USS Knight DD-633

The USS Knight (DD-633) was a Gleaves-class destroyer that was laid down and launched in 1941 by the Boston Navy Yard.

Shakedown and World War II

The Knight took her shakedown cruise off the coast of New England and then returned to the shipyard at Norfolk on 6 October 1941 to prepare for Operation Torch - the code name for the allied invasion of North Africa. She left the United States on 23 October and on 8 November arrived at Morocco. She served as a landing control ship during the invasion and then conducted anti-submarine patrols before returning to the US on 13 November. She arrived at Norfolk on 24 November.

The Knight continued her duties as a convoy escort, making the passage between New York and Morocco three times between December and 28 April 1943. She arrived in Algeria on 22 June to prepare for the Allied invasion of Sicily. She joined Task Force 86 and arrived off the coast on 9 July. She provided fire support for the troop landings on 10 July. She was successful in downing an enemy plane on the next day and on 13 July, after running anti-submarine screens and providing supporting fire, she returned to Algeria.

The Knight provided escorts and ran patrols along the North African coast, then returned to Sicily to provide fire support for General Patton's 7th Army. She continued to operate off the Italian coast and helped repel German aerial attacks. The Knight also rescued two sailors who were knocked overboard when the Brant (ARS-32) displayed inadequate recognition signals and was shelled by friendly fire.

On 10 September, the Knight arrived at Salerno Bay after taking on 87 German prisoners of war. She fought off further enemy air attacks on 11 September and two days later, the Knight supported the capture of Capri. She then continued to operate off the coast of Italy for another two weeks. On 27 September, she left for Tunisia and arrived at Bizerte the next day. She left for the United States from Oran on 30 September and arrived in New York on 9 October.

The Knight undertook convoy escort duty and made the transatlantic run five times between late October and 1 May 1944. She continued anti-submarine patrols in the Mediterranean for 10 weeks and returned to the U.S. before engaging in more convoy runs - a duty she would continue until 2 June 1945.

Service in the Pacific

From 3 June to 24 July, the Knight was converted to a high-speed minesweeper in Philadelphia and reclassified DMS-40. She trained in minesweeping and left on 12 August for duty in the Pacific. She reached Okinawa on 28 September and was assigned to Mine Squadron 21. These minesweeping duties between Okinawa and the Japanese home islands continued until 24 February 1946 when she left the region and returned to the United States, arriving at San Francisco on 5 April.

Retirement and Sinking

The Knight was decommissioned at Bremerton, Washington on 19 March 1947. She remained in the Pacific Reserve Fleet at Stockton, California until she was removed from the naval register on 1 December 1966. The Knight was sunk as a target during exercises off the coast of San Diego on 27 October 1967.

Asbestos Risks

Nearly all compartments of a ship such as the USS Knight posed a significant level of asbestos exposure, but a vessel's engine room and engineering compartments were usually the sections where a crewman or maintenance worker was likely to be in danger of inhaling airborne asbestos. Increased risk of undergoing harmful levels of asbestos exposure occurred whenever a craft was in conflict.

Inhaling airborne asbestos fibers has been known to cause the development of several asbestos-related diseases, including lung cancer, asbestosis and mesothelioma. Those who have been diagnosed with one of these conditions may have options for compensation as many have received financial assistance to help pay for medical expenses. For more information about compensation, asbestos exposure and treatment options, please fill out the request form on this page to receive a complimentary packet.

Sources:

Destroyers Index