WW2 Destroyer Minelayer USS Robert Smith class

Description

1/1200 scale
USS Robert H. Smith (DD-735/DM-23)
was the
lead ship
of
her class
of
destroyer minelayers
in the
United States Navy
.
History
United StatesName:Robert H. SmithNamesake:Robert H. SmithBuilder:
Bath Iron Works
Laid down:10 January 1944Launched:25 May 1944Commissioned:4 August 1944Identification:DD-735Reclassified:DM-23, 19 July 1944Decommissioned:29 January 1947Stricken:26 February 1971General characteristicsClass and type:
Robert H. Smith-class
destroyer
Displacement:2,200 tonsLength:376 ft 6 in (114.76 m)Beam:40 ft 10 in (12.45 m)Draft:18 ft 10 in (5.74 m)Speed:34 knots (63 km/h; 39 mph)Complement:363 officers and enlistedArmament:
6 x
5 in (127 mm)/38 cal. guns
12 x
40 mm guns
8 x
20 mm cannons
2 x
depth charge
tracks
4 depth charge projectors
Namesake
Edit
Robert Holmes Smith, ca. 1920
Robert Holmes Smith was born on 8 August 1898 in
Harrellsville, North Carolina
. He graduated from the
United States Naval Academy
on 6 June 1919. After duty on various surface ships, he served with the Submarine Service for 17 years. He commanded
USS Bonita
, was an instructor at the New London submarine school, a member of the Naval Academy staff, Submarine Gunnery Officer with the
Bureau of Navigation
, Navigation Officer in
USS Pennsylvania
and Chief of Staff for Submarine Division, Atlantic Patrol Force. Following promotion to
Captain
, he commanded
USS Sperry
in the
Pacific
from May 1942 to January 1943. He was Commander of Squadron 2, Pacific Submarine Fleet, when he died in the crash of the
Philippine Clipper
flying boat in
Northern California
on 21 January 1943.
[1]
Construction and career
Edit
Robert H. Smith was
laid down
on 10 January 1944 by
Bath Iron Works
,
Bath, Maine
and
launched
on 25 May 1944; sponsored by Mrs. Robert Holmes Smith. The vessel was redesignated
DM-23
on 19 July 1944; and
commissioned
on 4 August 1944, Commander Henry Farrow in command.
Following shakedown off
Bermuda
, the new destroyer minelayer transited the
Panama Canal
with a
Pacific
-bound convoy 28 November, arriving at
San Pedro
9 December and
Pearl Harbor
21 December.
Iwo Jima
Edit
On 27 January 1945, Robert H. Smith sailed as escort for a
convoy
of the 5th Amphibious Corps bound for
Iwo Jima
. During final amphibious rehearsals off
Saipan
, she rescued the crew of a downed
B-29
. She arrived off Iwo Jima early in the morning of D-day, 19 February 1945. For most of the next three weeks, she served on
radar picket
station 50 miles north of the island, controlling
CAP
and reporting radar contacts. She also bombarded Japanese shore positions and acted as a screening ship for the night retirement formations.
Ulithi
Edit
Robert H. Smith departed Iwo Jima on 9 March and escorted a group of merchantmen as far as Saipan; and then sailed for
Ulithi
, arriving there 13 March. On 25 March she arrived off
Kerama Retto
with a group of
minesweepers
. During the pre-assault period, when she was twice attacked by
kamikazes
, Robert H. Smith acted as support ship for minesweepers, as radar picket ship, and as screening ship in night retirement formations. During the landings she screened the transport area; then departed 5 April with a convoy for
Guam
. On her return 21 April, she undertook six weeks of radar picket duty, undergoing numerous air attacks and downing five planes. On 4 June Robert H. Smith completed her radar picket duty. She spent a few more days screening the
Okinawa
transport area and supporting the amphibious attack on Iheya Point.
East China Sea
Edit
On 13 June Robert H. Smith began a long series of operations supporting minesweeping groups clearing an
East China Sea
area near
Miyako Jima
in the southern
Ryukyu Islands
. Air support was provided by a group of
escort carriers
with Robert H. Smith acting as primary fighter director ship. The operation lasted until 25 June. The next area to be swept was in the central part of the East China Sea about 100 miles east of
Shanghai
. In that operation the ship acted as radar buoy layer and small craft supply ship, in addition to her fighter director activities.
Okinawa
Edit
In July, Robert H. Smith departed Okinawa for a large minefield in the northern part of the East China Sea about 100 miles southwest of
Kyūshū
. However, scarcely a third of the area had been swept when the Japanese offer of surrender was accepted.
Yellow Sea
Edit
Robert H. Smith and other ships were suddenly recalled and sent to the
Yellow Sea
to sweep a channel to the occupation ports of
Korea
for the 7th Amphibious Corps. It later became the task of Robert H. Smith to lead the transport convoy through that channel on 7 September 1945. The group then proceeded to
Sasebo
to clear mines from the sea approaches to the ex-Japanese naval base for transports carrying occupation troops for
Kyushu
, Japan. After working in the Sasebo area for a few weeks, during which the ship was forced to ride out several typhoons, she joined a group of larger minesweepers in an operation in the
Van Diemen Strait
just south of Kyushu. She then operated with a minesweeping force in the Yellow Sea, and made a courier run from Sasebo to
Kiirun
to support minesweepers working in the straits of
Formosa
, returning to Sasebo by way of Shanghai.
End of World War II and fate
Edit
On 17 January 1946 Robert H. Smith sailed for the United States, reaching
San Francisco
on 7 February 1946. On 29 January 1947, she was placed out of commission in reserve and attached to the San Diego Group, Pacific Reserve Fleet.
She remained a part of the
Pacific Reserve Fleet
until 1971, when after being surveyed, she was found to be unfit for further service. Robert H. Smith was stricken from the
Navy list
on 26 February 1971.
Robert H. Smith earned five
battle stars
for
World War II
service.
As of 2021, no other ship in the United States Navy has been named Robert H. Smith.
Condition is "Used". Shipped with USPS Priority Mail.