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| USN Clemson-class destroyer Destroyer minesweeper 1,190 Tons size armament 24 KIA of crew plus 24 others  USN c1930s  USN September 22, 1944 |
Ship History Built by William Cramp & Sons in Philadelphia. Laid down August 18, 1918 as Clemson-class destroyer. Launched March 31, 1919 as USS Hovey named for U.S. Navy Ensign Charles Hovey (1885–1911) sponsored by Mrs. Louise F. Kautz, sister of Ensign Hovey. Commissioned September 24, 1919 in the U.S. Navy (USN) under the command of Commander Stephen B. McKinney. After shakedown off the coast of Florida and in the Caribbean Hovey on December 19, 1919 departs Newport, Rhode Island with Chandler (DD-206) bound for the Azores and Brest, France, for duty as station ship. On July 10, 1920 departs from Dalmatia, Italy for the Adriatic Sea to deliver important papers and claims. Arriving Constantinople July 12, 1920 and later visits various Russian ports as station ship until December 17, 1920 when she departs for Port Said, Egypt then to the Philippines assigned to the Asiatic Fleet. On October 2, 1922 returns to San Francisco. On February 1, 1923 decommissioned at San Diego. On February 20, 1920 recommissioned under command Commander Stuart O. Greig at San Diego. After shakedown off California and and Mare Island she served principally as training ship for reservists until April 9, 1934 transits the Panama Canal to New York arriving May 31, 1934. After training and fleet exercises out of New England and Florida then via the Panama Canal to San Diego arriving November 9, 1934. After overhaul at Mare Island, resumes operations off the west coast and participates in exercises and fleet problems off Panama and Hawaii. During 1940, converted into a high speed minesweeper. On November 19, 1940 reclassified DMS-11. On February 4, 1941 departs for Pearl Harbor. Wartime History On December 7, 1941 with USS Chandler (DD-206) as part of an anti-submarine screen for USS Minneapolis (CA-36) engaged in gunnery practice twenty miles off Pearl Harbor. After the Japanese attack, began patrol and convoy duty off Pearl Harbor and Oahu. On May 20, 1942 escorts a convoy to San Francisco arriving eleven days later. During June 1942 returns to Pearl Harbor. On July 10, 1942 escorts USS Argonne (AP-4) to Fiji arriving thirteen days later. On July 31, 1942 assigned to Minesweeping Group, South Pacific Amphibious Force under the command of Rear Admiral Richmond K. Turner. On August 7, 1942 during the U.S. invasion of Guadalcanal and Tulagi, Hovey was assigned a screening station for the transports. Before 8:00 am, took a bombardment station to cover the landings east of Gavutu. Japanese shore batteries opened up but were quickly silenced by accurate fire from Hovey and the other warships providing fire support. She next joined other minesweepers for sweeps between Gavutu and Bungana. On August 8, 1942 in the morning enters Lengo Channel to help ward off an attack by enemy torpedo bombers. Intensive U.S. anti-aircraft fire caused the Japanese planes to drop their torpedoes prematurely at too great a range and the attack is largely ineffective. Afterwards, Hovey continues to operate off Guadalcanal. On September 13, 1942 departs for New Caledonia to replenish then steams to Samoa and embarks a reconnaissance party of U.S. Marines and lands them on Ndeni then returns to New Caledonia. On October 10, 1942 Hovey with USS Southard (DD-207) departs loaded with 127 drums of aviation gasoline aboard and each towing a pair of PT Boats. They proceeded to a point 300 miles off Tulagi then released PT-38, PT-46, PT-48 and PT-60 which proceeded under their own power to Tulagi PT Boat Base then arrived at Tulagi on October 12, 1942. Afterwards, Hovey continues escort duty between Guadalcanal and Espiritu Santo, then back to the west coast. On April 19, 1943 arrives San Francisco for an overhaul. On May 31, 1943 departs Mare Island escorting a convoy across the Pacific bound for New Caledonia. Arriving August 10, 1943 she resumed her escort and patrol duties until October 30, 1943 when she joined Rear Admiral Theodore S. Wilkinson, Jr.'s III Amphibious Force supporting the American landing at at Torokina on November 1, 1943. For the next week during the seizure of Empress Augusta Bay, Hovey operated with the invasion forces, screening transports and making preinvasion sweeps. Hovey continued screening and escort duties in the Solomons. On April 5, 1944 escorts USS Lindenwald (LSD-6) from Tulagi to Majuro, Marshall Islands. On April 11, 1944 returns to Espiritu Santo. On April 20, 1944 joins Task Unit 34.9.3 (TU 34.9.3) under the command of Captain Kane aboard USS Petrof Bay (CVE-80), delivering replacement planes to other carriers at Manus. On April 29, 1944 the task unit rendezvoused with Task Force 38 (TF 58) to deliver replacement planes then steams via Florida Island and Pearl Harbor to the west coast for repairs. On July 29, 1944 departs for Pearl Harbor and became flagship for Mine Squadron Two under Commander W. R. Loud and returns to the Solomon Islands. On September 6, 1944 sortied from Purvis Bay as part of the antisubmarine screen for Western Gunfire Support Group under Rear Admiral Jesse B. Oldendorf for operations in Palau. After sweeps between Angaur and Peleliu Islands and in Kossol Passage Hovey took up antisubmarine patrol in the transport area off Peleliu. Next, assigned to the Minesweeping and Hydrographic Group for the Escort Carrier Group under Rear Adm. Thomas Sprague for the invasion of Leyte. On October 17, 1944 began sweeping ahead of the high speed transports and fire support vessels in the approach to the landing beaches on Dinagat Island. Afterwards, performs sweeps through Looc Bay and the Tacloban–Dulag area. On October 25, 1944 Hovey departs for Manus for replenishment. On December 23, 1944 departs Manus as the flagship for Minesweeping and Hydrographic Group under Commander Loud and a week later enters Leyte Gulf. On January 2, 1945 departs southward via the Suriago Strait then into the Mindanao Sea en route to Lingayen Gulf off Luzon. Many reconnaissance aircraft harassed the convoy during the night. On January 3, 1945 in the morning targeted by enemy aircraft and from then on the convoy was under such heavy air attack that Hovey had to adopt the policy of not firing unless she was directly under attack to conserve ammunition. On January 6, 1945 at 8:00am began mine sweeping operations in Lingayen Gulf and was targeted by enemy planes with one shot down by Hovey. As the warships made a return sweep, two suicide planes made straight runs on the last two ships in the column, crashing into USS Brooks (APD-10) and USS Long (DD-209). Hovey slipped her gear and stood in to assist Long. Long's entire bridge and well deck was on fire, with intermittent explosions coming from the forward magazine and ready ammunition. Due to the explosions and air attacks, Hovey could not get alongside, but spent an hour picking up 149 survivors. At dark the sweepers made their night retirement and began steaming off the entrance to Lingayen Gulf. Sinking History On January 7, 1945 at 4:25pm enemy aircraft were detected on radar. At 4:50, a plane flying low to the water came in from the starboard quarter and passed ahead of Hovey. A few moments later another plane coming from the port beam was set on fire by gunfire from USS Chandler (DD-206). This plane passed very low over Hovey and crashed on the starboard beam. At 4:55, the instant the burning plane crashed, Hovey was struck by a torpedo on her starboard side in the after engine room. Instantly, lights and power were lost and the stern remained nearly level and sinking to the top of the after deck house while the bow listed 40 degrees to starboard and rose out of the water, breaking the ship into half. Two minutes later the bow listed to 90 degrees, rose vertically and rapidly sank in 54 fathoms (99m). Aboard, twenty four men were killed, plus an another 24 who were survivors from USS Long (DD-209) and USS Brooks (APD-10). Awards For her World War II service, Hovey earned eight battle stars. References Naval History and Heritage Command (NHHC) - USS Hovey (DD-208/DMS-11) NavSource - USS Hovey (DMS 11) Contribute
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