USS Hammann (DD-412)

USS Hammann (DD-412) was a Sims-class destroyer of the United States Navy named for Charles Hammann, the first United States Naval Aviator to receive the Medal of Honor. Commissioned in 1939, the ship served in the Atlantic Fleet before transferring to the Pacific Theater following the attack on Pearl Harbor. Its service was cut short during the pivotal Battle of Midway in June 1942, where it was sunk while assisting the crippled aircraft carrier USS Yorktown (CV-5).

Construction and commissioning

The ship's keel was laid down on 17 January 1938 at the Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Company yard in Kearny, New Jersey. It was launched on 4 February 1939, sponsored by Miss Lillian Hammann, the sister of the ship's namesake. The destroyer was commissioned into active service on 11 August 1939 at the New York Navy Yard under the command of Lieutenant Commander Arnold E. True. Following commissioning, *Hammann* conducted shakedown training in the Caribbean Sea and along the East Coast of the United States before joining the Atlantic Fleet.

Service history

Initially assigned to Neutrality Patrol duties in the Atlantic Ocean, *Hammann* operated out of bases like Newport, Rhode Island and Bermuda. In early 1942, following the United States declaration of war on Japan, the destroyer was transferred to the Pacific Fleet. It escorted the carrier USS Hornet (CV-8) from Norfolk, Virginia to the Panama Canal Zone en route to the Pacific Theater. Upon arrival, it joined Task Force 16, centered on the carriers USS Enterprise (CV-6) and *Hornet*, and participated in the Doolittle Raid on Tokyo in April 1942. The ship subsequently took part in the Battle of the Coral Sea in May, providing anti-aircraft screening for the American fleet.

Sinking

*Hammann*'s final action came during the Battle of Midway in June 1942. On 6 June, it was assigned to protect the damaged *Yorktown*, which had been hit by Japanese aircraft from the Kidō Butai. *Hammann* came alongside the carrier to provide power and assist damage control parties. While in this stationary position, the Japanese submarine I-168 penetrated the destroyer screen and fired a spread of Type 95 torpedos. One torpedo struck *Hammann* directly amidships, breaking its back, while two others hit *Yorktown*. The destroyer's depth charge racks, armed and ready, detonated seconds after the torpedo impact. The catastrophic explosion caused *Hammann* to sink in under four minutes, with significant loss of life among its crew.

Wreck discovery

The wrecks of both *Hammann* and *Yorktown* lay undiscovered for over half a century. In May 1998, a team led by deep-sea explorer Robert Ballard, funded by the National Geographic Society, located the carrier using advanced side-scan sonar and remotely operated vehicle technology. *Hammann*'s wreckage was found nearby, lying in two main sections on the ocean floor at a depth of over 16,650 feet near the Northwest Hawaiian Islands. The site is considered a war grave and is protected under the Sunken Military Craft Act.

Awards and legacy

For its service in World War II, USS *Hammann* was awarded two battle stars, for the Battle of the Coral Sea and the Battle of Midway. The ship's name was later carried by a destroyer escort, USS Hammann (DE-131), commissioned in 1943. The crew's actions, particularly during the final moments at Midway Atoll, are commemorated in numerous historical accounts of the Pacific War. The story of *Hammann* and *Yorktown* remains a poignant chapter in United States naval history, symbolizing both the high cost and the decisive turning point achieved during the critical Battle of Midway.

Category:Sims-class destroyers Category:Ships sunk in the Battle of Midway Category:World War II destroyers of the United States