Daily Event for January 3, 2006

January 3, 1944: The USS Turner DD-648 exploded and sank off Sandy Hook, New Jersey. USS Turner was built by the Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Company in Kearney, New Jersey. Launched on Feb. 28, 1943 and commissioned on April 15, 1943 with Captain Henry S. Wygant in command.

Her first cruise was to Casco Bay, Maine in June of 1943 for anti-submarine warfare training after which she returned to New York. On June 22 she went on a short training cruise with the USS Bunker Hill CV-17 returning on the 22nd. On the 24th Turner and her new crew went to war. Turner sailed to Casablanca and back escorting convoys returning on August 9th. Next was another escort mission, this time to Cuba. On the return trip the Turner rendezvoused with the British carrier HMS Victorious and escorted her to Norfolk.

After her arrival in Norfolk Turner was sent back to Casco Bay and another round of anti-submarine training. On Sept. 24, 1943 the Turner departed for Casablanca with another convoy. On Oct. 23, 1943 during the return leg of her escort duty the USS Turner encountered what they believe was a U-boat on the surface. Captain Wygant ordered an attack on the boat and turned the Turner toward the target. He was guided by David Merrell, radioman on the Turner who could hear the U-boat sending out a signal.

From the key clicks Merrell gave the captain the course to steer. The captain ordered the gunners to open fire and the 5" and the 20mm began firing. Coxswain Jim O'Connor was on the forward 20mm gun and could see the boat. He fired several rounds claiming hits on the conning tower just before the boat did a crash dive. A depth charge run was made using the port side K-guns. After the depth charges had exploded a separate "distinct" explosion was heard and caused the main board to "trip out" leaving the Turner's radar and sound gear without power. It took fifteen minuets to restore full power.

After a considerable amount of searching the Turner reestablished contact with the target. Captain Wygant sighted the boat laying low in the water and ordered the Turner to ram the boat. This however was called off when an escort vessel was sighted on the port bow. To avoid a collision the Turner changed course.

While the captain and the ship's officers were busy avoiding the collision the gunners on the 20mm's reported seeing the boat 'smoking profusely and almost immediately plunged under, stern first." After the attack the crew reported the "strong stench of chlorine and oil" but could find no debris or survivors. Subsequently the crew of the Turner was never given credit for the sinking.

The Turner would escort one more convoy to Europe and one back, arriving off of New York on Jan. 2, 1944. She anchored just outside the torpedo nets and was waiting for orders to proceed when at about 06:15 on Jan. 3rd a terrific explosion ripped through the Turner. The explosion tore through the bridge killing almost all of Turner's officers instantly. Smaller explosions continued to erupt on the ship preventing other ships from getting to close.

The other ships from the escort and the Coast Guard came to the rescue. The USS Swasey DE-248, USS Inch DE-146, USS Stanton DE-247, USS Stockton DD-646, USS Thorn DD-647 and USS Stevenson DD-645 were all on the scene and reacted immediately to help.

At about 07:50 the final explosion tore the Turner's bow apart and she rolled over and sank. The ship took 138 of her crew with her.

© 2006 Michael W. Pocock
MaritimeQuest.com

 

David L. Merrell USN
1922-2005

David Merrill, the radioman on the Turner, passed away on Dec. 27, 2005.
Thank you David for your time and all your help. You were a great friend and you will be missed.