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N7KTP > NAVNET 12.07.04 19:10l 125 Lines 7432 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : 64891_N7WE
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Subj: USS NOA (DD-343/ APD-24)
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Sent: 040710/0244Z @:N7WE.#WWA.WA.USA.NA #:64891 [Bremerton] $:64891_N7WE
From: N7KTP@N7WE.#WWA.WA.USA.NA
To : NAVNET@USA
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USS Noa proved that destroyer-based scout planes had value
By FRED MILES WATSON = Managing Editor – Northwest Navigator
The Clemson class destroyer USS Noa (DD-343), was built by tIle
Norfolk Navy Yard, Norfolk, Va., and was commissioned Feb. IS, 1921.
Displacing 1,215-tons, Noa carried a draft of just nine feet, 3-
inches and could make a top speed of 35 knots. The four stacker
destroyer had 150 Sailors on the ship's roster and was nearly 315 feet
in length. Armament consisted of four, 4-inch, 50.caliber gunmounts,
one, 3-inch gunmount and 12, 21-inch torpedo tubes.
Following shakedown operations out of Norfolk, Noa took up posi-
tion just outside of Charleston, S.C. Through May 1922 she participated
in Atlantic Coast training maneuvers. In late May she sailed for duty
on the Asiatic station, steaming via the Mediterranean and Aden and
Ceylon. She reached Singapore in mid-August and on Sept. 30 she arrived
at her new home yard at Cavite, in the Philippines. Through the summer
of 1929 Noa remained active on the Asiatic station. She patrolled
Chinese and Philippine waters and attempted to protect American
interests during the Chinese Civil War, which was renewed November
1922. She also participated in the periodic fleet exercises which were
designed to keep crew and equipment at peak efficiency.
Upon returning to the United States Aug. 14, 1929 Noa went into
the Mare Island Yard for overhaul before assignment to West Coast
operations. Through the next five years she operated out of San Diego
as a unit of the Battle Fleet. During the fall and winter of 1929 Noa
was called upon to assist in plane guard duties with carriers Langley
(CV-l) and Saratoga (CV-3) off the California coast where she partici-
pated in the early development of carrier-group tactics. She also took
part in the fleet exercises from 1930 to 1934. Noa served as cruise
ship for NROTC students from the University of California at Berkeley
from June 17 to July 8, 1934. She was then ordered to Philadelphia
where she was decommissioned Nov. 11 and placed in reserve.
Noa recommissioned at Philadelphia April 1, 1940 and was fitted
with a seaplane which nested just forward of the after deckhouse,
replacing the after torpedo tubes. At the same time a boom for lifting
the aircraft was stepped in place of the mainmast. She steamed for the
Delaware Capes in May and conducted tests with an XSOC-l seaplane
piloted by Lt. G. L Heap. The plane was hoisted onto the ocean for
takeoff and then recovered by Noa while the ship was underway. Heap
also made an emergency flight May 15 to transfer a sick man to the
Naval Hospital at Philadelphia.
Such dramatic demonstrations convinced the Secretary of the Navy
that destroyer-based scout planes had value, and he directed that six
new destroyers of the soon-to-be constructed Fletcher Class (DD 476-
481) be fitted with catapults and handling equipment
But because of mechanical deficiencies in the hoisting gear the
program was canceled early in 1943. The concept thus failed to mature
as a combat technique, but the destroyer-observation seaplane team was
to be revived under somewhat modified conditions during later
amphibious operations.
Noa spent much of the next two years on experimental assignments
and on midshipman training operations out of Annapolis. She underwent
an availability at Boston Navy Yard the first week of December 1941 and
then participated in Chesapeake Bay exercises through December. Next
she steamed for Key West, Fla. and participated in shakedown of major
fleet units in the Gulf of Mexico. After acting as plane and screen
guard for carrier Hornet she steamed for Hampton Roads. En route a
large wave carried away part of her bridge and she put in at
Charleston, S.C. for emergency repairs.
She then steamed for Boston via Bermuda. Upon completion of
repairs at Boston Navy Yard she was directed to conduct Atlantic coast
ASW patrols commencing in late March 1943. She also participated in the
training program for the Navy's Sound School at Key West. Until July 28
she operated out of Key West, assigned training, patrol, rescue, and
convoy escort duties.
Noa reported to the Sixth Amphibious Forces July 31. During August
and September she was converted, at Norfolk Navy Yard, to a high-speed
transport and was reclassified APD-24 on Aug. 10, 1943. Work was
completed Sept. 17, and after shakedown in the Chesapeake she departed
Norfolk Oct. 18, and escorted Sumter (APA-52) to San Diego via the
Panama Canal, arriving Nov. 2.
Noa steamed for Pearl Harbor arriving Nov. 10 for a week of yard
availability. Underway Nov. 19, she escorted SS J. H. Kincaid to
Espiritu Santo New Hebrides via Samoa. She departed Dec. 5 and steamed
to Buna, New Guinea there she assumed duty as landing craft control
ship Dec. 11. In this capacity she steamed between Buna and Cape Cretin
New Guinea. She was detached from this duty and anchored off Cape
Sudest Dec. 21.
She steamed for Cape Gloucester, New Britain arriving Dec. 26 just
before dawn. After a preliminary bombardment by naval and Army air
units, Noa landed 144 officers and men of the First Marine Division.
She returned to Cape Sudest via Buna Dec. 27 to take on 203 more First
Division Marines, who reinforced the forces at Cape Gloucester Dec. 29.
Her operations in the Cape Gloucester landings extended through March
1, 1944. Noas participation in the Bismarck Archipelago operation also
took her through the Green Island landing.
In the Purvis Bay area of the Solomon Islands she performed patrol
and escort operations and then steamed to Tassafaronga Point,
Guadalcanal and took on Fourth Marine Division troops for the Emerau
Island assault of March 23. By April 8, she was back at Cape Cretin,
New Guinea, where she took on troops for the Hollandia amphibious
operations that extended from late April through May 1.
Noa steamed for Pearl Harbor arriving May 23 and embarked units of
the Second Marine Division for transport to Saipan. She patrolled
assigned areas off Saipan on June 15, and that day splashed one raiding
aircraft. The next day she landed her troops and continued patrol
operations until June 24, when she steamed to Eniwetok Atoll. Noa
departed Eniwetok June 30 and escorted Clamp (ARS-33) to Saipan,
arriving July 4. She conducted patrol and screening operations off
Tinian and Saipan through the next week During the Guam operations of
July 12 through Aug. 15, Noa served as a screening ship. By Aug. 16 she
had returned to Guadalcanal and the next day she commenced patrol
operations out of Purvis Bay.
Departing Purvis Bay Sept. 6, she steamed for the Palau Islands to
conduct underwater demolition activities. While enroute she was rammed
by USS Fullman (DD-474) at nearly 3:50 a.m. on Sept 12. She immediately
began to settle. The order to abandon ship was given at 5:01 a.m. but
by 7 a.m. Noas commanding officer had returned to the ship with a
salvage party. Salvage efforts failed, the second order to abandon ship
was given at 10:30 a.m., and the old ship sank by the stern at 34
minutes later with no loss of life.
Noa received the Yangtze Service Medal for China service in 1927
and was awarded five battle stars for her World War II service.
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