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  USS Walke DD-723
USN
Allen M. Sumner-class destroyer

2,200 Tons
376' x 40' x 15' 8"
6 x 5" 38 cal guns
12 x 40mm AA guns
11 x 20mm canons
10 x 21" torpedo tubes
6 x depth charge projectors
2 x depth charge tracks

Click For Enlargement
USN January 9, 1945
Ship History
Built by Bath Iron Works in Bath, Maine. Laid down June 7, 1943 as an Allen M. Sumner-class destroyer. Launched October 27, 1943 as USS Walke (DD-723) the third warship with the named for named for Rear Admiral Henry A. Walke who served in the Civil War and Mexican–American War, sponsored by Mrs. Douglas Dillon. Commissioned January 21, 1944 in the U.S. Navy (USN) at Boston Navy Yard.

Afterwards, departed on a shakedown cruise via Washington DC then to Bermuda. On March 19, 1944 returned to Boston then to Norfolk to conduct training. In early April 1944 to Key West to conducted anti-submarine warfare tests with a new type of sound gear then returns to Norfolk. For the next month, continues to conduct training with other newly built destroyers. On May 12, 1944 departs for New York arriving the next day.

Wartime History
On May 14, 1944 departs New York across the Atlantic Ocean bound for the United Kingdom. On May 24, 1944 arrives at Greenock in Scotland and assigned as a unit of Destroyer Division (DesDiv) 119 and supports the Allied D-Day landings at Normandy, France. On June 7, 1944 and June 8, 1944 conducts shore bombardment against fortifications, machine gun positions and advancing armored units. On June 23-24, 1944 supports mine sweeping operations off Cherbourg, France and engaged German shore batteries. After the Allied advance moved beyond the range of her guns, departs on July 3, 1944 across the Atlantic Ocean to Boston arriving July 9, 1944. After repairs and training in Casco Bay off Maine departs for Norfolk arriving August 26, 1944.

On August 30, 1944 departs as part of the screening force with USS Ticonderoga via the Panama Canal and San Diego then via Pearl Harbor September 25, 1944 and undergoes more training. On October 23, 1944 departs Pearl Harbor screening for USS North Carolina via Eniwetok, Manus and Ulithi arriving November 5, 1944. Assigned as a unit of Task Group 38.4 (TG 38.4) screening for fast carriers then returns to Ulithi on November 22, 1944. On November 27, 1944 departs as par of Destroyer Squadron 60 (DesRon 60) bound for the Philippines and two days later arrives in San Pedro Bay off Leyte and was assigned to joined the screen of TG 77.2 and operates in Leyte Gulf.

In late November 1944, placed under the command of Commander George F. Davis. On December 4, 1944 returns to San Pedro Bay. On December 6, 1944 departs San Pedro Bay. On December 7, 1944 supports the U.S. landing at Ormoc Bay on western Leyte and participates in the during Battle of Ormoc Bay. When USS Mahan (DD-364) was hit by three kamikaze planes, aids the damaged destroyer and rescues some of her crew with USS Lamson then scuttled the damaged destroyer with gunfire and a torpedo, afterwards departs for San Pedro Bay and during the return trip engaged enemy planes with anti-aircraft fire claiming several shot down arriving later that day then patrols San Pedro Bay and Leyte Gulf for the next five days.

On December 13, 1944 departs San Pedro Bay with TG 77.3 to support the U.S. invasion force bound for Mindoro. On December 15, 1944 operates off Mindoro as part of the close cover force and shells grounded destroyer Wakaba then returns to Leyte and while enroute engaging enemy aircraft then returns to San Pedro Bay arriving December 18, 1944. On January 2, 1945 departs San Pedro Bay as part of the U.S. invasion force bound for Lingayen Gulf on Luzon.

On January 6, 1945 enters Lingayen Gulf to cover minesweepers clearing the waters ahead of the U.S. invasion. Walke was targeted by four Ki-43 Oscars flying low that approached from the starboard side forward and engaged them with anti-aircraft gun fire and shot down two. The third made a strafing run and kamikaze attack and crashed into the port side of the bridge and caused a fire, lost communications, radar, gyros and electricity in the superstructure plus extensive damage to the bridge and torpedo directors. The plane's single bomb did not explode but passed through the combat information center. Two minutes later, the fourth Ki-43 Oscar began a kamikaze attack against the destroyer diving toward the starboard quarter and was engaged with gun fire that hit the plane causing it to catch fire and crash into the sea nearby and saved the destroyer from sustaining further damage or being sunk.

Despite the damage and serious burns, Commander George F. Davis remained in command and directed his crew only after he was sure the situation was stable did he relinquish command and several hours later died of his wounds. For his actions, he later earned the Medal of Honor, posthumously. Within 15 minutes the fires aboard were brought under control and remains in Lingayen Gulf and covers the U.S. landings on January 9, 1945.

On January 10, 1945 departs with Task Unit 78.4.2 (TU 78.4.2) bound for San Pedro Bay arriving three days later and underwent two days of repairs then departs for Manus for more repairs then departs across the Pacific via Pearl Harbor to Mare Island arriving February 6, 1945 for permanent repairs until early April 1945.

On April 4, 1945 Commander John F. McGillis took command and departs across the Pacific via Pearl Harbor, Eniwetok, Ulithi then to Okinawa. On May 10, 1945 operates as a radar picket station off Okinawa. On June 24, 1935 joined the screen for Task Force 32 (TF 32) as part of the Amphibious Support Force. On July 23, 1945 departs bound for San Pedro Bay arriving four days later and remains in available status. On August 14, 1945 departs with USS Barton and four days later rendezvous with TF 38 and screens for Task Group 38.3 (TG 38.3). On September 10, 1945 joins the screen for TG 38.1 fast carriers off Japan until the end of the month then via Guam back to the United States.

Postwar
On October 24, 1945 arrives Seattle and operates off the west coast. On March 18, 1946 departs San Diego via Pearl Harbor then returns. On May 13, 1946 departs for Pearl Harbor then to Bikini Atoll to support the atomic tests. On August 15, 1946 returns to Pearl Harbor then returns to San Diego and Mare Island for three months of repairs. On November 15, 1946 returns to San Diego. On January 6, 1947 departs with USS Tarawa and USS Shangri-La. On May 1, 1947 to Sydney to commemorate the Battle of the Coral Sea then returns to San Diego. On June 30, 1947 decommissioned and placed into the San Diego Group, Pacific Reserve Fleet.

PARTIAL HISTORY

Fate
On April 16, 1975 sold to sold to General Metals, of Tacoma, WA and broken up for scrap metal.

Awards
Walke earned six battle stars during World War II, four battle stars during the Korean War and seven battle stars during the Vietnam War.

References
Naval History and Heritage Command (NHHC) - Walke III (DD-723)
NavSource - USS Walke (DD-723)

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Last Updated
January 13, 2025

 

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