The Seaweed

USS Champlin DD-601  

Fall 2001

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while on board the USS Reuben James, which was sunk by U-552. After that Howard said he went to sonar school so he could hunt submarines. When the Champlin rammed U-856, Howard says he looked out and said,'That one is for you Bill.'

"I doubt Howard will ever be able to attend a reunion but I'm sure he would be happy to hear from other shipmates who knew him, but it would probably would be best to do so in writing. I am planning to forward copies of your newsletter to him. And I will send you that picture first chance I get. Thank you for replying to my log entry. Sincerely, Greg Iannolo".

USS CHAMPLIN'S VOYAGES
            - A RECAP

The following is taken from the Arnold Simerly (WT1c) collection. Arnold came aboard the Champlin in December 1942,and served for nearly 1500 days, and helped put her to bed on 31 January 1947, prior to his own discharge. He is the longest serving member of the ship's company. This narrative was apparently written aboard the Champlin prior to her arrival at Charleston, SC for decommissioning.

"In July 1942 a group of officers and men started assembling at Quincy, MA to form the crew of the USS Champlin. On July 25th this ship was launched and the job of getting her ready to take her part in the war was begun. On September 12, 1942 the 'Champ' was commissioned and ready for sea. Shortly thereafter she went to Casco Bay, for the beginning of her shakedown training. It was while she was here that she was detailed escort duty to Argentia. This trip was one of the roughest ever made by this ship and sea sickness was on the plan of the day. She then returned to Casco Bay to finish her training after which she returned to Boston for a final overhaul. The 'Champ' was now ready to take her place in the fleet and her first real assignment was to escort some of our large fighting ships to Panama. On the return trip she escorted a wounded duck, the USS Boise. Following this, the 'Champ' left New York and crossed the ocean twice with Casablanca convoys. One of these convoys was attacked, with results, by German submarines. Also on these trips the Champlin had her first taste of a German air raid. On the first return trip one of her men was washed overboard and on the second, soup was a daily menu for all hands for most of the trip.

"The mighty 'Champ's' next job was a thirty day LST convoy to Oran. She remained at Oran until the invasion of Sicily. During this operation it is reported that her guns caused one town to quickly see the light and run up the white flag. After going through her first invasion unscathed she returned to New York with a convoy, only to turn around and escort another convoy to Oran. Following this, the next few months were taken up with convoys across the North Atlantic to Ireland and Wales with one jump down to the Med.

"In the spring of 1944 she was training in Casco Bay when orders were received to join in a submarine hunt. It took the 'Champ' just two days to find her victim and to sink it. During this operation she tore a hole in her side which was soon repaired. One of the toughest things that ever happened to her was the loss of Captain Shaffer who died as a result of wounds received in this engagement. She steamed into New York and was out again in five days and on her way to the Mediterranean with her squadron.

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"She stopped in Oran and then proceeded to Naples which was to be her home for the next few months. Her duty was to support the Fifth Army in their march up through Italy. This she did, from the breakthrough at Anzio, to Cicita Vecchia, to Piombino and finally leaving when Leghorn was reached. This period was one of the happiest in her career. A week of duty on and a week of rest were hard to take with liberty in Naples, Capri, Pompeii, Palermo and swim call off Anzio. After this strenuous duty 'Champ' took part in the invasion of Southern France. She was the first ship in on the right flank acting as a guide for the landing craft. After this she gave fire support to the Army in the Riviera sector, leaving many calling cards of which some were returned. During this assignment the 'Champ' shot down her one and only German plane. She came out with no casualties but plenty of close ones. She then returned to Boston and leave for all hands. Next, the USS Champlin had two ice cream runs to Trinidad, the land of Rum and Coca-Cola.

"New Years of 1945 found her celebrating at anchor off Block Island, following which she went to Oran again and spent the better part of three months tied up to the North Mole where she was carrying the flag of Des 8th Fleet. It was in this period that the 'Champ' escorted the President to Malta and spent a happy time celebrating the carnival. Also, she escorted the President back out through the straits.

"Suddenly she was ordered back to New York to be made ready for the Pacific and was there for V-E Day.

"The Champlin then went to Guantanamo for training, through the Canal, stopped at San Diego, and then to Pearl Harbor for more training. After all this, she was ready in all respects. She left Pearl, stopped by Wake Island for her first crack at the Japs and proceeded via Saipan to Okinawa where she was immediately assigned to the Hagushi screen and experienced her first Jap air raid. She was patrolling off Naha during the peace negotiations and the end of the war with Japan found her still patrolling. Soon, however she took a convoy to Tokyo Bay. The 'Champ' supported the occupation landing at Wakayama and later Kure. The trip to Hiro Wan through the Inland Sea was one of the most scenic she ever made.

"By the time the Champlin is home again she will have traveled nearly 200,000 miles.
Every man who ever served on her will remember the USS Champlin for the rest of his days."