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| 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  USN August 1, 1944 |
Ship History Built by Bath Iron Works in Bath, Maine. Laid down December 9, 1943 as an Allen M. Sumner-class destroyer. Launched April 23, 1944 as USS Mannert L. Abele (DD-733) named for Lieutenant Commander Mannert L. Abele captain of USS Grunion SS-216 lost at sea sponsored by Mrs. Douglas Dillon. Commissioned July 4, 1944 in the U.S. Navy (USN) at the Boston Navy Yard under the command of Cdr Alton Enoch Parker. Painted in camouflage Measure 32, Design 11A. Afterwards, departs on her shakedown cruise off Bermuda then to Norfolk and serves as a training ship for destroyer crews. Wartime History On October 16, 1944 departs Norfolk via the Panama Canal and San Diego bound for Pearl Harbor. On November 17, 1944 arrives Pearl Harbor then undergoes two weeks of training. On December 3, 1944 departs escorting a convoy to the western Pacific then returns two weeks later for conversion into a fighter director ship (radar picket) with radar and additional radio equipment. On January 27, 1945 departs Pearl Harbor and steams via Eniwetok and Saipan then joins Task Force 51 (TF 51) as part of the transport screen. On February 19, 1945 supports the invasion of Iwo Jima as part of the support group to provide shore bombardment and close support gunfire. On February 21, 1945 at dusk resumed radar picket duty. On March 3-4, 1944 served on the bombardment line for fire support against targets on Iwo Jima. On March 8-10, 1944 again served on the bombardment line then departed for Ulithi arriving two days later. On March 20, 1945 departs Ulithi on radar picket duty and the next day joins Task Force 54 (TF 54) under Rear Admiral Morton Deyo for the invasion of Okinawa as part of the gunfire and covering Force. On March 24, 1945 arrives Kerama Retto and screens for the shore bombardment force and provides fire support and supports Underwater Demolition Team (UDT) operating off Okinawa. On April 1, 1945 participates in the U.S. landing on Okinawa conducts close fire support and performs radar picket duty. On April 3, 1945 attacked by three planes an shot down two with anti-aircraft fire. On April 5, 1945 released from picket duty and resumes screening off Okinawa. On April 6, 1945 helped shoot down a twin engine bomber. On April 8, 1945 resumes radar picket duty at station No. 14 northwest of Okinawa with LSM(R)-189 and LSM(R)-190. Sinking History On April 12, 1945 in the afternoon while on radar picket duty off northern Okinawa targeted by kamikaze planes. At 1:45pm three Vals attacked but were driven off with one shot down At 2:00pm 15–25 planes were observed but did not enter gun range, aside from one light bomber that was damaged. At 2:40pm, three Zeros approached the destroyer with one driven off and another shot down. The third was hit by anti-aircraft fire but still managed to crash into the starboard side and penetrated into the aft engine room and exploded. The destroyer lost control and began to slow with a broken keep midship and all guns and directors lost power. At 2:46pm hit by MXY7 Ohka (Baka) on the starboard side at the waterline abreast the forward fire room and instantly cut all power. Almost immediately, the damaged destroyer broke into two pieces that rapidly sank at roughly Lat 27°25'N, Long 126°59'E. A total of 84 of her crew went down with the ship. The destroyer was the first U.S. Navy hit and sunk by an Ohka (Baka). For his actions, Cdr Parker earned the Navy Cross. Awards Mannert L. Abele earned two battle stars during World War II. Shipwreck During December 2022, the shipwreck of Mannert L. Abele was discovered at a depth of 4,500' / 1380 meters roughly 75 miles off northern Okinawa by the efforts of Lost 52 Project and Tim Taylor. Captain Parker died May 11, 1996 at aged 87 in Fairfax, VA. He is buried at United States Naval Academy Cemetery in Columbarium 16-4-F. On May 25, 2023 the shipwreck was confirmed by the Naval History and Heritage Command (NHHC) to be that of USS Mannert L. Abele (DD-733) using information provided by Tim Taylor / Tiburon Subsea and Lost 52 Project. References Naval History and Heritage Command (NHHC) - Mannert L. Abele (DD-733) Naval History and Heritage Command (NHHC) Wreck Site Identified as World War II Destroyer USS Mannert L. Abele (DD-733) May 25, 2023 via Wayback Machine June 1, 2023 NavSource - USS Mannert L. Abele (DD-733) Lost52 - USS Mannert L. Abele DD-733 (sonar image, underwater photo) FindAGrave - Capt Alton Enoch Parker (photo, grave photo, Navy Cross citation) New York Times "Navy Destroyer Sunk in World War II Is Discovered Off Okinawa" May 24, 2023 Contribute
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