USS Preston (DD-379)

USS ''Preston'' (DD–379) was a in the United States Navy before and during World War II. She was the fifth Navy ship named for Lieutenant Samuel W. Preston (1840–1865).

''Preston'' was laid down on 27 October 1934 at the Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, California, and launched on 22 April 1936. She was sponsored by Mrs. Edward H. Campbell, commissioned on 27 October 1936.

History

Following shakedown, ''Preston'' operated briefly under the Chief of Naval Operations, then joined Battle Force, U.S. Fleet. Initially assigned to Destroyer Squadron 2 (DesRon 2), then shifted to DesRon 5, she conducted peacetime training exercises in the Pacific until 7 December 1941. Patrol and coastal escort duties along the west coast kept ''Preston'' in the eastern Pacific until 1 June 1942. Then setting a westward course she headed for Hawaii in the screen of the aircraft carrier . Arriving on 6 June, her group, TG 11.1, departed again the next day to rendezvous with Task Force 17 (TF17) and deliver planes, pilots, and material to the carriers and as that force refueled and rested after the Battle of Midway.

On 13 June, ''Preston'' returned to Pearl Harbor and for the next four months conducted type exercises and performed patrol and escort work in the Hawaiian area. She joined TF 16 on 4 October, and on 15 October sailed for the Solomon Islands. On 24 October, TF 16 rendezvoused with TF 17, formed TF 61, and continued on. Two days later, ''Preston'', in the carrier screen, introduced her guns to the enemy at the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands. Downing two planes, she emerged unscathed from her first engagement and retired to Nouméa.

Rearmed, she headed back to the Solomons for her second and last fight. On the evening of 14 November, ''Preston'', with TF 64, sailed along the western end of Guadalcanal to intercept another Japanese run down the “ Slot” to bombard Henderson Field and land reinforcements. Swinging around Savo Island, the force, two battleships preceded by four destroyers, entered the channel between Savo and Cape Esperance. At 23:00, the battleship picked up the on her radar, and, at 23:17, the Third Battle of Savo Island began.

''Sendai'', accompanied by the destroyer ''Shikinami'', had been following the Americans, but projectiles drove them off. Soon after, however, the battle was rejoined. The Japanese force had been dispersed and within minutes of the battleship/ cruiser encounter, enemy destroyers, edging along the southern shore of Savo, entered the fray. and ''Preston'' followed. , which had been firing illumination shells toward the earlier gunfire exchange, came into the action in time to sight the cruiser ''Nagara'' and four destroyers closing in. Farther out, heavier Japanese ships were preparing to join in. The concentrated American destroyers were now central targets.

Approximately eight minutes after the enemy was engaged, was hit. Soon after, ''Preston'', preparing her torpedoes, was struck. One salvo from ''Nagara'' had put both firerooms out and toppled the afterstack. Her fires made an easier target and shells came in from both port and starboard; there is the possibility that the shells coming in from port were from a friendly ship, most likely the Washington which was off to her port & had a broken gun mount causing one of her cannons to hang low. (Lt. CMDR Reed), (Lundgren, 291f). The fires spread. At 23:36, she was ordered abandoned. Minutes later, she rolled on her port side. She floated for another ten minutes, bow in the air; then sank, taking 116 of her crew with her. Prior to the battle, Her skipper, Max C. Stormes wisely had all of the tetryl boosters for Prestons depth charges thrown overboard to prevent detonation should the ship go down. This decision no doubt saved many lives.

The battle continued. ''Gwin'' now became the target of Japanese guns. Shells exploded in an engine room and on the fantail. At 23:38, ''Walke''s forecastle was blown off. ''Benham''s bow was all but demolished; she would go down on 15 November. ''Walke'' soon followed ''Preston'' to the Savo Island graveyard. At 23:48, as the battleships took over, the remaining destroyers were ordered to retire. In the ensuing duel, ''Washington'' inflicted irreparable damage on the Japanese bombardment force and remained unscathed. However, was exposed by searchlight and took shells from that enemy force. The Japanese had again scored heavily, but in doing so had lost a battleship and a destroyer, and, more important, had abandoned their mission of bombarding Henderson Field into uselessness.

Awards

''Preston'' earned two battle stars for World War II service.

References

**

External links

USS ''Preston'' website
a
Destroyer History Foundation

*http://www.navsource.org/archives/05/379.htm

{{DEFAULTSORT:Preston (DD-379)
Mahan-class destroyers
World War II destroyers of the United States
Shipwrecks in Ironbottom Sound
Ships built in Vallejo, California
1936 ships
Maritime incidents in November 1942