View source for USS Shaw (DD-373)

{{Short description|Mahan-class destroyer}}
{{other ships|USS Shaw}}
{{Use American English|date=October 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2024}}
{{Infobox ship
|section1={{Infobox ship/image
 |image=USS Shaw (DD-373) September 1938.jpg
 |image_caption=USS ''Shaw'' (DD-373), September 1938
 }}

|section2={{Infobox ship/career
 |hide_header=
 |country=United States
 |flag={{USN flag|1945}}
 |name=
 |namesake=Captain [[John Shaw (navy)|John Shaw]]
 |owner=
 |operator=
 |registry=
 |route=
 |ordered=
 |awarded=
 |builder=[[Philadelphia Naval Shipyard]]
 |original_cost=
 |yard_number=
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 |laid_down=1 October 1934
 |launched=28 October 1935
 |sponsor=
 |christened=
 |completed=
 |acquired=
 |commissioned=18 September 1936
 |recommissioned=
 |decommissioned=2 October 1945
 |maiden_voyage=
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 |struck=4 October 1945
 |reinstated=
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 |honors=
 |captured=
 |fate=Scrapped July 1946
 |notes=
 |badge=
 }}

|section3={{Infobox ship/characteristics
 |hide_header=
 |header_caption=
 |class={{sclass|Mahan|destroyer}}
 |type=
 |tonnage=
 |displacement=1,450&nbsp;[[long ton]]s (1,470 t)
 |length={{convert|341.3|ft|m|1|abbr=on}}
 |beam={{convert|34.7|ft|m|1|abbr=on}}
 |height=
 |draft={{convert|17|ft|m|1|abbr=on}}
 |depth=
 |hold_depth=
 |decks=
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 |speed={{convert|35|kn|mph km/h|0}}
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 |boats=
 |capacity=
 |troops=
 |complement=204 officers and crew
 |crew=
 |time_to_activate=
 |sensors=
 |EW=
 |armament=*'''As Built:'''
           * 1 × Gun Director above bridge
           * 5 × [[5"/38 caliber gun|5"(127 mm)/38 cal DP]] (5x1),
           * 12 × [[American 21 inch torpedo|21 inch (533 mm)]] T Tubes (3x4),
           * 4 × [[M2 Browning|.50 cal (12.7 mm)]] MG AA (4x1),
           * 2 × Depth Charge stern racks,
           * '''c. 1944:'''
           * 1 × Mk33 Gun Fire Control System,
           * 4 × [[5"/38 caliber gun|5" (127 mm)/38 cal DP]] (4x1),
           * 12 × [[American 21 inch torpedo|21 inch (533 mm)]] T Tubes (3x4),
           * 2 × Mk51 Gun Directors,
           * 4 × [[Bofors 40 mm Automatic Gun L/60|Bofors 40 mm AA]] (2x2),
           * 6 × [[Oerlikon 20 mm cannon|Oerlikon 20 mm AA]] (6x1),
           * 2 × Depth Charge roll-off stern racks,
           * 4 × K-gun [[depth charge]] projectors
 |armor=
 |aircraft=
 |aircraft_facilities=
 |notes=
 }}
}}

'''USS ''Shaw'' (DD-373)''' was a [[Mahan-class destroyer|''Mahan''-class destroyer]] and the second ship of the [[United States Navy]] to be named for [[Captain (U.S. Navy)|Captain]] [[John Shaw (navy)|John Shaw]], a naval officer. Commissioned in 1936, ''Shaw'' was plagued by construction deficiencies and was not fully operational until 1938.  After training in the Atlantic, she was transferred to the Pacific and was berthed in a dry dock in Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941.

''Shaw'' sustained major damage from several bomb hits by Japanese forces during the [[attack on Pearl Harbor]].  The spectacular explosion of her forward magazine provided one of the most iconic photographs of the attack. She was repaired within a few months of the attack, and served in the Pacific through the rest of [[World War II]], earning 11 [[battle star]]s.

''Shaw'' was decommissioned in October 1945 and sold for scrap in July 1946.

==History==

''Shaw'' was laid down on 1 October 1934 at the [[Philadelphia Naval Shipyard]], [[Philadelphia, Pennsylvania]]; launched on 28 October 1935, sponsored by Miss Dorthy L. Tinker; and [[ship commissioning|commissioned]] on 18 September 1936.

Following commissioning, ''Shaw'' remained at Philadelphia until April 1937, when she crossed the [[Atlantic Ocean|Atlantic]] on her shakedown cruise. Returning to Philadelphia on 18 June, she commenced a year of yard work to correct deficiencies before completing acceptance trials in June 1938. ''Shaw'' conducted training exercises in the Atlantic for the remainder of the year. She then transited to the Pacific and underwent overhaul at [[Mare Island Naval Shipyard|Mare Island]] from 8 January to 4 April 1939.

''Shaw'' remained on the West Coast until April 1940, participating in various exercises and providing services to [[aircraft carrier|carriers]] and [[submarine]]s operating in the area. In April, she sailed for [[Hawaii]], where she participated in [[Fleet Problem XXI]], an eight-phased operation for the defense of the Hawaiian area. She remained in the Hawaiian area until November, when she returned to the West Coast for overhaul.

Back in the Hawaiian area by mid-February 1941, ''Shaw'' operated in those waters until November, when she entered the Navy Yard at [[Pearl Harbor]] for repairs, drydocking in YFD-2.

===Attack on Pearl Harbor===
[[File:USS SHAW exploding Pearl Harbor Nara 80-G-16871 2.jpg|thumb|left|USS ''Shaw'' exploding after her forward magazine was detonated by the raging fire]]

On 7 December,  ''Shaw'' was still in [[auxiliary floating drydock]] [[YFD-2]], receiving adjustments to her [[depth charge]] mechanisms. During the [[Attack on Pearl Harbor|Japanese attack]], she took three hits – two bombs through the forward machine gun platform, and one through the port wing of the bridge. Fires spread through the ship. By 0925, all fire-fighting facilities were exhausted, and the order to abandon ship was given. Efforts to flood the dock were only partially successful, and shortly after 0930, her forward magazine exploded.

Temporary repairs were made at Pearl Harbor during December 1941 and January 1942. On 9 February,  ''Shaw'' steamed towards [[San Francisco, California|San Francisco]], where repairs were completed, including the installation of a new bow, at the end of June. Following training in the [[San Diego, California]], area, ''Shaw'' returned to Pearl Harbor on 31 August 1942.

===Further service in World War II===
For the next two months, she escorted convoys between the West Coast and Hawaii. In mid-October, as a unit of a carrier force centered on the {{USS|Enterprise|CV-6|2}}, ''Shaw'' departed from Pearl Harbor and steamed westwardly. Meeting with a carrier force centered on {{USS|Hornet|CV-8|2}}, the two carrier groups united as Task Force 61, and then moved north of the [[Santa Cruz Islands]] to intercept enemy forces headed to attack [[Guadalcanal]].

[[File:USS Shaw Pearl Harbor-7Dec41.jpg|thumb|left|Wreckage of bombed ''Shaw'' at [[Pearl Harbor]]]]
By mid-morning on the 26th, both carrier groups were under attack. As an accompanying ship, {{USS|Porter|DD-356|2}}, stopped to pick up survivors from a downed [[torpedo bomber|torpedo plane]], she was [[torpedo]]ed. ''Shaw'' went to ''Porter''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s assistance. Half an hour later, she was ordered to take off ''Porter'''s crew and sink the disabled destroyer. [[Periscope]] sightings followed by [[depth charge]] attacks delayed execution of the mission. By noon, however, the transfer was completed. An hour later, ''Porter'' was gone, and ''Shaw'' left the scene to rejoin the task force.

Two days later,  ''Shaw'' headed for the [[New Hebrides]], where she commenced escorting ships moving men and supplies to Guadalcanal. She continued that duty through November and December and into January 1943. On 10 January, while entering [[Nouméa]] Harbor, [[New Caledonia]],  ''Shaw'' ran aground on Sournois Reef. She was freed on the 15th, but extensive damage to her hull, propellers, and sound gear necessitated temporary repairs at Nouméa – followed by lengthy repairs and rearmament at Pearl Harbor, which took through September.

[[File:USS Shaw (DD-373) with temporary bow.jpg|thumb|USS ''Shaw'' (DD-373) with her temporary bow]]
On 6 October, ''Shaw'' headed west again, reaching Nouméa on the 18th and [[Milne Bay]], [[New Guinea]], on the 24th. Now a unit of the [[VII Amphibious Force|7th Amphibious Force]], ''Shaw'' escorted reinforcements to [[Lae]] and [[Finschhafen]] for the remainder of October and during November. Following [[Battle of Arawe|an unsuccessful diversionary assault by Army troops against Umtingalu]], [[New Britain]], on 15 December, ''Shaw'' recovered survivors from two rubber boats and escorted {{HMAS|Westralia|1939|6}} and {{USS|Carter Hall|LSD-3|2}} back to [[Buna, Papua New Guinea]].

On 25 December, ''Shaw'' escorted units engaged in the assault against [[Cape Gloucester (Papua New Guinea)|Cape Gloucester]], where she provided gunfire support and served as fighter director ship. On the 26th,  ''Shaw'' sustained casualties and damage when attacked by two "[[Aichi D3A|Vals]]." Thirty-six men were injured, three of whom later died of their wounds. The ''Shaw'' returned to [[Cape Sudest]], New Guinea, on the 27th; she transferred her wounded and dead to shore facilities there, and continued on to Milne Bay for temporary repairs. Permanent repairs were completed at [[Hunters Point (San Francisco)|Hunter's Point]], [[California]], on 1 May 1944.

[[File:USS Shaw DD-373 aerial 1942.jpg|thumb|left|USS ''Shaw'' (DD-373) after bow replacement]]
''Shaw'' returned to Pearl Harbor on the 10th, joined the [[United States Fifth Fleet|5th Fleet]] there, and steamed toward the [[Marshall Islands]] on the 15th. She got underway from the Marshalls on 11 June with TF-52 to engage in the assault on [[Saipan]] Island. Four days later, the attack began. For the next three and one-half weeks, the destroyer rotated between screening and "call fire" support duties of the Marines on shore. In mid-July, ''Shaw'' was back in the Marshall Islands. On the 18th,  ''Shaw'' got underway to return to the [[Mariana Islands]] accompanying the [[Guam]] assault forces. During the action that followed,  ''Shaw'' performed escort and patrol duties.

[[File:5in-38 Open Mount.jpg|thumb|Training on the [[5"/38 caliber gun]]]]
''On 23 September, Shaw'' departed the Marianas. Following a tender repair availability at [[Eniwetok]], she rejoined the 7th Amphibious Force on 20 October and headed for [[Leyte Gulf]] on the 25th. Convoy escort duties between the [[Philippines]] and New Guinea involved  ''Shaw'' until the invasion of [[Luzon]] took place at [[Lingayen Gulf]] on 9 January 1945. From the 9th to the 15th, she performed screening, "call fire" support for the soldiers ashore, night illumination with star shells, and shore bombardment missions. Following this operation,  ''Shaw'' was involved in the recapture of [[Manila Bay]], Luzon. After the Luzon operations,  ''Shaw'' supported the assault and occupation of [[Palawan]] Island during the period from 28 February to 4 March.

In early April,  ''Shaw'' operated in the [[Visayas]], setting two Japanese barges on fire off [[Bohol]] on 2 April. Damaged soon thereafter on an uncharted pinnacle, she underwent temporary repairs. On the 25th, she steamed toward the United States West Coast.  ''Shaw'' arrived at San Francisco on 19 May. Repairs and upgrades to her systems continued into August. The work was completed on the 20th.  ''Shaw'' then departed for the [[East Coast of the United States]]. Upon her arrival at Philadelphia, the warship was routed to New York City for deactivation. Decommissioned on 2 October 1945, her name was stricken from the Navy List two days later. Her hull was scrapped in July 1946.

''Shaw'' earned 11 battle stars during World War II.

==References==
{{DANFS|http://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/s/shaw-ii.html}}

==Further reading==
* Sweatt, Greg. [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa4442/is_200603/ai_n17172052/pg_1 "USS ''Shaw'': A Ship too Tough to Die!"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071209171319/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa4442/is_200603/ai_n17172052/pg_1 |date=2007-12-09 }} ''Sea Classics'', March 2006.

==External links==
{{Commons category|USS Shaw (DD-373)}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20120202184750/http://www.history.navy.mil/docs/wwii/pearl/ph117.htm USS ''Shaw'' Pearl Harbor after action report]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20130503051240/http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/sh-usn/usnsh-s/dd373.htm USS ''Shaw'' (DD-373), 1936–1946 US Naval Historical Center photo galleries]
* [http://www.erbzine.com/mag5/0508.html The USS ''Shaw'' / Edgar Rice Burroughs Connection]

{{Mahan class destroyer}}
{{Pearl Harbor attack}}
{{December 1941 shipwrecks}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Shaw (DD-373)}}
[[Category:Mahan-class destroyers]]
[[Category:Ships sunk during the attack on Pearl Harbor]]
[[Category:World War II destroyers of the United States]]
[[Category:Ships built in Philadelphia]]
[[Category:1935 ships]]
[[Category:Ships present during the attack on Pearl Harbor]]
[[Category:Naval magazine explosions]]