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USS Shannon (DM-25)
Encyclopedia
USS Shannon (DD-737/DM-25/MMD-25) was a Robert H. Smith-class
destroyer minelayer in the United States Navy
. She was named for Marine
Colonel Harold D. Shannon
.
Shannon (DD-737) was laid down on 14 February 1944 by the Bath Iron Works
, Bath, Maine
; launched on 24 June 1944; sponsored by Mrs. Harold D. Shannon; reclassified DM-25 on 19 July 1944; and commissioned on 8 September 1944, Commander E. L. Foster in command.
area in late October, Shannon was ordered to overtake convoy GUS-54 and deliver election ballots before proceeding to Norfolk, Virginia
for availability. She accomplished her mission; completed the yard work; and, on 21 November, sailed for the Pacific. On the 25th, she rescued two crewmen from a downed scout plane. She arrived in the Panama Canal Zone
on the 27th.
From there, she continued on to California
and Hawaii
. On 27 January, Shannon, flagship
of Mine Division (MinDiv) 7 and a unit of Task Force 51, departed Pearl Harbor
for Eniwetok, Saipan
, and Iwo Jima
. At the latter island, on 19 February, she conducted antisubmarine patrols as marines landed; then, during the afternoon, she moved in to provide fire support. For the next five days, she rotated between those duties; then returned to Saipan to escort reinforcement and resupply echelons to the embattled island.
She returned to Iwo Jima on 3 March and resumed duty-night illumination, harassing fire, and call fire- in support of the 4th Marine Division for another five days. On the 8th, she sailed for Ulithi; and, on the 19th, she left the Western Carolines for the Ryukyu Islands
and Operation Iceberg, the invasion of Okinawa.
, an island group west of Okinawa, on 25 March and covered minesweeping units and underwater demolition teams until that base was secured. She then protected the minesweepers as they prepared the way for the landings on Okinawa. On 1 April, when the troops were landed on the Hagushi beaches, she patrolled to the east of Kerama Retto; then moved to the southern coast of Okinawa to screen the demonstration landings there. Further screening duties followed; and, on the 4th, she retired to the rear area. On the 15th, she returned to Okinawa and resumed screening duties. On the 21st, she commenced anti-small-boat patrols off southeastern Okinawa. She alternated that duty with radar picket duty until mid-June with interruptions only to cover minesweepers in the Tori Shima
area on 11 May and in the Iheya Shima area from 30 May to 3 June.
From mid-June through the end of July, Shannon accompanied minesweeping units as they continued sweeping operations in the immediate Okinawa area and in the East China Sea
. During the first part of August, she was at Buckner Bay for availability. On the 12th, she resumed operations with the minesweepers which continued until the war ended on the 15th.
with mine units to clear the fields off Korea
. On 7 September, she got underway for Japan; and, into November, she assisted the minesweeping detachments as they cleared the sea-lanes to the major ports of that country. Then, having relinquished flagship duties in October, she headed back for the United States. After stops in Hawaii
and on the west coast, she continued on to the east coast to join the Atlantic Fleet
.
in April 1946, she conducted limited operations under ComDesLant and Com-SubLant into June. She then proceeded to Charleston, South Carolina
for duty in MinDiv 2. During 1947, her operations were extended; and, that summer, she escorted on a goodwill visit to Liberia
. Availability and limited operations followed that cruise; then, from November 1947 into August 1948, she remained immobilized at Charleston. In August 1948, she resumed operations with Mine Force, Atlantic Fleet which she continued for the next seven years. During that time, she participated in various exercises—type, fleet, and international; conducted midshipmen cruises; and deployed to the Mediterranean Sea
once, from September 1950 to January 1951. Ordered inactivated in 1955, she joined the Charleston Group, Atlantic Reserve Fleet, on 7 July and was decommissioned on 24 October 1955. Reclassified MMD-25 on 14 August 1968, she remained in the reserve fleet until struck from the Navy list
on 1 November 1970. She was subsequently sold for scrapping to the Boston Metals Company, Baltimore, Maryland, and was delivered to that firm in May 1973.
Shannon earned four battle stars during World War II
.
Robert H. Smith class destroyer
The Robert H. Smith class of destroyer minelayers was built by the United States during World War II.These vessels were all originally laid down as Allen M. Sumner class destroyers and converted during construction throughout 1944. In that time the United States produced 12 Robert H. Smith class...
destroyer minelayer 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...
. She was named for Marine
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...
Colonel Harold D. Shannon
Harold D. Shannon
Harold D. Shannon was an officer in the United States Marine Corps.-Biography:Born in Chicago, Illinois, Shannon enlisted in the United States Marine Corps on October 17, 1913 and served in Mexico in 1914...
.
Shannon (DD-737) was laid down on 14 February 1944 by the Bath Iron Works
Bath Iron Works
Bath Iron Works is a major American shipyard located on the Kennebec River in Bath, Maine, United States. Since its founding in 1884 , BIW has built private, commercial and military vessels, most of which have been ordered by the United States Navy...
, Bath, Maine
Bath, Maine
Bath is a city in Sagadahoc County, Maine, in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 9,266. It is the county seat of Sagadahoc County. Located on the Kennebec River, Bath is a port of entry with a good harbor. The city is popular with tourists, many drawn by its...
; launched on 24 June 1944; sponsored by Mrs. Harold D. Shannon; reclassified DM-25 on 19 July 1944; and commissioned on 8 September 1944, Commander E. L. Foster in command.
Transfer to Pacific
Completing shakedown in the BermudaBermuda
Bermuda is a British overseas territory in the North Atlantic Ocean. Located off the east coast of the United States, its nearest landmass is Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, about to the west-northwest. It is about south of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, and northeast of Miami, Florida...
area in late October, Shannon was ordered to overtake convoy GUS-54 and deliver election ballots before proceeding to 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....
for availability. She accomplished her mission; completed the yard work; and, on 21 November, sailed for the Pacific. On the 25th, she rescued two crewmen from a downed scout plane. She arrived in 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...
on the 27th.
From there, she continued on to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
and Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
. On 27 January, Shannon, 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...
of Mine Division (MinDiv) 7 and a unit of Task Force 51, departed 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...
for Eniwetok, 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...
, and Iwo Jima
Iwo Jima
Iwo Jima, officially , is an island of the Japanese Volcano Islands chain, which lie south of the Ogasawara Islands and together with them form the Ogasawara Archipelago. The island is located south of mainland Tokyo and administered as part of Ogasawara, one of eight villages of Tokyo...
. At the latter island, on 19 February, she conducted antisubmarine patrols as marines landed; then, during the afternoon, she moved in to provide fire support. For the next five days, she rotated between those duties; then returned to Saipan to escort reinforcement and resupply echelons to the embattled island.
She returned to Iwo Jima on 3 March and resumed duty-night illumination, harassing fire, and call fire- in support of the 4th Marine Division for another five days. On the 8th, she sailed for Ulithi; and, on the 19th, she left the Western Carolines for the Ryukyu Islands
Ryukyu Islands
The , also known as the , is a chain of islands in the western Pacific, on the eastern limit of the East China Sea and to the southwest of the island of Kyushu in Japan. From about 1829 until the mid 20th century, they were alternately called Luchu, Loochoo, or Lewchew, akin to the Mandarin...
and Operation Iceberg, the invasion of Okinawa.
Okinawa
Shannon arrived off Kerama RettoKerama Retto
The are a group of 22 islands located southwest of Okinawa Island in Japan. Four of the islands are inhabited:,., and. The islands are within Shimajiri District. The Kerama-shotō coral reef is a Ramsar Site....
, an island group west of Okinawa, on 25 March and covered minesweeping units and underwater demolition teams until that base was secured. She then protected the minesweepers as they prepared the way for the landings on Okinawa. On 1 April, when the troops were landed on the Hagushi beaches, she patrolled to the east of Kerama Retto; then moved to the southern coast of Okinawa to screen the demonstration landings there. Further screening duties followed; and, on the 4th, she retired to the rear area. On the 15th, she returned to Okinawa and resumed screening duties. On the 21st, she commenced anti-small-boat patrols off southeastern Okinawa. She alternated that duty with radar picket duty until mid-June with interruptions only to cover minesweepers in the Tori Shima
Torishima (Izu Islands)
, literally meaning "Bird Island", is an uninhabited volcanic island at the south end of the Izu Islands in the Pacific Ocean, administered by Japan.-Geography:...
area on 11 May and in the Iheya Shima area from 30 May to 3 June.
From mid-June through the end of July, Shannon accompanied minesweeping units as they continued sweeping operations in the immediate Okinawa area and in the East China Sea
East China Sea
The East China Sea is a marginal sea east of China. It is a part of the Pacific Ocean and covers an area of 1,249,000 km² or 750,000 square miles.-Geography:...
. During the first part of August, she was at Buckner Bay for availability. On the 12th, she resumed operations with the minesweepers which continued until the war ended on the 15th.
Yellow Sea
After the cessation of hostilities in the Pacific, Shannon moved into the Yellow SeaYellow Sea
The Yellow Sea is the name given to the northern part of the East China Sea, which is a marginal sea of the Pacific Ocean. It is located between mainland China and the Korean Peninsula. Its name comes from the sand particles from Gobi Desert sand storms that turn the surface of the water golden...
with mine units to clear the fields off 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...
. On 7 September, she got underway for Japan; and, into November, she assisted the minesweeping detachments as they cleared the sea-lanes to the major ports of that country. Then, having relinquished flagship duties in October, she headed back for the United States. After stops in Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
and on the west coast, she continued on to the east coast to join the Atlantic Fleet
U.S. Atlantic Fleet
The United States Fleet Forces Command is an Atlantic Ocean theater-level component command of the United States Navy that provides naval resources that are under the operational control of the United States Northern Command...
.
Post World War II and fate
Arriving in Chesapeake BayChesapeake Bay
The Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the United States. It lies off the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by Maryland and Virginia. The Chesapeake Bay's drainage basin covers in the District of Columbia and parts of six states: New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and West...
in April 1946, she conducted limited operations under ComDesLant and Com-SubLant into June. She then proceeded to 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...
for duty in MinDiv 2. During 1947, her operations were extended; and, that summer, she escorted on a goodwill visit to Liberia
Liberia
Liberia , officially the Republic of Liberia, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Sierra Leone on the west, Guinea on the north and Côte d'Ivoire on the east. Liberia's coastline is composed of mostly mangrove forests while the more sparsely populated inland consists of forests that open...
. Availability and limited operations followed that cruise; then, from November 1947 into August 1948, she remained immobilized at Charleston. In August 1948, she resumed operations with Mine Force, Atlantic Fleet which she continued for the next seven years. During that time, she participated in various exercises—type, fleet, and international; conducted midshipmen cruises; and deployed to the Mediterranean Sea
Mediterranean Sea
The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean surrounded by the Mediterranean region and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Anatolia and Europe, on the south by North Africa, and on the east by the Levant...
once, from September 1950 to January 1951. Ordered inactivated in 1955, she joined the Charleston Group, Atlantic Reserve Fleet, on 7 July and was decommissioned on 24 October 1955. Reclassified MMD-25 on 14 August 1968, she remained in the reserve fleet until 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...
on 1 November 1970. She was subsequently sold for scrapping to the Boston Metals Company, Baltimore, Maryland, and was delivered to that firm in May 1973.
Shannon earned four battle stars 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...
.
External links
- Photo gallery at navsource.org