U.S.S. McCOY - REYNOLDS
AND
U.S.S. GILLIGAN
LAUNCHING
FEBRUARY 20, 1944

THE WHITEHEAD & HOAG CO.
NEWARK, N.J.
BUTTONS, BADGES, NOVELTIES AND SIGNS

U.S.S. McCoy Reynolds (DE-440)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Career (US)

Laid down: 18 November 1943
Launched: 22 February 1944
Commissioned: 2 May 1944
Decommissioned: 31 May 1946
In service: 28 March 1951
Out of service: 7 February 1957
Struck: 1 November 1968
Fate: loaned to Portugal 7 February 1957

General characteristics

Displacement: 1,350/1,745 tons
Length: 306 ft. (93 m) (oa)
Beam: 36 ft. 10 in. (11.2 m)
Draught: 13 ft. 4 in. (4.1 m) (max)
Propulsion: 2 boilers, 2 geared turbine engines, 12,000 shp, 2 screws
Speed: 24 knots
Range: 6,000 nm at 12 knots
Complement: 14 officers, 201 enlisted
Armament: 2 - 5''/38, 4 (2x2) 40mmAA, 10 - 20mm AA, 3-21'' TT, 1 Hedgehog, 8 DCT's, 2 DC tracks.

U.S.S. McCoy Reynolds (DE-440) was a John C. Butler class destroyer escort acquired by the U.S. Navy during World War II. The primary purpose of the destroyer escort was to escort and protect ships in convoy, in addition to other tasks as assigned, such as patrol or radar picket. Post war, after operating in the Pacific Ocean battle areas, her crew members returned home proudly with four battle stars to their credit for World War II and one for the Korean War. McCoy Reynolds (DE-440) was named in honor of McCoy Reynolds who was awarded the Silver Star posthumously for his gallant bravery during the Guadalcanal Campaign. McCoy Reynolds (DE 440) was laid down by Federal Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Co., Kearny, New Jersey, 18 November 1943; launched 22 February 1944; sponsored by Mrs. Tilden Reynolds; and commissioned at Brooklyn Navy Yard 2 May 1944, Lt. Comdr. Edwin K. Winn in command.

World War II Pacific Theatre operations
After shakedown off Bermuda, McCoy Reynolds departed Norfolk, Virginia, 11 July to escort U.S.S. Ranger (CV-4) to the Panama Canal Zone. arriving 16 July. She transited the canal 26 July: reached San Diego, California, 6 August; and, between 13 and 19 August, screened transports and supply ships to the Hawaiian Islands.

Sinking of Japanese submarine RO-47
Sailing 3 September, McCoy Reynolds escorted ships via the Admiralties to the Palaus. From 20 to 24 September she screened shore bombardment ships aiding the conquest of Peleliu by U.S. marines. On 25 September, en route to join task force TF 57 out of Guam, McCoy Reynolds made underwater contact with a suspected submarine, and for 2 hours launched four depth charge attacks without results. At 0203 26 September, she picked up a contact on surface radar at about 9,000 yards. Five minutes later it disappeared; however, at 0213 her sonar regained contact at a range of 2,500. At 0219 she launched the first of seven vigorous, intensive attacks with hedgehogs and depth charges on the target, probably Japanese submarine RO-47. Four hours later, a violent underwater explosion was felt, and her lookouts spotted an oil slick which by noon covered an area of 2 square miles.

Sinking of Japanese submarine I-37
Arriving Guam 28 September, McCoy Reynolds served on convoy and escort duty; 25 and 26 October she screened ships of task group TG 30.8 east of Luzon as they refueled hard hitting carriers of the Fast Carrier Task Force. She escorted two merchant troopships, to Leyte Gulf 11 to 14 November, sailed in convoy 15 November, and arrived at Kossol, Palaus, the 18th. With the U.S.S. Conklin (DE-439), she began a sonar search at 10:55 19 November for a submarine that had been spotted in the western entrance to Kossol Roads. Four hours later she made contact and closed to attack with hedgehogs and depth charges. McCoy Reynolds and Conklin made a total of eight attacks until an underwater explosion occurred and oil and debris gushed to the surface at about 17:45, marking the sinking of Japanese submarine I-37.

Guarding against air attack
Through March 1945, McCoy Reynolds escorted convoys in the Marianas and Marshalls and conducted antisubmarine patrols out of Ulithi and Manus. She departed Ulithi 26 March to screen the Logistics Support Group of the Fifth Fleet's Fast Carrier Task Force during the Okinawa campaign. During her third escort mission on 12 May the U.S.S. McCoy Reynolds went to the aid of U.S.S. Bunker Hill (CV-17), struck by two kamikazes the day before, with heavy losses and serious damage. McCoy Reynolds guarded the carrier to Ulithi, arriving 14 May, then returned to the Logistics Support Group, with whom she experienced the typhoon of 5 June which severely damaged more than 20 ships of the fleet.

Capture and rescue operations
After a convoy run to and from Ulithi, McCoy Reynolds carried out antisubmarine and antiair patrols off Okinawa during the closing weeks of the Pacific war. On 12 July she captured two enemy soldiers attempting to escape from the island in a dugout canoe. On 9 September she rescued two survivors of an U.S. Army fighter which had flamed out off Hagushi. She made passenger, freight, and mail runs from Okinawa to Nagasaki and Sasebo until 15 October when she sailed for Saipan, Pearl Harbor, and San Diego, California. Arriving San Diego 5 November, she decommissioned there 31 May 1946 and entered the Pacific Reserve Fleet. She recommissioned 29 March 1951, Lt. Comdr. Peter S. Smith in command.

Reactivation for the Korean crisis
Following shakedown, she departed San Diego 8 July and arrived Pearl Harbor the 14th. She operated out of Pearl Harbor until 3 May 1952 when she deployed for the Far East. Sailing via Midway Island and Yokosuka, Japan, she arrived off the eastern coast of Korea 17 May. The next day she began shore bombardment at Songjin, and on 21 May she destroyed a North Korean railroad train. She alternated duty off Korea with escort runs from Japan to Okinawa and with Formosa patrol duty until departing 20 August for Pearl Harbor, arriving the 29th.

Operating with the Royal Thai Navy
McCoy Reynolds operated out of Pearl Harbor during the next 16 months and deployed to the Far East 4 January 1954. She reached Manila Bay 18 January and after exercises with the Royal Thai Navy carried out training operations in the South China Sea. After serving as station ship at Hong Kong 20 March to 12 May, she exercised in the South China Sea and Gulf of Siam until making passage to Pearl Harbor, 29 June to 11 July. McCoy Reynolds sailed 31 May 1955 for surveillance patrols off the Carolines and service as a search and rescue ship in the mid Pacific, returning to Pearl Harbor 22 October. She participated in antisubmarine warfare, escort, and (other training until sailing for the U.S. West Coast 24 August 1956.

Final decommissioning
She arrived San Francisco, California, 31 August, underwent overhaul at Hunter's Point and decommissioned at Treasure Island, California, 7 February 1957. McCoy Reynolds received four battle stars for World War II service and one battle star for Korean service.Under the Military Assistance Program, she was loaned to the Government of Portugal, with whom she serves as Corte Real (F 334). Struck from the U.S. Naval Vessel Register 1 November 1968, she was sold to Portugal the next month.

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U.S.S. Gilligan (DE-508)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Career (US)

Laid down: 18 November 1943
Launched: 22 February 1944
Commissioned: 12 May 1944
Decommissioned: 2 July 1946
In service: NRT, 13th Naval District, August 1950
Out of service: 31 March 1959
Struck: 1 March 1972
Fate: Sold for scrap 20 November 1973

General characteristics

Displacement: 1,350/1,745 tons
Length: 306 ft. (93 m) overall
Beam: 36 ft. 10 in. (11.2 m)
Draught: 13 ft. 4 in. (4.1 m) maximum
Propulsion: 2 boilers, 2 geared turbine engines, 12,000 shp, 2 screws
Speed: 24 knots (44 km/h)
Range: 6,000 nm at 12 knots (22 km/h)
Complement: 14 officers, 201 enlisted
Armament: 2 - 5''/38, 4, 40 mm AA, 10 - 20 mm AA, 3-21'' torpedo tubes, 1 Hedgehog, 8 depth charge projectors, 2 depth charge tracks.

U.S.S. Gilligan (DE-508) was a John C. Butler class destroyer escort acquired by the U.S. Navy during World War II. The primary purpose of the destroyer escort was to escort and protect ships in convoy, in addition to other tasks as assigned, such as patrol or radar picket. After the war, she proudly returned home with one battle star to her credit. The U.S.S. Gilligan (DE-508) was named in honor of John Joseph Gilligan, Jr., who was awarded the Silver Star for his bravery on Tulagi, in the Solomon Islands. She was launched 22 February 1944 by the Federal Shipbuilding & Drydock Co., Kearny, New Jersey; sponsored by Mrs. John J. Gilligan, the namesake's mother; and commissioned 12 May 1944, Lt. Comdr. Carl E. Bull, USNR, commanding.

World War II Pacific Theatre operations
Following shakedown off Bermuda, Gilligan escorted a troopship from New York to Maine and sailed from Norfolk, Virginia, 5 August 1944 to escort an LSD to Pearl Harbor, arriving 30 August. Underway 29 September to escort merchantmen to Eniwetok, she put in at Majuro 13 October and from 16 October - 27 October 1944 escorted merchantmen to Kwajalein, bombarded Mille atoll and Jaluit Island, and sank a 50 foot (15 m) Japanese schooner, before returning to Majuro the latter date.

Loss of the Mississinewa
Gilligan sailed 1 November to escort merchantmen to Eniwetok and Saipan, subsequently mooring at Ulithi 17 November. Three days later, on 20 November, fleet oiler Mississinewa (AO-59) loaded with more than 400,000 gallons of aviation gasoline -- was torpedoed inside Ulithi lagoon with a loss of 50 officers and men. Seconds later, Gilligan saw a miniature Japanese submarine pass close alongside; with other ships she depth charged within the lagoon and possibly damaged one midget. Destroyer U.S.S. Case (DD-370) rammed and sank another outside the harbor, and Marine planes finished off a third the same day. Gilligan sailed 4 December as a steamship escort to Manus and conducted patrols off Bougainville from that port until 31 December 1944 when she departed Manus to escort troopships bound for Lingayen Gulf, arriving in time for D-Day, 9 January 1945. Although in constant danger from enemy air attacks, the destroyer escort supported the assault, screened for Attack Group Able of VADM Wilkinson's Task Force 79, and made smoke.

Struck by a kamikaze
Gilligan came under kamikaze attack 12 January. A bluejacket under fire from the attacking plane leaped from his post onto the main battery director and threw it off target, a mistake which prevented the 5 inch guns from getting off more than 14 rounds. The kamikaze crashed directly into the muzzles of Gilligan's No. 2 - 40 mm gun, killing 12 men and wounding 12, and started raging fires. Outstanding damage control kept the ship seaworthy; she put in at Leyte 17 January for repairs, subsequently reaching Pearl Harbor 21 February for overhaul.

Supporting Okinawa operations
Gilligan sailed again 29 March 1945 as an antisubmarine convoy escort and closed the western beaches of Okinawa 17 April to commence antiaircraft and antisubmarine screening around the transport anchorage. The Japanese were at this time using every conceivable means, kamikazes, submarines, swimmers, and motor boats, to destroy the assembled ships. In spite of heavy air attacks she engaged in screening and escort duties for transports, splashed at least five attacking planes, and possibly damaged a submarine.

Struck by a torpedo which did not go off
On 27 May her luck almost ran out; a torpedo bomber hit her solidly with a torpedo, which fortunately was a dud. Gilligan returned to Ulithi 25 June and sailed again 6 July on merchantmen escort duty to Leyte and Hollandia and subsequently closed Manila where she was attached to the Philippine Sea Frontier.

End of war activity
On 16 August she sailed to escort merchantmen to Okinawa, returning to Manila 27 August, and repeated this voyage 29 August - 25 September 1945. Underway from Manila 5 November, Gilligan reached San Pedro, California, 26 November for overhaul. She was towed to San Diego 14 April 1946 and was placed out of commission in reserve at that port 2 July 1946.

Reactivated as a training ship
Gilligan recommissioned in reserve 15 July 1950 at Seattle, Washington, and conducting reserve cruises in Pacific Northwest waters, and voyages thence to the Fleet Sonar School at San Diego. Training cruises brought her twice to Hawaii, once to Acapulco, Mexico, and once to the Panama Canal Zone before she decommissioned 31 March 1959 at Point Astoria, Oregon. Gilligan remained out of commission in reserve at Bremerton, Washington. On 1 March 1972 she was struck from the Navy list and, on 20 November 1973, she was sold for scrap. Gilligan earned one battle star for World War II service.