 12 February she assisted the British merchant vessel who had been attacked by Communist pirates. Douglas A. Munro also rescued two crew members of a crashed torpedo bomber
and picked up two U.S. Marine colonels whose helicopter
had crashed on an island in the Han River
estuary. She returned to Pearl Harbor 24 May 1952 for overhaul and training.
, from 9 May to 11 December 1953, Douglas A. Munro served with task force
TF 95 on escort and patrol duty. During this deployment she rescued the crew of a downed patrol plane. She put out from Pearl Harbor again 1 July 1954 to patrol in the Marianas
and Carolines
, United Nations Trust Territories
under American administration, and visited more than 100 islands in the South Pacific before returning to Pearl Harbor 31 January 1955.
Sailing from Pearl Harbor 22 October 1955 Douglas A. Munro served in the western Pacific until 14 January 1956 when she returned to patrol the Trust Territories. On the 27th while conducting a surveillance of the Bonins, she discovered a Japanese fishing vessel violating the 3-mile limit and placed a prize crew
aboard Harakawa Maru to take her to the Commissioner for the Trust Territories. Douglas A. Munro completed her tour at Pearl Harbor 24 March 1956.
In her annual deployments from 1956 to 1959, Douglas A. Munro served both on the Taiwan
Patrol, and in surveillance of the Trust Territories. Her last cruise, from August 1959 through March 1960, was devoted solely to patrol of the Pacific islands under American administration.
24 June 1960. On 1 December 1965 she was struck from the Navy List
, and, in January 1966 she was sunk as a target.
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...
. The primary purpose of the destroyer escort was to escort and protect ships in convoy
Convoy
A convoy is a group of vehicles, typically motor vehicles or ships, traveling together for mutual support and protection. Often, a convoy is organized with armed defensive support, though it may also be used in a non-military sense, for example when driving through remote areas.-Age of Sail:Naval...
, in addition to other tasks as assigned, such as patrol or radar picket
Radar picket
A radar picket is a radar-equipped ship, submarine, aircraft, or vehicle used to increase the radar detection range around a force to protect it from surprise attack. Often several detached radar units encircle a force to provide increased cover in all directions.-World War II:Radar picket ships...
.
Douglas A. Munro was named in honor of Signalman First Class Douglas Albert Munro
Douglas Albert Munro
-External links:...
, USCG, who was awarded the Medal of Honor
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
posthumously for his brave actions during the Guadalcanal campaign
Guadalcanal campaign
The Guadalcanal Campaign, also known as the Battle of Guadalcanal and codenamed Operation Watchtower by Allied forces, was a military campaign fought between August 7, 1942 and February 9, 1943 on and around the island of Guadalcanal in the Pacific theatre of World War II...
.
Douglas A. Munro was launched 8 March 1944 by Brown Shipbuilding
Brown Shipbuilding
The Brown Shipbuilding Company was founded in Houston, Texas in 1942 as a subsidiary of Brown and Root by brothers Herman and George R. Brown to build ships for the US Navy during World War II....
Co., Houston, Texas
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
; sponsored by Lieutenant (junior grade) Edith Munro, USCGR, mother of Petty Officer Munro; and commissioned 11 July 1944, Lieutenant Commander G. Morris in command.
World War II
From 20 September to 19 October 1944 Douglas A. Munro served as escort for carrying Admiral R. E. Ingersoll, Commander-in-Chief, Atlantic Fleet on a tour of CaribbeanCaribbean
The Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...
defenses. She voyaged to Casablanca
Casablanca
Casablanca is a city in western Morocco, located on the Atlantic Ocean. It is the capital of the Grand Casablanca region.Casablanca is Morocco's largest city as well as its chief port. It is also the biggest city in the Maghreb. The 2004 census recorded a population of 2,949,805 in the prefecture...
as escort for between 24 October and 14 November.
She then left Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. With a population of 242,803 as of the 2010 Census, it is Virginia's second-largest city behind neighboring Virginia Beach....
, 7 December, for the Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
. After exercising 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 sailed to Biak
Biak
Biak features a tropical rainforest climate with nearly identical temperatures throughout the course of the year. The average annual temperature in the city is 27 degrees celsius, which is also generally the average temperature of each day in Biak...
, Schouten Islands
Schouten Islands
The Indonesian Schouten Islands are an island group of Papua province, eastern Indonesia in the Cenderawasih Bay 50 km off the north-western coast of the island of New Guinea...
, to pick up a convoy of LSTs and merchant ships bound for 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...
, arriving there 9 February.
Douglas A. Munro returned to San Pedro Bay
San Pedro Bay (Philippines)
San Pedro Bay is a bay in the Philippines, at the northwest end of Leyte Gulf, about 15 km east-west and 20 km north-south. The bay is bounded on the north and east by Samar and on the east by Leyte Island. It is connected by San Juanico Strait to Carigara Bay of the Samar Sea. The...
, Leyte
Leyte
Leyte is a province of the Philippines located in the Eastern Visayas region. Its capital is Tacloban City and occupies the northern three-quarters of the Leyte Island. Leyte is located west of Samar Island, north of Southern Leyte and south of Biliran...
, and on the 20th sailed to escort a convoy of U.S. Army tugs to Subic Bay
Subic Bay
Subic Bay is a bay forming part of Luzon Sea on the west coast of the island of Luzon in Zambales, Philippines, about 100 kilometers northwest of Manila Bay. Its shores were formerly the site of a major United States Navy facility named U.S...
. Upon her arrival a week later she was assigned to screen a minesweeping unit clearing the San Bernardino Strait
San Bernardino Strait
The San Bernardino Strait is a strait in the Philippines. It separates the Bicol Peninsula of Luzon island from the island of Samar in the south.-Filipinos and San Bernardino Strait:...
and the approaches to Manila Bay
Manila Bay
Manila Bay is a natural harbor which serves the Port of Manila , in the Philippines.The bay is considered to be one of the best natural harbors in Southeast Asia and one of the finest in the world...
, and also supported naval and amphibious
Amphibious warfare
Amphibious warfare is the use of naval firepower, logistics and strategy to project military power ashore. In previous eras it stood as the primary method of delivering troops to non-contiguous enemy-held terrain...
operations on nearby shores. She operated at Subic Bay until 6 May.
Douglas A. Munro served in the assault and occupation of Borneo
Borneo
Borneo is the third largest island in the world and is located north of Java Island, Indonesia, at the geographic centre of Maritime Southeast Asia....
from 19 May to 5 July 1945. She escorted supply convoys from Leyte, bombarded enemy positions, and served as antisubmarine patrol vessel. She escorted transports from 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...
to the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
from 19 July to 26 July, then patrolled against submarines between Leyte and Okinawa until the end of the war.
Douglas A. Munro cleared Leyte 6 September to join the South China Force, arriving in the approaches to the Yangtze River
Yangtze River
The Yangtze, Yangzi or Cháng Jiāng is the longest river in Asia, and the third-longest in the world. It flows for from the glaciers on the Tibetan Plateau in Qinghai eastward across southwest, central and eastern China before emptying into the East China Sea at Shanghai. It is also one of the...
on the 19th. She served with this force until 5 January 1946 when she got underway from Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
for the U.S. West Coast, arriving at San Francisco, California
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...
, 1 February. Moving to San Diego, California
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...
, 30 March, she was placed out of commission in reserve there 15 January 1947.
Korean War
Recommissioned 28 February 1951, Douglas A. Munro sailed from San Diego 8 July for Pearl HarborPearl 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...
, and during the passage rescued a civilian who had been washed overboard during the Transpacific Yacht Race
Transpacific Yacht Race
The Transpacific Yacht Race is an offshore yacht race starting off Point Fermin, San Pedro, near Los Angeles, and ending off Diamond Head Lighthouse in Honolulu, a distance of around . Started in 1906, it is one of yachting's premier offshore races and attracts entrants from all over the world...
. After training until 29 October, she sailed for Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
n waters to serve with the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
Blockading and Escort Force, participating in the siege and bombardment of Wonsan
Wonsan
Wŏnsan is a port city and naval base in southeastern North Korea. It is the capital of Kangwŏn Province. The population of the city is estimated to have been 331,000 in 2000. Notable people from Wŏnsan include Kim Ki Nam, diplomat and Secretary of the Workers' Party.- History :The original name of...
Harbor. She was also active in rescue work. While on patrol in the Formosa Straits on 25 January 1952 she aided the Chinese Nationalist
Chinese nationalist
Chinese nationalist can refer to:* Chinese nationalism* Kuomintang - Chinese Nationalist Party in Taiwan....
dredger Chien Wong, and on 12 February she assisted the British merchant vessel who had been attacked by Communist pirates. Douglas A. Munro also rescued two crew members of a crashed torpedo bomber
Torpedo bomber
A torpedo bomber is a bomber aircraft designed primarily to attack ships with aerial torpedoes which could also carry out conventional bombings. Torpedo bombers existed almost exclusively prior to and during World War II when they were an important element in many famous battles, notably the...
and picked up two U.S. Marine colonels whose helicopter
Helicopter
A helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which lift and thrust are supplied by one or more engine-driven rotors. This allows the helicopter to take off and land vertically, to hover, and to fly forwards, backwards, and laterally...
had crashed on an island in the Han River
Han River (Korea)
The Han River is a major river in South Korea and the fourth longest river on the Korean peninsula after the Amnok, Duman, and Nakdong rivers. It is formed by the confluence of the Namhan River , which originates in Mount Daedeok, and the Bukhan River , which originates on the slopes of Mount...
estuary. She returned to Pearl Harbor 24 May 1952 for overhaul and training.
Trust Territory operations
During her second tour of duty in the Korean WarKorean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
, from 9 May to 11 December 1953, Douglas A. Munro served with task force
Task force
A task force is a unit or formation established to work on a single defined task or activity. Originally introduced by the United States Navy, the term has now caught on for general usage and is a standard part of NATO terminology...
TF 95 on escort and patrol duty. During this deployment she rescued the crew of a downed patrol plane. She put out from Pearl Harbor again 1 July 1954 to patrol in the Marianas
Mariana Islands
The Mariana Islands are an arc-shaped archipelago made up by the summits of 15 volcanic mountains in the north-western Pacific Ocean between the 12th and 21st parallels north and along the 145th meridian east...
and Carolines
Caroline Islands
The Caroline Islands are a widely scattered archipelago of tiny islands in the western Pacific Ocean, to the north of New Guinea. Politically they are divided between the Federated States of Micronesia in the eastern part of the group, and Palau at the extreme western end...
, United Nations Trust Territories
United Nations Trust Territories
United Nations trust territories were the successors of the remaining League of Nations mandates and came into being when the League of Nations ceased to exist in 1946. All of the trust territories were administered through the UN Trusteeship Council...
under American administration, and visited more than 100 islands in the South Pacific before returning to Pearl Harbor 31 January 1955.
Sailing from Pearl Harbor 22 October 1955 Douglas A. Munro served in the western Pacific until 14 January 1956 when she returned to patrol the Trust Territories. On the 27th while conducting a surveillance of the Bonins, she discovered a Japanese fishing vessel violating the 3-mile limit and placed a prize crew
Prize crew
Prize crew is a term used to indicate a number of crew members of a ship chosen to take over the operations of a captured ship.In the early days of sailing and up into the American Civil War, capturing enemy ships was quite common...
aboard Harakawa Maru to take her to the Commissioner for the Trust Territories. Douglas A. Munro completed her tour at Pearl Harbor 24 March 1956.
In her annual deployments from 1956 to 1959, Douglas A. Munro served both on the Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
Patrol, and in surveillance of the Trust Territories. Her last cruise, from August 1959 through March 1960, was devoted solely to patrol of the Pacific islands under American administration.
Fate
She was decommissioned and placed in reserve at Mare IslandMare Island
Mare Island is a peninsula in the United States alongside the city of Vallejo, California, about northeast of San Francisco. The Napa River forms its eastern side as it enters the Carquinez Strait juncture with the east side of San Pablo Bay. Mare Island is considered a peninsula because no full...
24 June 1960. On 1 December 1965 she was struck from the Navy List
Naval Vessel Register
The Naval Vessel Register is the official inventory of ships and service craft in custody of or titled by the United States Navy. It contains information on ships and service craft that make up the official inventory of the Navy from the time a vessel is authorized through its life cycle and...
, and, in January 1966 she was sunk as a target.