USS Newcomb

{{Short description|Fletcher-class destroyer}} {{Use American English|date=October 2024}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2024}} {{Infobox ship |section1={{Infobox ship/image |image=USS Newcomb (DD-586), circa in 1943 (NH 85822).jpg |image_caption=USS Newcomb at sea }}

|section2={{Infobox ship/career |hide_header= |country=United States |flag={{USN flag|1945}} |name=''Newcomb'' |namesake=[[Frank Newcomb|Frank H. Newcomb]] |ordered= |builder=[[Boston Navy Yard]] |laid_down=19 March 1943 |launched=4 July 1943 |acquired= |commissioned=10 November 1943 |decommissioned=20 November 1945 |in_service= |out_of_service= |struck=28 March 1946 |reinstated= |honours= |fate=Scrapped, October 1947 |notes= }}

|section3={{Infobox ship/characteristics |hide_header= |header_caption= |class={{sclass|Fletcher|destroyer}} |displacement=2,050 tons |length={{convert|376|ft|6|in|m|abbr=on}} |beam={{convert|39|ft|8|in|m|abbr=on}} |draft={{convert|17|ft|9|in|m|abbr=on}} |propulsion={{convert|60,000|shp|abbr=on}}; 2 propellers |speed={{convert|35|kn}} |range={{convert|6500|nmi|km|abbr=on}} at {{convert|15|kn|km/h|abbr=on}} |complement=336 |sensors= |armament={{Fletcher class destroyer armament}} |armor= |notes= }} }}

'''USS ''Newcomb'' (DD-586)''' was a {{sclass|Fletcher|destroyer}} in the [[United States Navy]] during [[World War II]]. She was the only ship named for Commodore [[Frank Newcomb|Frank H. Newcomb]] of the [[Revenue Cutter Service|United States Revenue Cutter Service]], [[Congressional Gold Medal]] recipient from the [[Spanish–American War]].

''Newcomb'' was [[Keel laying|laid down]] on 19 March 1943 by [[Boston Navy Yard]] and [[Ship naming and launching|launched]] on 4 July 1943, sponsored by Mrs. C. C. Baughman. The ship was [[ship commissioning|commissioned]] on 10 November 1943.

== History == {{Campaignbox Pacific War}} [[File:USS Newcomb Damage 1945.jpg|thumb|Damage caused by the ''kamikazes'']]

''Newcomb'' [[Sea trials|shook down]] in the [[West Indies]] for a month, then made passage to the [[Marshall Islands]], arriving 4 April 1944 for two months duty on antisubmarine patrol off the Japanese held [[Mili Atoll|Mille]], [[Wotje]], and [[Jaluit]] atolls. She next joined the [[Battle of Saipan|assault on Saipan]] as [[flagship]] for the screen from 29 May until 5 August, serving as fire support and patrol ship at both [[Saipan]] and [[Tinian]]. On 22 June, while guarding transports, she and {{USS|Chandler|DD-206|2}} sank [[Imperial Japanese Navy|Japanese]] [[submarine]] {{Jsub|I-185||2}}, and on 4 July her well-directed fire broke up a Japanese [[banzai attack]] north of [[Garapan]] on Saipan.

Operating in the Fire Support and Bombardment Group for the assault on the [[Palaus]] 6 September to 1 October, ''Newcomb'' fired 23 separate shore bombardments and also covered [[underwater demolition team]]s providing bombardment control spotting. As flagship of [[Destroyer Squadron 56]] (DesRon 56), ''Newcomb'' joined in the [[Battle of Leyte|Leyte landings]] 12 October to 4 December, covering underwater demolition teams and firing preinvasion-bombardment, call-fire, night-harassing and illumination missions.

Her squadron made a night torpedo attack in the [[Surigao Strait]] phase of the [[Battle for Leyte Gulf]] 25 October. At least one of her five torpedoes struck the [[battleship]] {{ship|Japanese battleship|Yamashiro||2}}, sunk in this action. Closely straddled but not damaged, ''Newcomb'' went to the aid of the stricken destroyer {{USS|Albert W. Grant|DD-649|2}}, providing medical aid and a tow out of the battle area. In this battle, ''Newcomb'' and her [[sister ship]]s played a key role in the victory which insured the success of General [[Douglas MacArthur]]'s [[Philippines campaign, 1944-45|return to the Philippines]], and effectively ended major Japanese naval threats for the remainder of the war.{{citation needed|date=November 2025}}

Often under fire from Japanese aircraft, several of which she destroyed, ''Newcomb'' continued service in the [[Philippines]], engaging Japanese shore batteries at [[Ormoc]] 9 December while screening [[landing craft]], fighting a [[convoy]] through heavy enemy air attack to [[Mindoro]] 19 through 24 December, and driving off two ''[[kamikaze]]s'' during the [[Invasion of Lingayen Gulf|Lingayen]] landing on 6 January 1945. She covered operations in [[Lingayen Gulf]] through 24 January, then prepared for duty as fire support ship at [[Iwo Jima]] from 10 February, where she covered [[Minesweeper (ship)|minesweeping]] for three days prior to the landing. During the invasion the destroyer engaged shore batteries and fired accurate bombardments of in assistance to troops ashore. She again engaged a Japanese submarine on 25 February, with unknown results.

Departing Iwo Jima on 10 March, ''Newcomb'' put in at [[Ulithi]], where she was assigned to [[Okinawa naval order of battle#Gunfire and Covering Force (Task Force 54)|Task Force 54]] (TF 54) for the [[Battle of Okinawa|invasion of Okinawa]]. ''Newcomb'' again covered underwater demolition and minesweeping operations as well as antiaircraft and shore bombardment until 6 April, when she was screening minesweepers off [[Ie Shima]]. At least 40 enemy aircraft were observed in the area during the day, and at 16:00 attacks began. Though handicapped by a low ceiling, her gunners were able to drive off or shoot down several attackers, but over a period of an hour and a half, she was struck five times. With the effort that won them a [[Navy Unit Commendation]], her crew worked furiously to repair engine damage and extinguish fires, while continuing to fight their ship and maneuver to avoid further crashes. Aid was rendered by {{USS|Leutze|DD-481|2}}, herself struck by the fifth ''kamikaze'' skipping across from ''Newcomb'', and {{USS|Beale|DD-471|2}}. Afloat with fires and power out, the toll for the attack was 18 killed, 25 missing, and 64 wounded; ''Newcomb'' was towed to [[Kerama Retto]] by {{USS|Tekesta|ATF-93|2}}.

Repairs to her hull were made by {{USS|Vestal|AR-4|2}} under frequent enemy air attack, and on 14 June she left under tow for Saipan, Pearl Harbor, and [[San Francisco]], arriving 8 August.{{citation needed|date=November 2025}}

==Fate== The end of the war ended further repairs, and ''Newcomb'' decommissioned on 20 November 1945. Stricken from the [[Naval Vessel Register|Navy List]] on 28 March 1946, she was scrapped at [[Mare Island Navy Yard]] in October 1947.

''Newcomb'' received 8 [[battle star]]s for [[World War II]] service.

==See also== *{{USS|Simon Newcomb|AGSC-14}}

==References== *{{DANFS|http://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/n/newcomb.html}}

==External links== *[https://destroyerhistory.org/fletcherclass/ussnewcomb/ USS ''Newcomb'' website] at [http://destroyerhistory.org/ Destroyer History Foundation] *[https://www.navsource.net/archives/05/586.htm NavSource: DD-586 ''Newcomb''] *[http://www.researcheratlarge.com/Ships/DD586/DD586ForwardRepair.html Forward Repair following Kamikaze strikes, April 1945]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Newcomb (DD-586)}} [[Category:World War II destroyers of the United States]] [[Category:Ships built in Boston]] [[Category:1943 ships]] [[Category:Fletcher-class destroyers of the United States Navy]] [[Category:Maritime incidents in April 1945]]