Ship History
Named for John Pope. Built by William Cramp and Sons, laid down September 9, 1919, launched on March 23, 1920. Commissioned October 27, 1920. Pope earned two battle stars and a Presidential Unit Citation (US) for her World War II service.

Prewar History
Served as part of the Atlantic Reserve Fleet, was refitted and deployed to the Pacific at Chefoo, China and Cavite.

As tensions in China heightened, Pope evacuated American civilians from Manchuria ports and later removed American nationals and embassy staff, then returned to the the Philippines and continued patrolling off China.

Wartime History
Returned to Philippines in late June, 1941 and remained there until December 11, 1941. Then, departed for Balikpapan and participated in the Battle of Bali Sea and Battle of Badung Strait interfering with the Japanese invasion of Bali.

Sinking History
Participated in the Second Battle of the Java Sea. On the evening of February 28, 1942 USS Pope and HMS Encounter left Soerabaja and proceeded north, escorting HMS Exeter on her proposed escape route from the Java Sea. Japanese surface ships of CruDiv 5 first intercepted them the next morning, sinking Exeter and Encounter. Pope fired all her torpedoes in this action, and expended most of her ammunition too, in a vain attempt to protect her charge. After Exeter and Encounter were sunk, Pope temporarily 'escaped' the melee only to be attacked about one hour later and sunk soon after by dive bombers and shell fire from the heavy cruisers that were chasing her.

Kevin Denlay adds:
"The planes were from the aircraft carrier Ryūjō, and if I remember correctly, the two seaplane tenders stationed near Bawean. However at the last moment at least two of the big cruisers that helped sink Exeter came up over the horizon and started shelling Pope too! So it was a combination of bombs (that slowed / stopped her), her own crew scuttling her (the only man to die on board was killed by shrapnel for the scuttling charge), and the big guns of the cruisers.

According to the book Mr. Michel's War (an officer from Pope) and as far as I am aware from other extensive study, she received NO direct hits whilst her crew were still on board. As far as I recall It was several very near bomb misses that holed her, bent the screw shaft and killed the port engine and made her list initially to port, and which led to her eventually abandonment. It was only AFTER the crew got off that she started receiving the direct hits from the heavies coming up over the horizon. I have many of the Japanese reports of that day translated into English also, along with Popes after action report and Michel's book."

References
Thanks to Kevin Denlay for additional information.

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