View source for USS Albert W. Grant

{{Short description|Fletcher-class destroyer}}
{{Use American English|date=October 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2024}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin
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{{Infobox ship image
| Ship image = USS Albert W. Grant (DD-649) passes under the John P. Grace Memorial Bridge, South Carolina (USA), on 11 December 1943 (19-N-55226).jpg
| Ship caption = 
}}
{{Infobox ship career
| Hide header = 
| Ship country = United States
| Ship flag = {{USN flag|1945}}
| Ship name = 
| Ship namesake = [[Albert W. Grant]]
| Ship ordered = 
| Ship builder = [[Charleston Navy Yard]]
| Ship laid down = 30 December 1942
| Ship launched = 29 May 1943
| Ship commissioned = 24 November 1943
| Ship decommissioned = 16 July 1946
| Ship struck = 14 April 1971
| Ship honours = 
| Ship fate = Scrapped, 30 May 1972
| Ship notes = 
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
| Hide header = 
| Header caption = 
| Ship class = {{sclass|Fletcher|destroyer}}
| Ship displacement = 2,050 tons
| Ship length = {{convert|376|ft|5|in|abbr=on}}
| Ship beam = {{convert|39|ft|7|in|abbr=on}}
| Ship draft = {{convert|13|ft|9|in|abbr=on}}
| Ship propulsion = *{{convert|60,000|shp|lk=in|abbr=on}};
*geared turbines;
*2 propellers
| Ship speed ={{convert|35.2|kn|lk=in}}
| Ship range = {{convert|6,500|nmi|km|lk=in}} at {{convert|15|kn|km/h|abbr=on}}
| Ship complement = 329 officers and enlisted
| Ship sensors = 
| Ship EW = 
| Ship armament = *5 × [[5"/38 caliber gun|5 in (127 mm) 38 cal]] [[dual purpose gun]]s,
*10 × [[Bofors 40 mm Automatic Gun L/60|Bofors 40 mm gun]]s,
*7 × [[Oerlikon 20 mm cannon]]s,
*10 × [[American 21 inch torpedo|21 inch (533 mm)]]  [[torpedo tube]]s,
*6 × [[K-gun|depth charge projectors]],
*2 × depth charge tracks
| Ship notes = 
}}
|}

'''USS ''Albert W. Grant'' (DD-649)''' was a {{sclass|Fletcher|destroyer}} in the [[United States Navy]] during [[World War II]]. She was the only ship named for [[Vice Admiral]] [[Albert W. Grant]] (1856–1930), an [[admiral]] during [[World War I]].

==Construction and commissioning==
''Albert W. Grant'' was laid down on 30 December 1942 at [[North Charleston, South Carolina]], by the [[Charleston Navy Yard]]; [[ship naming and launching|launched]] on 29 May 1943, sponsored by Miss Nell Preston Grant, granddaughter of Admiral Grant; and [[ship commissioning|commissioned]] on 24 November 1943.

==Service history==

On the day of her commissioning, ''Albert W. Grant'' departed Charleston Navy Yard for a [[shakedown cruise]] to [[Bermuda]]. She returned to Charleston Navy Yard on 29 January 1944 for minor modifications.

===1944===
''Albert W. Grant'' headed for [[Norfolk, Virginia]], on 8 February, and five days later, she got underway to escort {{USS|Hornet|CV-12|2}} to [[Hawaii]]. They transited the [[Panama Canal]], joined more ships at [[San Diego]], and finally arrived at [[Pearl Harbor]] on 4 March.

On 4 April, the destroyer sailed for [[Majuro]] where she joined [[Task Force 58|TF 58]] for the [[Operation Reckless|invasion at Hollandia]]. During that [[New Guinea]] operation, from 21 to 29 April, ''Grant'' engaged in picket duty, inshore patrol duty, and covered landing force operations. On 29 April, she headed for the [[Caroline Islands]] with [[Task Group 58.3|TG 58.3]] and screened the carriers during strikes on [[Chuuk Lagoon|Truk]]. The task group left for Majuro on 2 May and continued on to Pearl Harbor, arriving there on 11 May.

====Marianas, Palaus and Philippines campaigns====
After a brief respite, ''Albert W. Grant'' got underway on 29 May for [[Eniwetok]], which served as the [[staging area]] for the invasion of the [[Marianas Islands|Marianas]]. On 11 June, she sailed to [[Saipan]] and commenced her gunfire support activities on 15 June. The destroyer was also involved in action against [[Tinian]]. She departed the Saipan area on 29 July and put into Eniwetok on 2 August. Following a brief upkeep period, the destroyer got underway for [[Purvis Bay]], [[Solomon Islands]], on 22 August.

The ship sortied with [[Task Group 32.5|TG 32.5]] on 6 September for the [[Palau Islands campaign|assault on the Palaus]] and, during a two-week period in mid-September, conducted pre-invasion bombardment and supported the landings [[Battle of Peleliu|on Peleliu]] and [[Battle of Angaur|Angaur]]. On 29 September, she left for [[Manus Island]]. The destroyer remained there through 12 October, then sailed for the [[Philippines]] as a member of [[Task Group 77.2|TG 77.2]]. On 17 October, ''Grant'' provided protection for {{USS|Crosby|APD-17|2}} while that [[fast transport]] landed troops on [[Suluan Island]], Philippines. From 17 to 24 October, the destroyer provided fire support for the [[Battle of Leyte|assault on Leyte]].

====Leyte Gulf====
On 24 October, ''Albert W. Grant'' joined TG 77.2 and sailed to engage a [[Japan]]ese task force reported steaming northward from the [[Sulu Sea]] toward [[Surigao Strait]]. That American [[battleship]] group met the Japanese force in the [[Battle of Surigao Strait]], and ''Grant'', along with other destroyers in advance of the main battle line, conducted a [[torpedo]] attack. During this attack, she was hit and severely damaged by gunfire, not only from Japanese naval forces, but also by its covering US battleships. ''Grant'' suffered 22 hits, many by six-inch shells. Fires broke out, and the ship lost steering control and all power. Thirty-eight men were killed and 104 were wounded. Although their ship was down by the bow and listing heavily to port, the destroyer's crew got her engines working again and enabled her to retire to American-controlled waters in [[Leyte Gulf]].

While en route to [[Leyte]], ''Grant'' [[Typhoon Cobra|weathered a typhoon]] before reaching the anchorage. Following temporary repairs, the ship sailed for Pearl Harbor on 30 October under tow by {{USS|Hidatsa|AT-102|2}}. She stopped en route at [[Seeadler Harbor]] and [[Majuro]]. ''Grant'' reached Pearl Harbor on 29 November and, three days later, sailed for [[Mare Island Naval Shipyard|Mare Island]], [[California]]. Following her arrival on 9 December, the destroyer underwent major repair work.

===1945===
''Albert W. Grant'' left the shipyard on 11 March 1945 and headed for Pearl Harbor. She arrived there on 25 March and began underway training exercises. On 23 April, the destroyer sailed for the Philippines. ''Grant'' reached Leyte on 13 May. She stood out of [[Manila]] on 3 June to escort [[General of the Army (United States)|General of the Army]] [[Douglas MacArthur]], embarked in {{USS|Boise|CL-47|2}}, on a tour of the Philippines. ''Grant'' then sailed southwest toward [[Brunei Bay]], [[Borneo]], to rendezvous with [[Task Group 78.1|TG 78.1]] for the [[Operation Oboe Six|assault on Brunei Bay]]. On 10 June, she covered the landings there. The ship rejoined the MacArthur tour on the 11th and dropped anchor at [[Manila]] on 15 June.

''Grant'' operated in [[Manila Bay]] until 27 June, when she got underway for [[Balikpapan]], [[Borneo]]. From 30 June to 9 July, the destroyer covered [[Battle of Balikpapan (1945)|operations against Balikpapan]]. She was back at Manila on 14 July. ''Grant'' then moved to the [[Marshall Islands|Marshalls]] and, upon her arrival at Eniwetok on 3 August, joined [[Task Force 49|TF 49]] for duty in the North Pacific. She sailed to [[Adak, Alaska]], and the day before she arrived there, received word of the [[Surrender of Japan|Japanese capitulation]] on 15 August, and sortied with TF 49 for [[Ōminato Guard District|Ominato]], Japan. The task force arrived off [[Honshu]] on 8 September and anchored at Ominato on the 10th.

The destroyer remained on occupation duty in Japan through mid-November. ''Grant'' then sailed back to the [[United States]]. She arrived at [[Seattle]], [[Washington (state)|Washington]], on 2 December, and upon her arrival, began overhaul. The destroyer was placed out of commission, in reserve at San Diego, on 16 July 1946. Her name was struck from the [[Naval Vessel Register|Navy list]] on 14 April 1971, and she was sold for scrapping.

==Awards==
''Albert W. Grant'' received seven [[battle star]]s for [[World War II]] and a [[Navy Unit Commendation]]<ref>{{cite web
 | url=  http://www.destroyerhistory.org/fletcherclass/ussalbertwgrant/nuc649.html
 | title= THE UNITED STATES SHIP ALBERT W. GRANT: Commendation
 |date= 21 October 1946 |publisher= [[Destroyer History Foundation]]
 | quote= ... Crippled but undaunted, the ALBERT W. GRANT, superbly handled by gallant officers and men, rendered distinctive service and upheld the finest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
 | access-date= 2008-04-18 }}</ref> for the [[Battle of Surigao Strait]].

==References==
{{DANFS}}
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*{{cite web
 | url= http://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/a/albert-w-grant.html
 | title= ''Albert W. Grant''
 | work= [[Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships]]
 | publisher= U.S. [[Naval Historical Center]]
 | access-date= 2008-04-18 }}
*{{cite web
 | url= http://www.navsource.org/archives/05/649.htm
 | title=  DD-649 USS ''Albert W. Grant''
 |author= Fred Willshaw
 | work= Destroyer Photo Archive |publisher= NavSource Naval History
 | access-date= 2008-04-18 }}

{{Fletcher class destroyer}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Albert W. Grant (Dd-649)}}
[[Category:World War II destroyers of the United States]]
[[Category:Ships built in Charleston, South Carolina]]
[[Category:1943 ships]]
[[Category:Fletcher-class destroyers of the United States Navy]]
[[Category:Friendly fire incidents of World War II]]