World War II Database

Contributor: C. Peter Chen

ww2dbaseHull had her shakedown cruise at the Azores, Portugal, and Britain. On 19 Oct 1935, she arrived at San Francisco, California, United States via the Panama Canal for her tenure with the US Navy Pacific Fleet. In the summer of 1936, she cruised to Alaska and in Apr 1937 exercised in Hawaiian waters. On 12 Oct 1939, she was moved to Pearl Harbor, and was present when the Japanese struck the port two years later. Although still under repairs, she attempted to defend the port with her anti-aircraft weapons and on the next day went underway to escort carrier Enterprise back to Pearl Harbor. In early 1942, she sailed with Task Force 11 and screened carrier Lexington as her aircraft attacked Japanese bases in the Marshall Islands. Between 26 Mar and Jun, she escorted convoys between San Francisco and Pearl Harbor.

ww2dbaseHull sailed for Suyu, Fiji Islands, to prepare for the amphibious assault on Guadalcanal, which took place on 7 Aug 1942. She screened cruisers as the cruisers' guns bombarded Guadalcanal beaches, then joined the anti-submarine screen for the transports. On the next day, 8 Aug, she shot down several aircraft as the Japanese attempted to attack the fleet, then offered her guns to scuttle the damaged transport George F. Elliott. On 9 Aug, she sank a Japanese schooner. She departed from Guadalcanal on 10 Aug, but made three return trips as escorts in Aug and Sep 1942; she came under air attack on 9 and 14 Sep.

ww2dbaseBetween 20 Oct and Jan 1943, Hull operated in the rear at Hawaii and the New Hebrides. On 29 Jan 1943, she sailed from Pearl Harbor to San Francisco for repairs, arriving 7 Feb. She remained there until Apr.

ww2dbaseUpon completion of repairs, Hull arrived at Adak, Alaska, in the Aleutian Islands, on 16 Apr 1943. She exercised with battleships and cruisers, and then remained at Adak as the larger ships moved out to attack Attu in May. In Jul and Aug, she bombarded Kiska Island, and then supported the landing on 15 Aug.

ww2dbaseOn 26 Sep 1943, Hull returned to Pearl Harbor. Three days later, she departed to attack Wake Island. On 20 Nov, she bombarded Makin Atoll in the Gilbert Islands during the assault. She escorted a convoy back to Pearl Harbor, arriving 7 Dec 1943, then returned to California for amphibious exercises. On 13 Jan 1944, she departed from San Diego with Task Force 53 for the Marshall Islands Campaign. She bombarded Mille Atoll on 18 Mar and Wotje on 22 Mar. On 13 Jun, she bombarded the island of Saipan in the Mariana Islands, though to little effectiveness, then covered the initial landing on 16 Jun. On 17 Jun, she joined Admiral Marc Mitscher's carrier task force, and found herself amidst the Battle of the Philippine Sea, which the Americans emerged victorious and the Japanese naval air arm devastated. In Jul, Hull operated off Guam, then in late-Aug she returned to Seattle, Washington, United States for repairs.

ww2dbaseHull arrived at Pearl Harbor on 23 Oct, joined the fast carrier striking force in the Philippine Sea in Nov 1944. On 17 and 18 Dec 1944, she was engulfed by Typhoon Cobra, experiencing extremely heavy rolls. At about 1100 on 18 Dec, the ship listed to an 80-degree angle, allowing water to flow in at a dangerous rate. The ship soon rolled over completely and sank. Destroyer escort Tabberer and other ships saved 62 men from Hull over the course of the next few days.

Destroyer Hull Interactive Map

Photographs

Hull Operational Timeline