USS DE HAVEN DD-727

A Tin Can Sailors Destroyer History

USS DE HAVEN DD-727

The Tin Can Sailor, October 2011

The USS DEHAVEN (DD-727) was commissioned in March 1944 as the second destroyer named for LTCDR E. J. DeHaven, an early arctic explorer. She was a SUMNER-class destroyer and had a displacement of 2,670 tons, a length of 376′ 6″ and a beam of 40′ 6′. She saw action in World War II in operations at Leyte Gulf, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa and was back in the Western Pacific in 1950 when North Korea invaded South Korea.

On the second day of the Korean war,  the DEHAVEN assisted in evacuating American nationals from Inchon. Her crew received the honored Navy Unit Commendation Medal for their action in support of amphibious operations at Inchon. During the Korean War, the ship completed four combat tours, participating in carrier operations, amphibious support, coastal blockade, and naval gunfire support of troops at the front.

Following the Korean conflict, the DEHAVEN continued to play an active role in Pacific Fleet operations. She took part in Operation Hardtack I, the nuclear detonations in the South Pacific during the summer of 1958. She was awarded the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal for operations in the Que mon-Matsu area, the Taiwan Straits and Vietnam. The DEHAVEN participated in carrier task group operations and performed radar picket and surveillance tracking assignments throughout the Western Pacific.

During the Vietnam War, she provided gunfire support in the I, II, III, and IV Corps and Rung Saat areas. The DEHAVEN performed search and rescue duties on the North SAR Station, during Sea Dragon operations off the coast of North Vietnam, and as a  rescue destroyer for attack carrier operations. During that time, the DEHAVEN fired more than 22,000 rounds in support of friendly troops and on targets in North Vietnam. The ship also participated in the rescue of four pilots downed off the coast of North Vietnam. As part of DesRon 9, the DEHAVEN was awarded the Navy Unit Commendation for her service.

In 1960, the destroyer went through the Fleet Rehabilitation and Modernization Program (FRAM), which greatly increased her antisubmarine capabilities. In addition to her main battery of six 5″/38 caliber guns, she carried eight ASW torpedo tubes, and two Drone Antisubmarine Helicopters (DASH). She could steam 8,000 miles without refueling and, with a total horsepower of 60,000 hp, was capable of a maximum speed of 33 knots.

The USS DEHAVEN was decommissioned and turned over to the Korean government in December 1973 and was christened ROKN INCHON (DD-98)

USS DE HAVEN DD-727 Ship History

Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, July 2015

The second De Haven was launched 9 January 1944 by Bath Iron Works Corp., Bath, Maine; sponsored by Miss H. N. De Haven, sponsor of the first De Haven; and commissioned 31 March 1944, Commander J. B. Dimmick in command

De Haven escorted Ranger (CV-4) from Norfolk to Pearl Harbor, arriving 3 August 1944. She screened a convoy to Eniwetok between 16 and 30 August, and returned to Eniwetok 5 October. A week later she got underway for Ulithi to join TF 38. Operating from this base she screened the fast carriers striking Luzon in support of the invasion of Leyte during November and December. In coordination with the invasion of Lingayen Gulf, Luzon, the force hit Formosa, Luzon, Camranh Bay, Hong Kong, Hainan, and Okinawa in a score of strikes extending from 30 December 1944 to 26 January 1945.

On 10 February 1945 De Haven sortied from Ulithi with TF 58, to prepare for the invasion of Iwo Jima, striking the Japanese mainland as well as the Nansei Shoto, and then providing fire support for the invading troops. Returning to Ulithi 4 March, she sailed 10 days later to screen air strikes on Kyushu, Japan, prior to the invasion of Okinawa. Until 13 June she screened the carriers and gave fire support at Okinawa. On 1 July she sailed from Leyte with TF 38 for the final air strikes and bombardments on the Japanese homeland which continued until the end of the war. Present in Tokyo Bay 2 September for the signing of the surrender, De Haven sailed on 20 September for the States, arriving at San Francisco 15 October.

Between 1 February 1946 and 3 February 1947, De Haven served in the Western Pacific, joining the 7th Fleet in operations off the coast of China, and patrolling off the Japanese coast. She operated along the west coast through 1948 and 1949 and on 1 May 1950 cleared San Diego for another tour of duty in the western Pacific, arriving at Yokosuka the last day of May.

When the Communists invaded South Korea 25 June 1950, De Haven was assigned to patrol off the Korean coast. She screened the Norwegian ship Reinholt evacuating American dependents from Inchon to Yokosuka; patrolled on the blockade; bombarded shore targets; acted as lifeguard and communications linking ship for air strikes against Pyongyang and Haeju; and provided call fire support for United Nations troops. On 13 and 14 September she stood up a treacherous channel to anchor a scant 800 yards from Wolmi-Do and pour fire into the concealed gun emplacements in preparation for the bold assault on Inchon. De Haven provided gunfire support for the successful landings the following day, and for her part in this daring action was awarded the Navy Unit Commendation.

Returning to Blockade duty 25 September 1950 De Haven dispersed a Communist force attempting to ambush a Korean Army unit; aided the mined Brush (DD-745) and escorted her to Sasebo; and provided fire support for a British Commando raid on 6 and 7 October. She cleared Yokosuka 1 November for San Diego, arriving 18 November.

During De Haven’s second tour of Korean duty from 18 June 1951 to 17 February 1952 she served primarily on blockade patrol. After an overhaul and local operations at San Diego, she sailed from Long Beach 16 September 1952 to serve as flagship for ships on patrol in the Chongjin-Songjin-Chaho area until 18 November. After patrol duty with TF 77, she returned to Korean waters for duty with TF 95 on patrol off Wonsan Harbor, supporting the minesweeping operations there from 12 to 18 February. She got underway from Sasebo 22 March for Long Beach, arriving 9 April.

De Haven continued to alternate duty in the western Pacific with local operations along the west coast, making six voyages to the Far East from 1953 through 1959. On 1 February 1960 she began a major overhaul for modernization at San Francisco, completed in September. De Haven returned to training activities through the remaining months of 1960.

De Haven received five battle stars for World War II service and in addition to her Navy Unit Commendation received six for Korean War service.