USS Macomb (DD-458/ DMS-23)

USS Macomb (DD-458/ DMS-23) was a Gleaves class destroyer that took part in Operation Torch, worked on escort duty in the Atlantic, helped sink U-616, took part in the invasion of the South of France and of Okinawa.

The Macomb was named after Commodore William H. Macomb, who served in the US Navy duiring the American Civil War, serving with the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron

USS Macomb (DD-458) commissioning, Boston, 1942

The Macomb was laid down by the Bath Iron Works at Bath, Maine on 3 September 1940, launched on 23 September 1941 when se was co-sponsored by Mrs Ryland W. Greene and her sister Mrs Edward H. Chew, the granddaughters of Commodore Macomb and commissioned on 26 January 1942.

The Macomb was originally classified as a Bristol class ship, which were built with four 5in guns instead of the five installed on the Livermore/ Gleaves class. However after the fifth gun was removed from the those ships all of the Bristol class ships joined the Livermore/ Gleaves class.

After her shakedown cruise the Macomb operated along the US East Coast, escorting convoys and screening aircraft carriers on training missions. The convoy escort missions took her to South American, to the west coast of Africa and to Newfoundland.

On 5-12 July she escorted a US Army Transport and a British ship from Boston to Greencok, Scotland. She then operated beween Scotland and Iceland for the next few months (apart from one visit to New York for some upkeep). This period ended on 25 September when she returned to Norfolk, Virginia.

On 11 October she left Norfolk to screen anti-aircraft patrols built around aircraft carriers in the Caribbean.

She was then allocated to the forces taking part in Operation Torch, the invasion of North Africa.

During the passage of the Atlantic the Macomb was part of the screen of the Air Group, built around the carriers Ranger, Santee, Sangamon and Suwannee.

On 8 November the Macomb and Hambleton screened the Sangamon as she covered the landings around Port Lyautey, to the north-east of Casablanca.

After the landings were secure she returned to Boston.

1943

After an overhaul at Boston she returned to her convoy escort duties along the US east coast and in the Caribbean. She also took part in one voyage that took her close to north Africa. She then moved north and was based at Argentia, patrolling in the North Atlantic. During this period she sometimes reached Iceland and England.

USS Macomb (DMS-23) at Sea, post-war

In the summer of 1943 she briefly operated with the British Home Fleet, returning to the US in August 1943.

From then until the middle of 1944 she spent most of her time operating along the US East Coast.

From 22-28 September she escorted a convoy from Argentia to Swansea in South Wales, returning to Argentia on 12 October.

In November-December 1943 she helped screen the USS Iowa as the battleship carried President Roosevelt across the Atlantic on his way to the Teheran conference.

1944

On 20 April 1944 the Macomb departed for the Mediterranean where she joined the anti-submarine forces. She took part in the long hunt for U-616, when ended when the damaged U-boat was forced to the surface and then sunk by Macomb’s guns.

In August 1944 the Macomb took part in Operation Dragoon, the invasion of the south of France. Later in the campaign she supported the forces advancing on Toulon.

After her involvement in Dragoon ended she returned to her anti-submarine duties.

She returned to Charleston on 9 November to be converted into a minesweeper. She was redesignated as DMS-23 on 15 November.

1945

The Macomb joined Mine Squadron 20, and departed for the Pacific on 3 January 1945. She joined TG 52.2, which was the first task group to enter Okinawan waters before the invasion, and was used to sweep the channels used by the rest of the invasion fleet. The eleven ships in the squadron came under repeated attack during the campaign, with only one not hit by a kamikaze aircraft.

On 16 April the Laffey came under very heavy attack and was hit by a series of kamikaze aircraft and bombs. However she stayed afloat, and the Macomb towed her away from the danger zone, before being replaced by two tugs.

Before dawn on 27 April an incoming air attack was detected on radar. The Macomb came under attack for an hour, claiming three victories while moving at top speed.

On 3 May the Macomb and Bache came under air attack at twilight. She was hit by a kamikaze aircraft that hit the no.3 5-inch mount, killing four and wounding fifteen. Some of her crew were blown overboard and had to be rescued by the smaller boats she was escorting. She remained at her post for three hours after the attack. The Macomb had to retire to Saipan for repairs, which lasted almost to the end of the war.

After her repairs were over she rejoined the Third Fleet on 13 August, and on 29 August she entered Tokyo Bay, where she was present during the Japanese surrender. She left Tokyo Bay on 4 September and spent the next three months on minesweeping duties around Japan, Okinawa, Korea and in the Yellow Sea. She left Sasebo on 5 December 1945 and returned to Norfolk, where she rejoined the Atlantic Fleet.

Post-war

From 1945 to September 1949 the Macomb operated along the US east coast, sometimes reaching Canada or the Caribbean.

On 6 September 1949 she departed for the first of three tours of duty with the Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean. The first of these only lasted until 13 October. The second trip was longer, lasting from 20 March to 5 October 1951. The third lasted from 22 April-24 October 1953.

USS Macomb (DD-458), 13 October 1954

In July 1954 the Macomb entered the reserve, ready to be transferred to Japan. She was decommissioned from the US Navy on 19 October and transferred to Japan, where she became the Hatakaze (DD-182) (Flag Wind).

She served with the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force from 1954 until 1969 when she was returned to the US.

On 6 August 1970 she was sold to Taiwan to replace the former Rodman, which had been damaged after running aground. She became ROCS Hsien Yang (DD-16), but was only in service for two years before being decommissioned in 1972. She was struck off in 1974 but used as a dockside training ship until 1978.

Macomb received five battle stars for World War II service, for North Africa, sinking U-616, the South of France, Okinawa and Pacific minesweeping. She was also awarded the Navy Unit Commendation for her actions off Okinawa. Anyone who served on her from 2 September-5 December 1945 qualified for the Navy Occupation Service Medal (Asia). Anyone who served on her during her 1949, 1951 or 1943 European cruises qualified for the Navy Occupation Service Medal (Europe)

U.S. Destroyers: An Illustrated Design History, Norman Friedmann . The standard history of the development of American destroyers, from the earliest torpedo boat destroyers to the post-war fleet, and covering the massive classes of destroyers built for both World Wars. Gives the reader a good understanding of the debates that surrounded each class of destroyer and led to their individual features.

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