USS Patterson DD-392

The USS Patterson (DD-392) was laid down by the Puget Sound Navy Yard in Bremerton, Washington on 23 July 1935 and launched on 6 May 1937. She was a Bagley-class destroyer, named for Daniel Todd Patterson, hero of the First Barbary War and War of 1812.

History of Service before World War II

The Patterson was commissioned on 22 September 1937 and undertook her shakedown cruise. She left the Puget Sound Navy Yard on 26 November 1937 on her way to Pearl Harbor. She arrived there on 7 December and then sailed back to the west coast of the U.S., arriving on 22 December. Training and participation in maneuvers with the fleet followed.

On 3 June 1940, the Patterson returned to Hawaii and began to patrol the frontier from Hawaii to Midway. She was overhauled on the west coast, but otherwise spent the last 18 months before the war in this patrol duty.

Wartime Duties of the Patterson

The Patterson was in Pearl Harbor during the 7 December 1941 attack. The ship opened fire on attacking planes with deck guns, downed one enemy plane, and then searched for Japanese submarines. Through December, the destroyer continued searching for the attacking force; she returned to Pearl Harbor on 28 December. She undertook various duties including screening in the southwest Pacific, convoy for the Canton Island garrison, and rescue operations near New Britain.

At the landing on Guadalcanal on 7 August 1942, the Patterson guarded transports with fire support, taking down several Japanese planes during the invasion. On 9 August, the Patterson was south of Savo and Florida Islands when an enemy task force entered the region. She was hit by a Japanese cruiser that knocked out her Number 4 gun and damaged her Number 3; 10 of her crew were killed and eight others were injured. After the confrontation, she assisted in rescue work and traveled to New Caledonia on 14 August.

In May 1943, the Patterson served as escort and patrol on and around Guadalcanal, New Hebrides Islands and New Caledonia. She sank a Japanese submarine on 25 August near the lower Solomons. On 24 September, she guarded an amphibious landing convoy to Vella Lavella Island and then escorted transports to Rendova Island.

On the night of 29 September, the McCalla, which had sustained steering damage, collided into the port bow of the Patterson. The Patterson's bow was almost entirely severed. She lost three of her crew, and 10 were injured. As she returned to her base for repairs, the bow separated entirely forward of gun mount Number 1. She received emergency repairs at Purvis Bay and then received a false bow at Espiritu Santo. She left for the Mare Island Naval Shipyard on 6 December.

Once repairs were complete, the Patterson returned to the action. In the invasion of Saipan, she provided night illumination and bombardment of enemy targets. The Patterson subsequently served at Okinawa, the Kerama Retto chain, Northern Luzon and the Formosa coast. During the invasion of Leyte and the landings on Mindoro Island, she provided anti-aircraft and rescue support and pursued enemy forces. She then supported the invasion landings at the Philippines, Luzon and Lingayen Gulf.

She escorted carriers at the Iwo Jima invasion on 19 February 1945. Along with seven other escort aircraft carriers, she gave direct cover to troops storming Okinawa. On 1 April, she shot down a kamikaze plane and through 29 April she provided guard to escort carriers. She then left for Guam for sonar repairs. The Patterson next sailed for Saipan, her base for escort-patrol missions until the end of hostilities with Japan.

The Fate of the Patterson

On 16 August 1945, the Patterson left Saipan for Okinawa. On 8 September she sailed for the United States, arriving on 26 September. She then arrived at the New York Naval Shipyard on 11 October and was decommissioned on 8 November 1945. The Patterson remained in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet until she was stricken from the naval register on 25 February 1947. She was sold to the Northern Metals Company of Philadelphia on 18 August 1947 and scrapped soon after.

Asbestos Risks

Throughout World War II and into the 1970s, each American navy destroyer widely utilized the mineral asbestos for insulation and fireproofing techniques. Although nearly every part of a ship posed a real danger of asbestos exposure, workers were most prone to inhale asbestos fibers when working near the ship's engines and mechanical sections.

Inhaling asbestos fibers can lead to the development of asbestos-related diseases, including lung cancer, asbestosis and mesothelioma. Those who believe they have experienced asbestos exposure should seek routine medical checkups for asbestos complications because these illnesses can take anywhere between 10 and 50 years to develop.

If you have been diagnosed with an illness related to asbestos, you may have legal options for compensation. Treatment options can be very expensive and many have received financial assistance to help cover the costs. For more information, please fill out the request form on this page to receive a complimentary packet.

Sources:

Destroyers Index