USS Meredith (DD-434)

USS "Meredith" (DD-434), a Sclass|Gleaves|destroyer, was the 2nd ship of the United States Navy to be named for Jonathan Meredith, a United States Marine Corps Sergeant who served during the First Barbary War.

"Meredith" was laid down 1 June 1939 by Boston Naval Shipyard; launched 24 April 1940; sponsored by Miss Ethel Dixon Meredith, and commissioned 1 March 1941, Lieutenant Commander William F. Mendenhall, Jr., in command.

Atlantic service

Following shakedown in Cuban waters, "Meredith" returned to Boston 8 June 1941 and was assigned to Destroyer Division 22. Departing Boston 6 July, she engaged in patrol duty, exercises, and flight operations along the southern coast until 20 September. From 28 September until 31 January 1942, "Meredith" was based at Hvalfjörður, Iceland, whence she patrolled between Iceland and the Denmark Straits. On 17 October 1941, she rescued survivors of torpedoed British steamer "Empire Wave".

Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, "Meredith" engaged in escort and antisubmarine patrol between Iceland and the Denmark Straits, until she departed Halfjordur late in January escorting a convoy to Boston. She sailed from Boston for Norfolk, Virginia 18 February 1942 screening USS "Washington" (BB-56), and there joined USS "Hornet" (CV-8) in Task Force 18 (TF 18).

Pacific Fleet duty

The force left Norfolk 4 March on a mission as secret as it was important, passed through the Panama Canal, and reached San Diego 21 March. Departing San Francisco 2 April, the force rendezvoused with TF 16, 13 April and sailed for the famous Doolittle Raid on Tokyo. On 18 April, the United States Army bombers were launched for this first carrier-based attack on Japan, and "Meredith" made course for Hawaii, arriving 25 April.

Between 13 May and 21 June "Meredith" escorted fleet oilers bound for New Caledonia, patrolled off Bulari Passage and escorted carrier "Tangier" (AV-8), returning to Pearl Harbor. Following gunnery and tactical practice, "Meredith" departed Pearl Harbor, 15 August 1942 for Samoa, arriving Pago Pago 30 August. "Meredith" next escorted Transport Force 2 to the Solomon Islands with reinforcements landed on Guadalcanal 20 September, then sailed for patrol duty in the New Hebrides.

Final combat

Departing Espiritu Santo on 12 October 1942 "Meredith", now commanded by Cdr. Harry E. Hubbard, was underway as part of a convoy with cargo ships USS "Alchiba" and "Bellatrix", patrol gunboat "Jamestown", destroyer "Nicholas", and fleet tug "Vireo", each pulling a barge carrying barrels of aviation gasoline and 500 pound bombs to the United States forces on Guadalcanal. Two days later it was learned that a Japanese carrier task force was in the vicinity and all ships except "Meredith" and "Vireo" turned back. Despite the fact that "Meredith" was equipped only with surface-search and not air-search radar, Capt. Hubbard decided to press on to deliver the critically needed aviation gas.

"Meredith" was sighted by a Japanese patrol plane on the morning of 15 October, and shortly after midday took aboard the crew of the "Vireo" to depart the area at high speed. However, while preparing to torpedo "Vireo" to keep her out of Japanese hands, "Meredith" was attacked by a force of 38 bombers, torpedo planes, and escort fighters from the Japanese carrier Zuikaku. In the first three minutes of the attack "Meredith" was struck by a bomb that exploded beneath her bridge, destroying all communications, steering control, and gun direction; a second bomb that struck the forward port side; and a torpedo that exploded below the ready ammunition reader locker, that igniting the ship's pyrotechnics and setting fire to fuel oil leaking from her bunkers.

"Meredith" fought fiercely, and brought down three of her attackers, but she was struck by an estimated 14 bombs and seven torpedoes. "Meredith" rolled over and sank in less than 15 minutes. Only seven officers and 56 men of "Meredith"'s survived the attack and the three ensuing days of exposure to the open sea and sharks until they were rescued by destroyer USS "Grayson" (DD-435) and fleet tug "Seminole" (AT-65).

"Meredith" received one battle star for World War II service.

References

External links

* [http://www.destroyerhistory.org/benson-gleavesclass/ussmeredith/index.html USS "Meredith" website] at [http://www.destroyerhistory.org/index.html Destroyer History Foundation]
* [http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/m9/meredith-ii.htm history.navy.mil: USS "Meredith"]
* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/05/434.htm navsource.org: USS "Meredith"]
* [http://www.hazegray.org/danfs/destroy/dd434txt.htm hazegray.org: USS "Meredith"]