USS Sims (DD-409)
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| USS Sims (DD-409) | |
|---|---|
| Ship caption | USS *Sims* underway in 1939 |
| Ship country | United States |
| Ship namesake | William Sims |
| Ship ordered | 15 March 1937 |
| Ship builder | Bath Iron Works |
| Ship laid down | 15 July 1937 |
| Ship launched | 8 April 1939 |
| Ship commissioned | 1 August 1939 |
| Ship fate | Sunk, 7 May 1942 |
| Ship honors | 2 × Battle star |
| Ship class | Sims-class destroyer |
| Ship displacement | 1,570 long tons (1,600 t) |
| Ship length | 348 ft 4 in (106.17 m) |
| Ship beam | 36 ft 1 in (11.00 m) |
| Ship draft | 13 ft 6 in (4.11 m) |
| Ship propulsion | 3 × Babcock & Wilcox boilers; 2 × Westinghouse geared turbines; 50,000 shp (37,000 kW) |
| Ship speed | 37 knots (69 km/h; 43 mph) |
| Ship complement | 192 (10 officers, 182 enlisted) |
| Ship armament | 5 × 5 in (127 mm)/38 cal guns; 4 × .50 caliber machine guns; 8 × 21 inch torpedo tubes; 2 × depth charge tracks |
USS Sims (DD-409) was the lead ship of her class of destroyers built for the United States Navy in the late 1930s. Named for William Sims, a prominent naval reformer and President of the Naval War College, she was commissioned just weeks before the outbreak of World War II in Europe. Her brief but active service was spent primarily on Neutrality Patrols in the Atlantic Ocean before being transferred to the Pacific Theater of Operations following the attack on Pearl Harbor.
Construction and commissioning
The contract for *Sims* was awarded to Bath Iron Works in Bath, Maine on 15 March 1937, as part of the Naval Act of 1936. Her keel was laid down on 15 July 1937, and she was launched on 8 April 1939, sponsored by Mrs. William S. Sims, the widow of the ship's namesake. Fitted out at the Boston Navy Yard, she was commissioned into active service on 1 August 1939 under the command of Commander William A. Griswold. Following shakedown cruises in the Caribbean Sea and along the East Coast of the United States, she joined the Atlantic Fleet.
Service history
After initial training exercises, *Sims* was assigned to Neutrality Patrol duties in the Atlantic Ocean, operating out of bases like Bermuda and Newport to track and report on German naval movements. In early 1941, she escorted the battleship USS *Washington* on her maiden voyage to Norwegian waters. Following the attack on Pearl Harbor and the U.S. declaration of war, *Sims* was immediately transferred to the Pacific Fleet. She arrived at San Diego in January 1942 and was soon tasked with escorting the aircraft carrier USS *Lexington* as part of Task Force 11.
Loss at the Battle of the Coral Sea
During the pivotal Battle of the Coral Sea in May 1942, *Sims* was assigned to screen the fleet oiler USS *Neosho*. On the morning of 7 May, the two ships were mistakenly identified as a carrier and cruiser by Japanese reconnaissance aircraft from the carrier *Shōkaku*. Subsequently, they were attacked by a large formation of "Val" dive bombers from the carriers *Shōkaku* and *Zuikaku*. *Sims*, targeted by at least three bombs, suffered catastrophic damage amidships, broke in two, and sank rapidly. Only 14 survivors from her crew were rescued from the water days later by the destroyer USS *Henley*.
Awards and legacy
For her wartime service, USS *Sims* was awarded two battle stars, one for the Marshalls–Gilberts raids and one posthumously for the Battle of the Coral Sea. Her loss, along with that of USS *Neosho*, highlighted the vulnerabilities of detached support vessels and influenced Pacific Fleet tactics regarding logistics and screening procedures. The wreck of the *Sims* has not been definitively located. Her name was later assigned to the destroyer escort USS *Sims* (DE-154).
See also
* List of United States Navy destroyers * Sims-class destroyer * Battle of the Coral Sea order of battle
Category:Sims-class destroyers Category:Ships built in Maine Category:World War II destroyers of the United States Category:Maritime incidents in May 1942