View source for USS Underhill

{{Short description|Buckley-class destroyer escort}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2021}}
{{More citations needed|date=January 2011}}
{{Infobox ship
|section1={{Infobox ship/image
 |image=USS Underhill;0668201.jpg
 |image_caption=USS ''Underhill'' (DE-682)
 }}

|section2={{Infobox ship/career
 |hide_header=
 |country=United States
 |flag={{USN flag|1945}}
 |name=
 |namesake=
 |ordered=
 |builder=[[Bethlehem Steel Company]]
 |laid_down=16 September 1943
 |launched=15 October 1943
 |acquired=
 |commissioned=15 November 1943
 |decommissioned=
 |in_service=
 |out_of_service=
 |struck=1 September 1945
 |reinstated=
 |honours=
 |fate=*Sunk by Japanese ''[[Kaiten]]'' manned torpedo
       *24 July 1945
 |notes=
 }}

|section3={{Infobox ship/characteristics
 |hide_header=
 |header_caption=
 |class={{sclass|Buckley|destroyer escort}}
 |displacement=*1,400 tons [[light displacement|light]],
               *1,673 tons standard
 |length={{convert|306|ft|m|abbr=on}}
 |beam={{convert|37|ft|m|abbr=on}}
 |draught=
 |draft={{convert|13|ft|6|in|m|abbr=on}}
 |propulsion=Turbo-electric drive, 12,000 hp (8.9 MW)
 |speed=23 knots (43 km/h)
 |range=
 |complement=15 officers, 198 sailors
 |sensors=
 |EW=
 |armament=*3 × [[3"/50 caliber gun|{{convert|3|in|mm|abbr=on}}]] (76.2 mm) (3x1)
           *4 × [[1.1"/75 caliber gun]] (1x4)
           *8 × [[Oerlikon 20 mm cannon|20 mm]] cannon (8x1)
           *3 × [[American 21-inch torpedo|21-inch (533 mm)]] [[torpedo tube]]s (later removed)
           *1 × [[hedgehog (weapon)|hedgehog]],
           *2 × depth charge tracks
           *8 × [[K-gun]] depth charge projectors
 |armour=
 |armor=
 |aircraft=
 |aircraft_facilities=
 |notes=
 }}
}}
'''USS ''Underhill'' (DE-682)''' was a {{sclass|Buckley|destroyer escort}} of the [[United States Navy]] during [[World War II]]. Built in 1943, she served in the [[Atlantic]], the [[Mediterranean]], and the [[Pacific]] until her sinking in a suicide attack by a Japanese ''[[Kaiten]]'' manned torpedo on 24 July 1945.

==Namesake==
Samuel Jackson Underhill was born on 25 August 1917 in [[Jericho, New York]]. He received a [[Bachelor of Science]] from [[Yale University]] and attended [[Harvard Law School]] before enlisting in the [[United States Navy Reserve]] as a [[Seaman Second Class]] on 8 November 1940. After serving briefly at [[Floyd Bennett Field]], [[Brooklyn, New York]], Underhill was appointed an [[aviation cadet]] and was transferred on 6 February 1941 to the [[Naval Air Station]], [[Jacksonville, Florida]], for flight training. He subsequently underwent further training at [[Miami]], Florida; was designated a naval aviator on 15 July; and was commissioned an [[Ensign (rank)|ensign]] in the Naval Reserve on 6 August. Following advanced flight training at [[Norfolk, Virginia]], he reported to Scouting Squadron 5 (VS-5).

In May 1942, during the [[Battle of the Coral Sea]] Underhill was with VS-5 on board the [[aircraft carrier|carrier]] {{USS|Yorktown|CV-5|6}}. When VS-5 raided [[Tulagi]] on the morning of 4 May he flew his [[Douglas SBD Dauntless]] dive-bomber against a heavy [[anti-aircraft]] barrage and contributed to the sinking or damaging of eight enemy vessels. On the morning of 7 May, a coordinated attack group of 17 SBDs from VS-5 took off from ''Yorktown'' and, in clear skies with unlimited visibility, launched a dive bombing attack on the [[light carrier]] [[Japanese aircraft carrier Shōhō|''Shōhō'']]. The American planes scored nine direct hits and two near misses sinking the ''Shōhō''.

On the morning of 8 May, ''Yorktown'' launched the SBDs of VS-5, dividing the group to accomplish separate missions. One division flew in the strike that ultimately attacked the [[Japanese aircraft carrier Shōkaku|Japanese carrier ''Shōkaku'']]. The other, which included Underhill, remained behind to conduct anti-torpedo plane patrol around ''Yorktown's'' formation due to the lack of fighters. At 11:10, the eight SBDs of VS-5's anti-torpedo plane patrol were jumped by a group of six Japanese fighters from ''Zuikaku''. The slower Dauntless dive-bombers quickly found themselves at a disadvantage against the more nimble Japanese attackers. In the ensuing dogfight, the Zeros shot down four SBDs with no loss to themselves (although the American pilots claimed four destroyed) before being driven off by US fighters. Underhill was among those lost in the dogfight. He was posthumously awarded the [[Navy Cross (United States)|Navy Cross]] for his extraordinary valor.

== Construction and Commissioning ==
''Underhill''s keel was laid down on 16 September 1943 by the [[Bethlehem Steel Company]]'s [[Fore River Shipyard]] at [[Quincy, Massachusetts]]. She was [[ship naming and launching|launched]] on 15 October 1943 sponsored by Mrs. David (Bertha) Underhill, aunt and guardian of Ensign Underhill. ''Underhill'' was commissioned exactly one month later.
== Atlantic/Mediterranean service ==

After trial runs and crew training, ''Underhill'' moved to the [[Boston Navy Yard]] for provisioning and loading of [[ammunition]]. On 2 December 1943, she was underway to [[Bermuda]] for further training and shakedown, returning to Boston Navy Yard on 10 January 1944 for minor repairs. She got underway from Boston on 17 January 1944 and arrived at [[Guantanamo Bay Naval Base|Guantanamo Bay]] on 22 January, reporting to Commander, [[Caribbean Sea Frontier]], for duty. She operated out of [[Trinidad]] and Guantanamo escorting [[convoy]]s until late in May when she escorted SS ''George Washington'' from [[Kingston, Jamaica]], to [[Miami]], Florida.

''Underhill'' returned on 30 May 1944 to Boston Navy Yard, where her torpedo tubes were removed and replaced with [[Bofors 40 mm Automatic Gun L/60|Bofors 40 mm]] antiaircraft guns. Additionally two 20&nbsp;mm [[anti-aircraft]] guns were added on the fantail. Her new area of operations was the [[Mediterranean Sea]], where the [[Junkers Ju 88]] dive bombers flying out of [[Southern France]] had been converted to [[torpedo plane]]s and were taking a toll on [[United Kingdom|British]] and [[France|French]] convoys.

Following training exercises in [[Casco Bay, Maine]], ''Underhill'' got underway before dawn on Independence Day and steamed from [[Hampton Roads]] to screen UGS 47, a large, slow convoy bound for Mediterranean ports. ''Underhill'' conducted battle drills and investigated sonar contacts during the long, uneventful [[Atlantic]] voyage. In the Mediterranean Sea on 21 and 22 July, she responded to several air raid warnings, but no enemy action materialized, although the last three convoys to pass along this route had been attacked by German planes.

She escorted convoys between [[Bizerte]], [[Tunisia]] and [[Oran, Algeria]]. After her first convoy in Bizerte, ''Underhill'' was ordered out into the Mediterranean Sea where she steamed all night at flank speed, fully illuminated in waters known to be populated with [[U-boat]]s and overflown by German aircraft. The invasion of southern [[France]] was launched a few days later; it is likely ''Underhill''{{'s}} cruise was a diversion or a probe. When returning to Bizerte, she struck a ship sunken in the channel and badly damaged her port propeller and shaft, which was repaired in Oran. After arriving at that port on 27 July, she underwent temporary repairs; then, on 5 August, she departed North Africa. Early on 6 August, she joined the escort of Convoy GUS 47, with which she arrived safely at [[New York City]] on 18 August. Six days later, Commander Newcomb relieved Jackson as commanding officer; he would hold the post for the rest of his life.

The next convoy, UGS 54 to [[Plymouth]], England, in September, was uneventful until ''Underhill'' left Plymouth in October. Upon leaving the harbor, a submarine [[sonar]] contact was made in the [[English Channel]]. Several hours of depth charging accomplished nothing, but while running the patterns, the ship struck an underwater object (possibly a U-boat) destroying the ship's sonar soundhead. ''Underhill'' drydocked at Plymouth, but the British were unable to make needed repairs, so ''Underhill'' returned to Boston with a group of [[tank landing ship]]s (LSTs) for a new sound head.

She escorted Convoy UGS 60 from Boston to [[Mers el Kebir]] in November; then engaged in anti-submarine warfare exercises out of Oran with the
French submarine ''Doris''. She departed that Algerian port on 3 December escorting GUS 60 and reached New York on 21 December. She entered the [[Brooklyn Navy Yard]] on 21 December, departing for [[Naval Submarine Base New London|New London, Connecticut]], on 8 January 1945 for a temporary assignment with Submarine Forces, [[U.S. Atlantic Fleet|Atlantic]]. Operating out of New London, she served as a training and escort ship for submarines, took part in exercises in [[Block Island Sound]] and [[Long Island Sound]]; and trained intensively in anti-submarine warfare.

== Pacific service ==
In late January 1945, ''Underhill'' was assigned to the [[U.S. 7th Fleet|Seventh Fleet]] in the [[Philippine Islands]], departing New London on 8 February 1945, rendezvousing with [[HMS Patroller|HMS ''Patroller'']] to escort the British [[escort aircraft carrier|escort carrier]] to the [[Panama Canal Zone]]. ''Underhill'' then steamed via the [[Panama Canal]], the [[Galapagos Islands]], and [[Bora Bora]] to the [[Admiralty Islands]] and arrived at [[Seeadler Harbor]] on 15 March 1945.

Her first convoy took her to [[Lingayen Gulf]] where she remained for four days of radar picket duty. From there she went on to [[Jayapura|Hollandia (currently known as Jayapura)]] and [[Biak]]. On 5 June 1945, ''Underhill'' left Hollandia escorting the troopship [[USS General M. B. Stewart (AP-140)|USS ''General M.B. Stewart'']] (AP-140) to [[Leyte Gulf]].

On 10 June 1945, ''Underhill'' left Leyte for Hollandia, but en route received a distress call from OA-10 #<!-- -->23, a [[Consolidated PBY Catalina]] flying boat. ''Underhill'' and [[USS Thaddeus Parker (DE-369)|''Thadeus Parker'']] were diverted to the crash site by orders of the Commander, [[Philippine Sea Frontier]]. The [[destroyer]]s and various aircraft patrolled the area until 12 June when the search was abandoned. After ''Parker'' and the aircraft had left the area, ''Underhill'''s lookouts spotted green dye marker and a ration can floating in the water. Investigating further, into a rain squall, the lookouts found three survivors, who had been in the water about 60 hours with [[life jacket]]s but no [[life raft]]. ''Underhill'' took them aboard at 07:59 and transported them to Hollandia.

''Underhill'' escorted shipping between [[Manus Island|Manus]], [[Bora Bora]], and [[Palau]], until she joined a large convoy of supply and troopships. She departed Leyte Gulf on 9 July and arrived at [[Okinawa Island|Okinawa]] on 14 July 1945. There, she was assigned to [[radar picket]] duty until relieved to serve as escort commander of Task Unit 99-1-18, a convoy from [[Buckner Bay]], Okinawa back to Leyte Gulf on 21 July 1945. The convoy included one troop ship and six [[Tank landing ship|LSTs]] carrying troops of the [[96th Infantry Division (United States)|96th Division]] back to the Philippines for rest and reinforcements. The convoy escorts were patrol craft ''PC-1251'', ''PC-803'', ''PC-804'', and ''PC-807'', sub chasers ''SC-1306'' and ''SC-1309'', and patrol craft escort ''PCE-872''.

== ''Underhill'' sinking ==
On the morning of the third day out, 24 July 1945, about 200 to 300 miles northeast of [[Cape Engaño (Luzon)|Cape Engaño]], ''Underhill''{{'s}} radar detected a Japanese "[[Mitsubishi Ki-46|Dinah]]" reconnaissance plane circling the convoy about ten miles out. Her crew immediately manned their battle stations and ordered other escorts to air defense stations. The Japanese pilot remained out of gun range, determining the convoy's base course and relaying it to Japanese submarines in the area. After some 45 minutes, ''Underhill'' crew secured from battle stations and ordered the other escorts to resume assigned patrol stations. During this time, an SC had developed mechanical problems and had to be taken in tow by ''PCE-872''.
[[File:KaitenMission.JPG|thumb|250px|Three ''Kaiten'' torpedoes on the deck of an Imperial Japanese Navy submarine]]
Two or three [[Japan]]ese [[submarine]]s were in the area. After establishing the convoy's base course, one released a dummy [[naval mine]] in the path of the convoy. When it was sighted by ''Underhill'' lookouts, the ship's commander ordered a general course change to port. When the last ship had cleared, ''Underhill'' stood in to sink the mine. After repeated direct hits by the 20-millimeter guns and 30-calibre rifle fire, the convoy realized the mine was a diversionary tactic by the Japanese submarines.

A sonar contact made earlier had been lost during the course changes required by the mine threat, but ''Underhill'' regained contact and guided ''PC-804'' into a depth charge attack with no immediate results. A few minutes later, however, a sub was sighted on the surface in the area where ''PC-804'' had attacked. ''Underhill'' set course to ram, but the sub dived and the command was changed to drop depth charges. A 13-charge pattern was laid, explosions brought up oil and [[debris]], and ''PC-804'' reported a kill.

''Underhill'' reversed course and passed back through the debris. Sonar picked up another contact. The depth charges had brought to the surface two ''[[Kaiten]]'', Japanese suicide [[manned torpedo]]es, each with a warhead equivalent to about two standard torpedoes. One was on either side of ''Underhill''; the one to starboard was too close for any of ''Underhill'''s guns to bear.

At 15:15, the captain ordered flank speed, a turn onto collision course, and all hands to stand by to ram. ''Underhill'' struck the ''Kaiten'' to port, and two explosions resulted, the first directly under the bridge and magazine area, the second, a few seconds later, forward of the bridge area and more to starboard. ''Underhill'' broke in half at the forward fire room. The stern section remained upright and afloat; The bow, sticking straight up, began drifting away to starboard. The explosions flung a tremendous quantity of oily water over the aft section, knocking down sailors and washing some overboard, but also dousing possible fires in that portion of the ship.{{Citation needed|date=January 2011}}

Although hampered in their rescue efforts by the necessity to pursue sound contacts and by alarms over real and imagined [[periscope]] sightings, ''PC-803'' and ''PC-804'' quickly came to the aid of survivors in the water and on the slowly sinking aft section. On board ''Underhill'', the wounded were brought to the boat and main decks, while unhurt survivors aided the injured and attempted to control the damage.

About an hour later ''PC-803'' and ''PC-804'' had returned to rescue survivors. Hampered because of still being under attack by the midget subs, the transfer of many seriously wounded sailors to the patrol craft was difficult. ''PC-804'' was the first to reach the combat site to assist with rescue operations and hove-to off the starboard quarter of ''Underhill''. The patrol boats and sub chasers alternated between assisting survivors and attacking submarine contacts.

After the last known survivors were rescued, a firing line was formed by ''PC-803'', ''PC-804'', and ''PCE-872''. The fragments of ''Underhill'' were sunk by three-inch (76.2&nbsp;mm) and 40&nbsp;mm gunfire at 19:17. Loss Location reported at 19°20'N, 126°42'E.
[[File:Pce-872c.jpg|thumb|''PCE-872'' assisted in the final sinking of the USS ''Underhill''.]]
The remainder of 24 July was spent rejoining the convoy. Some survivors were transferred to ''LST 768'' and the balance to ''LST 739'' which had on board Commander LST Group 46 who among the command was the only Medical Doctor in the convoy at about 03:00 on 25 July. Task Unit 99-1-18 proceeded to its destination of Leyte Gulf.

=== Aftermath ===
A total of 112 crew members of ''Underhill'' perished in the explosion, while 122 survived. Ten of the fourteen officers were lost, including the commanding officer, Lieutenant Commander Newcomb. Every crewman was awarded the [[Purple Heart]], and Newcomb also received the [[Silver Star]]. Chief Boatswain's Mate Stanley Dace was posthumously awarded the bronze star with combat "V" and citation of merit in August 1998. One other shipmate, Pharmacist's Mate Third class Joseph Manory, was awarded the Navy and Marine Commendation Medal with Combat "V" in 1998.

Just six days after the sinking of the ''Underhill'', the heavy cruiser ''[[USS Indianapolis (CA-35)|Indianapolis]]'' was attacked and sunk in the area by a Japanese submarine. The historical film ''[[USS Indianapolis: Men of Courage]]'' (2016), dramatizing the incident, also includes a mention of the ''Underhill'' and of how it did not affect the order to not give the ''Indianapolis'' a [[sonar]] and an escort.

USS ''Underhill'' was struck from the [[Naval Vessel Register]] on 1 September 1945.

== References ==
*{{DANFS|http://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/u/underhill.html}}

== External links ==
* http://www.ussunderhill.org/
* [http://www.navsource.net/archives/06/682.htm NavSource: USS ''Underhill'']

{{Buckley class destroyer escort}}
{{July 1945 shipwrecks}}

{{coord|19|20|0|N|126|42|0|E|display=title}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Underhill (DE-682)}}
[[Category:Buckley-class destroyer escorts]]
[[Category:World War II shipwrecks in the South China Sea]]
[[Category:Ships built in Quincy, Massachusetts]]
[[Category:1943 ships]]
[[Category:Ships sunk by Japanese submarines]]
[[Category:Frigates and destroyer escorts sunk by submarines]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in July 1945]]
[[Category:Naval magazine explosions]]