USS Buck (DD-420)

Casualty List

Navy US Navy
Type Destroyer
Class Sims 
Pennant DD 420 
Built by Philadelphia Navy Yard (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.) 
Laid down 6 Apr 1938 
Launched 22 May 1939 
Commissioned 15 May 1940 
Lost 9 Oct 1943 
Loss position off Salerno in position 39º57'N, 14º28'E
History At 00.36 hours on 9 October 1943, the USS Buck (Lt.Cdr. Millard Jefferson Klein) was on patrol , when she was hit in the bow by a Gnat fired by U-616 (Koitschka)., causing the forward magazine to explode and sank within four minutes.

The 76 survivors were picked up by the American destroyers USS Gleaves (DD 423) USS Plunkett and the British landing craft HMS LCT-170. Amongst the 170 killed was the Commanding Officer.(Lt.Cdr. Millard Jefferson Klein)