USS Osmond Ingram (DD-255/ AVD-9/ APD-35)

USS Osmond Ingram (DD-255) was a Clemson class destroyer that served as a seaplane tender in 1940-42, with the Bogue’s hunter killer group in 1943, sinking U-172, and as a fast transport in the Mediterranean and Pacific in 1944-45.

The Osmond Ingram was named after Osmond Kelly Ingram, who served in the US Navy during the First World War. On 16 October 1917 his ship, the Cassin, was attacked by a U-boat. Ingram saw the incoming torpedo and attempted to jettison her depth charges before they could be ignited by the torpedo. The torpedo hit before he could reach the depth charges and he was killed in the blast, the first enlisted US serviceman killed in action during the war. The Osmond Ingram was the first US warship to be named after an enlisted man.

USS Osmond Ingram (APD-35) at Charleston, 1944
USS Osmond Ingram (APD-35)
at Charleston, 1944

The Osmond Ingram was laid down on 15 October 1918 at the Bethlehem Shipbuilding Co. of Quincy, Mass. She was launched on 23 February 1919 and was sponsored by Ingram’s mother. She was commissioned on 28 June 1919, and served with the Atlantic fleet until 24 June 1922 when she was decommissioned.

In 1940 the Osmond Ingram was converted into a seaplane tender. She was redesignated as AVD-9 and recommissioned on 22 November 1940. She arrived at her new base at San Juan on Puerto Rico on 15 January 1941. Her aircraft operated in the area between Trinidad, Antigua and San Juan. She then moved to the Panama Canal Zone, where her aircraft operated from Salinas, Ecuador. Finally she moved to the Galapagos, where she operated until June 1942. At the Galapagos she operated with aircraft from Patrol Wing 3, before being relieved by USS Matagorda (AVP-22), a purpose-built seaplane tender.

The Osmond Ingram then resumed normal destroyer duties. During the second half of 1942 she operated on convoy escort duties between Trinidad, Recife and Belem.

In 1943 the Osmond Ingram moved to Argentia to join the anti-submarine hunter-killer group based around the escort carrier USS Bogue (CVE-9). The Osmond Ingram served with this group for most of 1943, and was awarded a Presidential Unit Citation, covering three periods – 20 April-20 June, 12 July-23 August and 14 November-20 December 1943. During this period the Osmond Ingram sank one U-boat herself, sinking U-172 with gunfire on 13 December 1943 after the U-boat had been forced to the surface by depth charges from the George E Badger (DD-196) and Clemson (DD-186)

At the start of 1944 the Osmond Ingram escorted a convoy to Gibraltar. She then returned to the US and operated along the New York to Trinidad route. In June she was converted into a high speed transport at Charleston, and redesignated as APD-35.

USS Osmond Ingram (AVD-9) at Norfolk, 1943 USS Osmond Ingram (AVD-9) at Norfolk, 1943

The Osmond Ingram was completed in time to take part in Operation Dragoon, the Allied invasion of the south of France. On 14 August 1944 she was used to land troops on islands off the French coast. She was then used to escort convoys along the French and Italian coasts, before returning to the US in late December 1944.

The Osmond Ingram was then allocated to the Pacific. She escorted convoys from New York to Panama, then to San Diego, Pearl Harbor, Eniwetok and Ulithi.

On 2 April 1945 she sailed as part of the Okinawa invasion force. During the battle for Okinawa she was used to defend the Hagushi anchorage and to escort fast convoys to Saipan and Guam. In July she was used to escort ships moving between Leyte and Hollandia on New Guinea. In August she carried out patrols in the Philippines and around Borneo.

After the end of the war she took part in the occupation of Japan, visiting Wakayama, Kure and Nagoya.

The Osmond Ingram was decommissioned at Philadelphia on 8 January 1946, struck off on 21 January 1946 and sold for scrap on 17 June 1946.

Anyone who served on her between 14 September and 6 November 1945 qualified for the Navy Occupation Service Medal.

The Osmond Ingram received 6 battle stars, for Task Group 21.12, Task Group 21.13 (twice), the invasion of the South of France, the sinking of U-172 and the invasion of Okinawa.

Displacement (standard)

1,190t

Displacement (loaded)

1,308t

Top Speed

35kts
35.51kts at 24,890shp at 1,107t on trial (Preble)

Engine

2-shaft Westinghouse geared tubines
4 boilers
27,000shp (design)

Range

2,500nm at 20kts (design)

Length

314ft 4in

Width

30ft 10.5in

Armaments

Four 4in/ 50 guns
One 3in/23 AA gun
Twelve 21in torpedoes in four triple mountings
Two depth charge tracks
One Y-Gun depth charge projector

Crew complement

114

Launched

23 February 1919

Commissioned

28 June 1919

Sold for scrap

17 June 1946

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.
cover cover cover

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How to cite this article: Rickard, J (4 December 2019), USS Osmond Ingram (DD-255/ AVD-9/ APD-35) , http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/weapons_USS_Osmond_Ingram_DD255_AVD9_APD35.html

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