USS Brooks (DD-232)

USS Brooks (DD-232/APD-10) was a Clemson-class destroyer in the United States Navy during World War II. She was named for Lieutenant John Brooks, Jr.

USS Brooks (DD-232) underway during trials in 1920
History
United States
Namesake: John Brooks, Jr.
Builder: New York Shipbuilding
Cost: $1,096,655.06 (hull & machinery)[1]
Laid down: 11 June 1918
Launched: 24 April 1919
Commissioned: 18 June 1920
Decommissioned: 20 January 1931
Recommissioned: 18 June 1932
Decommissioned: 2 September 1938
Recommissioned: 25 April 1939
Reclassified: High-speed transport, APD-10, 1 December 1942
Decommissioned: 2 August 1945
Stricken: 17 September 1945
Fate: Sold for scrap 30 January 1946
General characteristics
Class and type: Variant of Clemson-class destroyer
Displacement: 1,215 tons
Length: 314 feet 4 inches (95.81 m)
Beam: 31 feet 8 inches (9.65 m)
Draft: 9 feet 10 inches (3 m)
Propulsion:
  • 26,500 shp (20 MW);
  • geared turbines,
  • 2 screws
Speed: 33.2 knots (61 km/h)
Range:
  • 4,900 nmi (9,100 km)
  •   @ 15 kt
Complement: 130 officers and enlisted
Armament: 4 x 5 in (130 mm), 1 x 3 in (76 mm), 12 x 21 inch (533 mm) tt.

Construction and commissioning

Brooks was launched 24 April 1919 by New York Shipbuilding Company, sponsored by Mrs. George S. Keyes, grandniece of Lieutenant Brooks, and commissioned 18 June 1920, Lieutenant D. M. Dalton in command.[2]

Service history

Brooks left Philadelphia for European waters 26 August 1920. She was first assigned to the Baltic Patrol for a short time and then the Naval Forces in the Adriatic Sea. She joined the United States Naval Forces in Turkish waters in June 1921. Brooks departed for the United States 26 September 1921 and arrived at New York City 19 October. She was then assigned to the Scouting Fleet, U. S. Fleet, and participated in fleet maneuvers in the Caribbean, Atlantic, and Pacific until placed out of commission in reserve at Philadelphia Navy Yard 20 January 1931.[2]

Brooks was recommissioned at Philadelphia Navy Yard 18 June 1932, and assigned to the Scouting Force, participating in fleet operations on both coasts until going out of commission in reserve at Philadelphia on 2 September 1938. She was recommissioned 25 April 1939 and assigned to the Neutrality Patrol on the Atlantic coast, where she remained until she joined the Local Defense Force, 13th Naval District, in November 1940. Brooks was operating with this force when the United States entered World War II.[2]

World War II

As a patrol and escort ship, Brooks operated between California, Washington, and Alaska during the first year of World War II. On 20 September 1942, she arrived at Seattle, to commence conversion to a high-speed transport. On 1 December 1942, her classification was changed to APD-10 and she was assigned to the South Pacific.[2]

She served as a transport and minesweeper during the Lae, New Guinea, landings (4–14 September 1943); Finschhafen, New Guinea, landings (22 and 29–30 September); Cape Gloucester, New Britain, assault (26 and 28–29 December); Saidor, New Guinea, landings (2 January-17 February 1944); Admiralty Islands landings (29 February-5 March and 19 March); Hollandia, New Guinea, assault (22–28 April); capture of Saipan (14–22 June); Leyte occupation (18 November-4 December); Mindoro invasion (12–18 December); and the Lingayen Gulf, Luzon, landings (3–6 January 1945).[2]

Fate

On 6 January 1945, a Japanese kamikaze crashed into Brooks' port side, starting a fire amidships. The main and auxiliary steam lines were severed, the fire main was broken, and the sea valve to the condenser was pierced, causing the forward engine room to flood. Three of Brooks' crew were killed and 11 wounded. A few of Brooks's survivors were rescued by the USS Hovey. Brooks was towed to San Pedro, California, Watch Hill and decommissioned there on 2 August 1945. Brooks was sold 30 January 1946.[2]

Awards

Brooks received the Navy Unit Commendation and six battle stars for her World War II service.[2]

As of 2015, no other U.S. Navy ships have been named Brooks.

See also

References
  1. "Table 21 – Ships on Navy List June 30, 1919". Congressional Serial Set. U.S. Government Printing Office: 762. 1921.
  2. "Brooks I". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Navy Department, Naval History and Heritage Command.
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