# USS Newcomb

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Fletcher-class destroyer

USS Newcomb at sea History United States Name Newcomb Namesake Frank H. Newcomb Builder Boston Navy Yard Laid down 19 March 1943 Launched 4 July 1943 Commissioned 10 November 1943 Decommissioned 20 November 1945 Stricken 28 March 1946 Fate Scrapped, October 1947 General characteristics Class & type Fletcher-class destroyer Displacement 2,050 tons Length 376 ft 6 in (114.76 m) Beam 39 ft 8 in (12.09 m) Draft 17 ft 9 in (5.41 m) Propulsion 60,000 shp (45,000 kW); 2 propellers Speed 35 knots (65 km/h; 40 mph) Range 6,500 nmi (12,000 km) at 15 kn (28 km/h) Complement 336 Armament 5 × single Mk 12 5 in (127 mm)/38 guns 5 × twin 40 mm (1.6 in) Bofors AA guns 7 × single 20 mm (0.8 in) Oerlikon AA guns 2 × quintuple 21 in (533 mm) torpedo tubes 6 × single depth charge throwers 2 × depth charge racks

**USS *Newcomb* (DD-586)** was a [*Fletcher*-class](/source/Fletcher-class_destroyer) [destroyer](/source/Destroyer) in the [United States Navy](/source/United_States_Navy) during [World War II](/source/World_War_II). She was the only ship named for Commodore [Frank H. Newcomb](/source/Frank_Newcomb) of the [United States Revenue Cutter Service](/source/Revenue_Cutter_Service), [Congressional Gold Medal](/source/Congressional_Gold_Medal) recipient from the [Spanish–American War](/source/Spanish%E2%80%93American_War).

*Newcomb* was [laid down](/source/Keel_laying) on 19 March 1943 by [Boston Navy Yard](/source/Boston_Navy_Yard) and [launched](/source/Ship_naming_and_launching) on 4 July 1943, sponsored by Mrs. C. C. Baughman. The ship was [commissioned](/source/Ship_commissioning) on 10 November 1943.

## History

v t e Pacific War East Asia China Japan Manchuria Southeast Asia French Indochina Thailand Malaya Burma Philippines (1941–1942) Dutch East Indies Philippines (1944–1945) Borneo Pacific Ocean Hawaiian Islands Wake Island New Guinea Solomon Islands Aleutian Islands Gilbert and Marshall Islands Mariana and Palau Islands Indian Ocean Japanese merchant raids Andaman Islands Homfreyganj massacre Christmas Island 1st Indian Ocean Ceylon Bay of Bengal 2nd Indian Ocean North America Ellwood Aleutian Islands Estevan Point Lighthouse Fort Stevens Lookout Air Raids Fire balloon bombs Project Hula PX

Damage caused by the *kamikazes*

*Newcomb* [shook down](/source/Sea_trials) in the [West Indies](/source/West_Indies) for a month, then made passage to the [Marshall Islands](/source/Marshall_Islands), arriving 4 April 1944 for two months duty on antisubmarine patrol off the Japanese held [Mille](/source/Mili_Atoll), [Wotje](/source/Wotje), and [Jaluit](/source/Jaluit) atolls. She next joined the [assault on Saipan](/source/Battle_of_Saipan) as [flagship](/source/Flagship) for the screen from 29 May until 5 August, serving as fire support and patrol ship at both [Saipan](/source/Saipan) and [Tinian](/source/Tinian). On 22 June, while guarding transports, she and [*Chandler*](/source/USS_Chandler_(DD-206)) sank [Japanese](/source/Imperial_Japanese_Navy) [submarine](/source/Submarine) [*I-185*](/source/Japanese_submarine_I-185), and on 4 July her well-directed fire broke up a Japanese [banzai attack](/source/Banzai_attack) north of [Garapan](/source/Garapan) on Saipan.

Operating in the Fire Support and Bombardment Group for the assault on the [Palaus](/source/Palaus) 6 September to 1 October, *Newcomb* fired 23 separate shore bombardments and also covered [underwater demolition teams](/source/Underwater_demolition_team) providing bombardment control spotting. As flagship of [Destroyer Squadron 56](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Destroyer_Squadron_56&action=edit&redlink=1) (DesRon 56), *Newcomb* joined in the [Leyte landings](/source/Battle_of_Leyte) 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](/source/Surigao_Strait) phase of the [Battle for Leyte Gulf](/source/Battle_for_Leyte_Gulf) 25 October. At least one of her five torpedoes struck the [battleship](/source/Battleship) [*Yamashiro*](/source/Japanese_battleship_Yamashiro), sunk in this action. Closely straddled but not damaged, *Newcomb* went to the aid of the stricken destroyer [*Albert W. Grant*](/source/USS_Albert_W._Grant), providing medical aid and a tow out of the battle area. In this battle, *Newcomb* and her [sister ships](/source/Sister_ship) played a key role in the victory which insured the success of General [Douglas MacArthur](/source/Douglas_MacArthur)'s [return to the Philippines](/source/Philippines_campaign%2C_1944-45), and effectively ended major Japanese naval threats for the remainder of the war.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*]

Often under fire from Japanese aircraft, several of which she destroyed, *Newcomb* continued service in the [Philippines](/source/Philippines), engaging Japanese shore batteries at [Ormoc](/source/Ormoc) 9 December while screening [landing craft](/source/Landing_craft), fighting a [convoy](/source/Convoy) through heavy enemy air attack to [Mindoro](/source/Mindoro) 19 through 24 December, and driving off two *[kamikazes](/source/Kamikaze)* during the [Lingayen](/source/Invasion_of_Lingayen_Gulf) landing on 6 January 1945. She covered operations in [Lingayen Gulf](/source/Lingayen_Gulf) through 24 January, then prepared for duty as fire support ship at [Iwo Jima](/source/Iwo_Jima) from 10 February, where she covered [minesweeping](/source/Minesweeper_(ship)) 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](/source/Ulithi), where she was assigned to [Task Force 54](/source/Okinawa_naval_order_of_battle#Gunfire_and_Covering_Force_(Task_Force_54)) (TF 54) for the [invasion of Okinawa](/source/Battle_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](/source/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](/source/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 [*Leutze*](/source/USS_Leutze), herself struck by the fifth *kamikaze* skipping across from *Newcomb*, and [*Beale*](/source/USS_Beale_(DD-471)). 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](/source/Kerama_Retto) by [*Tekesta*](/source/USS_Tekesta_(AT-93)).

Repairs to her hull were made by [*Vestal*](/source/USS_Vestal) under frequent enemy air attack, and on 14 June she left under tow for Saipan, Pearl Harbor, and [San Francisco](/source/San_Francisco), arriving 8 August.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*]

## Fate

The end of the war ended further repairs, and *Newcomb* decommissioned on 20 November 1945. Stricken from the [Navy List](/source/Naval_Vessel_Register) on 28 March 1946, she was scrapped at [Mare Island Navy Yard](/source/Mare_Island_Navy_Yard) in October 1947.

*Newcomb* received 8 [battle stars](/source/Battle_star) for [World War II](/source/World_War_II) service.

## See also

- [USS *Simon Newcomb* (AGSC-14)](/source/USS_Simon_Newcomb)

## References

- *This article incorporates text from the [public domain](/source/Public_domain)*[Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships](/source/Dictionary_of_American_Naval_Fighting_Ships)*. The entry can be found [here](http://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/n/newcomb.html).*

## External links

- [USS *Newcomb* website](https://destroyerhistory.org/fletcherclass/ussnewcomb/) at [Destroyer History Foundation](http://destroyerhistory.org/)

- [NavSource: DD-586 *Newcomb*](https://www.navsource.net/archives/05/586.htm)

- [Forward Repair following Kamikaze strikes, April 1945](http://www.researcheratlarge.com/Ships/DD586/DD586ForwardRepair.html)

v t e Fletcher-class destroyers Completed Fletcher Radford Jenkins La Vallette Nicholas O'Bannon Chevalier Saufley Waller Strong Taylor De Haven Bache Beale Guest Bennett Fullam Hudson Hutchins Pringle Stanly Stevens Halford Leutze Philip Renshaw Ringgold Schroeder Sigsbee Conway Cony Converse Eaton Foote Spence Terry Thatcher Anthony Wadsworth Walker Brownson Daly Isherwood Kimberly Luce Abner Read Ammen Mullany (ex-Beatty) Bush Trathen Hazelwood Heermann Hoel McCord Miller Owen The Sullivans (ex-Putnam, Sullivan) Stephen Potter Tingey Twining Yarnall Boyd Bradford Brown Cowell Capps David W. Taylor Evans John D. Henley Franks Haggard Hailey Johnston Laws Longshaw Morrison Prichett Robinson Ross Rowe Smalley Stoddard Watts Wren Aulick Charles Ausburne Claxton Dyson Harrison John Rodgers McKee Murray Sproston Wickes William D. Porter Young Charrette Conner Hall Halligan Haraden Newcomb Bell Burns Izard Paul Hamilton Twiggs Howorth Killen Hart (ex-Mansfield) Metcalf Shields Wiley Abbot Braine Erben Hale Sigourney Stembel Albert W. Grant Caperton Cogswell Ingersoll Knapp Bearss John Hood Van Valkenburgh Charles J. Badger Colahan Dashiell Bullard Kidd Bennion Heywood L. Edwards Richard P. Leary Bryant Black Chauncey Clarence K. Bronson Cotten Dortch Gatling Healy Hickox Hunt Lewis Hancock Marshall McDermut McGowan McNair Melvin Hopewell Porterfield Stockham Wedderburn Picking Halsey Powell Uhlmann Remey Wadleigh Norman Scott Mertz Callaghan Cassin Young Irwin Preston Benham Cushing Monssen Jarvis Porter Colhoun Gregory Little Rooks Cancelled Percival Watson DD-523 (Unnamed) – DD-525 (Unnamed) DD-542 (Unnamed) DD-543 (Unnamed) DD-548 (Unnamed) DD-549 (Unnamed) Other operators Argentine Navy Brown class Almirante Brown (ex-Heermann) Espora (ex-Dortch) Rosales (ex-Stembel) Almirante Domecq García (ex-Braine) Almirante Storni (ex-Cowell) Brazilian Navy Pará class Pará (ex-Guest) Paraíba (ex-Bennett) Paraná (ex-Cushing) Pernambuco (ex-Hailey) Piauí (ex-Lewis Hancock) Santa Catarina (ex-Irwin) Maranhão (ex-Shields) Chilean Navy Blanco Encalada (ex-Wadleigh) Cochrane (ex-Rooks) (Charles J. Badger was purchased by the Chilean Navy for spare parts) Republic of China Navy Heng Yang class Kwei Yang (ex-Twining) Chiang Yang (ex-Mullany) An Yang (ex-Kimberly) Kun Yang (ex-Yarnall) Colombian National Navy Antioquia (ex-Hale) German Navy Zerstörer 1 class Zerstörer 1 (ex-Anthony) Zerstörer 2 (ex-Ringgold) Zerstörer 3 (ex-Wadsworth) Zerstörer 4 (ex-Claxton) Zerstörer 5 (ex-Dyson) Zerstörer 6 (ex-Charles Ausburne) Hellenic Navy Aspis (ex-Conner) Kimon (ex-Zerstörer 2) Lonchi (ex-Hall) Navarinon (ex-Brown) Nearchos (ex-Zerstörer 3) Sfendoni (ex-Aulick) Thyella (ex-Bradford) Velos (ex-Charrette) (Claxton and Dyson were purchased by the Hellenic Navy for spare parts) Marina Militare Fante class Geniere (ex-Pritchett) Lanciere (ex-Taylor) Fante (ex-Walker) Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Ariake class Ariake (ex-Heywood L. Edwards) Yūgure (ex-Richard P. Leary) Republic of Korea Navy Chungmu class Chung Mu (ex-Erben) Seoul (ex-Halsey Powell) Pusan (ex-Hickox) Mexican Navy Cuauhtémoc (ex-Harrison) Cuitláhuac (ex-John Rodgers) Peruvian Navy Villar (ex-Benham) Almirante Guise (ex-Isherwood) (La Vallette and Terry were purchased by the Peruvian Navy for spare parts) Spanish Navy Lepanto (ex-Capps) Almirante Ferrandíz (ex-David W. Taylor) Almirante Valdés (ex-Converse) Alcalá Galiano (ex-Jarvis) Jorge Juan (ex-McGowan) Turkish Navy İstanbul (ex-Clarence K. Bronson) İzmir (ex-Van Valkenburgh) İzmit (ex-Cogswell) İskenderun (ex-Boyd) İçel (ex-Preston) Preceded by: Gleaves class Followed by: Allen M. Sumner class List of destroyers of the United States Navy

v t e Shipwrecks and maritime incidents in April 1945 Shipwrecks 1 Apr: Awa Maru 2 Apr: CD-186, USS Dickerson, U-321 3 Apr: Brummer, USS S-16, U-1221, U-2542, U-3505, T111 4 Apr: USS Dickerson, U-237, U-749, U-3003 5 Apr: U-242, USS S-17 6 Apr: Amatsukaze, USS Bush, USS Colhoun, USS Leutze, USS Morris, USS Newcomb, USS Witter, SS Hobbs Victory, SS Logan Victory 7 Apr: Asashimo, Hamakaze, Isokaze, Isuzu, Kasumi, USS LST-447, Oldenburg, USS PGM-18, U-1195, Yahagi, Yamato 8 Apr: U-774, U-1001 9 Apr: Admiral Scheer, Ro-56, U-677, U-747, U-804, U-843, U-982, U-1065, U-2509, U-2514, U-3512, U-2516, Vale 10 Apr: U-878, Weser 12 Apr: USS Mannert L. Abele, Ro-64, U-486 13 Apr: Karlsruhe, U-1024 14 Apr: Belgian Airman, U-235, U-1206 15 Apr: U-103, U-285, U-1063, U-1235 16 Apr: HMCS Esquimalt, Lützow, USS Pringle, U-78, U-880, U-1274, Trombe 17 Apr: Goya 19 Apr: Aquila, U-251, U-548, U-879 21 Apr: U-636 22 Apr: USS Swallow, U-518 23 Apr: USS Eagle Boat 56, U-183 24 Apr: USS Frederick C. Davis, U-108, U-546 25 Apr: Graf Zeppelin, Ro-109, TA 32, U-326 27 Apr: Canada Victory, TA 34 28 Apr: CH-17, U-56 29 Apr: I-44, U-56, U-286, U-307, U-1017, Ursus 30 Apr: HMS Goodall, TA 43, U-879, U-1107, Miho Maru Unknown date: I-56, Ro-46, Ro-49, USS Snook, U-246, U-325, U-396, U-398, U-548, U-857, U-1055 Other incidents 2 Apr: USS Dickerson 5 Apr: USS Thornton 6 Apr: USS Defense, USS Emmons, USS Mullany, USS Rodman 8 Apr: USS Bullhead 9 Apr: USS Sea Devil 11 Apr: I-401 12 Apr: USS Lindsey, U-1024, USS Zellars 14 Apr: USS Sigsbee 15 Apr: HMS Ekins, USS Laffey 16 Apr: USS Bryant, Goya, USS Harding, 19 Apr: USS Bullhead, USS Pogy, USS Tolman 27 Apr: HMS Redmill 28 Apr: Argo, USS Huron 29 Apr: USS Baya 30 Apr: U-3525 1944 1945 1946 March 1945 May 1945

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [USS Newcomb](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Newcomb) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Newcomb?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.