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United States Benson-Livermore Class Destroyers

USS Woolsey DD437 --" The sub killer", leading the class with major participation in 3 U-boat kills.

Benson-Livermore's in Action against submarines

They obtained 14 definite kills in the Atlantic and many unofficial kills.

The Benson-Livermore class destroyers were fully engaged in a sea war with Germany by mid 1941. The first 24 ships were actively participating in the "Neutrality Patrol" after war broke out in Europe between England and Germany. Their major mission was to escort British supply convoys from the United States to England, as the US was a major supplier of all type of materials for the English war effort. The German's saw this as an act of war and ordered all German military craft to attack any ship found heading towards England. The Battle then began. USS Niblack is generally acknowledged as participating in the first military action against Germany in World War II. On 10 April 1941 , her convoy was attacked by German U-boat U-52. USS Niblack headed straight for her and dropped a few depth charges with unknown results. It was found later that U-52 escaped.

On 17 October 1941, the U-boats got so bold as directly attack the destroyers themselves. While USS Kearny DD432 was escorting a convoy in the North Atlantic near Iceland, three convoy merchant ships were torpedoed 16 October by U-568. Kearny immediately began dropping depth charges and continued to barrage throughout the night. At the beginning of the midwatch 17 October, a torpedo struck Kearny on starboard side. The capable crew confined flooding to the forward Fire room enabling the ship to get out of the danger zone with power from the aft fire room. Regaining power in the forward fire room, Kearny steamed to Iceland at 10 knots, arriving 19 October. Kearny lost 11 bluejackets and 22 others were injured in this attack. After temporary repairs Kearny got underway Christmas Day 1941, and moored 6 days later at Boston, Mass., for permanent repairs.

The Battle of the Atlantic was on and joined in 1942 with the sister Bristol class, the hunt was on.

Click the U-boat/Italian submarine link below to get the Scuttlebutt from our ships.

Destruction of::

U-73--- USS Niblack DD424, USS Mayo DD422, USS Edison DD439,
             USS Woosley DD437, USS Trippe DD403  

U-130-- USS Champlin DD601

U-153-- USS Lansdowne DD486

U-173-- USS Swanson DD443, USS Woosley DD437, USS Quick DD490

U-182-- USS Mackenzie DD614

U-450-- USS Madison DD425, HMS Blankney, HMS Brecon,HMS Exmoor,
              HMS Blencathra

U-575-- USS Hobson DD464, USS Bogue Hunter Killer group

U-593-- USS Niblack DD424, USS Benson DD421, USS Wainwright DD419

U-616-- USS Hilary P. Jones DD427, USS Gleaves DD423, USS NieldsDD616,
              USS Ellyson DD454,USS Macomb DD458, USS Hambleton DD455,
              USS Rodman DD456, USS Emmons DD457

U-801-- USS Corry DD463

U-853-- USS Ericsson DD440, USS Atherton DE, USS Mobely PF

U-856-- USS Champlin DD601, USS Nields DD616, USS Ordronaux DD617,USS Huse DE

U-960-- USS Niblack DD424, USS Woosley DD437, USS Ludlow DD438,
              USS Benson DD421,USS Madison DD425

Italian submarine GORGO-- USS Nields DD616


USS Kearny DD432 -- showing her damage after the encounter with U-568

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