(Named for Admiral David Glasgow Farragut)

Type and Characteristics - Destroyer (DD 348) Farragut-class, built by the Bethlehem Steel Corp., Fore River Shipyard; displacement. 2,365 tons; length 341ft3in; beam 34ft3in; draft 16ft2in; speed 37 kts; main engines: 42,800 SHP; Geared-turbines; 2 screws; crew 160; armament (as built): 5 × 5" (127mm)/38cal DP (5x1), 8 × 21" (533 mm) T Tubes (2x4), 4 x .50cal (12.7mm) MG AA (4x1); armament (c1943): 1 x Mk 33 Gun Fire Control System, 4 × 5" (127mm)/38cal DP (4x1), 8 × 21" (533 mm) T Tubes (2x4), 5 x Oerlikon 20 mm AA (5x1), 2 x Mk 51 Gun Directors, 4 x Bofors 40 mm AA (2x2), 2 x Depth Charge stern racks.

Log Period and Areas of Service - 1934-1945, training in home waters, Hawaiian waters, southwest Pacific, Alaskan waters, and Japan.

Summary of Service

[Note: Farragut received 14 battle stars during World War II. A more extensive accounting is at DANFS.]

18 June 1934 - Commissioned with Commander Elliott Buckmaster in command.

Because it was nearly 14 years since a new destroyer had been commissioned in the US Navy, Farragut devoted much of her early service to developmental operations and fleet maneuver training. 

14 October 1934 - Completed acceptance trials at Hampton Roads, Va., and participated in training operations on the east coast and Caribbean.

19 April 1935 - Arrived in San Diego via the Panama Canal; participated in fleet maneuvers and training operations on the west coast, in the Hawaiian Islands, and with the Naval Reserve in Alaskan waters.

19 March 1941 - During night maneuvers in Hawaiian waters, Farragut collided with destroyer Aylwin; Farragut’s bow plowed into Aylwin’s port side at a 90-degree angle, heavily damaging the ship forward from frames 1 to 22 and severe fire erupted within Aylwin, killing a signalman. Subsequently, Cmdr. George P. Hunter relieved Cmdr. Welker as the commanding officer in April.

7 December 1941 - When the Japanese attacked, Farragut was moored in a nest with destroyers Aylwin, Dale and Monaghan at East Loch, Pearl Harbor. Cmdr. Hunter was ashore, Lt. Edwin K. Jones, senior officer on board, took command of the ship. Farragut cleared the nest at 0852 and sailed down the channel, firing at several Japanese aircraft that flew within range and was strafed by one fighter.

8 December 1941 - Rendezvoused with carrier Enterprise and helped to screen the carrier. Through early April 1942, she operated in Hawaiian waters, and from Oahu to San Francisco, on antisubmarine patrols and escort duty.

15 April 1942 - Sortied with TF 11 to confront the Japanese advance on New Guinea and points in the islands.

11 May 1942 - Arrived at Cid Harbor, Australia, and helped escort convoys.

7 July 1942 - Sortied with TF 61 Expeditionary Force moving on Guadalcanal.

31 August 1942 - Lt. Cmdr. Henry D. Rozendal took command of the ship in August 1942. She patrolled off Guadalcanal and escorted convoys from Australia.

27 January 1943 - Arrived back at Pearl Harbor for an overhaul and training on the west coast.

16 April 1943 - Arrived at Adak, Alaska to patrol Alaskan waters.

11 May 1943 - Screened Army transports during Operation Landcrab; ran antisubmarine patrols off the Aleutians.

21 Jun 1943 - Lt. Cmdr. Edward Franklin Ferguson took command of the ship.

5 July 1943 - Patrolled and blockaded off Kiska.

26 July 1943 - Acted as the antisubmarine screen for battleships in the "Battle of the Pips."

4 September 1943 - She left Adak in convoy for San Francisco and a brief overhaul.

19 October 1943 - Left San Diego for training at Hawaiia and Espíritu Santo.

13 November 1943 - Took part in Operation Galvanic (the occupation of the Japanese-held Gilbert Islands).

13 January 1944 - Participated in Operation Flintlock (the occupation of the Marshalls), screening for carriers, patrolling, and conducting antisubmarine searches.

30 March 1944 - Participated in attacks on the Western Carolines islands, followed by supporting Army’s Operation Persecution and Operation Reckless.

25 May 1944 - Command given to Cmdr. Charles Conway Hartigan, Jr.

11 June 1944 - Participated in the invasion forces on Saipan.

17 July 1944 - Participated in Operation Stevedore on Guam.

21 November 1944 - Arrived at Ulithi and screened for a group of oilers off central Luzon, Philippines.

Early February 1945 - Participated in Operation Detachment on Iwo Jima.

11 May 1945 - Participated in carrier screening duty and escorting convoys between Ulithi and Okinawa.

21 August 1945 - Left Saipan for home.

23 October 1945 - Decommissioned at the New York Naval Shipyard.

Fate - Decommissioned 23 October 1945, stricken from the Naval Vessel Register on 28 January 1947 and sold for scrap on 14 August 1947 to Northern Metals Co., of Philadelphia, Pa., for $19,019.

Links: DANFS, Wikipedia

USS Farragut 1930

Seen from astern while in drydock, during the 1930s.

USS Farragut 1935

In harbor, circa 1935.

USS Farragut 1936

Leading a column of Destroyer Squadron Twenty ships, during maneuvers staged for Movietone News, off San Diego, California, 14 September 1936. The next ship astern is USS Aylwin (DD-355). (Courtesy of Commander Robert L. Ghormley, Jr., USN, 1969.)

USS Farragut 1944

Off the Puget Sound Navy Yard, Bremerton, Washington, 29 September 1944. Her camouflage scheme is Measure 31, Design 7d.

A general note on the sources.