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| USN Gleaves-class destroyer 1,839 Tons 348' 4" x 36' 1" x 13' 6" 4 x 5" cal 38 guns 7 x 20mm 2 x dual 40mm 5 x 21 Torpedoes 2 Depth Charge Racks  USN August 17, 1942   Justin Taylan 2006 |
Ship History Built by by Federal Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company in Kearny, NJ. Laid down February 11, 1941 as Gleaves-class destroyer. Launched November 22, 1941 as USS Aaron Ward (DD-483) as the second ship in the Navy named for Rear Admiral Aaron Ward. Commissioned March 4, 1942 in the U.S. Navy (USN). Afterwards conducted a shakedown cruise off Maine then outfitting at New York Naval Yard. Wartime History On May 20, 1942 departs New York then transits via the Panama Canal to San Diego and joins the Pacific Fleet and briefly operates off the west coast. On June 30, 1942 departs for Hawaii then onward to Tonga. During the voyage, Aaron Ward made two sound contacts and dropped depth charges without results. Afterwards, assigned to screening duties for convoys operating in the South Pacific. On August 17, 1942 photographed at sea in the Solomon Islands with USS Wasp (CV-7). The destroyer was painted in a camouflage pattern and the port anchor was removed possibly to save weight. On September 15, 1942 the destroyer was in the vicinity of USS Wasp (CV-7) when the carrier was torpedoed and sank by Japanese submarine I-19. At 7:24 attacked by B5N1 Kates and A6M2 Zeros at 0724 with three bombs exploding astern only 100-300 yards away and was delayed an hour due to a Japanese air raid. On October 17, 1942 in the morning USS Aaron Ward and USS Lardner (DD-487) with U.S. Marines and Coastwatcher Martin Clemens aboard to spot targets began shelling Kokumbona on Guadalcanal. At 9:27am attacked by B5N2 Kates armed with bombs from Hiyō but fail to score any hits. Moments later, the eight B5N2 Kates from Junyō attack USS Lardner (DD-487) but fail to score any bomb hits. Anti-aircraft fire shoots down B5N2 Kate pilot Sai Goro Kanko. Afterwards, the Japanese planes are intercepted by F4F Wildcats from Marine Fighter Squadron 121 (VMF-121). On October 20, 1942 comes to the aid of USS Chester (CA-27) after being hit by a torpedo from Japanese submarine I-76 and released depth charges. Afterwards escorts the damaged cruiser south to Espiritu Santo. On October 30, 1942 returns to Guadalcanal to preformed another shore bombardment. On November 11, 1942 Aaron Ward guards troops landing and claims a plane shot down and damaged two others. On November 12, 1942 in the afternoon, notified of the approach of Japanese Navy warships steaming southward to bombard Henderson Field on Guadalcanal. The warships of Task Group 67.4 (TG 67.4) were ordered to escort the transports as they withdrew eastward via Sealark Channel. At 11:00pm the warships reversed course and return to Guadalcanal. Naval Battle off Guadalcanal On November 13, 1942 at 1:25am at the start of the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal (Third Battle of the Solomon Sea). The American force was in a single column formation with the destroyers in the lead with the cruisers in the center with four destroyers at the rear. Aaron Ward led three destroyers in the rear of the column followed by USS Barton (DD-599), USS Monssen (DD-436), and USS Fletcher (DD-445). As the confused combat began, two torpedoes passed below Aaron Ward, and she engaged enemy warships with gunfire. During the engagement, Aaron Ward sustained eight direct hits from shells from Kirishima including a hit on the direction finder. At 2:25am she lost steering control and was dead in the water within ten minutes and called for a tug. When USS Bobolink (ATO-131) arrived to take her under tow, Battleship Hiei spotted her and fired four salvos before distracted by U.S. planes. Aaron Ward was towed by USS Bobolink (ATO-131) to Tulagi arriving at 8:30am for temporarily repairs. During the battle, Aaron Ward suffered 15 killed and 57 wounded. Several of the crew later earned the Silver Star including Ensign Joseph A. Westphal, Ensign William F. LeBaron Jr., Ensign Robert C. Hagen, Ensign William F. LeBaron Jr., SEA1c John J. Cofer. Afterwards, departs for Pearl Harbor arriving December 20, 1942. After repairs, rejoined the Pacific Fleet on February 6, 1943 and preformed escort duties including repelling an air attack on March 20, 1943. Sinking History On April 7, 1943 at 2:45pm, notified of an impending Japanese air raid. At 2:19pm arrives off Togoma Point on Guadalcanal to cover USS LST-449. Nearby were USS Ward (APD-16), USS Pathfinder (AGS-1) and USS Ortolan (ASR-5) and USS Vireo (AT-144) and Submarine Chaser SC-521. At 3:12pm in Iron Bottom Sound between Lunga Point and Tulagi zig-zagging near USS LST-449 when three Type 99 Carrier Bomber Kanbaku / D3A2 Vals from Junyō were spotted coming out of a cloud and dive bombed, scoring three near misses that caused damage. The destroyer went to flank speed and full left rudder while returning anti-aircraft fire with all available guns. At 3;13pm three more Vals dive bombed and scored a near miss near the port side that opened seams and holes below the waterline. Another bomb hit the deck penetrating 2' before exploding damaging the the aft engine room and riddled the deck with shrapnel. Three more bombs were near misses that caused additional damage. Aboard, the crew suffered 20 Killed In Action (KIA), 7 Missing In Action (MIA) and 59 Wounded In Action (WIA). When the air raid ended, towed by USS Ortolan (ASR-5) and USS Vireo (AT-144) and hoped to beach the destroyer on a shoal near Tinete Point on Nggela Pile (Small Gela) off Florida Island (Nggela Sule, Big Gela). At 9:35pm sank stern first only 600 yards off the shoal at a depth of 240' / 73m / 40 fathoms. Shipwreck On September 4, 1994 the shipwreck was discovered by the join efforts of Ewan Stevenson and Brian Bayley and the crew of Solomon Sea. On September 25, 1994 Brian Bayley was the first to SCUBA dive the shipwreck and confirm it was indeed USS Aaron Ward DD-483. The shipwreck is the only U.S. Navy warship at SCUBA diveable depth aside from the shipwrecks in Bikini Atoll. Because of the depth of this wreck, all dives are decompression dives which require the appropriate training and experience in extended range diving. For safety reasons, twin tanks with a separate regulator and gauge on each tank, and a dive computer are required for this dive, and extended range protocols are enforced. In order to stay within the maximum depth for air diving, it is recommended that divers not descend below the deck level. The shipwreck is upright on a sandy bottom at about 240' / 70m off Tinete Point on Nggela Pile (Small Gela) in the Florida Islands. The two forward 5" guns and the bow are at a depth of roughly 200' / 60m. Both turrets are facing forward with the gun barrels elevated to roughly 45 degrees. The bridge with 20mm cannons and the gun director are at a depth of 165' / 50m. Further aft is the torpedo tubes, rear funnel searchlight and Bofors 40mm anti-aircraft gun. Beyond is the aft 5" gun and the stern with severe damage. The depth charge racks, rudder and one propeller can be seen at a depth of 215' / 65m. Ewan Stevenson adds: "I have heard that the Aaron Ward has been intensively stripped for souvenirs now with a band of divers from Sydney particularly thorough. I sincerely regret that I won't have a chance to view some of these artifacts on the wreck. A diver from Aussie phoned me on the weekend and said divers were using crow bars to break into areas on the wreck." Awards For her World War II service, Aaron Ward earned four battle stars. Memorials Later, Allen M. Sumner-class destroyer USS Aaron Ward (DD-773 / DM-34) became the third ship named for Rear Admiral Aaron Ward. References Naval History and Heritage Command (NHHC) - Aaron Ward II (DD-483) Naval History and Heritage Command (NHHC) - USS Aaron Ward (DD-483) (photos) Naval History and Heritage Command (NHHC) Navy Department Communiques 301-600 and Pacific Fleet Communiques March 6, 1943 to May 24, 1945 page 31 (April 7, 1943), 434 (Appendix Aaron Ward), I (index Aaron Ward) "3. The Allied naval vessels which previously were announced as sunk by Japanese air attack on Allied shipping in the vicinity of Guadalcanal on April 7, 1943, now can be named as the destroyer USS Aaron Ward, the tanker USS Kanawha, and the corvette HMNZS Moa. The next of kin of all casualties aboard these vessels have been notified. The action previously was reported in Navy Department Communiqués No. 337, 338, 339 and 340." NavSource - USS Aaron Ward DD-483 Michael McFadyen Scuba Diving Web Site - USS Aaron Ward DD-483 (photos) X Attack of I-Operation by Richard Dunn South Pacific Air War: The Role of Airpower in the New Guinea and Solomon Island Campaigns, January 1943 to February 1944 (2024) by Richard Dunn pages 215, 220-221 (April 7, 1943), 558 (footnote 69), 591 (index Aaron Ward) Thanks to Ewan Stevenson and Neil Yates / Dive Tulagi for additional information Contribute
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 Map November 13, 1942 Map Iron Bottom Sound  240' / 73m  Photo Archive |
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