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USS Maddox (DD-622)

Coordinates: 36°52′N 13°56′E / 36.867°N 13.933°E / 36.867; 13.933
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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Mcalba (talk | contribs) at 22:56, 20 December 2017 (The ship's survivors were not strafed by the bomber which sank them and the ship was not in shark infested waters.). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

For other ships with the same name, see USS Maddox.
USS Maddox (DD-622) underway at sea on 17 November 1942
History
United States
NameMaddox
NamesakeWilliam Maddox
BuilderFederal Shipbuilding and Drydock Company
Laid down7 May 1942
Launched15 September 1942
Commissioned31 October 1942
FateSunk by German air attack, 10 July 1943
Stricken19 August 1943
General characteristics
Class and typeTemplate:Sclass-
Displacement1,630 tons
Length348 ft 3 in (106.15 m)
Beam  36 ft 1 in (11.00 m)
Draft  11 ft 10 in (3.61 m)
Propulsion
  • 50,000 shp (37,000 kW)
  • 4 boilers;
  • 2 propellers
Speed37.4 knots (69 km/h)
Range6,500 nmi (12,000 km; 7,500 mi) at 12 kn (22 km/h; 14 mph)
Complement16 officers, 260 enlisted
Armament

USS Maddox (DD-622), a Template:Sclass-, was the second ship of the United States Navy to be named after United States Marine Corps Captain William A. T. Maddox, who served in the Mexican-American War.

Maddox was laid down on 7 May 1942 by the Federal Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Company, Kearny, New Jersey and launched on 15 September 1942; sponsored by Mrs. Ellen-Venita Browning Wilhoit Gay, great granddaughter of Captain Maddox. The ship was commissioned on 31 October 1942, Lieutenant Commander Eugene S. Sarsfield in command.

Service history

After shakedown, Maddox departed New York on 2 January 1943 for Norfolk, Virginia where she commenced escort duties. Following her first two convoy missions, safeguarding fleet oilers plying between Norfolk and the petroleum centers of Galveston, Texas and Aruba, Maddox began a series of trans-Atlantic voyages escorting convoys from New York and Norfolk to north Africa.

On 8 June 1943, Maddox departed Norfolk for Oran, Algeria, where she became a unit of Task Force 81 (TF 81), the assault force for the Sicilian invasion. As the assault troops opened the Amphibious Battle of Gela on 10 July, Maddox was on antisubmarine patrol about 16 miles offshore. Steaming alone, the destroyer was attacked by a German Junkers Ju 88 bomber of KG 54.[1] There are conflicting reports that Italian dive bombers were responsible for the sinking.[citation needed] One of the bombs exploded Maddox's aft magazine, causing the ship to roll over and sink within two minutes. Lieutenant Commander Sarsfield was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross for heroism displayed in supervising abandon ship. His action was responsible for saving the lives of 74 of the crew.


Maddox was struck from the Navy list 19 August 1943.

Maddox received two battle stars for World War II service.

References

  1. ^ "History Of The Sinking Of Dd". Ussmaddox.org. Retrieved 2016-02-21.

Public Domain This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.

36°52′N 13°56′E / 36.867°N 13.933°E / 36.867; 13.933

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