United States Benson-Livermore Class Destroyers

Here the USS Kearny DD432 "shepards her sheep" in the North Atlantic.
One can see the convoy (bumps) on the horizon in this picture.
This class of ship was the main stay in convoy protection.
Photo graciously contributed by Don Gurik, son of George Gurik MM2/c 1943-1945

Benson-Livermore's in Action, Convoy Duty

Before the official US entry into World War II, United States destroyers were escorting convoys to England. Imminent dangers of U-boats and the rough environment of the North Atlantic weather proved trying. These crews were , in fact, at war with Germany by the early months of 1941. Exchanges of fire were commonplace, as well as the blistering cold. Neutrality Patrol , as these operations were called, required superior seamanship and fortitude. It is well known that the first action against Germany was initiated by the USS Niblack DD424 on 10 April 1941 as she dropped depth charges on a Uboat attacking her convoy. To see some of the convoy actions, click below::

Click the convoy link below to get the Scuttlebutt from our ships.

Convoy Operations

Neutrality Patrol::

Neutrality Patrol, early 1941--- War Declared and Undeclared   

Convoy HX-150 and ON-18; Sept 1941-- USS Eberle DD430, USS Ericsson DD440, USS Charles F. Hughes DD428, USS Madison DD425, USS Lansdale DD426

Convoy SC-48;17 Oct., 1941-- USS Plunkett DD431, USS Kearny DD432, USS Livermore DD429

Convoy HX-156 and loss of Reuben James; 31 Oct., 1941-- USS Benson DD421, USS Niblack DD423, USS H.P. Jones DD427

Wartime Convoys::

Convoy ON-67 -- Battle Star; 16 Feb, 1942-- USS Edison DD439, USS Nicholson DD442,

Convoy ONS-92; 11 May, 1942-- USS Gleaves DD423, USCG Ingham, Royal Navy  

Troop Convoy AT-20 -- Loss of Ingraham DD444; 21 Aug, 1942-- USS Edison DD439, USS Ingraham DD444, USS Woosley DD437, USS Ludlow DD 438

Convoy RA-18:: Rescue of the troopship, USS Wakefield;Sept 1942-- USS Mayo DD422, USS Madison DD425, USS Niblack DD424 

Convoy UC-1; Feb 1943-- USS Charles F. Hughes DD428, USS Hilary P. Jones DD427, USS Madison DD425, USS Lansdowne DD486

Convoy UGS-37,UGS-38--Loss of USS Lansdale; April 1944-- USS Lansdale DD426, USS Newell DE, USS Menges DE

Collision at Sea-- USS Mayo DD422, USS Ingraham DD444, USS Charles F. Hughes DD428


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The "Big Guns" used to protect a convoy from surface raiders such as Bismarck

All Information is maintained and written by the Author, Richard Angelini,USS Mayo Group. This web site is a service provided by the USS Mayo DD422 Group. Please ask to use any information contained within these pages. Thank you.