USS Maddox (DD-622)

USS Maddox (DD-622) was a Gleaves class destroyer that briefly served on convoy escort duties before being sunk by a German bomber during the invasion of Sicily.

The Maddox was named after William A.T. Maddox, who served in the Marine Corps during the Mexican War.

The Maddox was laid down by the Federal Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Co., Kearny, N.J on 7 May 1942, launched on 15 September 1942 when she was sponsored by Maddox’s great‑granddaughter Mrs. Ellen‑Venita Browning Wilhoit Gay and commissioned on 31 October 1942.

USS Maddox (DD-622) from above, New York, 1942 USS Maddox (DD-622) from above, New York, 1942

USS Maddox (DD-622) from above-rear, New York, 1942 USS Maddox (DD-622) from above-rear, New York, 1942

USS Maddox (DD-622) from above-front, 1942 USS Maddox (DD-622) from above-front, 1942

The Maddox 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.

1943

After her shakedown cruise the Maddox left New York on 2 January 1943 heading for Norfolk. She carried out two convoy escort missions on the route between Norfolk and the oil ports of Galveston and Aruba.

She then switched to the transatlantic route, operating on the route to North Africa. The first of these missions began on 9 February when she left Trinidad to escort a convoy of tankers to Dakar, arriving on 18 February. The convoy returned to Trinidad on 4 March and then continued on to Norfolk, arriving on 8 March.

The Maddox was awarded a battle star for sinking a U-boat on 6 May 1943. Five U-boats are known to have been sunk on that date, but all five were sunk by British warships further north in the Atlantic. The attack does appear to have taken place. Two depth charge attacks were carried out, and after the second the submarine was briefly seen upside down on the surface. Her commanding officer, Lt Commander E.S.Sarsfield, was awarded the Legion of Merit for this attack. However the U-boat in question appears to have survived this attack. However May 1943 was a black month for the U-boat force, so it may have been sunk later in the month

On 8 June 1943 the Maddox left Norfolk heading for Oran to join Task Force 81, the assault force for Operation Husky, the invasion of Sicily.

On 10 July, the day of the land invasion of Sicily, the Maddox was on anti-submarine duties sixteen miles offshore. She was operating along when she was attacked by a German Junkers Ju 88 dive bomber. One bomb hit near No.5 gun turret. A second bomb hit the aft magazine which exploded. The Maddox rolled over and sank within two minutes. Seventy four of her crew survived and her commanding officer, Lt. Commander E.S. Sarsfield was given a posthumous Navy Cross for his efforts during the brief evacuation period. 211 men were lost.

The Maddox received two battle stars for World War II service, for the attack on the unknown U-boat and for the invasion of Sicily.

Displacement (standard)

1,630t design
1,838t as built

Displacement (loaded)

2,395t

Top Speed

35kts design
36.5kt at 50,200shp at 2,220t on trial (Niblack)

Engine

2-shaft Westinghouse turbines
4 boilers
50,000hp design

Range

6500nm at 12kt design

Length

348ft 3in

Width

36ft 1in

Armaments

Five 5in/38 guns
Ten 21in torpedo tubes
Six 0.5in AA guns
Two depth charge tracks

Crew complement

208

Laid down

7 May 1942

Launched

15 September 1942

Commissioned

31 October 1942

Sunk by air attack

10 July 1943

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 (12 August 2024), USS Maddox (DD-622) , http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/weapons_USS_Maddox_DD622.html

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