The ten ships of Destroyer Squadron 23 in World War II—listed in order of commissioning—are as follows:
DAMAGED IN ACTION
USS STANLY, DD 478 — Built at
Charleston Navy Yard and commissioned 15 October 1942, the 15th ship of the
2,100-ton Fletcher class. An experimental floatplane catapult was initially fitted but removed before used. Assigned to DesRon 23 replacing
Aulick. In action at the
Battle of Empress Augusta Bay. Damaged by a suicide plane at Okinawa while closing to assist
Cassin Young. In addition to the squadron’s Presidential Unit Citation, earned 9 battle stars during World War II. Radio call letters NAZR.
USS AULICK, DD 569 — Built at
Consolidated Steel, Orange, Texas and commissioned 27 October 1942, the 16th
Fletcher. Assigned to
DesRon 22 in March 1943 but grounded off Nouméa in May. After West Coast repairs, saw much escort duty, finally joining DesRon 23 in 1944. At Leyte: damaged by shore battery fire 19 October; in division “X-ray” at Battle of Surigao Strait; damaged by kamikaze 25 November with 31 killed, 64 wounded, 1 missing. After West Coast repairs, returned to war zone March 1945. Earned 5 battle stars during World War II. Radio call letters NAHM.
USS CONVERSE, DD 509 — Built at
Bath Iron Works and first commissioned 20 November 1942, 20th ship of the class. Attached to DesRon 22 until October 1943. In action at the Battle of Empress Augusta Bay; flagship of DesDiv 46 at the
Battle of Cape St. George. Damaged in World War II only by a dud torpedo hit during the Battle of Cape St. George. In addition to the squadron’s Presidential Unit Citation, earned 11 battle stars during World War II. Radio call letters NFAC. Sold to Spain, 1 July 1959, and served as
Almirante Valdés, D-23.
USS CHARLES AUSBURNE, DD 570 (flagship) — Built at Orange and commissioned 24 November 1942, the 22nd
Fletcher. In action at Battles of Empress Augusta Bay and Cape St. George. Undamaged in World War II. In addition to the squadron’s Presidential Unit Citation, earned 11 battle stars during World War II. Radio call letters NEJG. Sold to Germany as
Z6, 12 April 1960 and served until 1968.
DAMAGED IN ACTION
USS CLAXTON, DD 571 — Built at Orange and commissioned 8 December 1942, the 25th
Fletcher. In action at Battles of Empress Augusta Bay and Cape St. George. Damaged by shore battery fire off Bougainville 4 February 1944; returned to the West Coast where her stern was replaced. Flagship of division “X-ray” at
Battle of Surigao Strait. Nearly sunk in the Philippines 1 November in one of the first suicide plane attacks of the war. In addition to the squadron’s Presidential Unit Citation, earned 8 battle stars during World War II. Motto: “Click with the
Claxton.” Radio call letters NEQJ. Sold to Germany as
Z4, 15 December 1959, and served until 1981.
DAMAGED IN ACTION
USS FOOTE, DD 511 — Built at Bath and first commissioned 22 December 1942, 27th ship of the class. First flagship of DesRon 23. Torpedoed at the Battle of Empress Augusta Bay; towed to West Coast for repairs. Later served in the Philippines and at Okinawa. In reserve until stricken in 1971. Earned 4 battle stars during World War II. Radio call letters NURN.
USS DYSON, DD 572 — Built at Orange and commissioned 30 December 1942, the 30th
Fletcher. In action at Battles of Empress Augusta Bay and Cape St. George. In addition to the squadron’s Presidential Unit Citation, earned 11 battle stars during World War II. Radio call letters NIZW. Sold to Germany as
Z5, 17 January 1960, and served until 1982.
LOST IN TYPHOON
USS SPENCE, DD 512 — Built at Bath and first commissioned 8 January 1943, the 32nd
Fletcher. Flagship of DesDiv 46. At the Battle of Empress Augusta Bay, sustained minor damage in collision with
Thatcher and from a shell hit. Capsized and sank off the Philippines in Typhoon Cobra, 18 December 1944. In addition to the squadron’s Presidential Unit Citation, earned 8 battle stars during World War II. TBS code name “Dragon.” Radio call letters NAQT.
USS THATCHER, DD 514 — Built at Bath and first commissioned 10 February 1943, 41st ship of the class. Damaged in collision with
Spence at the Battle of Empress Augusta Bay; returned to the West Coast for repairs. Damaged again by kamikaze 20 May 1945; rode out a typhoon and was slightly damaged by another suicide plane 13 July. Not repaired following the war; scrapped in 1948. Led DesRon 23 with 12 battle stars earned during World War II. Radio call letters NFAW.
USS BRAINE, DD 630 — Built at Bath and first commissioned 11 May 1943, 62nd ship of the class. First attached to
DesRon 45; joined DesRon 23 as a replacement ship. Sustained more casualties at Okinawa than any other surviving ship. Earned 9 battle stars during World War II. Radio call letters NIZF. Served as flagship of
DesRon 21 in the fifties and sixties; sold to Argentina as
Domecq Garcia, August 1971. See also
http://www.ussbrainedd630.com/
