55-558: USS Leonard Wood (APA-12) was built by Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation and launched 17 September 1921 at Sparrows Point, Maryland as Nutmeg State , an Emergency Fleet Corporation Design 1029 ship intended as a World War I troop transport, but redesigned upon the armistice as a passenger and cargo ship and completed as Western World for delivery to the United States Shipping Board . The ship's acceptance on 5 May 1922 and delivery on 9 May 1922 marked
110-555: A British aircraft aided in repelling the attack. In response, Germany claimed "that the attack had not been initiated by the German submarine; on the contrary, ... the submarine had been attacked with depth bombs, pursued continuously in the German blockade zone, and assailed by depth bombs until midnight." The communique implied that the US destroyer had dropped the first depth bombs. Germany accused President Roosevelt of "endeavoring with all
165-509: A British plane of the presence of a submerged submarine about 10 miles [(16 km)] directly ahead. … Acting on the information from the British plane the Greer proceeded to search for the submarine and at 0920 she located the submarine directly ahead by her underwater sound equipment. The Greer proceeded then to trail the submarine and broadcast the submarine's position. This action, taken by
220-632: A Pitre , Guadeloupe , trying to keep the Vichy French government from getting Jeanne d'Arc to sea. Sailing from Guantanamo Bay 23 January 1943, Greer sailed to Boston then headed for the Atlantic convoy duty. Departing NS Argentia , Newfoundland 1 March 1943, she escorted merchantmen for Northern Ireland . During heavy North Atlantic gales , Convoy SC 121 lost seven ships to three separate U-boat attacks before reaching Londonderry Port on 13 March. Greer then escorted 40 merchantmen on
275-699: A new order he issued as commander-in-chief that escalated America nearer to outright involvement in the European war. In Roosevelt's words: The Greer was flying the American flag . Her identity as an American ship was unmistakable. She was then and there attacked by a submarine. Germany admits that it was a German submarine. The submarine deliberately fired a torpedo at the Greer , followed by another torpedo attack. In spite of what Hitler's propaganda bureau has invented, and in spite of what any American obstructionist organisation may prefer to believe, I tell you
330-582: A strong screen – which, as far as Trinidad , included Ranger (CV-4) – the convoy was destined for Basra, Iraq. On 17 November 1941, the convoy reaches Trinidad. All ships were replenished, and the convoy departs Trinidad on 19 November 1941. On 7 December at 2000, the convoy receives a radio communication of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor . On 9 December, convoy WS12-X arrived in Cape Town, South Africa. At about 0800 on 13 December 1941,
385-469: A transport with hull number AP-25, USS Leonard Wood with a United States Coast Guard crew on 10 June 1941. During World War II , the ship was converted into an attack transport during March 1942 and reclassified APA-12 ( Harris -class ). The ship was decommissioned 22 March 1946 and was sold for scrap 20 January 1948. Nutmeg State , keel laid 29 July 1920 with yard number 4197, was launched 17 September 1921 and completed as Western World in 1922 by
440-832: A transport with hull number AP-25, manned by the United States Coast Guard. The Atlantic Conference was held on 9 August 1941 in Placentia Bay, Newfoundland , between Prime Minister Winston Churchill and President Roosevelt. Besides the "official" agenda, Churchill hoped to obtain considerable assistance from the USA, but the American President had his political hands tied. On 1 September 1941, Roosevelt received an urgent and most secret message asking for US Navy troopships manned by Navy crews and escorted by U.S.N. fighting ships to carry British troops for
495-463: A written report. Stark's account, made public in October 1941, confirmed that the Greer dropped its charges only after the submarine fired its first torpedo at it, but revealed that the Greer had gone in search of the submarine after its presence was noted by the British aircraft. Admiral Stark's report stated: At 0840 that morning, Greer , carrying mail and passengers to Iceland, "was informed by
550-475: The Battle of the Atlantic . Greer was launched by William Cramp & Sons Ship & Engine Building Co., Philadelphia , 1 August 1918; sponsored by Miss Evelina Porter Gleaves, daughter of Rear Admiral Albert Gleaves ; and commissioned 31 December 1918. Greer ' s shake down took her to Azores , from which she rendezvoused with George Washington , carrying President Woodrow Wilson home from
605-618: The British West Indies 26 August to serve briefly as plane guard to Santee . She rendezvoused with a convoy in the Caribbean and headed for North Africa. Diverted to New York, she docked there 14 September. Routine training exercises turned into tragedy 15 October as Greer collided with Moonstone off the mouth of Indian River , Delaware Capes (35 miles (56 km) south-east of Cape May , New Jersey). Moonstone sank in less than 4 minutes, but Greer rescued all
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#1732780410218660-583: The German High Command stepped up the pace of the war through the summer of 1941, Greer found herself involved in an incident which brought America's entry into the war nearer. The " Greer incident" occurred 4 September. By all accounts, a German submarine (later identified as U-652 ) fired upon the Greer, but made no contact. When news of the encounter reached the United States, public concern ran high. Initial reports reported that
715-552: The Greer started searching for the submarine and at 1512 … the Greer made underwater contact with a submarine. The Greer attacked immediately with depth charges. Stark went on to report that the result of the encounter was undetermined, although most assumed from the German response that the sub had survived. In fact, U-652 had indeed survived and promptly headed west to participate in the devastating U-boat pack attack on convoy SC 42 in early September. Historian Charles A. Beard would later write that Admiral Stark's report to
770-412: The Greer , was in accordance with her orders, that is, to give out information but not to attack." The British plane continued in the vicinity of the submarine until 1032, but prior to her departure the plane dropped four depth charges in the vicinity of the submarine. The Greer maintained [its] contact until about 1248. During this period (three hours 28 minutes), the Greer manoeuvred so as to keep
825-597: The Greer' s engagement began caused Pulitzer-prizewinning New York Times reporter Arthur Krock to address it (and the Nazi sub engagements with the Kearny , and the Reuben James ) when speaking about "who 'attacked' whom." Krock defined the term "attack" as "an onset, an aggressive initiation of combat, a move which is the antithesis of 'defense.'" "In that definition," he said, "all three of our destroyers attacked
880-607: The Versailles Peace Conference , and escorted her to the United States. After exercises in coastal waters, Greer was assigned to Trepassey Bay , Newfoundland , for duties during a transatlantic flight by four Navy seaplanes , one of which, NC-4 , safely completed the historic undertaking. After further training exercises and a European cruise, Greer was assigned to the Pacific Fleet , reaching San Francisco 18 November 1919. Six months' duty with
935-407: The " Greer incident," she became the first US Navy ship to fire on a German ship, three months before the United States officially entered World War II . The incident led President Franklin D. Roosevelt to issue what became known as his "shoot-on-sight" order. Roosevelt publicly confirmed the "shoot on sight" order on 11 September 1941, effectively declaring naval war against Germany and Italy in
990-890: The 413 nautical miles (475 mi; 765 km) in 22 hours for an average speed of 18.8 knots (21.6 mph; 34.8 km/h), beating the previous best time of 26 hours. Delivery of Western World on 9 May 1922 completed the wartime shipbuilding program of the Emergency Fleet Corporation and USSB. As the USSB sold off its vessels, the Munson Steamship Line bought four "535"s for its Pan America Line service in February 1926, at $ 1,026,000 apiece: Western World , American Legion , Pan America and Southern Cross . Western World made her maiden voyage 17 May 1922 to Rio de Janeiro . Munson operated
1045-527: The Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation at Sparrows Point, Maryland, for the United States Shipping Board (USSB). The ship was an Emergency Fleet Corporation Design 1029 type for delivery to the USSB, known in the commercial trade as "535's" for their overall length, that had been intended as troop transports, but redesigned as passenger and cargo vessels. On her delivery voyage from Baltimore to New York, Western World covered
1100-657: The East Coast and Caribbean, Greer joined the Neutrality Patrol in February 1940. Detached from this duty 5 October, the destroyer patrolled the Caribbean that winter. She joined other American ships on operations in the North Atlantic early in 1941, out of Reykjavík , Iceland , and NS Argentia , Newfoundland. United States ships, as non-belligerents , could not attack Axis submarines ; but, as
1155-504: The German declaration of war on the USA on 11 December 1941; we have six American transports and American escort carrying British soldiers. In early November, the troopship proceeded to Halifax , Nova Scotia , to take on board British troops. Wakekfield (AP-21) , with 6,000 men embarked, and five other transports Mount Vernon (AP-22) , West Point (AP-23) , Orizaba (AP-24) , Leonard Wood (AP-25) and Joseph T. Dickman (AP-26) got underway as Convoy WS12-X on 10 November 1941. Escorted by
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#17327804102181210-533: The German submarines." A 2005 book concluded that Senator Walsh's "very aggressive actions in the USS Greer case prevented war from breaking out in the Atlantic." The episode did not escalate into war because both Hitler and Roosevelt were being very cautious. Hitler concentrated his resources on defeating the Soviet Union, while Roosevelt was building up a broad base of support for aggressive patrols of
1265-485: The North Atlantic. Greer remained in the North Atlantic through 1941, shepherding convoys to and from MOMP , the mid-ocean meeting point at which American ships took over escort duties from the hard-pressed Royal Navy . After overhaul at Boston , she turned south 3 March 1942 to resume patrol duty in the Caribbean . In addition to regular escort duties, Greer performed many other tasks, including rescuing 39 victims of German U-boats. In May she stood guard off Pointe
1320-653: The Pacific Fleet terminated 25 March 1920, when Greer sailed to join the Asiatic Fleet . After standing by off Shanghai to protect American lives and property during riots there in May, Greer sailed to Port Arthur and Dairen on intelligence missions and returned to Cavite , Philippines , for fleet exercises. The destroyer returned to San Francisco 29 September 1921 via Guam , Midway , and Pearl Harbor . Greer decommissioned at San Diego 22 June 1922, and
1375-758: The Senate Committee "made the President's statement... appear in some respects inadequate, and, in others, incorrect." In his postwar summary of the Stark report, Beard emphasised that (1) the Greer had chased the sub and held contact with the sub for 3 hours and 28 minutes before the sub fired its first torpedo; (2) the Greer then lost contact with the sub, searched, and after re-establishing contact two hours later, attacked immediately with depth charges, then (3) searched for three more hours before proceeding to its destination. The Stark report's account of how
1430-533: The UK. Fuel and water would be charged for the escorts to the UK in Trinidad and Cape Town only. The troops would conform to US Navy and ships regulation. Intoxicating liquors were prohibited. It was further agreed that the troops were to rig and man their own anti-aircraft guns to augment the ships batteries. So, convoy WS-12X is most extraordinary. 30 days BEFORE the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941 and
1485-668: The United States and the western Pacific, making two runs to Manila and one to Tokyo . Leonard Wood earned eight battle stars for World War II service. The ship's Coast Guard crew debarked 22 March 1946 when Leonard Wood was decommissioned and was redelivered to the Army at Seattle, Washington , pending transfer to the War Shipping Administration . The ship was sold to Consolidated Builders, Inc., for scrap 20 January 1948. Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation Too Many Requests If you report this error to
1540-605: The Wikimedia System Administrators, please include the details below. Request from 172.68.168.237 via cp1104 cp1104, Varnish XID 212305929 Upstream caches: cp1104 int Error: 429, Too Many Requests at Thu, 28 Nov 2024 07:53:30 GMT USS Greer (DD-145) USS Greer (DD–145) was a Wickes -class destroyer in the United States Navy , the first ship named for Rear Admiral James A. Greer (1833–1904). In what became known as
1595-517: The arrival of a British convoy from the UK were to load twenty thousand troops. The Prime Minister mentioned in his letter that it would be for the President to say what would be required in replacement if any of these ships were to be sunk by enemy action. Agreements were worked out for the troops to be carried as supernumeraries and rations to be paid out of Lend Lease Funds and officer laundry bills were to be paid in cash. All replenishments of provisions, general stores, fuel and water would be provided by
1650-488: The assault on Sicily . She sortied with TF 65 on 5 July and 4 days later, began unloading waves of troops in the Wood's Hole sector, some 5.5 miles west of Socglitti , Sicily . At dawn of the 10th, her gunners fired at an enemy bomber which dropped bombs 200 to 300 yards astern, and kept up an antiaircraft barrage throughout the day, helping to splash three planes. With unloading completed and damaged landing craft salvaged,
1705-600: The assault troops embarked. In the Gilbert Islands and Marshall Islands operations, the ship gained experience, especially in cargo handling, which proved invaluable when Leonard Wood later took part in the final push toward victory with the landings at Saipan , Leyte , and Lingayen Gulf . Leonard Wood departed Pearl Harbor on 29 May 1944, bound for the capture and occupation of Saipan , Marianas Islands . Arriving at Eniwetok , Marshall Islands, an atoll Leonard Wood had helped to secure just 3 months before,
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1760-404: The blunt fact that the German submarine fired first upon this American destroyer without warning, and with the deliberate design to sink her. Declaring that Germany had been guilty of "an act of piracy," President Roosevelt announced what became known as his "shoot-on-sight" order: that Nazi submarines' "very presence in any waters which America deems vital to its defense constitutes an attack. In
1815-598: The completion of the wartime shipbuilding program of the Emergency Fleet Corporation and the Shipping Board. After years in commercial service on Munson Steamship Line 's South American service, Western World was purchased by the War Department in 1939, converted into a transport, and renamed to serve as USAT Leonard Wood until transfer to the Navy on 3 June 1941. The ship was commissioned, classified as
1870-489: The crew but one. After repairs, the destroyer escorted the Free French cruiser Gloire from New York to Norfolk. Greer sailed 26 December with another Casablanca-bound convoy and after an uneventful crossing returned to Boston 9 February 1944. This was the final transatlantic crossing for the old four-stack destroyer, as she and her sister ships were replaced by newer and faster escorts. The veteran destroyer spent
1925-429: The first line of transports, carrying out her mission until 12 November when enemy submarines , which had already sunk or damaged six Allied ships, forced the remaining transports to finish unloading at Casablanca . Departing 17 November, she arrived Norfolk on the 30th for repairs and more amphibious warfare training. The transport sailed 3 June 1943 and arrived Mers el Kebir , Algeria , 22 June where she prepared for
1980-440: The forces arrived off Makin with the assault transports joined by one attack cargo ship, Neville (APA-9) , the landing ship dock Belle Grove (LSD-2) and three LSTs (LST-31, LST-78 and LST-179) to land 6,500 troops on Butaritari Island . The ship remained off shore, retiring far offshore at night and returning to the transport area at daylight, until 24 November when the larger transports departed for Pearl Harbor with
2035-603: The formation, and Leonard Wood helped down one of them. Arriving at Lingayen on 9 January 1945, she again unloaded troops and cargo while firing at enemy planes before departing the same day for Leyte. Leonard Wood took part in her last amphibious landing with the Mindoro Island assault on 9 February 1945. Debarking her troops and cargo in less than 5 hours, she steamed for San Francisco via Leyte, Ulithi, and Pearl Harbor, arriving on 27 March. After repairs at San Francisco, Leonard Wood began transport duties between
2090-524: The four sister ships on the New York to Rio de Janeiro, Montevideo , and Buenos Aires route, with Santos added during return voyages. On 8 August 1932, Western World ran aground at Porto do Boi , Brazil. She had 166 crew and 85 passengers on board at the time. The passengers were taken off by the German ship General Osorio and landed at Rio de Janeiro. She was refloated on 10 September, subsequently repaired and returned to service. Western World
2145-789: The main force was directed at Tarawa atoll, but also involved the capture of Makin atoll to develop airfields. For the Makin operation Leonard Wood , under the command of Captain Merlin O'Neill , USCG, was assigned to the Northern Attack Force, Task Force 52 and was the Task Unit 52.1.1. flagship of the Assault Transport Division (TRANSDIV 20) that also included Alcyone (AKA-7) , Calvert (APA-32) and Pierce (APA-50) . On 20 November 1943,
2200-514: The means at his disposal to provoke incidents for the purpose of baiting the American people into the war." The United States Department of the Navy replied that the German claims were inaccurate and that "the initial attack in the engagement was made by the submarine on the Greer ." Roosevelt made the Greer incident the principal focus of one of his famed " fireside chats ", where he explained
2255-540: The next 2 years. She sailed for the East Coast and duty with the Training Squadron 3 June 1936. After conducting Naval Reserve cruises throughout that summer, Greer sailed for the Philadelphia Navy Yard 28 September and decommissioned there 13 January 1937. As war swept across Europe, Greer recommissioned 4 October 1939 and joined Destroyer Division 61 as flagship . After patrolling
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2310-879: The purpose of reinforcing the Middle East. On 4 September the US destroyer, USS Greer (DD-145) , came under an unsuccessful U-boat attack. Roosevelt gave authority to the US Navy to "shoot to kill". On 5 September the President assured the British leader that six vessels would be provided to carry twenty thousand troops and would be escorted by the American Navy. The chief of Naval Operations ordered troop ships divisions seventeen and nineteen, on 26 September 1941, to prepare their vessels for approximately six months at sea. These transports were to load to capacity with food, ammunition medical supplies, fuel and water and were to arrive at Halifax, NS on or about 6 November and after
2365-470: The remainder of her long career performing a variety of necessary tasks in American waters. After a tour of submarine training duty at New London , Greer became plane guard for several new aircraft carriers during the summer of 1944. Operating from various New England ports, she served with Ranger , Tripoli , Mission Bay , and Wake Island . Sailing to Key West in February 1945, Greer continued plane guard duty until 11 June when she sailed to
2420-602: The return voyage without incident, and continued on to Hampton Roads 15 April with tanker Chicopee . After exercises in Casco Bay , Greer departed New York City 11 May with a convoy of 83 ships. Reaching Casablanca , Morocco , 1 June, the destroyer patrolled off the North African port and then recrossed the Atlantic, arriving New York 27 June. After another run to Northern Ireland, Greer returned to New York 11 August. After steaming to Norfolk , she sailed for
2475-426: The ship fueled, watered, and provisioned before departing 11 June for her assigned anchorage off Saipan. Arriving 15 June, Leonard Wood unloaded and cleared all boats in 49 minutes. For the next 9 days, the transport stood off Saipan, unloading cargo and receiving on board casualties for transfer to hospital ships. The transport sailed 24 June for Eniwetok, and then returned to Pearl Harbor on 20 July. After Saipan,
2530-454: The ship got underway for Norfolk, Virginia , on the 12th, arriving 4 August. Three weeks later, she departed Norfolk for San Francisco , embarked troops, then steamed for Honolulu , arriving 27 September. Leonard Wood spent the remainder of World War II in the Pacific, during which she participated in seven amphibious landings. The first landing was a part of Operation Galvanic in which
2585-496: The ship made transport and training runs between Pearl Harbor, Eniwetok, and Guadalcanal until she sailed from Guadalcanal on 8 September for the capture and occupation of Angaur Island , Palau Island group. Arriving 7 September, the ship landed troops, and then began unloading cargo and receiving casualties. Leonard Wood completed unloading 21 September, and departed for Manus Island on 27 September. Remaining at Manus just long enough to fuel, provision, and re-embark troops,
2640-406: The submarine ahead. At 1240 the submarine changed course and closed the Greer . At 1245 an impulse bubble (indicating the discharge of a torpedo by the submarine) was sighted close aboard the Greer . At 1249 a torpedo track was sighted crossing the wake of the ship from starboard to port, distant about 100 yards [(100 m)] astern. At this time the Greer lost sound contact with the submarine. At 1300
2695-644: The transport sailed on 12 October to begin the long-awaited liberation of the Philippines . Arriving off the Leyte beachheads on 20 October, Leonard Wood debarked troops and cargo in record time and steamed for Palau only 10 hours later. For the next week, Leonard Wood prepared for further operations in the Philippine Islands, departing Sansapor , New Guinea , on 30 December 1944 for the assault on Lingayen Gulf. Many Japanese suicide planes attacked
2750-581: The troopships departed Cape Town headed for Bombay. At 650 on 21 December 1941, the USS Mount Vernon (AP-22) and USS Orizaba detached from the convoy headed for Bombay, and are bound for Mombasa. The remainder of the convoy continued to Bombay under the escort of HMS Dorsetshire , arriving on 27 December 1941. After debarking troops at Bombay she returned, entering Philadelphia Navy Yard in March 1942 for conversion to an attack transport . She
2805-407: The waters which we deem necessary for our defense, American naval vessels and American planes will no longer wait until Axis submarines lurking under the water, or Axis raiders on the surface of the sea, strike their deadly blow—first." He concluded: The aggression is not ours. [Our concern] is solely defense. But let this warning be clear. From now on, if German or Italian vessels of war enter
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#17327804102182860-548: The waters, the protection of which is necessary for American defense, they do so at their own peril. … The sole responsibility rests upon Germany. There will be no shooting unless Germany continues to seek it. Senator David I. Walsh ( Democrat – Massachusetts ), isolationist Chair of the Senate Committee on Naval Affairs , scheduled a committee hearing to unearth the details of the incident, which prompted Admiral Harold R. Stark , Chief of Naval Operations , to issue
2915-692: Was placed in reserve. Greer recommissioned 31 March 1930. Operating with the Battle Fleet , she participated in a variety of exercises along the coast from Alaska to Panama , with an occasional voyage to Hawaii. Transferred to the Scouting Fleet 1 February 1931, she cruised off Panama, Haiti , and Cuba before being attached to the Rotating Reserve from August 1933 to February 1934. Training exercises, battle practice, and plane guard duty filled Greer ' s peacetime routine for
2970-585: Was purchased by the War Department in 1939 and renamed after the former Army Chief of Staff Leonard Wood serving as the USAT Leonard Wood . The ship made voyages to Cristobal, Panama until 1940 when she was primarily in service between New York and San Francisco. Leonard Wood made occasional trips to San Juan, Puerto Rico, and one to Alaska. Leonard Wood was acquired by the Navy 3 June 1941 and commissioned 10 June 1941, classified as
3025-650: Was redesignated APA-12 on 1 February 1942. Alterations completed late in April, the attack transport trained in Chesapeake Bay for the invasion of North Africa . She departed Hampton Roads 24 October carrying almost 1,900 fighting men from the 3rd Infantry Division and slipped in close to beaches at Fedhala , French Morocco , on the night of 7 to 8 November. The next morning, she sent her boats ashore and provided gunfire support while also rescuing survivors from torpedoed sister ships. Leonard Wood remained in
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