Allied Warships

USS Trippe (DD 403)

Destroyer of the Benham class

NavyThe US Navy
TypeDestroyer
ClassBenham 
PennantDD 403 
Built byBoston Navy Yard (Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A.) 
Ordered 
Laid down15 Apr 1937 
Launched14 May 1938 
Commissioned1 Nov 1939 
End service28 Aug 1946 
History

Damaged in the atomic bomb test at Bikini Atoll in July 1946.
Decommissioned 28 August 1946.
Scuttled off Kwajalein on 3 February 1948.
Stricken 19 February 1948.

 

Commands listed for USS Trippe (DD 403)

Please note that we're still working on this section
and that we only list Commanding Officers for the duration of the Second World War.

CommanderFromTo
1Lt.Cdr. Robert Lord Campbell, Jr., USN1 Nov 19391 Jun 1942
2Lt.Cdr. Carl Malcolm Dalton, USN1 Jun 194212 Nov 1942
3T/Cdr. Russell Champion Williams, USN12 Nov 19422 Sep 1944 (1)
4T/Cdr. Carleton Romig Kear, Jr., USN2 Sep 194421 Feb 1946 (1)
5Cmdr William Joseph Keating, Sr., USN21 Feb 194628 Aug 1946 (1)

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Notable events involving Trippe include:


13 Dec 1941
Around 1230A/13, the battleship HMS Duke of York (Capt. C.H.J. Harcourt, CBE, RN), with Prime Minister Churchill and staff on board, departed Greenock for Annapolis, Maryland, USA. She was escorted by the destroyers HMS Faulknor (Capt. A.F. de Salis, DSO, RN), HMS Foresight (Cdr. J.S.C. Salter, RN) and HMS Matabele (Cdr. A.C. Stanford, DSC, RN).

Due to the bad weather conditions in the North Atlantic it was decided to proceed via the Azores. So the group first proceeded to the Irish Sea.

On the 14th speed had to be much reduced due to the bad weather conditions as otherwise the destroyers could not keep up. This was the same for the 15th.

On the 16th weather improved but due to the bad swell the destroyers still had trouble to keep up.

On the 17th the weather again deteriorated and around mid morning HMS Foresight had to heave to due to defects to her steering engine. She was able to catch up soon afterwards.

Shortly after 1800N/17, the destroyers were detached to fuel at the Azores after they had been relieved by HMS Highlander (Cdr. S. Boucher, RN), HMS Harvester (Lt.Cdr. M. Thornton, DSC, RN) and HMS Lightning (Cdr. R.G. Stewart, RN) coming from the Azores.

Late in the afternoon of 20 December 1941 the destroyers parted company to proceed to Bermuda and HMS Duke of York proceeded unescorted until she was joined late in the afternoon of the following day by the American destroyers USS Warrington (Lt.Cdr. H.R. Demarest, USN), USS Trippe (Lt.Cdr. R.L. Campbell, Jr., USN) and USS Bristol (Lt.Cdr. C.C. Wood, USN) which remained with her until the battleship arrived in Chesapeake Bay in the afternoon of 22 December 1941. The battleship then proceeded to the Norfolk Navy Yard where the passengers were disembarked to attend the Arcadia Conference. (2)

25 Aug 1942
HMS Queen Elizabeth (A/Capt. R. Gotto, DSO, RN) departed Freetown for Norfolk, Virginia, USA. She is escorted by the destroyers HMS Pathfinder (Cdr. E.A. Gibbs, DSO and Bar, RN), HMS Quentin (Lt.Cdr. A.H.P. Noble, DSC, RN) and HMS Vimy (Lt.Cdr. H.G.D. de Chair, RN).

HMS Caledon (A/Capt. H.J. Haynes, DSO, DSC, RN) was also in company until 0945Z/26, when she parted company to proceed to Gibraltar.

Also with them were the troop transports Mooltan (British, 20952 GRT, built 1923) and Viceroy of India (British, 19627 GRT, built 1929).

At 0830N/28, the Viceroy of India parted company to proceed independently to the U.K.

At 1950N/29, the Mooltan parted company to proceed independently to New York.

On 29 / 30 August, HMS Pathfinder, HMS Quentin and HMS Vimy fuelled from the RFA tanker Abbeydale (8299 GRT, built 1937) which had departed Gibraltar on 25 August 1942 escorted by the corvettes HMS Burdock (Lt.Cdr. E.H. Lynes, RD, RNR) and HMS Armeria (Lt. M. Todd, RNR).

Around 0500O/31, the US destroyers USS Trippe (Lt.Cdr. C.M. Dalton, USN), USS Rhind (T/Cdr. H.T. Read, USN) and USS Wainwright (T/Cdr. R.H. Gibbs, USN) joined and shortly afterwards HMS Pathfinder, HMS Quentin and HMS Vimy parted company to proceed to Trinidad.

HMS Queen Elizabeth, USS Trippe, USS Rhind and USS Wainwright arrived in Hampton Roads on 5 September 1942. (3)

19 Nov 1943
Around 1100 hours, USS Iowa (Capt. J.L. McCrea, USN) and her escort; USS Ellyson (Lt.Cdr. E.W. Longton, USN), USS Rodman (Cdr. J.F. Foley, USN) and USS Emmons (Lt.Cdr. E.B. Billingsley, USN) joined USS Brooklyn (Capt. R.W. Cary, Jr., USN) and her escort; USS Trippe (Lt.Cdr. R.C. Williams, USN), USS Edison (Lt.Cdr. H.A. Pearce, USN), HMS Troubridge (Capt. C.L. Firth, MVO, RN), HMS Teazer (Lt.Cdr. A.A.F. Talbot, DSO and Bar, RN) and HMS Tyrian (Cdr. C.W. Greening, RN). In the afternoon USS Ellson, USS Rodman and USS Emmons were detached.

20 Nov 1943
The battleship USS Iowa (Capt. J.L. McCrea, USN) arrived at Mers El Kebir where her 'passengers' left the ship.

She departed Mers El Kebir later the same day to proceed to Bahia, Brazil.

At sea she (re-)joined the light cruiser USS Brooklyn (Capt. R.W. Cary, Jr., USN) and the destroyers USS Trippe (Lt.Cdr. R.C. Williams, USN), USS Edison (Lt.Cdr. H.A. Pearce, USN), HMS Troubridge (Capt. C.L. Firth, MVO, RN), HMS Teazer (Lt.Cdr. A.A.F. Talbot, DSO and Bar, RN) and HMS Tyrian (Cdr. C.W. Greening, RN). The light cruiser HMS Sheffield (Capt. C.T. Addis, RN) had also departed Mers-el-Kebir and joined them.

21 Nov 1943
USS Iowa (Capt. J.L. McCrea, USN) passed Gibaltar Straits westbound into the Atlantic.

Around 0540 hours, HMS Sheffield, departed the formation.

Around 0820 hours, USS Ellyson (Lt.Cdr. E.W. Longton, USN), USS Rodman (Cdr. J.F. Foley, USN) and USS Emmons (Lt.Cdr. E.B. Billingsley, USN) arrived to take over the escort of USS Iowa and USS Brooklyn (Capt. R.W. Cary, Jr., USN) and her escort; USS Trippe (Lt.Cdr. R.C. Williams, USN), USS Edison (Lt.Cdr. H.A. Pearce, USN), HMS Troubridge (Capt. C.L. Firth, MVO, RN), HMS Teazer (Lt.Cdr. A.A.F. Talbot, DSO and Bar, RN) and HMS Tyrian (Cdr. C.W. Greening, RN) departed the formation and set course for Gibraltar.

16 Dec 1943
German U-boat U-73 was sunk in the Mediterranean near Oran, in position 36°07'N, 00°50'W, by depth charges and gunfire from the US destroyers USS Woolsey and USS Trippe.

15 Jan 1944
The light cruisers HMS Penelope (Capt. G.D. Belben, DSC, AM, RN), HMS Dido (Capt. J. Terry, RN), HMS Phoebe (Capt. C.P. Frend, RN), USS Brooklyn (Capt. R.W. Cary, Jr., USN) and the destroyers HMS Teazer (Lt.Cdr. A.A.F. Talbot, DSO and Bar, RN), USS Niblack (T/Cdr. R.R. Conner, USN) and USS Trippe (T/Cdr. R.C. Williams, USN) all conducted exercises off Malta. (4)

18 Jan 1944
Around 1545/18, The light cruisers HMS Penelope (Capt. G.D. Belben, DSC, AM, RN), USS Brooklyn (Capt. R.W. Cary, Jr., USN) and the destroyers HMS Loyal (Lt.Cdr. H.E.F. Tweedie, DSC, RN), USS Niblack (T/Cdr. R.R. Conner, USN) and USS Trippe (T/Cdr. R.C. Williams, USN) departed Malta for Naples. They arrived at Naples around 1015/19. (5)

21 Jan 1944
Around 1220/21, the Task Group 82.8, part of 'X-ray Force', made up of the light cruisers USS Brooklyn (Capt. R.W. Cary, Jr., USN), HMS Penelope (Capt. G.D. Belben, DSC, AM, RN) and the destroyers USS Trippe (T/Cdr. R.C. Williams, USN), USS Mayo (T/Cdr. F.S. Habecker, USN), USS Woolsey (T/Cdr. H.R. Wier, USN), USS Ludlow (T/Cdr. L.W. Creighton, USN) and USS Edison (T/Cdr. H.A. Pearce, USN) departed Naples in support of Operation Shingle, the landings at Anzio. En-route to the landing area they escorted a convoy (NAF 1).

They entered the 'fire support area' around 0130/22.

22 Jan 1944
Task Group 82.8, part of 'X-ray Force', made up of the light cruisers USS Brooklyn (Capt. R.W. Cary, Jr., USN), HMS Penelope (Capt. G.D. Belben, DSC, AM, RN) and the destroyers USS Trippe (T/Cdr. R.C. Williams, USN), USS Mayo (T/Cdr. F.S. Habecker, USN), USS Woolsey (T/Cdr. H.R. Wier, USN), USS Ludlow (T/Cdr. L.W. Creighton, USN) and USS Edison (T/Cdr. H.A. Pearce, USN) is still operating in their part of the landing area.

Several air attacks were carried out in the area by the Germans during the day.

At 1440 hours, HMS Penelope commenced a bombardment. [No further details available.]

Around 1730 hours, USS Brooklyn, HMS Penelope, USS Trippe and USS Edison proceeded to seaward.

At 2026 hours, they were informed that two enemy destroyers might attack during the night. These ships had been reported in the northern Tyrrhenian Sea and USS Brooklyn, HMS Penelope, USS Trippe and USS Edison proceeded northwards to intercept.

23 Jan 1944
Task Group 82.8, part of 'X-ray Force', made up of the light cruisers USS Brooklyn (Capt. R.W. Cary, Jr., USN), HMS Penelope (Capt. G.D. Belben, DSC, AM, RN) and the destroyers USS Trippe (T/Cdr. R.C. Williams, USN), USS Mayo (T/Cdr. F.S. Habecker, USN), USS Woolsey (T/Cdr. H.R. Wier, USN), USS Ludlow (T/Cdr. L.W. Creighton, USN) and USS Edison (T/Cdr. H.A. Pearce, USN) is still operating in the Anzio landings area.

USS Brooklyn, HMS Penelope, HMS Trippe and HMS Edison were outside the landing zone to try to intercept two German destroyers. At 0600 hours, the hunt for these destroyers was abandoned and they returned to the landing zone for fire support duties.

At 0858 hours, USS Brooklyn opened fire on a shore target having been requisted to do so. Fire was ceased at 0904 hours. A total of 27 rounds had been fired.

At 1743 hours, USS Brooklyn, HMS Penelope, HMS Trippe and HMS Edison again departed the landing zone to proceed to seawards.

30 Jan 1944
Around 0200A/30, HMS Phoebe (Capt. C.P. Frend, RN) departed Naples for the operations area of Anzio where she arrived around 0930A/30.

Around 1240A/30, she joined USS Brooklyn (Capt. R.W. Cary, Jr., USN).

Around 1600A/30, the cruisers retired from the coast to proceeded to seaward for the night. USS Trippe (T/Cdr. R.C. Williams, USN) had now joined for A/S protection. (6)

31 Jan 1944
In the morning, around 0845A/31, HMS Phoebe (Capt. C.P. Frend, RN) parted company with USS Brooklyn (Capt. R.W. Cary, Jr., USN) and USS Trippe (T/Cdr. R.C. Williams, USN).

HMS Phoebe then proceeded to ' Area P ' near Anzio for fire support duty. She was joined by HMS Laforey (Capt. H.T. Armstrong, DSO, DSC and Bar, RN) and HMS Loyal (Lt.Cdr. H.E.F. Tweedie, DSC, RN). Fire support was given to the army in the afternoon.

again retired from the inshore area for the night to return the following morning. (6)

8 Feb 1944
Around 1130A/8, HMS Phoebe (Capt. C.P. Frend, RN) departed Naples for the operations area off Anzio where she arrived around 1415A/8 and then joined HMS Orion (Capt. J.P. Gornall, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral J.M. Mansfield, DSC, RN).

Bombardments to give fire support for the army were carried out in the second half of the afternoon.

Around 1700A/8, HMS Orion and HMS Phoebe left the area. They then joined USS Brooklyn (Capt. R.W. Cary, Jr., USN) and USS Trippe (T/Cdr. R.C. Williams, USN) and all four set course to the Gulf of Pozzuoli where they arrived around 2100A/8 and anchored for the night. (7)

6 Feb 1945
USS Manta (T/Lt.Cdr. E.P. Madley, USN) conducted exercises in/off Casco Bay with USS Trippe (T/Cdr. C.R. Kear, Jr., USN).

Media links


Destroyers of World War Two

Whitley, M. J.


U.S. Destroyers

Friedman, Norman


United States Destroyer Operations In World War II.

Roscoe, Theodore

Sources

  1. http://www.navsource.org/archives/05/403.htm
  2. ADM 53/114155
  3. ADM 53/116470 + ADM 53/116471
  4. Logbook USS Brooklyn
  5. ADM 199/1430 + Logbook USS Brooklyn
  6. ADM 53/120233 + War diary of USS Brooklyn for January 1944 + War diary of USS Trippe for January 1944
  7. ADM 53/120195 + ADM 53/120234 + War diary of USS Brooklyn for January 1944 + War diary of USS Trippe for January 1944

ADM numbers indicate documents at the British National Archives at Kew, London.


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