USS Aaron Ward (DM-34)
She was laid down as an Allen M. Sumner-class destroyer (DD-773) on 12 December 1943 at San Pedro, California by the Bethlehem Shipbuilding and launched on 5 May 1944, sponsored by Mrs. G. H. Ratliff.The warship conducted additional training in Hawaiian waters, before loading supplies and ammunition and getting underway on 5 March to join the 5th Fleet at Ulithi.On 1 April, the day of the initial assault on Okinawa, the destroyer minelayer began screening the heavy warships providing gunfire support for the troops ashore.After several days of minor repairs, Aaron Ward headed back to Okinawa to patrol in the area around Kerama Retto.[1] The explosion flooded the after engine and fire rooms, ruptured fuel tanks, set the leaking oil ablaze, and severed steering control connections to the bridge.Passing over the signal bridge, the plane carried away halyards and antennae assemblies, smashed into the stack, and then crashed close aboard to starboard.Coming in just forward of her port beam, the plane was met with a hail of anti-aircraft fire, but continued on and released a bomb just before crashing into her main deck.[1] The bomb exploded a few feet close aboard her port side; its fragments showered the ship and blew a large hole through the shell plating near her forward fireroom.At that point, a previously unobserved enemy crashed into the ship's deckhouse bulkhead, causing numerous fires and injuring and killing many more crewmen.While damage control crews fought the fires and flooding, Aaron Ward began to settle in the water and took on a decided list to port.
USS Aaron WardAaron WardBethlehem ShipbuildingSan PedroRobert H. Smith-classdestroyer5 in (127 mm)/38 cal. guns40 mm guns20 mm cannonsdepth chargeRear Admiraldestroyer minelayerUnited States Navylaid downAllen M. Sumner-classlaunchedcommissionedPearl Harbor5th FleetUlithiWestern CarolinesRyūkyū IslandsOkinawaminesweepingKerama RettoMarianasSaipankamikazePinkneysuperstructureLittleLSM(R)-195bridgeShannonEniwetokPanama CanalNavy listElgin, IllinoisPresidential Unit CitationWorld War IIpublic domainDictionary of American Naval Fighting ShipsRobert H. Smith-class destroyer minelayersRobert H. SmithThomas E. FraserHarry F. BauerTolmanHenry A. WileyJ. William DitterLindseyTurkish NavyMuavenetUSS PruittList of destroyers of the United States NavyList of mine warfare vessels of the United States NavyAllen M. Sumner-class destroyersAllen M. SumnerIngrahamCooperEnglishCharles S. SperryWaldronHaynsworthJohn W. WeeksWallace L. LindComptonGainardHarlan R. DicksonHugh PurvisBartonLaffeyO'BrienMeredithDe HavenMansfieldLyman K. SwensonCollettMaddoxMannert L. AbeleDrexlerTaussigSamuel N. MooreHarry E. HubbardAlfred A. CunninghamJohn R. PierceFrank E. EvansJohn A. BoleBeattyPutnamStrongLofbergJohn W. ThomasonHenleyHugh W. HadleyWillard KeithJames C. OwensZellarsMasseyDouglas H. FoxStormesRobert K. HuntingtonBristolArgentine NavySeguí classSeguíHipólito BouchardPiedra BuenaBrazilian NavyMato Grosso classMato GrossoSergipeAlagoasRio Grande do NorteEspirito SantoChilean NavyMinistro ZentenoMinistro PortalesRepublic of China NavyLo Yang classHsiang YangHeng YangHua YangYuen YangHuei YangPo YangLo Yang