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| USN Mahan-class destroyer 1,500 Tons 341' 4" x 35' x 9' 10" 5 x 5" 38 cal guns 12 x 21" torpedo tubes  USN July 15, 1942 |
Ship History Built by Puget Sound Navy Yard at Bremerton. Laid down August 15, 1934 as a Mahan-class destroyer. Launched 31 December 1935 as USS Cushing (DD-376) named for Commander William B. Cushing sponsored by his daughter Miss. K. A. Cushing. Commissioned August 28, 1936 in the U.S. Navy (USN) and assigned to the Pacific Fleet. On July 4, 1937 assigned to the search for Amelia Earhart when she went missing off Howland Island until the effort was abandoned at the month then returns to San Diego for training and participates in exercises. Next, departs for Pearl Harbor for training and then via the Panama Canal for a Caribbean Sea cruise then back to San Diego for further training and exercises. Wartime History On December 7, 1941 at Mare Island Navy Yard undergoing an overhaul. On December 17, 1941 departs San Diego and performs escort duty between the west coast to Pearl Harbor until January 13, 1942. On January 18, 1942 departs bound for Midway Atoll and performs anti-submarine patrols. On February 19, 1942 returns to San Francisco to screen for Task Force 1 (TF 1) off California and continues training and patrols. On August 1, 1942 departs San Francisco to Pearl Harbor for training then departs bound for the Solomon Islands and operates off Guadalcanal escorting convoys. On October 26, 1942 participates in the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands then escorts transports bound for Guadalcanal. On November 12, 1942 arrives off Guadalcanal. At 6:30pm joins cruisers and destroyers of Task Group 67.4 (TG 67.4) proceeds eastward via Sealark Channel to screen for Task Group 67.1 withdrawing from the area via Tingo Channel. Afterwards, the warships sweep the Indispensable Strait then returns via Tingo Channel and enters Iron Bottom Sound to defend against the expected arrival of Japanese warships. Sinking History On November 13, 1942 at 1:40am at the start of the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal (Third Battle of the Solomon Sea), The weather was poor with a dark moon making visibility minimal. At the start of the engagement, Cushing was the lead ship in the column off the north coast of Guadalcanal. During the engagement, Cushing was hit by gunfire amidships and gradually lost power but continued to return fire and fired a spread of six torpedoes aimed at Battleship Hiei. Aboard, fires raged that exploded ammunition and at 2:30am the order was given to abandon ship. During the engagement, 70 of her crew were killed or missing. Afterwards, the burning destroyer remained afloat and drifted westward until sinking around 5:00pm southeast of Savo Island into Iron Bottom Sound. Fates of the Crew The surviving crew were rescued. Awards For her World War II service, Cushing earned three battle stars. References Naval History and Heritage Command (NHHC) - USS Cushing (DD-376) NavSource - USS Cushing (DD-376) Maritime Quest - USS Cushing DD-376 Roll of Honor Contribute
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 Map November 13, 1942 Map Iron Bottom Sound |
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