Grandpa's Story-WWII Part 1

Grandpa talks about his days in the US Navy during World War II

History of USS Neal A Scott, DE 769

The USS Neal A Scott, DE-769, a Cannon class Destroyer Escort, was named for Ensign Neal A. Scott who died defending his ship on October 10, 1942 at the battle of Santa Cruz. Ensign Scott was awarded Purple Heart and the Navy Cross, posthumously.

Built by the Tampa Shipbuilding Company, the ship was launched June 4, 1944 and commissioned at the Lee Terminal, Tampa, Florida on July 31, 1944 with Lt. P. D. Holden in command.

An armed vessel approximately 300 feet long, with four 16-278A diesel engines provided a maximum range of 10,800 miles at 12 knots and a top speed of 21 knots.

Following shakedown off Bermuda, USS Neal A Scott steamed to Norfolk, VA then to Solomons, MD, where she conducted acoustic test runs for the Naval Mine Warfare Test Station during the first two weeks of November, 1944. She then proceeded back to Norfolk where she operated as a training ship in the lower Chesapeake Bay area until December 10. The next day she escorted convoy UGS 63 to Oran, Algeria. The convoy of approximately 100 ships in 15 columns passed through the Straits of Gibraltar December 27 and arrived at Oran the 28th.

January 2, 1945, USS Neal A Scott departed North Africa escorting convoy GUS 63 to Hampton Roads. On the 3rd, at 1707, a large cloud of smoke was seen and an explosion heard from the center of the first line of the convoy. USS Neal A Scott started a submarine search on the starboard bow of the convoy. At 1739 good sonar contact was established and a depth charge attack begun. In the next six minutes 26 charges were dropped. Thirty seconds after the last charge detonated, the rumble of an underwater explosion, followed by the appearance of an oil slick off the escort's port quarter, was reported and sonar contact was lost. At 1755 contact was regained and a hedgehog attack was made. Two to four explosions were heard within the next half minute, and 8 more were heard over a minute later but contact was again lost. Contact established again at 1806, a second hedgehog run was made. This time, however, no explosions were reported and the contact was lost. Undiscouraged, the ship continued her search until relieved by British escorts at 2345. DE 769 then returned to the convoy and arrived at Norfolk on January 19, without further incident.

In February, USS Neal A Scott joined the Southern Forces Barrier Patrol in the North Atlantic and for the remainder of the war in Europe conducted submarine searches off Nova Scotia and Newfoundland. On April 22, as she steamed in a scouting line proceeding to Argentia, a submarine contact was made by another escort, Carter (DE 112). Sixteen minutes later at 0056, DE-769 made a hedgehog attack. Several explosions were reported. At 0108, Carter delivered a similar attack which was followed immediately by 2 or 3 detonations and then by an explosion. At 0118, another, and heavier, explosion was felt and heard by all hands. U-518 had been sent to the bottom of the North Atlantic.

After the surrender of Germany, on May 7, USS Neal A Scott was ordered to intercept U-1228 and bring her into port. While proceeding to the surrender point, U-858 was contacted and ordered to the surrender point. On May 11, U-1228 was intercepted and after sending a boarding party to the submarine and taking on 28 of the U-boat's crew, including the Captain, the escort headed for Portsmouth, New Hampshire, where she turned over her prisoners and their boat to Coast Guard officials on May 17.

DE 769 then steamed south to Bayonne for availability after which she proceeded to Florida and for the next two months operated as plane guard for Guadalcanal

USS Neal A. Scott underwent availability at Charleston and then headed for Corpus Christi for Navy Day celebrations. She returned to Charleston November 4, departed on the 7th to Jacksonville.

USS Neal A Scott received one battle star for her World War II service.

On April 30, 1946 the U.S.S Neal A. Scott was decommissioned and joined the Atlantic Reserve Fleet. On June 1, 1968 she was stricken from the Navy record.

WWII World War II Navy Jim Sully Sullivan MM2 DE 769 Destroyer Escort Neil USS Neal A Scott Lawrenceville Dormont Pittsburgh, PA Pennsylvania Streetcar Line Boot Camp Great Lakes IL Illinois service week mess hall leave OGU Wilsons Wilson Meatpacking Wilson Sporting Goods co quartermasters allotment gemutlich gemütlich Gemutlekeit Gemütlichkeit Gemuetlichkeit USO United Service Organizations Navy Pier Chicago DE Diesel Engine General motors base Norfolk VA Sailors and Dogs keep off the grass lawn Tampa FL New Orleans LA demagnetized Liberty Shakedown Bermuda ship Oran Algeria Africa convey engine room Straits of Gibraltar Second Class Petty Officer Diesel Electric DE depth charge propeller shaft struts hedgehog attack division Newfoundland

Category:

People & Blogs

[aSeasonalMind]

i don't like war or anything to do with it but i love how got his story on tape for people to hear. tre cool!

[hawkeyefan111]

my grandpa was on the neal a scott he says he knew sully! He said that sully was one of the only nice guys he knew onboard

[megalomaniacal33]

THANK YOU!!!!

[Preman777]

cooL!

[3z3three]

Amazing