- USS Colhoun (DD-85)
USS "Colhoun" (DD-85/APD-2) was a sclass|Wickes|destroyer in the
United States Navy during World War I and as APD-2 in World War II. She was the first Navy ship named for Edmund Colhoun.History
"Colhoun" was launched 21 February 1918 by
Fore River Shipbuilding Company ,Quincy, Massachusetts ; sponsored by Miss A. Colhoun; commissioned 13 June 1918, CommanderB. B. Wygant in command; and reported to theU.S. Atlantic Fleet .From 30 June to 14 September 1918 "Colhoun" served as convoy escort between New York and European ports. On 10 November 1918 she reported to New London to conduct experiments with sound equipment then under development. On 1 January 1919 she rushed to assist the transport "Northern Pacific" which was stranded at
Fire Island , carrying 194 of her returning troops toHoboken, New Jersey .After operations in the Caribbean and off the East Coast, "Colhoun" was placed in reduced commission at
Philadelphia Navy Yard 1 December 1919. Following overhaul atNorfolk Navy Yard and a reserve period atCharleston, South Carolina , she returned to Philadelphia, where she was decommissioned 28 June 1922.Towed to
Norfolk Navy Yard (5 June 1940) "Colhoun" underwent conversion to a high-speed transport and was recommissioned as APD-2 on 11 December 1940. She operated between Norfolk and the Caribbean on training exercises until sailing forNouméa ,New Caledonia , where she arrived 21 July 1942.She carried units of the 1st
Marine Raider Battalion in the initial assault landings onGuadalcanal on 7 August and continued to serve as both transport and antisubmarine vessel in support of the invasion.At 14:00 on 30 August 1942, while "Colhoun" was on patrol off Guadalcanal, she was struck in a Japanese air raid. The first hits wrecked the ship's boats and the after davits and started a diesel fire from the boat wreckage. In a second attack, a succession of hits on the starboard side brought down the foremast, blew two 20 mm. guns and one 4" gun off the ship, and damaged the engineering spaces. Two more direct hits killed all the men in the after deck house. Tank lighters from Guadalcanal rescued the crew, and "Colhoun" sank in coord|09|24|S|160|01|E|. Fifty-one men were killed and 18 wounded in this action.
"Colhoun" received one
battle star for her participation in World War II.References
*DANFS|http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/c11/colhoun-i.htm
External links
* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/05/085.htm Photos]
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