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Hull Number: DD-366

Launch Date: 03/26/1936

Commissioned Date: 09/01/1936

Decommissioned Date: 10/09/1945

Call Sign: NAKN

Voice Call Sign: BLUE BEETLE, SIRLOIN (44)


Class: MAHAN

MAHAN Class


Namesake: PERCIVAL DRAYTON

PERCIVAL DRAYTON

Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, July 2015

Percival Drayton, born 25 August 1812 in Charleston, S.C., was appointed a Midshipman 1 December 1827. During the Civil War, he commanded Pocahontas in the expedition against Port Royal, S.C., in October 1861. As Fleet Captain of the West Gulf Blockading Squadron, Drayton served gallantly in command of Admiral D. G. Farragut’s flagship Hartford during the Battle of Mobile Bay, 5 August 1864. He was appointed Chief of the Bureau of Navigation in April 1865 and died in that post 4 August 1865.


Disposition:

Sold on 12/20/1946 for $11,041.28 to George H. Nutman, Brooklyn, N.Y. Scrapped.


A Tin Can Sailors Destroyer History

USS DRAYTON DD-366

The Tin Can Sailor, April 1997

The first of the Navy-designed single stackers, USS BAGLEY, was launched on September 3, 1936 at Norfolk Navy Yard and commissioned ten months later. Her first assignment was with the Atlantic Squadron.

BAGLEY was the third vessel to bear the name of Ensign Worth Bagley, who gave his life during an attack on the shore batteries of Cardenas, Cuba, during the Spanish-American War in 1898. The ensign had been serving aboard USS WINSLOW (TB-5), a vessel type considered the ancestor of the modern destroyer. Bagley was the first naval officer to die in action during the war. The ensign would have been very proud of his namesake.

USS BAGLEY, like most “new construction”, initially cruised the warm waters of the Caribbean as a member of DESDIV 7, Battle Force. Fleet maneuvers took her to the coast of Florida, the seas off Panama, and, ultimately, to the West Coast.

DD-386 was moored in East Loch, Pearl Harbor, when Japanese forces attacked the American naval anchorage on December 7, 1941. The valiant destroyer opened fire immediately and contributed to the downing of several raiders. Later in the morning, she broke free of the harbor and supported the meager forces available to defend the Hawaiian Islands against the invasion that everyone expected immediately. It didn’t happen.

For the next six months, BAGLEY served in various patrol and escort roles, interrupted with raids on Bouganville and Salamaua-Lae. She steamed into the maelstrom of Guadalcanal in August. Her accurate anti-aircraft fire splashed at least one Japanese engaged during the battle of Savo Island and she was credited with saving the lives of several hundred when USS ASTORIA (CA-34), USS VINCENNES (CA-44), and USS QUINCY (CA-39) suffered under the enemy attack.

As the fleet moved up the Solomon chain, forcing the Japanese back toward the Home Islands, BAGLEY screened major fleet units as well as reverting to her original role as convoy escort. With her duties around Bouganville at an end, she was assigned to Mare Island Navy Yard for a major refit.

DD-386 returned to the Pacific fleet in time for the major actions in the final thrust toward Japan. Her accurate gunfire contributed to the bombardments of Tinian and Saipan, soon to become major bases in the aerial bombardment of Japan. Within weeks, she was providing the same services at Yap, in the Bonin Islands, and during raids in the central Philippines. Her yeoman services during the battle Leyte Gulf, the invasion of Iwo Jima, and the Okinawa campaign earned her mention in campaign reports.

On August 31, 1945, USS BAGLEY carried RADM F.E.M. Whiting to Marcus Island to receive the surrender of the Japanese forces on the island. Her final assignment was on occupation duty in the Nagasaki area.

DD-386 returned to the United States in November 1945 and was decommissioned on June 14, 1946. She was sold for scrapping in 1947.

USS DRAYTON DD-366 Ship History

Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, July 2015

The second Drayton (DD-366) was launched 26 March 1936 by Bath Iron Works, Bath, Maine; sponsored by Miss B. E. Drayton, great-grandniece of Captain Drayton; and commissioned 1 September 1936, Commander R. G. Pennoyer in command.

After her shakedown cruise to Europe from 6 October to 5 December 1936, Drayton underwent final trials and acceptance, then sailed from Norfolk 6 June 1937 to join the Scouting Force, at San Diego 19 June. On 4 July she got underway to take part in the fruitless search for the lost aviatrix Amelia Earhart, participating in maneuvers at Pearl Harbor before her return to San Diego 30 July.

Drayton exercised along the west coast, in the Hawaiian Islands, and in the Caribbean for the next 2 years.

Drayton’s home port from 12 October 1939 was Pearl Harbor. With war raging in Europe and tension increasing in the Pacific, Drayton joined in the constant exercises and tactical problems preparing the fleet for action.

Underway as plane guard for Lexington (CV-2) in TF 12 when the Japanese attacked, Drayton, with the force returned to Pearl Harbor 13 December 1941 after searching for enemy raiders. Between 24 December 1941 and 7 January 1942 she escorted a convoy to Christmas Island, making two attacks on submarines en route. Four days later she got underway in the screen of Enterprise (CV-6) for an air strike on Bougainville on 20 February, returning to Pearl Harbor on the 24th. After screening a tanker to Suva Harbor, Fiji Islands, Drayton sailed for the United States 25 March and arrived at San Pedro, Calif., 5 April. She joined in training exercises and patrol duty on the west coast until 1 August 1942.

Drayton sailed from Pearl Harbor 17 November 1942 for action in the Solomon Islands. She sortied from Espiritu Santo 29 November with TF 67 to intercept a Japanese naval force guarding transports en route to reinforce Guadalcanal. That night the American ships battled a determined Japanese force off Tassafaronga. When the action was over Drayton picked up 128 survivors including the commanding officer from Northampton (CA-26) and returned to Espiritu Santo 2 December. Drayton continued to operate in the Solomons campaign, bombarding Munda, New Georgia, and protecting transports bound for the Russell Islands. She escorted the unladen transports to Wellington, New Zealand, then returned to Noumea 7 March 1943 for exercises and patrol with TF 64.

Drayton sailed from Noumea 13 May 1943 as escort for a transport convoy and arrived at Townsville, Australia 4 days later. Through the summer, she escorted Australian transports carrying troops from Townsville to Milne Bay for the lengthy fighting on vast New Guinea. Drayton patrolled and gave fire support during the invasion landings at Lae on 4 September and bombarded Finschhafen on 22 September.

After brief overhaul at Brisbane, Australia, Drayton returned to the New Guinea area, escorting transports to Arawe, New Britain, for the landings of 15 December, and covered the Marine landings near Cape Gloucester 26 December. She screened high-speed transports from Buna Roads to the invasion of Saidor 2 January, and aside from a brief voyage to Sydney to replenish, remained on patrol and escort duty for the occupation of the Bismarck Archipelago.

Drayton carried troops for the invasion of Los Negros Island in the Admiralties. Here she joined in the bombardment 29 February 1944 and remained to provide fire support. She returned with reinforcement troops from Milne Bay 4 March and began operating as headquarters for the Landing Craft Control Officer for the Admiralties. Drayton bombarded Pityilu Island 12 March then sailed for Seadler Harbor, Manus, escorting an LST convoy before returning to New Guinea.

-The destroyer got underway from Milne Bay, New Guinea, 22 March 1944 and escorted transports to Canton Island on her way to the west coast. Following an overhaul at San Francisco, Drayton trained out of Pearl Harbor before arriving at Eniwetok 8 August. For the next 2 months she patrolled off Maloelap, Wotje, Jaluit, and Mille-bypassed Japanese-held atolls in the Marshalls.

Reporting to the 7th Fleet at Humboldt Bay, New Guinea, 20 October 1944. Drayton got underway 5 days later for patrol and escort duty in newly invaded Leyte Gulf, where she arrived 29 October. Her service in this operation included a voyage to New Guinea to bring back transports laden with reinforcements. On 5 December while screening a convoy of LCMs and LCIs to San Pedro Bay, Drayton was attacked by a twin-engine bomber which scored a near miss, killing two and wounding seven of the destroyer’s crew. About an hour later she repulsed a group of strafing planes before they could damage her charges, and later the same morning engaged 10 or 12 enemy fighters. One crashed a 5″ mount, killing 6 and wounding 12 men. Drayton extinguished her fires and carried out her mission, convoying her charges safely to harbor and then sailing unassisted to Manus for repairs.

Her repairs completed, Drayton sailed from Manus 26 December 1944 for the invasion of Lingayen Gulf, Luzon, 9 January 1945. She gave fire support until the 13th, then sailed to San Pedro Bay to escort a support convoy to the beachhead. From 27 January to 18 February she served on patrol and gave fire support, bombarding enemy troops in the foothills and destroying a strong point in a cave.

Continuing to operate in the Philippines, Drayton participated in the landings at Mangarin Bay, Puerto Princesa. Cebu, Ormoc Bay, and Masbate City.

On 23 April 1945 Drayton stood out of San Pedro Bay for the invasion of Borneo, screening the actions at Tarakan from 1 to 27 May, and at Balikpapan from 1 to 21 July. Returning to Manila 29 July she got underway 7 August, and arrived at New York 12 September. Drayton was decommissioned 9 October 1945 and sold 20 December 1946.

Drayton received 11 battle stars for World War II service.