C-O-N-F-I-D-E-N-T-I-A-L                   U.S.S. MUSTIN (413)
    DD413/A12                               C/O Fleet Post Office
                                            San Francisco, Calif.
    Serial 133 
                                            December 4, 1942.


    From:          Commanding Officer.
    To  :          The Chief of Naval Operations (Office of Naval
                   Records and Library).

    Subject:       War Diary, Forwarding of.

    Reference:     (a) Cincpac ltr. A2-11 (987) of 3-11-42.

    Enclosure:     (A) War Diary for November 1942.

         1.        In accordance with reference (a), enclosure
    (A) is forwarded herewith.



                                        W.F. PETERSEN



                   WAR Diary - - U.S.S. MUSTIN


             From: November 1 to November 30, 1942.   


                        November 1, 1942.


           Operating as Task Group 61.9, consisting of USS 
           PENSACOLA, MUSTIN, ANDERSON, CUSHING, and PRESTON, in 
           accordance with secret dispatch #302322, Oct, 1942 of 
           Commander Southern Pacific Force.  This is a unit of 
           task force 61.      

    0800   Lat. 20-02.5 S.
           Long. 162-51 E.    

    1200   Lat. 18-52 S.
           Long. 162-12 E.
           Distance past 24 hours 320 miles.  Course 310 degrees.

    2000   Lat. 16-15.8 S.
           Long. 162-17.6 E.

                        November 2, 1942.

    0800   Lat. 12-44.3 S.
           Long. 162-45 E.

    1200   Lat. 11-31 S.
           Long. 152-39 E.
           Distance past 24 hours 445 miles.  Course 006 degrees.

    1535   Sighted Task Force 65.

    1558   Joined Task Force 65.  Task Group 61.9 becomes Task 
           Group 65.9 in accordance with Oplan C-1 of Commander 
           Task Force 65.

    2000   Lat. 10-21.1 S.
           Long. 162-49.2 E.

                        November 3, 1942.

    0800   Lat. 11-30 S.
           Long. 163-51.5 E.
           Unloading operations scheduled for today postponed for 
           a day, because of report of enemy forces in vicinity.

    1200   Lat. 11-02 S.
           Long. 163-13.5 E.
           Distance past 24 hours 32 miles.  Course 026 degrees.

    2000   Lat. 9-57.3 S.
           Long. 163-51.5 E.
    
                        November 4, 1942.

    0350   Commenced Patrolling Aola Bay, Guadalcanal.

    0543   Commenced firing at suspicious planes.
    
    0544   Planes identified as friendly.  Ceased firing.

                        November 5, 1942.

           Patrolling Aola Bay, Guadalcanal.

                        November 6, 1942.

    0105   Transports standing out from Aola Bay.

    0800   Lat. 9-56.6 S.
           Long. 161-51.2 E.
    
    1200   Lat. 10-13 S.
           Long. 162-40 E.
           Distance past 24 hours 122 miles.  Course 112 degree.

    2000   Lat. 11-42.5 S.
           Long. 163-14.5 E.
    
                        November 7, 1942.

    0800   Lat. 13-54 S.
           Long. 163-49.5 E.

    1200   Lat. 13-56 S.
           Long. 164-36 E.
           Distance past 24 hours 250 miles.  Course 153 degrees.

    2000   Lat. 14-09 S.
           Long. 166-03 E.

                        November 8, 1942.

    0800   Lat. 15-41 S.
           Long. 167-17 E.

    0906   Moored at Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides.

                        November 9, 1942.

    0650   Underway in company with USS WALKE, BENHAM, and 
           ANDERSON in accordance with secret dispatch #061242 
           Nov., 1942, of Commander Southern Pacific Force.

    1200   Lat. 16-45.6 S.
           Long. 167-18 E.
           Distance from Espiritu Santo 75 miles.

    2000   Lat. 19-18.7 S.
           Long. 168-07 E.

                        November 10, 1942.

    0800   Lat. 23-01 S.
           Long. 167-52.3 E.

    1200   Lat. 22-54 S.
           Long. 166-47 E.
           Distance past 24 hours 372 miles.  Course 185 degrees.

    1558   Moored Noumea, New Caledonia.

                        November 11, 1942.

    1109   Underway in company with Task Force 16, as part of 
           Task Group 16-4, consisting of USS MUSTIN, ANDERSON, 
           HUGHES, MORRIS, RUSSELL, WALKE, CLARK, AND BENHAM.

    2000   Lat. 22-28.5 S.
           Long. 165-48.8 E.

                        November 12, 1942.

    0800   Lat. 20-26.0 S.
           Long. 162-03.3 E.

    1200   Lat. 19-84 S.
           Long. 167-40.7 E.
           Distance past 24 hours 265 miles.  Course 306 degrees.

    2000   Lat. 17-57 S.
           Long. 161-51 E.

                        November 13, 1942.

    0800   Lat. 14-25 S.
           Long. 161-20 E.

    0945   USS PENSACOLA, GWIN and PRESTON joined formation.

    1200   Lat. 13-35.8 S.
           Long. 161-42.5 E.
           Distance past 24 hours 376 miles.  Course 358 degrees.

    1945   Left formation in order to break radio silence in 
           accordance with visual signal of Commander, Task Force  
           16.  To rejoin formation at 0800, November 14.

    2000   Lat. 14-11 S.
           Long. 162-16.4 E.

                        November 14, 1942.

    0800   Lat. 12-00 S.
           Long. 161-20 E.
           Failed to contact Task Force 16 as planned.

    1200   Lat. 12-06.1 S.
           Long. 161-31.9 E.

    1216   Proceeded toward Espiritu Santo, in accordance with 
           verbal orders of Commander Task Force 16 as received 
           over TBL.

    1411   Sound contact bearing 226 degrees, 460 yards.

    1411   Dropped 4 depth charges.

    1428   Sound contact 135 degrees, 1900 yards.

    1432   Dropped 10 depth charges.

    1520   Discontinued search.
    

    2000   Lat. 13-01.8 S.
           Long. 163-30 E.

                        November 15, 1942.

    0800   Lat. 14-27 S.
           Long. 167-04.3 E.

    1200   Lat. 15-25.5 S.
           Long. 167-30 E.
           Distance past 24 hours 395 miles.  Course 126 degrees.

    1436   Anchored at Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides.

                        November 16, 1942.

           Anchored at Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides.

                        November 17, 1942.

    1606   Underway in company with McCALLA, BETELGUESE, and 
           LIBRA which is towing PAB #4, as Task Unit 62.4.2, a 
           unit of Task Force 62.  Operating in accordance with 
           secret dispatch #160420, Nov., 1942 of Commander Task 
           Force 62.

    2000   Lat. 15-37 S.
           Long. 167-23.8 E.

                        November 18, 1942.

    0800   Lat. 14-37 S.
           Long. 167-00 E.

    1200   Lat. 14-35 S.
           Long. 166-57.7 E.
           Distance past 24 hours 57 miles.  Course 348 degrees.

    2000   Lat. 14-04 S.
           Long. 166-10 E.

                        November 19, 1942.

    0137   Sound contact at 2600 yards bearing 300 degrees.

    0143   Dropped 4 depth charges.

    0235   Discontinues search.

    0800   Lat. 12-41.5 S.
           Long. 164-51.7 E.

    1200   Lat. 12-00 S.
           Long. 164-34 E.
           Distance past 24 hours 155 miles.  Course 322 degrees.

    2000   Lat. 11-16.5 S.
           Long. 164-18.5 E.

                        November 20, 1942.

    0800   Lat. 10-24.8 S.
           Long. 163-02.7 E.

    1200   Lat. 10-20 S.
           Long. 162-19 E.
           Distance past 24 hours 166 miles.  Course 307 degrees.

    1715   USS ZANE and TREVOR joined formation.

    2000   Lat. 09-48. S.
           Long. 161-26 E.

                        November 21, 1942.

    0600   Arrived at Lunga Point, Guadalcanal.  Commenced 
           patrolling.  Distance since 1200 yesterday 147 miles.  
           Course 293 degrees.

                        November 22, 1942.

    1700   Left Lunga Point.

    1925   Anchored Tulagi Harbor.

    2028   Underway, patrolling Tulagi.

                        November 23, 1942.

    0430   Left Tulagi.

    0535   Arrived Lunga Point.  Commenced patrolling.

    1715   Left Lunga Point.

    1830   Commenced patrolling Tulagi.

                        November 24, 1942.

    0559   Anchored at Tulagi.

    1330   Underway.

    1435   Commenced patrolling Lunga Point.

    1715   Left Lunga Point.

    1900   Anchored at Tulagi.

    2152   Commenced fueling from USS LIBRA.

    2400   Completed fueling.

                        November 25, 1942.

    0400   Underway.

    0540   Patrolling Lunga Point.

    1825   Left Lunga Point in company with USS BETELGUESE and 
           Zane.

                        November 26, 1942.

    0800   Lat. 10-33.4 S.
           Long. 163-02.8 E.

    1200   Lat. 11-12 S.
           Long. 163-45 E.
           Distance past 24 hours 277 miles.  Course 116 degrees.

    2000   Lat. 12-17. S.
           Long. 165-10 E.

                        November 27, 1942.

    0800   Lat. 14-14 S.
           Long. 166-42 E.

    1200   Lat. 15-08.5 S.
           Long. 167-18 E.

    1448   Anchored at Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides.

                        November 28, 1942.

           Anchored at Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides.

                        November 29, 1942.

    0731   Underway in company with USS BETELGUESE and ARRON 
           WARD, in accordance with secret dispatch #260455, 
           Nov., 1942 of Commander Task Force 62.

    1200   Lat. 16-07.5 S.
           Long. 167-47 E.

    2000   Lat. 17-51 S.
           Long. 167-37 E.

                        November 30, 1942.

    0800   Lat. 20-32 S.
           Long. 168-23 E.

    1200   Lat. 21-23 S.
           Long. 168-34 E.
           Distance past 24 hours 319 miles.  Course 173 degrees.

    2000   Lat. 22-58.6 S.
           Long. 167-46.9 E.

Mustin (DD-413) was laid down 20 December 1937 by Newport News 
Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Co., Newport News, Va.; launched 8 
December 1938, sponsored by Mrs. Lloyd M. Mustin, daughter-in-law 
of Captain Mustin; and commissioned 16 September 1939, Lt. 
Comdr. James B. Freeman in command.

Mustin Joined the Atlantic Fleet for the tense period of 
neutrality patrol preceding American entry in World War II, 
playing her part in guarding the western Atlantic On 7 December 
1941 she lay in overhaul at Boston, but put to sea next day 
escorting battleships Idaho (BB-42) and Mississippi (BB-41) off 
to war. She herself completed overhaul in Charleston, S.C., 3 
January 1942, transited the Panama Canal 20 January, and arrived 
at Pearl Harbor 17 February for duty escorting convoys between 
Hawaii and Ban Francisco until 3 April.

A convoy mission to Samoa was completed at Pearl Harbor 24 May. 
Mustin next escorted a merchantman with reinforcements to Midway 
Island, threatened by the Japanese attack which exploded while 
Mustin was returning to Pearl Harbor, where she arrived 5 June. 
Two days later, the destroyer sailed with TF 17, searching for 
scattered Japanese survivors of the great battle. After a 
negative search, the force returned to Hawaiian waters 13 June, 
and Mustin began 2 months of training and patrol out of Pearl 
Harbor.

Mustin sailed 17 August with TF 17, the Hornet (CV-8) group, 
bound for an important role in the great sea warfare wrested the 
southwestern Pacific from the Japanese. Her group covered the 
southern approaches to Guadalcanal during the initial phase of 
fighting there, then struck Buin, Faisi, and Tonolai from the 
air. In the air battle of Santa Cruz, 26 October, Mustin rescued 
337 of Hornet's survivors, and had the grim duty of destroying 
the heavily damaged carrier with a full salvo of torpedoes. She 
avenged the carrier in part by shooting down five enemy aircraft 
during the battle.

Patrol and convoy duty from Noumea and Espiritu Santo alternated 
with task force duty, and on 11 November, she Joined TF 16 for 
the third battle of Savo Island. On Christmas Day, Mustin fired 
shore bombardment at enemy positions on Guadalcanal, to which she 
had Just escorted transports In February 1943 she again guarded 
carrier air operations off Guadalcanal, then returned to patrol 
and escort duties until 14 April, when she returned to Pearl 
Harbor.

Ten days later, Mustin reached Adak, where she joined the patrol 
northwest of the island until the end of May, when her force 
sailed to cover the occupation oft Attu. Through the summer, she 
patrolled the foggy, treacherous waters of the Aleutians, 
bombarding Kiska a number of times, and blocking Japanese 
reinforcement of that island. On the night of 25 and 26 July, her 
group was engaged in the freak "Battle of the Pips," firing on 
what was actually a phantom Japanese force created only on radar 
by unusual atmospheric conditions. After covering the American 
recapture of Kiska 15 August, Mustin headed for a Mare Island 
overhaul, from which she returned to Pearl Harbor 31 October.

Mustin sortied with TF 5210 November for the assault on Makin in 
the Gilberts 10 days later, then returned to the west coast for 
rehearsal amphibious operations oft San Pedro, Calif. She arrived 
in Lahaina Roads, Maui, 21 January 1944 to stage for the 
Marshalls invasion, and on the 30th bombarded enemy positions on 
Wotje. Next day she screened cruisers pounding Kwajalein, and 1 
February Joined in firing at the atoll. For the next 2 weeks she 
escorted various task groups around Kwajalein, then operated off 
newly captured Eniwetok until returning to Pearl Harbor 3 March.

Mustin next Joined the support force of powerful TF 58, 
protecting vital fleet oilers as the carriers and planes they 
fueled struck Palau, Yap, Woleai, and Ulithi in the Carolines 30 
March and 1 April. She returned to the southwest Pacific 7 April 
to screen carriers in amphibious assaults on New Guinea, at 
Aitape and Hollandia in April, and at Wakde in May. The 
continuing operations on and around New Guinea gave Mustin varied 
duty, on escort, patrol, bombardment, and as fighter-director, as 
one landing after another moved up the coast to wrest the huge 
island from the enemy. Noemfoor, Sansapor, Mios Woendi, Humboldt 
Bay, Biak, all were struck by forces in which Mustin served with 
vigor and gallantry.

On 15 September, Mustin served as primary fighter director in the 
initial assault on Morotai, Netherlands East Indies, and after 
escorting reinforcement there from New Guinea, cleared Humboldt 
Bay 10 October with reinforcements for newly invaded Leyte. 
Arriving 25 October, Mustin departed the same day, escorting a 
convoy safely away from the Battle for Leyte Gulf. Escort 
operations among the great bases of the western Pacific followed 
as Mustin gave distant support to the Philippines operation 
before returning to Leyte Gulf 25 November to Join the local 
defense force under attack by enemy planes 27 November. Mustin 
splashed three.

After rehearsals off New Guinea, Mustin sortied for the assault 
on Luzon 9 January 1945, and for the next month fired in support 
of land forces, Joined in repelling enemy air attack off 
Lingayen, and made antisubmarine patrols. She operated in the 
Philippines, aiding in movement of reinforcements until 2 
February, when she sailed for Guadalcanal, off which she Joined 
the 6th Fleet, serving as antisubmarine partol ship while 
awaiting the beginning of the rehearsals for the Okinawa 
operation. Her task group staged at Ulithi, and arrived off 
Hagushi Beach, Okinawa, 1 April, screening the transport area as 
the initial assault was made for the next 4 days, she guarded the 
transports off the beaches by day and during their night 
retirements, firing on the numerous kamikaze attackers. Between 5 
and 17 April, Mustin sailed to bring a convoy in from Saipan and 
Ulithi, then returned to fire support, radar picket 
antisubmarine, and antiaircraft duty ok Okinawa until 2 May when 
she Joined the screen of an escort carrier group operating too 
the southwest of Okinawa.

Mustin left Okinawa 28 May for Guam, Pearl Harbor, Eniwetok, and 
San Pedro, Calif., arriving 18 June for a yard overhaul and 
alterations. The war ended 6 days before she left San Pedro. 
After refresher training, Mustin sailed for occupation duty in 
Japan, arriving Ominato, Honshu, 16 September 1946.

Late in the year she returned to the west covet and sailed back 
to Hawaii to prepare for operation "Crossroads" the atomic tests 
at Bikini, in which she was engaged through the summer of 1946. 
She decommissioned 29 August 1946 after use as a target, remained 
at Bikini; and was destroyed by gunfire 18 April 1948 in the 
Marshalls.

Mustin received 13 battle stars for World War II service.

                                    Sims Class
                             Completed - 1939 - 40

DD 409 SIMS 
DD 410 HUGHES
DD 411 ANDERSON
DD 412 HAMMAN
DD 413 MUSTIN
DD 414 RUSSELL
DD 415 O’BRIEN
DD 416 WALKE
DD 417 MORRIS
DD 418 ROE
DD 419 WAINWRIGHT
DD 420 BUCK


Dimensions

Displacement:
   1,570 tons (stand)
   2,300 tons (Mean War Service)
Length: 348’ (oa)
Beam: 36
Draft: 18’ (max)

Armament

4 5"/ 38 DP
3 40mm singles
2 40mm twins
4 20mm
2 DC tracks
4 DC projectors
2 21" TT (quads)

Propulsion

Speed: 35 knots (max)
Max. Cruising radius:
  2,200 miles @ 25 knots 
  4,700 miles @15 knots
Horsepower: 50,0000 (shaft)
Drive: 2 screws; geared turbine
Fuel: 489 tons oil (max)

Remarks

  Slightly longer and wider than the ELLET’s, the SIMS Class are otherwise 
very similar.

  They were lengthened to accommodate a fifth 5"-gun which was subsequently
replaced by additional light AA batteries.  The torpedo tubes are given high,
center-line mounts.  As the last American one-stack destroyers, they mark a 
transitional stage in development between the basic CUMMINGS-GRIDLEY design
and the BENSON-FLETCHER group that followed.

War losses include:

SIMS (DD409)
HAMMAN (DD412)
O’BREIN (DD415
WALKE (DD416)
BUCK (DD420)