USS Wyman facts for kids
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Quick facts for kids History |
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 United States |
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| Name | USS Wyman |
| Laid down | 7 September 1942 |
| Launched | 3 June 1943 |
| Commissioned | 1 September 1943 |
| Decommissioned | 21 December 1945 |
| Reclassified | DE-38, 16 June 1943 |
| Stricken | 8 January 1946 |
| Honors and awards |
6 battle stars (World War II) |
| Fate | Sold for scrapping, 16 April 1947 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Evarts-class destroyer escort |
| Displacement |
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| Length |
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| Beam | 35 ft (11 m) |
| Draft | 11 ft (3.4 m) (max) |
| Propulsion |
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| Speed | 19 knots (35 km/h; 22 mph) |
| Range | 4,150 nmi (7,690 km) |
| Complement | 15 officers and 183 enlisted |
| Armament |
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The USS Wyman (DE-38) was a special type of ship called an Evarts-class destroyer escort that served in the United States Navy during World War II. Her main job was to protect other ships, like convoys (groups of ships traveling together), from Japanese submarines and aircraft. She was very active and even helped sink two Japanese submarines. Because of her brave work, she earned six battle stars.
The ship was first planned to be built for the Royal Navy (British Navy) and was started on 7 September 1942. However, the plan changed, and the ship stayed with the United States. She was officially named Wyman on 23 June 1943 and began her service on 1 September 1943.
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About the Ship's Name
The USS Wyman was named after Eldon P. Wyman, who was born in Portland, Oregon, in 1917. He joined the United States Naval Reserve in 1940 and became an officer in 1941. He served on the USS Oklahoma, a large battleship.
During the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941, the Oklahoma was hit by torpedoes and sank. Eldon P. Wyman was trapped inside the ship. His remains, along with those of two other sailors, were identified many years later in 2008.
World War II Missions in the Pacific
After testing her equipment and crew, the Wyman left Puget Sound on 7 November 1943 and sailed to Hawaii, arriving at Pearl Harbor on 14 November. She then spent several months, from December 1943 to the spring of 1944, practicing with submarines near Pearl Harbor.
Hunting Enemy Submarines
In June 1944, the Wyman was sent to the Marshall Islands. Her new job was to hunt for enemy submarines along the routes where American supply ships traveled between Eniwetok and Saipan. This is called anti-submarine warfare (ASW).
On 5 July, while sailing with a group of ships, the Wyman went to investigate a possible submarine. Another ship, the Lake (DE-301), had already dropped depth charges. The Wyman then used her "hedgehog" weapon, which fires small bombs forward, but didn't find clear proof of hitting the submarine.
She continued her patrol and on 19 July, she found another contact on her sonar (sound detection system). At 00:51, she fired a full pattern of "hedgehog" projectiles.
Sinking of the Japanese Submarine Ro-48
At 01:25, the Wyman fired a second set of "hedgehog" bombs. This time, there were big explosions, showing that the submarine had been hit and destroyed. The Wyman searched the area and found only "mush" echoes, meaning the target was gone.
The crew lowered a small boat to collect samples from the water, finding oil cans and wood. This confirmed the submarine was destroyed. Later, Japanese records showed it was the Ro-48.
During this time, two planes from another American ship, the Hoggatt Bay, mistakenly attacked Wyman's small boat, thinking it was a Japanese submarine. Luckily, no one was killed, and the injured sailors were quickly taken for medical help. The Wyman then rejoined her group and returned to Eniwetok on 22 July.
Sinking of Japanese Submarine I-55
The Wyman didn't rest for long. On 26 July, she was back at sea. Two days later, on 28 July, lookouts on the Wyman and Hoggatt Bay saw a Japanese submarine, the Japanese submarine I-55, on the surface. The Wyman and another ship, the Reynolds (DE-42), chased after it as it dove deep.
The Wyman found the submarine with her sonar at 18:05. Eight minutes later, she fired her "hedgehog" weapon, hitting the target perfectly. Her crew heard loud explosions as the I-55 broke apart underwater. More explosions followed, confirming the submarine's destruction. The Reynolds also fired, but the I-55 was already sunk. A lot of oil and debris came to the surface, proving the Wyman had made her second "kill."
Protecting Supply Ships
After these successful hunts, the Wyman joined another group of ships for escort duty. This meant she protected other ships traveling between the Marshalls and Marianas. She also helped escort fuel ships that were supporting larger naval forces. This important work continued into early 1945, as she helped support the invasion of Iwo Jima.
Helping the Okinawa Invasion
On 13 March 1945, the Wyman sailed to the fueling area near Okinawa. She became part of the Logistics Support Group, which was responsible for bringing supplies and fuel to the ships involved in the invasion of Okinawa. During this time, she also sank three floating Japanese mines with her guns.
After the War
The Wyman stayed with the 5th Fleet until June 1945, continuing her important job of protecting convoys that brought supplies and troops closer to Japan. After visiting Guam, she headed back to the United States, arriving in San Francisco, California, on 15 July.
End of Service
The end of World War II changed the Navy's plans for the Wyman. While she was being repaired, all work stopped. The ship was no longer needed for the Navy after the war. The Wyman was officially taken out of service on 17 December 1945.
After being stripped of her useful parts, the ship's empty hull was sold to a company in Terminal Island, California, on 16 April 1947. She was then broken up for scrap metal, a process that finished by 14 March 1948.
Awards and Honors
The USS Wyman received several awards for her service during World War II:
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Combat Action Ribbon (given later) |
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American Campaign Medal |
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Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (with six service stars) |
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World War II Victory Medal |
