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NavSource Online: Mine Warfare Vessel Photo Archive

Harry F. Bauer (MMD 26)
ex-DM-26
ex-DD-738



Call sign:
November - Tango - Yankee - Mike
Allen M. Sumner Class Destroyer/Robert H. Smith Light Minelayer:

  • Laid down 6 March 1944 as DD-738 by Bath Iron Works, Bath, Maine
  • Launched 9 July 1944
  • Reclassified as a Light Minelayer, DM-26, 20 July 1944
  • Delivered and commissioned USS Harry F. Bauer (DM-26), 22 September 1944
  • Decommissioned 12 March 1956 at Charleston, SC
  • Laid up in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet, Philadelphia Group
  • Reclassified as a Fast Minelayer, MMD-26, 1 January 1969
  • Struck from the Navy Register 15 August 1971
  • Sold for scrap 12 June 1974 by the Defense Supply Agency, Defense Property Disposal Service, to Northern Metals of Philadelphia, PA.

    Specifications

  • Displacement 2,380 t.(lt), 3370 t.(fl)
  • Length 376' 6"
  • Beam 40' 10"
  • Draft 18' 10"
  • Speed 34 kts.
  • Complement 363
  • Armament: Three twin 5"/38 dual purpose gun mounts, six twin 40mm gun mounts, eleven 20mm guns, two .50 cal. machine guns, two depth charge tracks and four depth charge projectors
  • Propulsion: Four Babcock and Wilcox boilers, two 60,000shp General Electric Corp. geared turbines, two shafts.
    Click on thumbnail
    for full size image    		 Size Image Description Source
    Harry Frederick Bauer
    Harry F. Bauer 38k
    Namesake:

    Harry Frederick Bauer was born 17 July 1904 at Camp Thomas Lytle, Ga., and graduated from the Naval Academy in 1927. During the early part of his career he served at shore stations, including a tour as instructor at the Naval Academy, and in Twiggs [DD-127], Cuyama [AO-3], and Tracy [DD-214]. Bauer was commissioned Lieutenant Commander 1 July 1941 and took command of fast transport Gregory [APD-3],1 January 1942. While acting as combat transports for Marines off Guadalcanal during the night of 4-5 September 1942, Gregory and Little [APD-4] were surprised by three Japanese destroyers covering a small troop landing. Though vastly outgunned, the two transports fought valiantly before being sunk. Lt. Comdr. Bauer was badly wounded, and while being pulled clear by two of his crew ordered them to rescue another man crying out for assistance. Lt. Comdr. Bauer was lost, receiving the Silver Star posthumously for his gallantry. He was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart having been killed in action as a direct result of wounds received in action with the enemy of the United States. Other awards received posthumously included the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal; American Defense Service Medal; and the World War II Victory Medal in the late 1940’s
    Photo courtesy of the Lucky Bag Yearbook - Class of 1927

    		 Bill Gonyo
    Harry F. Bauer (DM 26)
    Thomas E. Fraser 51k Launching. First day cover, 9 July 1944 Tommy Trampp
    Photo added 16 January 2021
    USS Harry F. Bauer (DM 26)
    Thomas E. Fraser 35k Shannon (DM-25), Harry F. Bauer, Thomas E. Fraser (DM-24) and Shea (DM-30) USS Thomas E. Fraser (DM 24) Association
    Harry F. Bauer 60k
    Harry F. Bauer 122k Tommy Trampp
    Harry F. Bauer 93k Aerial photo of Harry F. Bauer in the Atlantic, probably in October 1944, wearing camouflage 32/16d scheme
    National Archives photo 80-G-285987, courtesy of C. Lee Johnson, Ships of the U.S. Navy in WWII “Dazzle” Camouflage    		 Mike Green
    Harry F. Bauer 66k In Boston Harbor on 10 October 1944, in camouflage 32/16d scheme. The colors are dull black, ocean gray and light gray
    National Archives photo 80-G-382780, courtesy of C. Lee Johnson, Ships of the U.S. Navy in WWII “Dazzle” Camouflage
    Harry F. Bauer 108k 28 September 1945
    Coming alongside USS Saugatuck (AO 75) to fuel off Sukomo Wan, Japan. Both ships were part of the occupation forces there
    Photo courtesy of the Al DeSantis    		 Carmen Costa and John Chiquoine
    Harry F. Bauer 195k Underway during the 1950s, after being refitted with a tripod foremast
    Naval History and Heritage Command photo NH 95369    		 Robert Hurst
    Harry F. Bauer 220k Harry F. Bauer (DM-26) underway in Hampton Roads, Virginia, on 11 August 1952
    Naval History and Heritage Command photo NH 91909    		 Mike Green
    Harry F. Bauer 227k c. 1953
    U.S. Navy photo from the 1954/1955 edition of Jane's Fighting Ships    		 Robert Hurst
    ex-Harry F. Bauer (MMD 26)
    Harry F. Bauer 458k c. May 1974
    Portsmouth, NH    		 Ron Reeves
    Commanding Officers
    01CDR Richard Claggett Williams, Jr., USN - USNA Class of 1932
    Awarded the Navy Distinguished Service Medal (1951, the Silver Star (1945), two Legions of Merit with Combat V (1945) and the Presidential Unit Citation - Retired as Rear Admiral    		22 September 1944 - 21 December 1945
    02CDR Harold Frank Crist, USN - USNA Class of 193315 August 1946 - 1 March 1948
    03LT Richard Orion Young, USN - USNA Class of 1933
    Awarded the Silver Star (1950)    		1 March 1948 - 9 June 1948
    04CDR Warren Chandler Boles, USN - Awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Medal (1943)9 June 1948 - June 1949
    Courtesy of Wolfgang Hechler, Ron Reeves and Joe Radigan
    View the Harry F. Bauer (MMD 26)
    DANFS History entry located on the Haze Gray & Underway Website

    The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION to the

    UNITED STATES SHIP HARRY F. BAUER

    for service as set forth in the following

    CITATION:

    "For extraordinary heroism in action against enemy Japanese forces as Support Ship on Radar Picket Station and in the Transport Screen during the Okinawa Campaign from March 24 to June 11, 1945. One of the first ships to enter Kerama Retto seven days prior to the invasion, the U.S.S. HARRY F. BAUER operated in waters protected by mines and numerous enemy suicide craft and provided fire support for our minesweeper groups against hostile attacks by air, surface, submarine and shore fire. Constantly vigilant and ready for battle, she furnished cover for our anti-submarine screen, served as an antiaircraft buffer for our Naval Forces off the Okinawa beachhead and, with her own gunfire, downed thirteen Japanese planes and assisted in the destruction of three others. A natural and frequent target for heavy Japanese aerial attack while occupying advanced and isolated stations, she defeated all efforts of enemy Kamikaze and dive-bombing planes to destroyer her. On April 2, she rendered invaluable service by fighting fires and conducting salvage operations on a seriously damaged attack transport. Although herself damaged by a Japanese suicide plane which crashed near her on June 6, she remained on station and escorted another stricken vessel back to port. A seaworthy, fighting ship, complemented by skilled and courageous officers and men, the HARRY F. BAUER achieved a notable record of gallantry in combat, attesting the teamwork of her entire company and enhancing the finest traditions of the United States Naval Service."

    For the President,

    John L. Sullivan
    Secretary of the Navy

    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    NavSource Destroyer Pages, USS Harry F. Bauer (DD-738)
    Back To The Main Photo Index Back To the Mine Warfare Ship Photo Index Back to the Fast Minelayer (MMD) Photo Index
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