USS Leary (i)(DD-158)
| Navy | US Navy |
| Type | Destroyer |
| Class | Wickes |
| Pennant | DD 158 |
| Built by | New York Shipbuilding Corp. (Camden, New Jersey, U.S.A.) |
| Laid down | 6 Mar 1918 |
| Launched | 18 Dec 1918 |
| Commissioned | 5 Dec 1919 |
| Decommissioned | 29 June 1922 |
| Recommissioned | 1 May 1930 |
| Lost | 24 Dec 1943 |
| Loss position | 45.15N, 21.40W (North Atlantic) |
| History | |
| On 24 December 1943, the American hunter-killer Task Group 21.14, formed
around the USS Card was spotted by a German reconnaissance aircraft and
the wolfpack Borkum was ordered to attack. The carrier had a narrow escape
when three FAT torpedoes fired at 01.43 hours by
U-415 (Neide) missed her. The same U-boat also missed the USS
Decatur (DD 341) with a Gnat. At 05.05 hours, U-275 fired a Gnat at the
USS Leary (DD 158) (Cdr. James Ellsworth Kyes) and hit her on the
starboard side in the after engine room. A second Gnat fired by
U-382 (Zorn) at 05.21 hours missed the
already sinking destroyer. She sank after a huge internal explosion within
one minute about 585 miles west-north-west of Cape Finisterre in position
45º15'N, 21º40'W. 97 of the crew died
and 57 survived and were rescued by the USS Schenck (DD 159), which found
U-645 (Ferro) later the same day, evaded a
torpedo and sinks the U-boat with depth charges. Amongst those who died
was the Commanding officer Cdr.James Ellsworth Kyes. Hit by U-boat |
|
| Commander | Cdr. James Ellsworth Kyes, USN |
