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History | |
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Namesake: | Gustavus Conyngham |
Builder: | Boston Navy Yard |
Launched: | 14 September 1934 |
Commissioned: | 4 November 1936 |
Decommissioned: | 20 December 1946 |
Fate: | sunk in test 2 July 1948 |
General characteristics | |
Class and type: | Mahan-class destroyer |
Displacement: | 1,500 tons |
Length: | 341 ft 4 in (104 m) |
Beam: | 35 ft (10,7 m) |
Draft: | 9 ft 10 in (2,8 m) |
Speed: | 37 knots |
Complement: | 158 officers and crew |
Armament: |
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The second USS Conyngham (DD-371) was a Mahan-class destroyer in the United States Navy before and during World War II. She was named for Gustavus Conyngham.
Conyngham was launched 14 September 1934 by Boston Navy Yard; sponsored by Mrs. A. C. G. Johnson; and commissioned 4 November 1936, Commander G. C. Hoover in command.
In the spring of 1937, Conyngham made her maiden cruise to ports of northern Europe, and after overhaul at Boston, Massachusetts, sailed for San Diego, California where from 22 October she conducted training exercises. Operations along the west coast, in the Hawaiian Islands, and in the Caribbean continued until 2 April 1940, when she sailed from San Diego for Pearl Harbor, and duty with the security patrol. In March 1941, she sailed on a cruise to Samoa, Fiji, and Australia, returning to local operations from Pearl Harbor.
On 7 December 1941, when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, Conyngham lay moored at berth X-8, East Loch, Pearl Harbor, on the starboard side of a nest of five destroyers to port of destroyer tender Whitney (AD-4). To port of Conyngham lay USS Reid (DD-365), USS Tucker (DD-374), USS Selfridge (DD-357) and USS Case (DD-370). The nest of destroyers opened fire on the attacking Japanese, and downed several enemy planes.
Conyngham continued to patrol from Pearl Harbor through December, and after a brief overhaul at Mare Island, had escort duty between the west coast and the New Hebrides. In June 1942, Conyngham's escort duties were interrupted to screen carriers in the Battle of Midway, and fought on 4, 5, and 6 June.