drakegoodman
05-23-2007, 08:37 AM
USS Menges (DE-320)
For a remarkable story of U.S. ingenuity, tenacity and achievement go here:
The USS Menges (DE-320) - official USCG site (http://www.uscg.mil/history/WEBCUTTERS/Menges.html)
An overview & a couple of preview pics:
On 3 May Menges was 15½ miles astern of the convoy chasing down a radar contact when she was hit at 0118 hours by an G7es acoustic torpedo from U-371 (which was in turn sunk the next day by USS Joseph E. Campbell (DE-70), USS Pride (DE-323) and other warships). The explosion was so violent that the aft third of the ship was destroyed, killing 31 men and wounding 25. However, Commander McCabe properly refused to give the order to abandon ship as long as there was chance of saving her. In addition, several of the crew members heroically jumped astride torpedoes loosened in the blast to disarm them. Menges, thanks to such creditable action, remained afloat.
Four hours later Menges was taken in tow by HMS Aspirant, and later on 3 May reached Bougie, Algeria to debark her dead and wounded. On 23 June, the temporarily repaired Menges got underway from Oran, under tow by USS Carib (AT-82), bound for New York, and arrived 22 July. From 14 to 31 August the stern of the USS Holder (DE-401), whose forward two thirds had been blown away by a torpedo in the Mediterranean Sea on 11 April, was welded to the remaining two thirds of Menges. The "new" ship came out of drydock at the New York Navy Yard for shakedown from 26 September to 20 October in Casco Bay, Maine.
http://Castlemaine-Boy.smugmug.com/photos/155521059-Th.jpg (http://Castlemaine-Boy.smugmug.com/photos/155521059-O.jpg) http://Castlemaine-Boy.smugmug.com/photos/155517338-Th.jpg (http://Castlemaine-Boy.smugmug.com/photos/155517338-O.jpg) http://Castlemaine-Boy.smugmug.com/photos/155517446-Th.jpg (http://Castlemaine-Boy.smugmug.com/photos/155517446-O.jpg)
Bon Voyage to those who’ve set sail ~
We bid them farewell as we man the rail.
Let us be Joyous and let us not weep ~
For those who have now crossed over the deep.
Be it known that it’s a Divine remand ~
To ship in Heaven, ye Seafaring Man.
On permanent station forevermore ~
Peaceful duty for Veterans of war.
For a remarkable story of U.S. ingenuity, tenacity and achievement go here:
The USS Menges (DE-320) - official USCG site (http://www.uscg.mil/history/WEBCUTTERS/Menges.html)
An overview & a couple of preview pics:
On 3 May Menges was 15½ miles astern of the convoy chasing down a radar contact when she was hit at 0118 hours by an G7es acoustic torpedo from U-371 (which was in turn sunk the next day by USS Joseph E. Campbell (DE-70), USS Pride (DE-323) and other warships). The explosion was so violent that the aft third of the ship was destroyed, killing 31 men and wounding 25. However, Commander McCabe properly refused to give the order to abandon ship as long as there was chance of saving her. In addition, several of the crew members heroically jumped astride torpedoes loosened in the blast to disarm them. Menges, thanks to such creditable action, remained afloat.
Four hours later Menges was taken in tow by HMS Aspirant, and later on 3 May reached Bougie, Algeria to debark her dead and wounded. On 23 June, the temporarily repaired Menges got underway from Oran, under tow by USS Carib (AT-82), bound for New York, and arrived 22 July. From 14 to 31 August the stern of the USS Holder (DE-401), whose forward two thirds had been blown away by a torpedo in the Mediterranean Sea on 11 April, was welded to the remaining two thirds of Menges. The "new" ship came out of drydock at the New York Navy Yard for shakedown from 26 September to 20 October in Casco Bay, Maine.
http://Castlemaine-Boy.smugmug.com/photos/155521059-Th.jpg (http://Castlemaine-Boy.smugmug.com/photos/155521059-O.jpg) http://Castlemaine-Boy.smugmug.com/photos/155517338-Th.jpg (http://Castlemaine-Boy.smugmug.com/photos/155517338-O.jpg) http://Castlemaine-Boy.smugmug.com/photos/155517446-Th.jpg (http://Castlemaine-Boy.smugmug.com/photos/155517446-O.jpg)
Bon Voyage to those who’ve set sail ~
We bid them farewell as we man the rail.
Let us be Joyous and let us not weep ~
For those who have now crossed over the deep.
Be it known that it’s a Divine remand ~
To ship in Heaven, ye Seafaring Man.
On permanent station forevermore ~
Peaceful duty for Veterans of war.