Last View of the Gwin
As told by John Kozma, USS Gwin DD433.
Explosion knocking out USS Gwin during night action off Kolombangara.
Black shadow to left of explosion is the bow of Gwin.
This is the last photo of the "Killer Destroyer", USS Gwin DD433 as she licked her wounds after a furious night surface battle with the "Tokyo Express", July 13, 1943 off Kolombangara, S.W. Pacific This photo was taken by a Navy Photographer from the HMS Leander minutes after all hell broke loose, like "Dante's Inferno, aboard the mighty Gwin. She was struck by the famed Japanese long-lance torpedo (1,036lb high explosive warhard) with 20mm and 40mm shells exploding all over the after deck house and fantail. Firefighters and damage control crews worked until dawn but the cruel sea would not relent. The Gwin was half under by first light when the "vulture" Japanese air force appeared. The Gwin's fate was sealed. Our standby destroyer, USS Ralph Talbot, quickly took our survivors aboard and sunk Gwin with a spread of four torpedoes and 5" gunfire. She died hard like the Queen that she was. May she and her 2 officers and fifty-nine enlisted men sleep in peace-forever!! note::The USS Gwin's loss was mourned by many survivors of the USS Helena sunk in Kula Gulf on July 6th. She is remembered as one of the "tin cans" that went to hell and back to rescue them off Rice Anchorage, July 7 1943. This page is dedicated to the men lost aboard Gwin July 13, 1943 This story was compiled by John Kozma and sent in by Frank DiNapoli, both served on DD433. Photo sent in by Rick Clarkson, son of James R. Clarkson, DD433 |