USS KENDRICK DD-612 Ship History
Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, March 2016
Kendrick (DD-612) was launched 2 April 1942 by Bethlehem Steel Co., San Pedro, Calif.; sponsored by Mrs. J. Hanson Delvac, a great-granddaughter of Acting Master Charles S. Kendrick; and commissioned 12 September 1942, Lt. Comdr. C. T. Caufield in command.
After shakedown exercises along the West Coast, Kendrick cleared San Diego 11 December 1942 and arrived Casco Bay, Maine, 28 December for ASW exercises. The destroyer then sailed to New York to join Convoy UG-S-4 and sailed 13 January 1943 for Casablanca. She returned New York 13 February with another convoy, and commenced patrol, escort, and training from Norfolk to Newfoundland. Kendrick departed New York 28 April for a round trip escort mission to Oran, Algeria, and returned New York 8 June.
After 3 days the destroyer once again steamed toward the Mediterranean, escorting Rear Admiral Kirk’s Task Force 85, which carried Major General Troy Middleton’s famed 45th Infantry Division. She arrived Oran, staging area for the invasion of Sicily, 22 June. Kendrick sailed 5 July and arrived off the beaches of Scoglitti 4 days later. She guarded transports and landing craft until 12 July, then steamed as escort for troop ships via Oran to New York, arriving there 4 August.
She returned to Oran 2 September; that night a German dive bomber made a surprise attack on Kendrick’s starboard quarter. The plane roared in 50 feet above the water and launched two torpedoes before it was shot down by the destroyer’s gunners. One of the “fish” struck Kendrick’s stern damaging her rudder, steering compartment, and fantail, but without harming her crew. As she turned back to Oran, the destroyer stopped to throw life rings to the crew of the enemy plane and reported their position.
After temporary repairs at Oran, Kendrick was towed to Norfolk, arriving 26 October. Upon completion of repairs she made a round-trip escort cruise to the United Kingdom before sailing 18 February as convoy escort. Arriving Oran 5 March she prepared for patrol and screening operations, and joined the screen of cruiser Philadelphia. For nearly 3 months the destroyer repeatedly provided effective gunfire in support of ground troops advancing up the Italian boot. After Rome was liberated, she stood by to support the Allied drive in northern Italy.
She cleared Palermo 12 August for the invasion of southern France. As a unit of Rear Admiral Deyo’s American-French bombardment group, Kendrick gave direct fire support to the 36th Infantry Division storming the beaches 15-\ August. She helped silence German 88mm. guns 15 to 16 August and bombarded gun emplacements and ammunition dumps at St. Madrier, France, 25 to 26 August. Upon completion of her mission the destroyer steamed toward the United States, arriving Boston 19 September.
Kendrick escorted a convoy to the Mediterranean in mid-November, before returning New York 15 December. She joined a convoy and once again departed Norfolk 6 January 1945, reporting for duty with the 8th Fleet 18 January. For the next 4 months she performed air-sea rescue, escort duty, fire support missions, and patrol duty in the Mediterranean as the war in Europe came to an end. Kendrick cleared Oran 15 May with a convoy and put into New York 8 days later. Following repairs at New York and refresher training in Cuba, the destroyer transited the Canal, arriving Pearl Harbor 28 August via San Diego. She engaged in training exercises out of Hawaii before returning Charleston, S.C., 16 October. Kendrick remained at Charleston until she decommissioned and joined the Atlantic Reserve Fleet at Orange, Tex., 31 March 1947. On 1 May 1966 her name was struck from the Navy List, and Kendrick was used in destruction tests at sea by the David Taylor Model Basin, Garderock, Md.
Kendrick received three battle stars for World War II service.
