Photographic History of the United States Navy
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NavSource Naval History Photographic History of the United States Navy |
DESTROYER ARCHIVE |
| Click On Image For Full Size Image |
Size | Image Description | Contributed By |
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| Namesake |
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136k | Joseph B. Smith, born in Belfast, Maine, in 1826, was appointed to the U.S. Naval Academy in 1841. After graduating with the Class of 1847, he served at the Washington Navy Yard, in USS Mississippi and with the U.S. Coast Survey. He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant in 1855, and soon afterwards was assigned to the steam frigate Merrimack, his station until 1857. Smith next had ordnance duty at the Washington Navy Yard, D.C. Lieutenant Smith joined USS Congress in about 1859. As her Executive Officer, he was in charge of the ship during the Commanding Officer's absence when she was attacked and destroyed by CSS Virginia on 8 March 1862. Joseph B. Smith was killed in action during this battle. Lieutenant Joseph B. Smith, USN, photographed by Black, 173 Washington St., Boston, Massachusetts, circa 1861. Naval History & Heritage Command photo NH 44970 | Bill Gonyo | |
| USS Smith (DD-378) |
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| 63k | Undated, location unknown. | Robert M. Cieri | |
| 43k | Undated, location unknown. | Bill Roddy | |
| 49k | Undated, location unknown. | Ron Reeves | |
| 202k | Undated drawing. | Richard Miller BMCS USNR RET. | |
| 78k | Undated stern view of the USS Smith (DD-378) with the USS Dunlap (DD-384) in the background, off Sydney, NSW, Australia. While the Dunlap is sometimes considered lead ship of a two ship class, both ships show typical Mahan class configuration, note the depth charge rails, open 5”/38 mounts and twin 40mm Bofors at both port and starboard. Both ships carry SK-1 air search radars at their mast heads, with SG surface search radar mounted below. Both destroyers carry Measure MS21 camouflage scheme. Source: Australian War Memorial, Photo No.302742. | Mike Green | |
| 624k | USS Smith (DD-378) (left) and the USS Preston (DD-379) under construction at the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, 01 July 1935. National Archives photo 19-N-17722. | Robert Hurst | |
| 246k | View of the stern of USS Smith (DD-378) on the ways at Mare Island, 19 February 1936. | Darryl Baker | |
| 121k | Sponsor's party at Smith's christening ceremony at Mare Island Navy Yard, 20 February 1936. In front row (left to right): Mayor Fred Heegler of Vallejo, Major General Paul B. Malone (U.S. Army), Mrs. W.M. Hague, Matron of Honor, Mrs. E.M. Campbell, Rear Admiral Yancey S. Williams, Mrs. Yancey S. Williams, ship's sponsor, Mrs. E.D. Almy, Matron of Honor, Mrs. Fred Heegler, and Rear Admiral Edward H. Campbell. Naval History & Heritage Command photo NH 75456 | Darryl Baker | |
| 96k | Mrs. Yancey S. Williams about to christen the USS Smith (DD 378), 20 February 1936 Naval History & Heritage Command photo NH 75455 | Darryl Baker | |
| 160k | USS Smith (DD-378) with yard tug YMT-9 alongside immediately after her launch at Mare Island, 20 February 1936. | Darryl Baker | |
| 144k | USS Smith (DD-378) on her way to her outfitting berth with the assistance of Navigator (YT-39) aft and YMT-9 forward, 20 February 1936. | Darryl Baker | |
| 553k | USS Smith (DD-378) at the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, 21 September 1936, two days after she went into commission. The destroyer astern of Smith is Preston (DD-379), which was still fitting out. National Archives photo 19-N-17716 | Fred Weiss | |
| 166k | USS Smith (DD-378) in the Mare Island channel, 18 December 1936. | Darryl Baker | |
| 158k | USS Smith (DD-378) in San Pablo Bay, west of Mare Island, 14 January 1937. | Darryl Baker | |
| 199k | Broadside view of USS Smith (DD-378) in San Pablo Bay, 14 January 1937. Photo from the collection of Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum. | Darryl Baker | |
| 376k | USS Cushing (DD-376) at sea on 26 October 1937, followed by USS Smith (DD-378). Naval History & Heritage Command photo NH 74266 | Fred Weiss | |
| 367k | USS Smith (DD-378) Underway on 8 February 1938. Naval History & Heritage Command photo NH 74325 | Fred Weiss | |
| 413k | USS Smith (DD-378) in San Diego Harbor, California, 11 April 1938. Naval History & Heritage Command photo NH 74328 | Fred Weiss | |
| 328k | Off the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, on 15 January 1942. National Archives photo 19-N-26694 | Fred Weiss | |
| 379k | Off the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, 28 July 1942. National Archives photo 19-N-32237 | Fred Weiss / Robert Hurst | |
| 93k | Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands, October 1942. USS Smith (DD-378) is hit by a crashing Japanese torpedo plane, during an attack on USS Enterprise (CV-6), 26 October 1942. Photographed from USS South Dakota (BB-57). National Archives photo 80-G-33333 | Scott Dyben | |
| 110k | Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands, October 1942. USS Smith (DD-378) burning after she was hit by a crashing Japanese torpedo plane during an attack on USS Enterprise (CV-6), 26 October 1942. Photographed from USS San Juan (CL-54). National Archives photo 80-G-30622 | Fred Weiss | |
| 99k | USS Smith (DD-378) after the Battle of Santa Cruz showing the damage to the forward 5"/38 gun mounts and forecastle done by a Japanese suicide plane. With the forecastle and bridge an inferno, the Smith's captain, conning from aft, pushed her nose into the foaming wake of the battleship South Dakota. The foam and spray cooled the flames, and allowed firefighters to finish the job. Photo and text taken from United States Destroyer Operations in World War II, by Theodore Roscoe. | Robert Hurst | |
| 490k | Uncropped version of above photo, refueling from USS South Dakota (BB-57) on 28 October 1942. Her two forward 5"/38 guns and much of her forward superstructure are burned out and otherwise damaged, the result of a Japanese torpedo plane that crashed into her two days earlier, during the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands. National Archives photo 80-G-33379 | Fred Weiss | |
| 76k | Additional photo of the damage. | - | |
| 100k | Navy Photo 2102-44, broadside view of USS Smith (DD-378) at Mare Island, 03 April 1944. Photo shows collision damage to her stern. USS Flusser (DD-368) is inboard of Smith. | Darryl Baker | |
| 112k | Navy Photo 2103-44, close-up view of the stern of USS Smith (DD-378) at Mare Island, 03 April 1944, showing collision damage to her stern. | Darryl Baker | |
| 121k | Navy Photo 2380-44, close-up view of the stern of USS Smith (DD-378) under repair in dry dock #4 at Mare Island, 17 April 1944. USS Flusser (DD-368) is to the left. | Darryl Baker | |
| 128k | Mare Island photo 3545-44 Smith (DD-378) in San Francisco Bay, June 12 1944. Visible aft of her is the Carquinez Bridge. | Darryl Baker | |
| 154k | Broadside view of USS Smith (DD-378) in San Pablo Bay, 12 June 1944. Photo from the collection of Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum. | Darryl Baker | |
| 95k | Navy Photo 3538-44, stern view of USS Smith (DD-378) off Mare Island, 12 June 1944. She was in overhaul at Mare Island from 01 April to 19 June 1944. | Darryl Baker | |
| 87k | Navy Photo 3540-44, broadside view of USS Smith (DD-378) off Mare Island, 12 June 1944. The ship is painted in camouflage Measure 31, Design 23d. | Darryl Baker | |
| 85k | Navy Photo 3543-44, bow on view of USS Smith (DD-378) off Mare Island, 12 June 1944. | Darryl Baker | |
| 233k | USS Smith (DD-378) Off the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, 12 June 1944. Her camouflage is Measure 31, Design 23d. National Archives photo 19-N-67558 | Fred Weiss | |
| 317k | USS Smith (DD-378) Off the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, 12 June 1944.National Archives photo 19-N-67559 | Fred Weiss | |
| 101k | Navy Photo 3610-44, amidships looking aft plan view of USS Smith (DD 378) at Mare Island on 16 June 1944. | Darryl Baker | |
| 107k | Navy Photo 3611-44, amidships looking forward plan view of USS Smith (DD 378) at Mare Island on 16 June 1944. | Darryl Baker | |
| 532k | In Pearl Harbor, Territory of Hawaii, 30 March 1946. National Archives photo 19-N-115204 | Fred Weiss | |
| THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY WASHINGTONThe President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION to the UNITED STATES SHIP USS SMITH (DD-378) for service as set forth in the following CITATION: "For outstanding performance during action against enemy Japanese forces off Santa Cruz Islands, October 26, 1942. Although a hostile torpedo plane crashed on her forecastle and exploded at the height of the battle, the SMITH, with her forward topside abandoned and aflame, gallantly held to her screening position on an aircraft carrier and fought off attacking planes until the fire could be extinguished. Her survival is a distinctive tribute to the invincible fighting spirit of her officers and men." For the President, Frank Knox, Secretary of the Navy | Bill Gonyo | |||
| 287k | Original DD equipment plaque saved while being scrapped. Courtesy of the Los Angeles Maritime Museum. | Ed Zajkowski | |
| Commanding Officers | ||
| 01 | CDR Homer Louis Grosskopf (USNA 1916) | 19 September 1936 - 11 June 1938 |
| 02 | LCDR George McFadden O'Rear (USNA 1919) | 11 June 1938 - 12 June 1940 |
| 03 | CDR Francis Xavier McInerney (USNA 1921-A) | 12 June 1940 - 27 December 1941 |
| 04 | LCDR Hunter Wood, Jr. (USNA 1925) | 27 December 1941 - 01 February 1943 |
| 05 | LCDR Robert Alfred Theobald, Jr. (USNA 1931) | 01 February 1943 - 15 February 1944 |
| 06 | CDR Frank Voris List (USNA 1933) | 15 February 1944 - 27 December 1944 |
| 07 | CDR Emery Harrison Huff (USNA 1938) | 27 December 1944 - 28 June 1946 |
The contact listed, Was the contact at the time for this ship when located. If another person now is the contact, E-mail me and I will update this entry. These contacts are compiled from various sources over a long period of time and may or may not be correct. Every effort has been made to list the newest contact if more than one contact was found.
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This page was created by Fred Willishaw (ex ARG-4, AS-11 & DD-692) and is maintained by David L. Wright
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