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| USN Bagley Class Destroyer 2,325 Tons (full) 1,500 Tons (light) 341' 8" x 35' 6" x 12' 10" 4 x 5" guns 4 x 50 caliber MG 12 x 21" torpedo tubes   USN August 7, 1942 |
Ship History Built by the Boston Navy Yard in Boston, Massachusetts. Laid down on October 28, 1935 as a Bagley-class Destroyer. Launched October 31, 1936 as USS Mugford (DD-389). Commissioned on August 16, 1937 in the U.S. Navy (USN) and joins the Pacific Fleet and operates off the west coast of the United States. Designated as the flagship of Destroyer Division Eight (DesDiv 8), Destroyer Squadron Four. Wartime History On December 7, 1941 Mugford was moored at berth B6 in Pearl Harbor next to USS Jarvis (DD-393). During the Japanese attack first wave, her gunners claimed three Japanese planes shot down, and got underway. Afterwards, participated in a screening operation at Wake Island and then served as an escort for convoys steaming between the west coast of the United States bound for Australia until the middle of 1942. On August 7, 1942 while patrolling off Lunga Point on Guadalcanal, targeted by Japanese bombers that scored three near misses and one bomb hit on the stern that killing eight crew members, wounded seventeen and leaving ten Missing In Action (MIA). She claimed two attacking aircraft. On August 8, 1942 the destroyer was attacked again but suffered no damage and and claimed another bomber and rescued two enemy aviators from the sea. On August 9, 1942 arrived after the Battle of Savo Island rescued 400 survivors of the USS Vincennes (CA-44) and USS Astoria CA-34. Afterwards, to Sydney arriving September 16, 1942 for repairs until December then patrols the Coral Sea and performed escort duties for ships bound for Milne Bay. On May 15, 1943 rescued survivors of the HMAS Centaur after the hospital ship was sunk by Japanese submarine. During July 1943, participated in the U.S. attack against Woodlark Island and conducts a shore bombardments and patrols until August 1942. Part of the escort for the Allied landing force that lands at Lae on September 4, 1943. Next, particpated in the preinvasion bombardment north of Finschafen until late October. On October 20, 1943 attacked by enemy planes but suffered no damage. Next, supported the American landings at Arawe and Cape Gloucester. On December 25, 1943 came under heavy air attack, suffering three near misses, shrapnel hit the ship and one man was killed, six wounded. Afterwards, repaired at Milne Bay. On January 10, 1944 bombarded and patrolled off Saidor in support of the U.S. Army troops ashore. Departed for Sydney then patrolled the Huon Gulf and escorted three ships from Tulagi to the Union Islands. Afterwards, she returned to Pearl Harbor on February 24, 1944 and escorted USS Maryland BB-46 to Puget Sound and then herself to Mare Island for overhaul on March 5, 1944. Returning to the western Pacific in mid‑March, Mugford served as radar picket and performs anti-submarine patrols between Ulithi and Saipan until the end of the Pacific War. Postwar In early September 1945, assigned to Task Group 55.7 (TG 55.7) transporting liberated Allied Prisoners Of War (POW) from Japan to Okinawa screened carriers providing air support for the occupation of the Nagasaki‑Sasebo area. During November 1945, transits the Pacific to San Diego arriving November 19, 1945. During 1946, stripped of usable parts and assigned to Operation Crossroads at Bikini Atoll and survived July 1, 1946 followed by Test Baker on July 25, 1946. On August 29, 1946 decommissioned but retained for experiments in decontamination. Sinking History On March 22, 1948 scuttled off Kwajalein. Contribute
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