Destroyer Squadron 56 World War II Operations
Capt. Roland N. Smoot, USN, Commodore, DesRon 56 in 1944. Photo as Rear Admiral. NARA photo 80-G-433302; source: Naval History & Heritage Command.
“The torpedo attacks in this battle [of Surigao Strait] were some of the best of the Pacific war. Captain Smoot pressed his attack admirably close, which is the main reason why his squadron was the only one to suffer.”
Morison, History of United States Naval Operations in World War II, Vol. XII, p.223–4
On 19 October 1944, while preparing for the Leyte landings, Ross sustained two mine explosions off Homonhon Island at the entrance to Leyte Gulf. She was replaced for the Leyte operation by DesRon 45’s Halford (DD 480, Leutze’s sister ship from Puget Sound, which had been commissioned April 1943 and initially fitted with an experimental seaplane catapult, removed that November).
Under Capt. Roland N. Smoot, these nine ships attacked in three sections at the Battle of Surigao Strait, 24–25 October 1944. Several ships timed one or more torpedo hits on Japanese flagship Yamashiro, which sank soon thereafter. In retiring, Grant was disabled by as many as 22 enemy and friendly hits, then towed clear from alongside by Newcomb.
In 1945, Robinson and—after repairs—Grant were transferred to Seventh Fleet, with which they operated through the invasion of Borneo, during which Robinson served as flagship of DesRon 22. The other seven ships remained together for the invasion of Luzon.
“Bantam Six,” the squadron’s call sign, gave rise to a stack emblem drawn by Newcomb’s Robert Boyle that all ships carried—a bantam rooster with boxing gloves, spoiling for a fight.
In February 1945, Halford was sent home for repairs when her bow was damaged in collision, after which she was assigned to other squadrons. This left six ships (Newcomb, Leutze, Bennion, Edwards, Leary and Bryant) operating together for the invasions of Iwo Jima and Okinawa.
