USS Doran (DD-634) off Sicily, 1943 |
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USS Doran (DD-634) was a Gleaves class destroyer that took part in Operation Torch, the invasion of Sicily and convoy escort duties, before being converted into a fast minesweeper, and taking part in power-war mine clearing operations in the Pacific.
The Doran was named after John James Doran, who served in the US Navy from 1884 until his death in service in 1904. In 1898 he was awarded the Medal of Honor for actions at Cienfuegos, Cuba, during the Spanish-American War.
The Doran was laid down at the Boston Navy Yard, launched on 10 December 1941 when she was sponsored by Doran’s sister Mrs P. J. Hurley, and commissioned on 4 August 1942.
The Doran 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 those ships all of the Bristol class ships joined the Livermore/ Gleaves class.
1942
The Doran left Norfolk on 23 October 1942 as part of the fleet taking part in Operation Torch, the invasion of French North Africa. On 8 November, the day of the invasion, she screened transports at Safi, French Morocco.
On 10 November she investigated a beached submarine which turned out to be a French submarine that had escaped from Casablanca, then forced to beach after several attacks by US aircraft.
The Doran remained off North Africa into mid-November, before returning to Norfolk on 24 November.
Between 12 December 1942 and 28 April; 1943 the Doran made three voyages from New York and Norfolk to Casablanca.
1943
On 8 June 1943 she left Norfolk to join the forces gathering for the invasion of Sicily. She reached Oran on 22 June, and departed with the invasion fleet on 5 July.
During the invasion she was part of Task Force 85, which supported the landings around Scoglitti. She provided fire support during the landings on 10 July.
From then until 21 August she supported the invasion, mainly on escort and patrol duties between Bizerte, Tunisia and Sicily.
On 27 August she left Casablanca heading for home, and reached New York on 14 September.
On 13 October she left New York with the destroyer escort Canfield (DE-262) to escort the attack transport Wayne (APA-54) to the Panama Canal. The transport passed through the canal on 21-22 October.
The Doran then returned to convoy escort duties, making five trips between Boston or New York and the United Kingdom between 22 October 1943 and 1 May 1944.
On 7 November 1943 she left Belfast as part of the powerful escort of the westbound convoy TU-4, which included the battleship Texas and ten destroyers. They reached New York on 18 November.
From 5-14 December she was part of the escort for eastbound convoy UT-5, heading from New York to Lough Larne.
1944
On 17 May 1944 the Doran left Norfolk heading for the Mediterannean. Once there she screened transports moving from Oran to Naples, carried out anti-submarine patrols off Oran and Gibraltar and took part in exercises.
She was photographed at Arzew in Algeria on 11 June while taking part in amphibious exercises.
She returned to New York on 22 August.
Between 6 October and 1 November she escorted a convoy to Liverpool.
She then escorted the new Essex class carrier USS Randolph (CV-15) to the Panama Canal Zone.
1945
Between 13 January 1945 and 26 April 1945 the Doran escorted two convoys from the US to Oran.
She then moved to Charleston, where she was converted into a high speed minesweeper. She was reclassified as DMS-41 on 30 May 1945. Once the conversion and shakedown cruise were completed she departed for a month of training at San Diego. She then crossed the Pacific, reaching Okinawa on 7 October, after the Japanese surrender.
Between then and 3 January 1946 the Doran was used to sweep mines in the Yellow Sea and on escort and courier duties at Shanghai.
On 3 January 1946 she departed for Wakanoura Wan with Mine Squadron 11, taking part in buoy laying duties.
On 11 March she departed for San Francisco, arriving at the end of March.
The Doran was placed out of commission into the reserve at San Diego on 29 January 1947. She was reclassified as DD-634 on 15 July 1955. She was sold for scrap on 27 August 1973.
The Doran reached three battle stars, for North Africa, Sicily and Pacific Minesweeping.
Displacement (standard) |
1,630t design |
Displacement (loaded) |
2,395t |
Top Speed |
35kts design |
Engine |
2-shaft Westinghouse turbines |
Range |
6500nm at 12kt design |
Armour - belt |
|
- deck |
|
Length |
348ft 3in |
Width |
36ft 1in |
Armaments |
Five 5in/38 guns |
Crew complement |
208 |
Laid down |
14 June 1941 |
Launched |
10 December 1941 |
Commissioned |
4 August 1942 |
Struck off |
15 January 1972 |
Sold for scrap |
27 August 1973 |
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.
USS Doran (DMS-41) returns to San Fransisco, 1946