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USS Hailey (DD-556)
Encyclopedia
USS Hailey (DD-556) was a Fletcher-class
destroyer
of the United States Navy
named for Captain Joshua Hailey
, commander of the privateer
True Blood Yankee during the War of 1812
.
Hailey was launched
9 March 1943 by Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corp., Seattle, Wash.
, sponsored by Mrs. Claude S. Gillette, wife of Rear Admiral Gillette; and commissioned
30 September 1943, Commander Parke H. Brady in command.
, Hailey departed Seattle 13 December 1943 to join the Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor
. She sortied from Pearl Harbor 19 January 1944 screening a unit of Admiral Richmond Kelly Turner's Southern Attack Force for the assault and occupation of the Marshall Islands
. Arriving off the southern tip of Kwajalein
Atoll, Hailey joined the Southern Transport Screen and later stood offshore and pounded the enemy with her 5 inch guns. She sailed from Kwajalein 15 February with the Eniwetok Expeditionary Group and arrived off Eniwetok next day to screen the heavy ships; then joined Admiral Jesse Oldendorf's Northern Support Group in battering strong enemy emplacements before retiring to Majuro
Atoll screening Manila Hay.
After patrolling the Mussau-Emirau area, Hailey spent most of April and May on antisubmarine paitrol, intercepting barge traffic and providing daily fire support for Army operations in the New Guinea
area. Destroyer Division 94, consisting of Haggard
(DD-555), Franks
(DD-554), Hailey, and Johnston
(DD-557) was moving northwesterly up from the Solomons 16 May. About 2½ hours before midnight they were steaming in scouting line some 125 miles east by north of Green Island. Haggard made a sonar
contact on her starboard bow at a range of 2,800 yards. It was 1600-ton I-176
. Five separate attacks were made and between the last two a heavy underwater ripple explosion was heard. The destroyers continued their search until the following evening without regaining contact—but they recovered souvenirs of Japan
ese origin from a diesel oil slick that extended over 7 miles of ocean.
During the first part of June Hailey took up screening and patrol duties east of Saipan
in support of the Marianas operations
. She sortied from Eniwetok 1 July with Admiral Weyler's Battleship Division 3 for the pre-invasion bombardment and softening up of Guam
, then joined Admiral Conolly's Southern Attack Force for the capture of Guam (21 July–10 August 1944) retiring to Eniwetok 9 August. The remainder of August and September Hailey screened a group of escort carrier
s furnishing air support for the seizure and occupation of Peleliu, Ngesebu
, and Anguar
Islands in the Palaus.
Hailey next sortied from Seeadler Harbor
, Manus Island
, 12 October with Admiral Felix Stump
's "Taffy 2" (Task Unit 77.4.2) the center formation of the three escort carrier groups off the entrance to Leyte Gulf
. While Admiral Oldendorf was crushing Admiral Nishumura's Southern Force in Surigao Strait
24–25 October, Admiral Takeo Kurita
's Center Force arrived off Samar
undetected in the early hours of 25 October with the aim of destroying the 7th Fleet's heavy concentration of amphibious ships supporting the invasion of Leyte
. In the face of overwhelming odds against a much superior force Admiral Thomas L. Sprague
's three "Taffies" gallantly drove off Kurita's forces and defeated his mission—thus stopping the most powerful surface fleet Japan had sent to sea since the Battle of Midway
.
The experienced destroyer next joined the Fast Carrier Task Force
(then TF 38 of Admiral William F. Halsey's 3rd Fleet), as a unit of Rear Admiral Gerald F. Bogan
's Task Group 38.4 (TG 38.4) launching strikes on Formosa
, before joining Captain Acuff's fueling group for the 3d Fleet. In February 1945 Hailey joined Admiral Marc A. Mitscher's Fast Carrier Task Force 58 and until the last of June participated in bombardments and strikes, inflicting much damage to the enemy on Okinawa and the Japanese home islands where "the fleet had come to stay."
Returning to the States in July, Hailey decommissioned at San Diego 27 January 1946 and joined the Reserve Fleet
.
Hailey recommissioned at San Diego 27 April 1951, Lt. Comdr. Joseph E. Reedy in command. After training in the San Diego area she transited the Panama Canal
and joined units of the 6th Fleet at Newport
for duty. Hailey departed Newport 6 September 1952 and sailed via the Panama Canal Zone
to spend the next 4 months in Korean waters. Joining Fast Carrier Task Force 77 (TF 77), she took part in blockading operations and provided close fire support for ground troops in Korea
. Departing Sasebo 5 February 1953, Hailey returned to the East Coast once more to rejoin the 6th Fleet.
Between 8 September 1954 and 14 September 1959 Hailey made four deployments with the 6th Fleet to the Mediterranean. When not deployed in the Mediterranean, she served as plane guard for carrier
Monterey
(CVL-26), training aviation cadets at Pensacola
. In addition, she was continuously engaged in antisubmarine training and destroyer tactics, becoming increasingly proficient as part of a fleet vital in preserving American freedom. Hailey decommissioned 3 November 1960 at Portsmouth, Va.
, and joined the Reserve Fleet.
20 July 1961, and served in the Marinha do Brasil
as Pernambuco (D-30).
Hailey received six battle stars for World War II
service and two stars for Korean War
service.
Fletcher class destroyer
The Fletcher class were a class of destroyers built by the United States during World War II. The class was designed in 1939 as a result of dissatisfaction with the earlier destroyer leader types...
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...
of 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...
named for Captain Joshua Hailey
Joshua Hailey
Joshua Hailey was an American privateer during the War of 1812.Hailey was placed in command of the privateer True Blood Yankee in early 1813. The privateer, built in France by Rhode Island men, sailed from Brest, France, 1 March 1813 to prey on commerce in the Irish Sea...
, commander of the privateer
Privateer
A privateer is a private person or ship authorized by a government by letters of marque to attack foreign shipping during wartime. Privateering was a way of mobilizing armed ships and sailors without having to spend public money or commit naval officers...
True Blood Yankee during the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
.
Hailey was launched
Ship naming and launching
The ceremonies involved in naming and launching naval ships are based in traditions thousands of years old.-Methods of launch:There are three principal methods of conveying a new ship from building site to water, only two of which are called "launching." The oldest, most familiar, and most widely...
9 March 1943 by Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corp., Seattle, Wash.
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...
, sponsored by Mrs. Claude S. Gillette, wife of Rear Admiral Gillette; and commissioned
Ship commissioning
Ship commissioning is the act or ceremony of placing a ship in active service, and may be regarded as a particular application of the general concepts and practices of project commissioning. The term is most commonly applied to the placing of a warship in active duty with its country's military...
30 September 1943, Commander Parke H. Brady in command.
History
After shakedown out of San DiegoNaval Station San Diego
Naval Base San Diego is the largest base of the United States Navy on the west coast of the United States, in San Diego, California. Naval Base San Diego is the principal homeport of the Pacific Fleet, consisting of 54 ships and over 120 tenant commands. The base is composed of 13 piers stretched...
, Hailey departed Seattle 13 December 1943 to join the Pacific Fleet at 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...
. She sortied from Pearl Harbor 19 January 1944 screening a unit of Admiral Richmond Kelly Turner's Southern Attack Force for the assault and occupation of the Marshall Islands
Gilbert and Marshall Islands campaign
In the Pacific Theater of World War II, the Gilbert and Marshall Islands campaign, from November 1943 through February 1944, were key strategic operations of the United States Pacific Fleet and Marine Corps in the Central Pacific. The campaign was preceded by a raid on Makin Island by U.S...
. Arriving off the southern tip of Kwajalein
Kwajalein
Kwajalein Atoll , is part of the Republic of the Marshall Islands . The southernmost and largest island in the atoll is named Kwajalein Island. English-speaking residents of the U.S...
Atoll, Hailey joined the Southern Transport Screen and later stood offshore and pounded the enemy with her 5 inch guns. She sailed from Kwajalein 15 February with the Eniwetok Expeditionary Group and arrived off Eniwetok next day to screen the heavy ships; then joined Admiral Jesse Oldendorf's Northern Support Group in battering strong enemy emplacements before retiring to Majuro
Majuro
Majuro , is a large coral atoll of 64 islands in the Pacific Ocean, and forms a legislative district of the Ratak Chain of the Marshall Islands. The atoll itself has a land area of and encloses a lagoon of...
Atoll screening Manila Hay.
After patrolling the Mussau-Emirau area, Hailey spent most of April and May on antisubmarine paitrol, intercepting barge traffic and providing daily fire support for Army operations in the New Guinea
New Guinea
New Guinea is the world's second largest island, after Greenland, covering a land area of 786,000 km2. Located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, it lies geographically to the east of the Malay Archipelago, with which it is sometimes included as part of a greater Indo-Australian Archipelago...
area. Destroyer Division 94, consisting of Haggard
USS Haggard (DD-555)
USS Haggard was a Fletcher-class destroyer of the United States Navy named for Captain Haggard of the Louisa, who fought in the Quasi-War....
(DD-555), Franks
USS Franks (DD-554)
USS Franks , a World War II-era Fletcher-class destroyer in the service of the United States Navy, was named after Medal of Honor recipient Acting Master's Mate William Joseph Franks....
(DD-554), Hailey, and Johnston
USS Johnston (DD-557)
USS Johnston was a World War II-era Fletcher-class destroyer in the service of the United States Navy. She was the first Navy ship named after Lieutenant John V. Johnston. The ship was most famous for its bold action in the Battle off Samar...
(DD-557) was moving northwesterly up from the Solomons 16 May. About 2½ hours before midnight they were steaming in scouting line some 125 miles east by north of Green Island. Haggard made a sonar
Sonar
Sonar is a technique that uses sound propagation to navigate, communicate with or detect other vessels...
contact on her starboard bow at a range of 2,800 yards. It was 1600-ton I-176
Japanese submarine I-176
The I-176, also named I-76,Although the submarine had been named I-76 when ordered in 1939, she was renamed I-176 upon her completion in 1942. was a of the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II. The most successful submarine of her class, she severely damaged the heavy cruiser in October...
. Five separate attacks were made and between the last two a heavy underwater ripple explosion was heard. The destroyers continued their search until the following evening without regaining contact—but they recovered souvenirs of Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese origin from a diesel oil slick that extended over 7 miles of ocean.
During the first part of June Hailey took up screening and patrol duties east of Saipan
Saipan
Saipan is the largest island of the United States Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands , a chain of 15 tropical islands belonging to the Marianas archipelago in the western Pacific Ocean with a total area of . The 2000 census population was 62,392...
in support of the Marianas operations
Mariana and Palau Islands campaign
The Mariana and Palau Islands campaign, also known as Operation Forager, was an offensive launched by United States forces against Imperial Japanese forces in the Mariana Islands and Palau in the Pacific Ocean between June and November, 1944 during the Pacific War...
. She sortied from Eniwetok 1 July with Admiral Weyler's Battleship Division 3 for the pre-invasion bombardment and softening up of Guam
Guam
Guam is an organized, unincorporated territory of the United States located in the western Pacific Ocean. It is one of five U.S. territories with an established civilian government. Guam is listed as one of 16 Non-Self-Governing Territories by the Special Committee on Decolonization of the United...
, then joined Admiral Conolly's Southern Attack Force for the capture of Guam (21 July–10 August 1944) retiring to Eniwetok 9 August. The remainder of August and September Hailey screened a group of escort carrier
Escort aircraft carrier
The escort aircraft carrier or escort carrier, also called a "jeep carrier" or "baby flattop" in the USN or "Woolworth Carrier" by the Royal Navy, was a small and slow type of aircraft carrier used by the British Royal Navy , the Imperial Japanese Navy and Imperial Japanese Army Air Force, and the...
s furnishing air support for the seizure and occupation of Peleliu, Ngesebu
Battle of Peleliu
The Battle of Peleliu, codenamed Operation Stalemate II, was fought between the United States and the Empire of Japan in the Pacific Theater of World War II, from September–November 1944 on the island of Peleliu, present-day Palau. U.S...
, and Anguar
Battle of Angaur
The Battle of Angaur was a battle of the Pacific campaign in World War II, fought on the island of Angaur in the Palau Islands from 17 —30 September 1944.-Background:...
Islands in the Palaus.
Hailey next sortied from Seeadler Harbor
Seeadler Harbor
Seeadler Harbor, also known as Port Seeadler, is located on Manus Island, Admiralty Islands, Papua New Guinea and played an important role in World War II...
, Manus Island
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...
, 12 October with Admiral Felix Stump
Felix Stump
Felix Budwell Stump was an admiral in the United States Navy and Commander, United States Pacific Fleet from July 10, 1953 until July 31, 1958....
's "Taffy 2" (Task Unit 77.4.2) the center formation of the three escort carrier groups off the entrance to 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...
. While Admiral Oldendorf was crushing Admiral Nishumura's Southern Force in Surigao Strait
Surigao Strait
Surigao Strait is a body of water in the Philippines located between the islands of Mindanao and Leyte. This strait connects the Bohol Sea with Leyte Gulf and is regularly crossed by ferries that transport goods and people between Visayas and Mindanao...
24–25 October, Admiral Takeo Kurita
Takeo Kurita
Vice Admiral was a vice-admiral in the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II.-Early life:Kurita was born in Mito city, Ibaraki Prefecture in 1889. He was sent off to Etajima in 1905 and graduated from the 38th class of the Imperial Japanese Naval Academy in 1910, ranked 28th out of a class of...
's Center Force arrived off Samar
Samar
Samar, formerly and also known as Western Samar, is a province in the Philippines located in the Eastern Visayas region. Its capital is Catbalogan City and covers the western portion of Samar as well as several islands in the Samar Sea located to the west of the mainland...
undetected in the early hours of 25 October with the aim of destroying the 7th Fleet's heavy concentration of amphibious ships supporting the invasion of Leyte
Battle of Leyte
The Battle of Leyte in the Pacific campaign of World War II was the invasion and conquest of the island of Leyte in the Philippines by American and Filipino guerrilla forces under the command of General Douglas MacArthur, who fought against the Imperial Japanese Army in the Philippines led by...
. In the face of overwhelming odds against a much superior force Admiral Thomas L. Sprague
Thomas L. Sprague
Thomas Lamison Sprague was an vice admiral of the United States Navy, who served during World War II as commander of the aircraft carrier and took part in the battles of Guam, Leyte Gulf and Okinawa....
's three "Taffies" gallantly drove off Kurita's forces and defeated his mission—thus stopping the most powerful surface fleet Japan had sent to sea since the Battle of Midway
Battle of Midway
The Battle of Midway is widely regarded as the most important naval battle of the Pacific Campaign of World War II. Between 4 and 7 June 1942, approximately one month after the Battle of the Coral Sea and six months after Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor, the United States Navy decisively defeated...
.
The experienced destroyer next joined the Fast Carrier Task Force
Fast Carrier Task Force
The Fast Carrier Task Force was the main striking force of the United States Navy in the Pacific Ocean theatre of World War II.The Fast Carrier Task Force was known under two designations. The Navy made use of two sets of upper command structures for planning the upcoming operations...
(then TF 38 of Admiral William F. Halsey's 3rd Fleet), as a unit of Rear Admiral Gerald F. Bogan
Gerald F. Bogan
Gerald Francis Bogan was a United States Navy Admiral.Bogan authored a confidential memorandum that was leaked by Captain John G. Crommelin during the Revolt of the Admirals in September 1949. His memo described the situation in the Navy as follows, "The morale of the Navy is lower today than at...
's Task Group 38.4 (TG 38.4) launching strikes on Formosa
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...
, before joining Captain Acuff's fueling group for the 3d Fleet. In February 1945 Hailey joined Admiral Marc A. Mitscher's Fast Carrier Task Force 58 and until the last of June participated in bombardments and strikes, inflicting much damage to the enemy on Okinawa and the Japanese home islands where "the fleet had come to stay."
Returning to the States in July, Hailey decommissioned at San Diego 27 January 1946 and joined the Reserve Fleet
Reserve fleet
A reserve fleet is a collection of naval vessels of all types that are fully equipped for service but are not currently needed, and thus partially or fully decommissioned. A reserve fleet is informally said to be "in mothballs" or "mothballed"; an equivalent expression in unofficial modern U.S....
.
Hailey recommissioned at San Diego 27 April 1951, Lt. Comdr. Joseph E. Reedy in command. After training in the San Diego area she transited the Panama Canal
Panama Canal
The Panama Canal is a ship canal in Panama that joins the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean and is a key conduit for international maritime trade. Built from 1904 to 1914, the canal has seen annual traffic rise from about 1,000 ships early on to 14,702 vessels measuring a total of 309.6...
and joined units of the 6th Fleet at Newport
Naval Station Newport
The Naval Station Newport is a United States Navy base located in the towns of Newport and Middletown, Rhode Island. Naval Station Newport is home to the Naval War College and the Naval Justice School...
for duty. Hailey departed Newport 6 September 1952 and sailed via the Panama Canal Zone
Panama Canal Zone
The Panama Canal Zone was a unorganized U.S. territory located within the Republic of Panama, consisting of the Panama Canal and an area generally extending 5 miles on each side of the centerline, but excluding Panama City and Colón, which otherwise would have been partly within the limits of...
to spend the next 4 months in Korean waters. Joining Fast Carrier Task Force 77 (TF 77), she took part in blockading operations and provided close fire support for ground troops in 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...
. Departing Sasebo 5 February 1953, Hailey returned to the East Coast once more to rejoin the 6th Fleet.
Between 8 September 1954 and 14 September 1959 Hailey made four deployments with the 6th Fleet to the Mediterranean. When not deployed in the Mediterranean, she served as plane guard for carrier
Aircraft carrier
An aircraft carrier is a warship designed with a primary mission of deploying and recovering aircraft, acting as a seagoing airbase. Aircraft carriers thus allow a naval force to project air power worldwide without having to depend on local bases for staging aircraft operations...
Monterey
USS Monterey (CVL-26)
USS Monterey was an Independence-class light aircraft carrier of the United States Navy, in service during World War II and used in training for several years thereafter....
(CVL-26), training aviation cadets at Pensacola
Naval Air Station Pensacola
Naval Air Station Pensacola or NAS Pensacola , "The Cradle of Naval Aviation", is a United States Navy base located next to Warrington, Florida, a community southwest of the Pensacola city limits...
. In addition, she was continuously engaged in antisubmarine training and destroyer tactics, becoming increasingly proficient as part of a fleet vital in preserving American freedom. Hailey decommissioned 3 November 1960 at Portsmouth, Va.
Portsmouth, Virginia
Portsmouth is located in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of the U.S. Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2010, the city had a total population of 95,535.The Norfolk Naval Shipyard, often called the Norfolk Navy Yard, is a historic and active U.S...
, and joined the Reserve Fleet.
Pernambuco (D-30)
Hailey was loaned to the government of BrazilBrazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
20 July 1961, and served in the Marinha do Brasil
Brazilian Navy
The Brazilian Navy is a branch of the Brazilian Armed Forces responsible for conducting naval operations. It is the largest navy in Latin America...
as Pernambuco (D-30).
Hailey received six battle stars for 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...
service and two stars for Korean War
Korean 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...
service.