USS Henry A. Wiley
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| History | |
|---|---|
 United States
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| Name: | Henry A. Wiley |
| Namesake: | Henry A. Wiley |
| Builder: | Bethlehem Mariners Harbor, Staten Island, New York |
| Launched: | 21 April 1944 |
| Commissioned: | 31 August 1944 |
| Decommissioned: | 29 January 1947 |
| Struck: | 15 October 1970 |
| Fate: | sold for scrapping, 30 May 1972 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | Robert H. Smith-class destroyer |
| Displacement: | 2,200 tons |
| Length: | 376 ft 5 in (114.73 m) |
| Beam: | 41 ft (12 m) |
| Draft: | 15 ft 8 in (4.78 m) |
| Speed: | 34 knots (63 km/h; 39 mph) |
| Complement: | 336 officers and enlisted |
| Armament: | |
USS Henry A. Wiley (DD-749/DM-29/MMD-29) was a Robert H. Smith-class destroyer minelayer in the United States Navy. She was named for Admiral Henry A. Wiley.
Henry A. Wiley was launched on 21 April 1944 as DD-749 by Bethlehem Steel Company, Staten Island, New York; sponsored by Mrs. Elizabeth W. Robb, daughter of Admiral Henry A. Wiley. The ship was reclassified DM-29 20 July 1944 and commissioned on 31 August 1944, Commander Robert Emmett Gadrow in command.
After shakedown in the Caribbean Sea, the new minelayer rendezvoused with the battleships Texas, Arkansas, and Missouri and sailed 8 November for the Pacific to earn her nickname "Hammering Hank." Henry A. Wiley reached Pearl Harbor on 9 December to prepare for the impending Iwo Jima campaign. As escort to the battleship New York, she rendezvoused with other ships of the Gunfire and Covering Force off the rocky Japanese island on 16 February 1945, three days before the initial landings. She remained there until 9 March, to provide fire support and screen ships often operating a mere 400 yards (370 m) from Mount Suribachi. The minelayer poured some 3,600 rounds into the Japanese fortress.
A second and even more arduous campaign followed for Henry A. Wiley—Okinawa, the largest amphibious operation of the Pacific war. Reaching her position 23 March, D-day minus eight, she began to screen minesweepers as they cleared channels for transports and support ships. Japanese resistance was fierce and air attacks were almost unceasing. On 28 March, Henry A. Wiley downed two kamikaze planes, and the next morning in 15 hectic minutes saw a bomb explode 50 yards (46 m) astern, downed two more kamikazes, and rescued a downed fighter pilot. While screening transports on 1 April, D-day at Okinawa, Henry A. Wiley destroyed her fifth kamikaze.
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