Grayson file photo [3631]

Grayson

CountryUnited States
Ship ClassGleaves-class Destroyer
BuilderCharleston Naval Shipyard, South Carolina, United States
Laid Down17 Jul 1939
Launched7 Aug 1940
Commissioned14 Feb 1941
Decommissioned4 Feb 1947
Displacement1,630 tons standard
Length348 feet
Beam36 feet
Draft12 feet
Machinery4 boilers, 2 propellers
Power Output50,000 shaft horsepower
Speed37 knots
Range6,500nm at 12 knots
Crew276
Armament5x127mm guns, 6x12.7mm guns, 6x20mm AA guns, 10x21in torpedo tubes, 2 depth charge racks, 46 depth charges

Contributor:

ww2dbaseWith Lieutenant Commander Thomas M. Stokes in command, Grayson had her shakedown cruise along the New England coast and in the Chesapeake Bay on the east coast of the United States. After the cruise, she joined Destroyer Division 22 of the Atlantic Fleet, then very soon after the flagship of Destroyer Squadron 11 at the Caribbean Sea. She patrolled and escorted convoys in the North Atlantic, between Newfoundland and Iceland, between 26 Oct 1941 and early 1942.

ww2dbaseIn late Mar 1942, Grayson joined the Pacific Fleet at San Diego, and then made rendezvous with carriers Hornet and Enterprise's group at sea on 13 Apr, escorting them for the Doolittle Raid on 18 Apr 1942. Upon returning, she spent some time in California for repairs, then reported back to the Pacific Fleet, reaching Guadalcanal area in early Aug 1942. She provided escorts to Hornet and Enterprise as their aircraft supported the Guadalcanal landings on 7 Aug. On 24 Aug, at the Battle of the Eastern Solomons where Enterprise was hit by a bomb, Grayson protected the wounded carrier, downing two Japanese aircraft and damaging a third. Immediately after the Battle of the Eastern Solomons, she joined Task Force 11 around carrier Saratoga; on the first full day of service with TF 11, she sank a Japanese submarine with 46 depth charges. Between Aug 1942 and Apr 1943, she served in the Guadalcanal/Solomon Islands area performing a wide variety of missions, including but not limited to radar picket, search and rescue, and convoy. Between 15 Apr and Sep 1943, she received an overhaul and repairs at Pearl Harbor. Between 30 Sep and 3 Oct 1943, she sank at least four Japanese transports in the Kolombangara area as a part of Destroyer Squadron 21, under the command of Commander A. D. Chandler. She received another overhaul between 16 Dec 1943 and Jan 1944, at Puget Sound Navy Yard.

ww2dbaseWhen Grayson returned to service, patrolling the Solomons, Carolines, and Marshalls. On 30 Mar 1944, she supported the initial assault landings on Pityiliu Island of the Admiralties Islands. From 22 to 24 Apr, she was fighter-director ship for the landings at Tanahmerah Bay, New Guinea. She bombarded Biak Island on 27 May and Noemfoor Island on 2 Jul. As a member of Task Group 38, she bombarded Palau Islands on 1 Sep 1944. On 15 Oct, she rescued 194 men from the sinking light cruiser Houston. On 3 Nov, she took up radar picket and lifeguard duty off Saipan. She returned to Seattle on 9 Jun 1945 for rest and recreation. She saw no further combat action in WW2.

ww2dbaseAfter brief training in Sep 1945 at Pearl Harbor, Grayson returned to Charleston, South Carolina, where she was built. On 27 Oct 1945, she hosted 5,000 visitors for Navy Day celebrations. She remained in Charleston until she was decommissioned in Feb 1947. She was sold on 12 Jun 1974 and broken up for scrap.

ww2dbaseSource: Wikipedia.

Last Major Revision: May 2007

Destroyer Grayson Interactive Map

Photographs

Grayson off the Charleston Navy Yard, South Carolina, 17 Apr 1941, photo 1 of 2Grayson off the Charleston Navy Yard, South Carolina, 17 Apr 1941, photo 2 of 2GraysonGrayson circa 1942, photo 1 of 2; note war-time censors erased radar antennas atop the ship
See all 6 photographs of Destroyer Grayson

Grayson Operational Timeline

17 Jul 1939 American destroyer Grayson was laid down.
7 Aug 1940 American destroyer Grayson was launched.
14 Feb 1941 Grayson was commissioned into service.
4 Feb 1947 Grayson was decommissioned from service.




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Visitor Submitted Comments

1. Anonymous says:
26 May 2018 02:47:00 PM

Looking for info regarding Harry Benner, who served on the USS Grayson
2. Commenter identity confirmed David Stubblebine says:
26 May 2018 08:12:44 PM

Anonymous (above):
Fire Controlman Harry E Benner, service number 321 31 97, appears several times in the Grayson Muster Rolls. Those documents say he enlisted 14 Jun 1939 at Des Moines, Iowa and reported aboard Grayson 1 Mar 1941 where he remained throughout the war.

For the best source of information about his service, I cannot recommend strongly enough the value of requesting a copy of his service record. See https://ww2db.com/faq/#3.
3. Randy Barr says:
24 Feb 2020 03:49:27 PM

Looking for anyone who would have served with my father Alfred Howard Barr , served on uss grayson between 41 and 45 any info or pics would be much appreciated thanks

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More on Grayson
Event(s) Participated:
» Doolittle Raid
» Guadalcanal Campaign
» Solomon Islands Campaign
» New Guinea-Papua Campaign, Phase 3

Destroyer Grayson Photo Gallery
Grayson off the Charleston Navy Yard, South Carolina, 17 Apr 1941, photo 1 of 2
See all 6 photographs of Destroyer Grayson


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