Image: NH 66721 Honda Point

Description: The seven wrecked destroyers on Honda point. The lost ships were: USS Delphy (DD-261) was the flagship in the column. She ran aground on the shore at 20 knots (37 km/h). After running aground, she sounded her siren. The siren alerted some of the later ships in the column, helping them avoid the tragedy. Three men died. Eugene Dooman, a State Department expert on Japan, who survived, was aboard as a guest of Captain Watson, whom he had met in Japan. USS S. P. Lee (DD-310) was following a few hundred yards behind. She saw the Delphy suddenly stop, and turned to port (left) in response. As a result, she ran aground on the coast. USS Young (DD-312) made no move to turn. She tore her hull open on submerged rocks, and the inrush of water capsized her onto her starboard side. Twenty men died. USS Woodbury (DD-309) turned to starboard, but struck an offshore rock. USS Nicholas (DD-311) turned to port and also hit a rock. USS Fuller (DD-297) stuck next to the Woodbury. USS Chauncey (DD-296) made an attempt to rescue sailors from the capsized Young. She ran aground.
Title: NH 66721 Honda Point
Credit: US Navy
Author: U.S. Navy, photographed from a plane assigned to USS Aroostook (CM-3).
Usage Terms: Public domain
License: Public domain
Attribution Required?: No