|
USS ''Jeffers'' (DD-621) (later DMS-27), a , was the only ship of the United States Navy to be named for Commodore William N. Jeffers. ''Jeffers'' was laid down by Federal Shipbuilding & Drydock Co., Kearny, New Jersey, 25 March 1942; launched 26 August 1942; sponsored by Mrs. Lucie Jeffers Lyons, great-granddaughter of Commodore Jeffers; and commissioned 5 November 1942, Lieutenant Commander W. G. McGarry in command. == Atlantic and Mediterranean service == After shakedown and training in Casco Bay, Maine, ''Jeffers'' operated briefly on the East Coast until departing Norfolk on 18 February 1943 on her first transatlantic voyage escorting a convoy to Casablanca and returning 14 April. The ship patrolled off NS Argentia, Newfoundland, for a week before steaming to Norfolk to prepare for the coming invasion of Sicily. ''Jeffers'' sailed from Norfolk 8 June with Task Force 65 (TF 65) and arrived Oran, Algeria, 22 June. While preparing for the giant assault on Sicily, she patrolled off other African ports, shooting down a German bomber during 6 July Luftwaffe raid on Bizerte. ''Jeffers'' sailed two days later with Rear Admiral John Hall's force for Gela; and, upon arrival 9 June, she guarded the transports. Early next day the great assault began, with ''Jeffers'' assigned the task of shooting out shore searchlights and providing fire support for the Amphibious Battle of Gela. As the landing proceeded with great success in the following days, the ship fired support missions and served on antisubmarine patrol. She sailed to Bizerte 18 July, but was back at Palermo on 31 July with cargo ships. ''Jeffers'' sailed to Oran the next day, and from that port continued to New York, arriving 22 August. After repairs at New York, the destroyer was assigned to convoy duty between East Coast ports and Scotland. As the Allies began the great buildup of men and materiel in Britain for the landings in northern France, ''Jeffers'' made five voyages between 5 September 1943 and 22 April 1944. On her second convoy crossing to Scotland, 21 October the ship picked up survivors from , after that destroyer had been cut in two by a tanker. She also took part in salvage operations which saved the stern of the stricken vessel. After training operations, ''Jeffers'' sailed from New York 5 May 1944 for the United Kingdom, where she prepared for the invasion of Normandy in June. She departed Belfast 3 June for Utah Beach, where she patrolled and provided fire support as troops stormed ashore on D-Day. The veteran destroyer remained off the beach until 29 June, driving off several enemy planes and assisting damaged ships. For the next two weeks she convoyed transports from Belfast to Utah Beach as more troops and supplies were poured into the beachhead, finally departing for the Mediterranean on 16 July. Next on the Allied timetable for the defeat of Germany was another invasion of France, this one in the south. Assigned to screen escort carriers covering the operation, ''Jeffers'' departed Malta 12 August to join her task group. Three days later, as troops landed between Cannes and Toulon, the ship remained with supporting carriers, continuing to cruise off shore until 28 September. She then sailed for New York, arriving 7 October to prepare for duty in the far Pacific. 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 Jeffers (DD-621)」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
|