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USS ''Philip'' (DD/DDE-498), a , was the second ship of the United States Navy to be named for Rear Admiral John W. Philip (1840–1900). ''Philip'' was laid down by the Federal Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., Kearny, New Jersey, 7 May 1942; launched 13 October 1942; sponsored by Mrs. Barrett Philip; and commissioned 21 November 1942, Commander Thomas C. Ragan in command. Among the junior officers at commissioning was Ensign Benjamin C. Bradlee, who later became executive editor of ''The Washington Post''.〔(''Ben Bradlee: Naval Officer to Famous Newspaper Editor'' ) Military.com〕 == Solomon Islands campaign: June 1943 – March 1944 == ''Philips first mission came during the early morning of 30 June 1943 when she bombarded installations in the Shortland Islands area in the southwest Pacific. Operating in the screen of the Second Transport Group, ''Philip'', on 15 August 1943, made a good showing in her first scrape with the enemy. Several bomb splashes were seen near Barakoma Beach, Vella Lavella, indicating that Japanese bombers were attacking the LCIs unloading there. A few minutes later, two dive bombers headed for ''Philip'' to unload their explosives. Each plane dropped a bomb, but both missed. The first plane, taken under fire by the ship's guns, kept getting closer until a friendly Corsair took over the fight. Guns were shifted to the second and they soon found their range, splashing the plane into the sea. Japanese planes came back for another attack at nightfall. Silhouetted clearly against a full moon, ''Philip'' picked out the most desirable target. One torpedo wake passed a few yards astern and another crossed parallel to the ship after it was seen in time to take evasive action. The ship's guns kept barking at one of the bombers, finally shooting it down. Again during the next evening, Japanese planes came in to pay their regular visit. This time, their objective proved to be the cumbersome LSTs withdrawing from Barakoma Beach. While laying a heavy smoke screen and shooting at the planes, ''Philip'' collided with under the cover of her own smoke. Although damage to both vessels resulted, damage control parties of both ships rigged up shoring to prevent flooding and stayed in the battle. ''Philip'' kept her guns blazing away at the swarming Japanese, one plane was shot down and another was claimed as a possible kill. There was no let-up from enemy raids on the next day as the Japanese pressed their attempts to dislodge American forces from their toehold on the Solomons. One dive bomber sent his torpedo flying between the ship's stacks and another went splashing into the sea 30 yards to port. A second attack brought another close call; two torpedoes dropped 15 yards astern. ''Philip's" gunners shot down one of the dive bombers. Two days later, while leading a convoy out of Tulagi, the destroyer launched a pair of attacks on what appeared to be a Japanese submarine, without damage to the enemy. On 27 October, the destroyer fired at mortar emplacements on Mono Island and then came into Blanche Harbor, Treasury Island, Solomons. Six Val-type enemy planes zoomed into the harbor in an attempt to destroy the transports sitting there. The attack was repelled and ''Philip'' did her share by sending one plane away in flames. A barge sweep off Bougainville and bombardment of Choiseul Bay was conducted on 8 January 1944; ten days later, the destroyer returned for another blow on Bougainville, raking the island's northeast shores with surface fire. Leading a convoy of LCIs into Bougainville on 15 February, ''Philip'' weathered a bombing attack reminiscent of her earlier days; but she retaliated in like manner, damaging one plane and repelling the others. After a methodical bombardment of Empress Augusta Bay 14 March, ''Philip'' left to take part in the Marianas campaign. From 17 June to the end of July, the destroyer's guns blazed red hot as they hammered almost daily at enemy positions on Saipan and Tinian. Known gun emplacements, troop concentrations, and air fields were the main targets, although several swipes were also taken at small craft in Tinian and boats in Tanapag Harbor. 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 Philip (DD-498)」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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