Destroyer Hammann (DD-412)

Hammann

Country	United States
Ship Class	Sims-class Destroyer
Hull Number	DD-412
Builder	Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Company, Kearny, New Jersey, United States
Laid Down	17 Jan 1938
Launched	4 Feb 1939
Commissioned	11 Aug 1939
Sunk	6 Jun 1942
Displacement	1,600 tons standard; 2,246 tons full
Length	348 feet
Beam	36 feet
Draft	13 feet
Machinery	Westinghouse geared turbines, two screws
Power Output	52,000 shaft horsepower
Speed	35 knots
Range	6,500nm at 12 knots, 3,660nm at 20 knots
Crew	192
Armament	5x5in/38 AA guns, 4x 0.5cal machine guns, 2x4x21in torpedo tubes, 2x depth charge tracks, 10x depth charges

Contributor: C. Peter Chen

ww2dbaseUSS Hammann was commissioned into service in Aug 1939 under the command of Lieutenant Commander Arnold E. True. She conducted her shakedown cruise off the east coast of the United States, served in training roles in US waters, and then patrolled the North Atlantic between the US coast and Iceland. When the Pacific War brought the United States into WW2, she was at Iceland. She returned to Norfolk, Virginia, United States in Dec 1941, took on supplies, and set sail for the Pacific Ocean in early 1942. After training maneuvers in the New Caledonia area in the South Pacific, she participated in the Battle of the Coral Sea, during which she fired on incoming Japanese aircraft and then rescued 500 survivors of the disabled carrier USS Lexington. After light repairs at Pearl Harbor in the US Territory of Hawaii after the Battle of the Coral Sea, she participated in the Battle of Midway in the following month. She shot down several attacking aircraft attempting to approach USS Yorktown, but the carrier was nevertheless hit by two torpedoes. Hammann picked up Yorktown survivors, including Captain Elliott Buckmaster. In the morning of 6 Jun 1942, Hammann returned to the disabled Yorktown and transported a damage control party aboard, meanwhile providing water and power for firefighting efforts. In the afternoon, Japanese submarine I-168 fired a spread of four torpedoes at the pair of American ships. A 20-millimeter gun crew attempted to explode the torpedoes in the water, but to no success. Two of the torpedoes hit Yorktown, and one hit Hammann amidships. Hammann broke in half and sank very quickly; shortly after the sinking, there was an underwater explosion, possibly caused by detonated depth charges, which killed many survivors in the water and further damaged Yorktown. 80 men survived the sinking, including True, whose effective leadership during Coral Sea and Midway would later earn him the Navy Cross and the Navy Distinguished Service Medal awards.

ww2dbaseSource: Wikipedia

Last Major Revision: Mar 2015

Destroyer Hammann (DD-412) Interactive Map

Photographs

Destroyers USS Tillman, USS Beatty, USS Hobson, USS Anderson, USS Hammann, and USS Mustin at Charleston Navy Yard, South Carolina, United States, Jan 1942

Hammann at Charleston Navy Yard, South Carolina, United States, Jan 1942

As her own torpedo warheads explode aboard USS Lexington, an aircraft is blown over the side in the Battle of the Coral Sea, 8 May 1942 at 1727 hours local time. Destroyer Hammann is backing down at left.

See all 13 photographs of Destroyer Hammann (DD-412)

Hammann Operational Timeline

17 Jan 1938	The keel of Hammann was laid down by the Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Company of Kearny, New Jersey, United States.
4 Feb 1939	Hammann was launched at Kearny, New Jersey, United States, sponsored by Miss Lillian Hammann, daughter of Ensign Charles Hammann.
11 Aug 1939	USS Hammann was commissioned into service under the command of Lieutenant Commander Arnold E. True.
6 Jan 1942	USS Hammann departed Norfolk, Virginia, United States.
22 Jan 1942	USS Hammann arrived at San Francisco, California, United States.
25 Feb 1942	USS Hammann departed San Francisco, California, United States as a part of Task Force 17.
27 Mar 1942	USS Hammann departed New Caledonia area as a part of Task Force 17.
20 Apr 1942	USS Hammann arrived at Tongatapu, Tonga.
27 Apr 1942	USS Hammann departed Tongatapu, Tonga as a part of Task Force 17.
4 May 1942	USS Hammann rescued two downed fighter pilots on the coast of Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands.
8 May 1942	In the Battle of the Coral Sea, USS Hammann fired on incoming Japanese aircraft and then rescued 500 survivors of the disabled carrier USS Lexington.
27 May 1942	USS Hammann arrived at Pearl Harbor, US Territory of Hawaii.
30 May 1942	USS Hammann departed Pearl Harbor, US Territory of Hawaii.
4 Jun 1942	In the Battle of Midway, USS Hammann shot down two Japanese aircraft attacking USS Yorktown, but nevertheless Yorktown would be disabled by the Japanese. Hammann rescued about 500 survivors from Yorktown.
6 Jun 1942	While assisting damage control efforts aboard USS Yorktown, USS Hammann was struck by one Type 95 torpedo from I-168, breaking her in half, while Yorktown was struck by two of I-168's torpedoes. Hammann sank very quickly, then suffered a underwater explosion, most likely from her own depth charges, which killed many survivors in the water. 80 men were killed in the sinking.
7 Jun 1942	Lieutenant Charles Conway Hartigan Jr. was made the commanding officer of the suvivors of sunken USS Hammann.
10 Jun 1942	Lieutenant Charles Conway Hartigan Jr. stepped down as the commanding officer of the suvivors of sunken USS Hammann.

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Visitor Submitted Comments

1. Douglas Sykes says:
4 Jun 2021 09:06:48 PM

My Uncle William Sikes was a Firefighter abourd the Hammann performing rescue of wounded crew of the Yorktown. Recieved the Silver Star posthumously.

2. Jack Richardson says:
20 Jan 2022 06:57:40 PM

My brother, Warren Jay Richardson, was one of the 80 men killed on the Hamman. Along with his cousin, Robert Richardson, and a school friend, Walter Gessel.

3. Rick says:
9 Jun 2022 06:43:32 AM

I think my Dad was on the Hamman at this time . How do I get this info.
He was a cpo engine room.

4. Rick says:
14 Jun 2022 01:18:53 PM

Sorry, my dad name is
Warren LAYNE from VA

5. Anonymous says:
28 Nov 2022 06:31:09 PM

My grandfather Guy L Banks served aboard the USS Hamman and survived it's sinking on June 6, 1943.

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Hammann