USS Lang DD-399

The USS Lang (DD-399) was a destroyer in the Benham class named for John Lang. She was laid down by the Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Company of Kearny, New Jersey on 5 April 1937 and launched 27 August 1938.

Service Prior to World War II

The Lang was commissioned 30 March 1939 and left New York on 12 August. Her first duty was as an escort for President Franklin D. Roosevelt's passage to Campobello, Newfoundland and Nova Scotia. In November, the Lang departed for patrol duty in the Gulf of Mexico. She was transferred to the Pacific, arriving at Pearl Harbor on 2 April 1940. Once there, she participated in fleet exercises and training.

In June 1941, the Lang began training in anti-submarine warfare and carrier escort. In December, the Lang screened carriers Yorktown and Ranger and acted as a plane guard during exercises in the Atlantic.

Service in World War II

The Lang sailed to Nova Scotia and participated in patrols with the Royal Navy. In early 1942, while headed for the British West Indies, she answered the USS Empire Wildebeest, which sent out a distress call. She rescued 34 people from the torpedoed wreck. After some escort work in Maine and Scotland, the Lang became part of Force W and sailed to England, delivering Supermarine Spitfires to Malta. She returned to Norfolk on 28 May.

Back in the Pacific, the Lang participated in the 1 July shore bombardment exercises near Tonga as preparation for the Guadalcanal-Tulagi operations. She then acted as a screen for Wasp. The Lang later worked at patrol and escort duty near the Solomons and bombarded the enemy at Guadalcanal on 22 and 24 January 1943.

After completing a mission near Kula Gulf, she returned to Florida, escorting five Landing Craft Infantry vessels to New Georgia, where she took down an enemy plane. She was then charged with destroying Japanese forces in the Vella Gulf. On 6 and 7 August, her task group sank three Japanese ships that were on the way to Kolombangara. On 9 August after a sweep of the area, three enemy barge groups were driven off. The Lang performed escort duty for the next three months, joined the 23 November invasion of the Gilberts, as well as the 9 December Nauru bombardment, the Roi, Namur, and Abraham bombardments of early 1944.

She assisted in the Kwajalein occupation, continuing on in her escort duties and as part of Task Force 58 she was involved in screening for the Marianas campaign. The Lang laid down mines and bombarded the shore of Wewak, New Guinea on 31 August. She then escorted convoys en route to Morotai through enemy air attacks in September and October. On 8 October, she towed the Shelton to Morotai, saving it from sinking.

The Lang took part in the Leyte Gulf operation and was attacked by no fewer than six kamikazes. She shot down one of the suicide planes, but was not damaged herself. She left for Manus on 31 October and was again attacked by kamikazes near Lingayen Gulf. She shot down one plane and returned to Leyte Gulf for escort and patrol duty. She eventually sailed to the Solomons to train for the Okinawa invasion.

On 27 March, the Lang worked to screen Task Force 53 transports to Okinawa. From 12 to 29 April, she was attacked by the enemy from the air, and once again was not damaged even though she took down a kamikaze. She returned to screening duty for escort carriers and other flight operations around Okinawa until 11 June.

Retirement and Scrapping

The Lang left the Pacific Theater in June and arrived back in San Francisco on 3 July. She underwent repairs before leaving for New York. On the voyage to New York, the destroyer rescued two downed pilots on 25 August. At New York, she was decommissioned on 16 October 1945 and was subsequently sold to George Nutman Inc. of Brooklyn, New York on 20 December. The vessel was scrapped on 31 October 1947.

Asbestos Risks

Nearly all compartments of a ship such as the USS Lang 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