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USS ''Haggard'' (DD-555) was a ''Fletcher''-class destroyer of the United States Navy named for Captain Haggard of the ''Louisa'', who fought in the Quasi-War. ''Haggard'' was launched by Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Co., Seattle, Wash., 9 February 1943, sponsored by Mrs. E. B. McKinney; and commissioned 31 August 1943, Commander D. A. Harris in command. ''Haggard'' departed for shakedown training off California 29 September and after completing it departed Seattle 24 November for Pearl Harbor. The ship arrived 30 November 1943 and spent the next 2 months in tactical exercises with other destroyers in Hawaiian waters. Her first combat operation was to be the forthcoming invasion of the Marshall Islands, next step on the island road to Japan. == Central Pacific == The ship sailed 22 January 1944 for the Marshalls. She covered the unopposed landings on Majuro 31 January and then sailed to Kwajalein Atoll. Taking up firing position inside the lagoon 2 February, she provided gunfire support for the advancing Marines until the island was secured 3 days later. Then ''Haggard'' patrolled and escorted transports in the Kwajalein area until sailing for Engebi, Eniwetok Atoll 17–19 February. There the destroyer again provided close fire support with her 5 inch guns, helping to secure Eniwetok. With the Marshalls in American hands, ''Haggard'' arrived 7 March at Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides. For the next months, ''Haggard'' operated with 3rd Fleet in the New Guinea-Solomons area. Her duties included reconnaissance patrols, convoying, and screening escort carriers. She also worked occasionally with minecraft and screened a minelaying operation 9 May in the Solomons, passing within 800 yards of an enemy-held beach on Buka Passage. During the night of 16–17 May the destroyer was patrolling with ''Franks'' (DD-554) and ''Johnston'' (DD-557) when she picked up an underwater sound contact. With quickness and accuracy the three ships delivered depth charge attacks and were credited with the sinking of the Japanese submarine ''I-176''. ''Haggard'' joined 5th Fleet at Eniwetok 21 May to prepare for the Marianas operation, as America's amphibious might pressed across the Pacific. Departing Eniwetok 8 July, ''Haggard'' arrived Guam with battleships ''Pennsylvania'' (BB-38) and ''New Mexico'' (BB-40) and other fleet units 17 July and began a devastating bombardment of the beach fortifications. With the landing on Guam of Marines 21 July, the destroyer turned to close fire support, lending her accurate gunfire to the battle ashore. Next on the timetable of the Pacific island campaign was the Palau group, needed to provide an air base for further advances. ''Haggard'' was withdrawn from Guam to Espiritu Santo 24 August 1944 and later joined the Western Escort Carrier Group off the Solomons 4 September. During the invasion of Peleliu 15 September ''Haggard'' screened carrier groups as they provided bombardment and close fire support for Marines ashore. Aircraft from her group also bombarded Ulithi before the ships returned to Manus' Seeadler Harbor 1 October. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「USS Haggard (DD-555)」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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