DD-417 U.S.S. MORRIS
War Diary and Action Reports November 1942,
A12/DD417
Serial No. 133.
U.S.S. MORRIS (DD417),
C-O-N-F-I-D-E-N-T-I-A-L Fleet Post Office,
San Francisco, Calif.,
December 1, 1942.
From: The commanding Officer.
To: The Chief of Naval Operations (Office of
Naval Records and Library).
Subject: War Diary - forwarding of.
Reference: (a) Opnav and Cominch Joint Rest. Ltr. FF1/
A12-1 (7), Serial 291, of February 22, 1942.
Enclosure: (A) War Diary covering the period November1,
To 30, 1942.
1. As directed by reference (a), the War Diary of
the Commanding Officer, U. S. S. MORRIS (DD417), for the
period 1 to 30 November, 1942, is forwarded herewith.
R. B. BOYER.
Copt to:
Comdespac (w/o Enc.).
C O N F I D E N T I A L
WAR DIARY
U.S.S. MORRIS (DD417).
From November 1 to November 30, 1942.
November 1, 1942.
REPORT FOR COMMANDING OFFICER, U. S. S. MORRIS (DD417)
TASK ORGANIZATION
TASK FORCE SEVENTEEN Rear Admiral MURRAY
TASK GROUP 17.2 Rear Admiral GOOD
Task Unit 17.2.1 Rear Admiral GOOD
NORTHAMPTON
PENSACOLA
Task Unit 17.2.2 Captain PERRY
SAN DIEGO
JUNEAU
TASK GROUP 17.4 Commander TRUE
MORRIS
HUGHES
ANDERSON
MUSTIN
RUSSELL
BARTON
Ships Present: Task Force 17, less ANDERSON and MUSTIN,
Plus various units of South Pacific
Force. SOPA Commander South Pacific
Force in ARGONNE.
ANDERSON and MUSTIN on detached duty.
WAR DIARY
CONFIDENTIAL U.S.S. MORRIS (DD417) November 1, 1942.
G.C.T. L.C.T.
1743 0443 Underway for patrolling duty.
1930 0630 Steaming on various courses and speed,
patrolling entrance to harbor and swinging
ship for checking residuals of magnetic
compass.
2100 0800 Position 22-29.5(S); 166-20.5(E). Weather
clear. Wind E, force 2. Sea, calm, moderate
swell. Visibility 35 miles. Flying condition
good.
0100 1200 Position 22-38(S); 166-25(E).
0320 1420 Relieved on station by U.S.S. BARTON.
0402 1502 Passed Amedee Light abeam to port, entering
harbor.
0424 1624 Anchored in berth A-12, Great Roads, New
Caledonia.
E.S.B.
WAR DIARY
CONFIDENTIAL U.S.S. MORRIS (DD417) November 2, 1942.
G.C.T. L.C.T.
2100 0800 Weather clear. Wind SE, force 2. Sea, clam,
moderate swell. Visibility 35 miles. Flying
condition good.
2210 0910 Alongside U.S.S. LASSEN receiving ammunition.
0532 1632 Went alongside WHITNEY for tender upkeep and
urgent repairs.
E.S.B.
WAR DIARY
CONFIDENTIAL U.S.S. MORRIS (DD417) November 3, 1942.
G.C.T. L.C.T.
2100 0800 Weather clear. Wind SE, force 3. Sea, clam,
moderate swell. Visibility 40 miles. Flying
condition good.
E.S.B.
WAR DIARY
CONFIDENTIAL U.S.S. MORRIS (DD417) November 4, 1942.
G.C.T. L.C.T.
2100 0800 Weather clear. Wind SE, force 1. Sea, clam,
moderate swell. Visibility 30 miles.
Flying condition good.
Comtaskfor 17 despatch 040030, November 1942:
"CAPT W A KITTS IN NORTHAMPTON RELIEVED G D
MURRAY IN TEMPORARY COMMAND TASK FORCE 17
THIS DATE"
E.S.B.
WAR DIARY
CONFIDENTIAL U.S.S. MORRIS (DD417) November 5, 1942.
G.C.T. L.C.T.
2100 0800 Weather overcast. Sea, clam, moderate swell.
Wind SE, force 3. Visibility 30 miles.
Flying condition good.
E.S.B.
WAR DIARY
CONFIDENTIAL U.S.S. MORRIS (DD417) November 6, 1942.
G.C.T. L.C.T.
2100 0800 Weather clear. Wind SE, force 4. Sea, clam,
moderate swell. Visibility 40 miles.
Flying condition good.
E.S.B.
WAR DIARY
CONFIDENTIAL U.S.S. MORRIS (DD417) November 7, 1942.
Change in Organization: Task Force 16 reorganized.
G.C.T. L.C.T.
2100 0800 Weather clear. Wind SE, force 2. Sea, clam,
moderate swell. Visibility 30 miles.
Flying condition good.
0000 1100 Organization of Task Force 16 effective
(Commander South Pacific Force dispatch
070232, November 1942 (NPM No. 561).
TASK ORGANIZATION
TASK FORCE SIXTEEN Rear Admiral KINCAID
ENTERPRISE
Battleship Division 6 Rear Admiral LEE
WASHINTON
SOUTH DAKOTA
NORTHAMPTON
SAN DIEGO
Destroyer Squadron 2 (CLARK to be assigned on
MORRIS arrival November 11,1942)
HUGHES
ANDERSON
RUSSELL
MUSTIN
BENHAM
ELLET
WALKE
Task Forces 17 and 61 hereby abolished.
All above ships present except ANDERSON,
MUSTIN, WALKE, and BENHAM.
E.S.B.
WAR DIARY
CONFIDENTIAL U.S.S. MORRIS (DD417) November 8, 1942.
G.C.T. L.C.T.
2100 0800 Weather overcast. Wind SE, force 1. Sea,
clam, moderate swell. Visibility 20 miles.
Flying condition fair.
E.S.B.
WAR DIARY
CONFIDENTIAL U.S.S. MORRIS (DD417) November 9, 1942.
Changes in Organization: Joined torpedoed ship S.S. EDGAR
ALLAN POE, HUGHES, RUSSEL, Patrol Vessel, and towing ship
H.M.S. MATAI.
G.C.T. L.C.T.
2100 0800 Weather clear. Wind SE, force 1. Sea, clam,
moderate swell. Visibility 30 miles. Flying
condition good.
0504 1604 Underway independently on various courses and
speeds to join torpedoed ship S.S. EDGAR ALLAN
POE (reported 67 miles from Amedee Light,
Bearing 166° T.).
0645 1745 Base course 161° T, speed 28 knots.
0900 2000 Position 23-26 (S); 166-40 (E).
0957 2057 Radar contact on group of ships bearing 170°
T, 12,200 yards, identified as friendly.
1034 2134 Joined and formed screen around torpedoed
ship, and patrolled on station ahead at speed
15 knots, base course 355° T. Vessel being
towed by H.M.S. MATAI. HOGHES, RUSSELL and
patrol vessel screening.
E.S.B.
WAR DIARY
CONFIDENTIAL U.S.S. MORRIS (DD417) November 10, 1942.
Changes in Organization: U.S.S. WALKE, BENHAM, and MUSTIN
Task Force 16, at Noumea, New
Caledonia. ELLET departed on
detached duty.
G.C.T. L.C.T.
2100 0800 Position 23-06(S); 166-30(E). Weather clear.
Wind SE, force 2. Sea, clam, moderate swell.
Visibility 35 miles. Flying condition good.
Changed base speed to16 knots/ Commenced zig-
Zagging independently screening towed ship.
2142 0842 Sighted land bearing 021° T, 50 miles.
2210 0910 Patrol vessel joined formation.
0035 1135 Sighted Amedee Light 355° T, 20 miles.
0100 1200 Position 22-46(S); 116-35(E). Distance made
good previous 24 hours,20 miles. Course 180°T.
0700 1800 U.S.S. ELLET left on detached duty.
0706 1806 Anchored off Amedee Light, bearing 356½° T;
Tabu Reef Light bearing 305° T.
E.S.B.
WAR DIARY
CONFIDENTIAL U.S.S. MORRIS (DD417) November 11, 1942.
Changes in Organization: U.S.S. CLARK report for duty to
Commander Destroyer Squadron TWO as
flagship, and joined Task Force 16
at Noumea, New Caledonia.
G.C.T. L.C.T.
1832 0532 Underway, standing in the channel to Dumbea
Bay.
1945 0645 Alongside U.S.S. SABINE to fuel.
2100 0800 Weather clear. Wind SE, force 1. Sea, clam,
moderate swell. Visibility 40 miles. Flying
condition good.
2345 1045 Transferred Commander Destroyer Squadron TWO
and staff from MORRIS to CLARK. Commander
Destroyer Division FOUR in MORRIS.
0016 1116 Underway with Destroyer Squadron TWO to join
Task Force 16 outside channel, speed 15 knots.
0100 1200 Position 22-20(S); 166-26.5(E). Distance made
good previous 24 hours, 30 miles.
0152 1252 Commenced patrol off North Entrance, Bulari
Passage.
0314 1414 Fleet Axis 100° T.
0319 1419 Changed base speed to 20 knots. Changed base
course to 300° T.
0600 1800 Set clocks ahead 1 hour to Zone -12 Time.
0725 1925 Changed base course and screen axis to 293° T.
0800 2000 Position 22-30(S); 165-47(E).
E.S.B.
WAR DIARY
CONFIDENTIAL U.S.S. MORRIS (DD417) November 12, 1942.
G.C.T. L.C.T.
1224 0024 Changed course (emergency) to 047°T; increased
speed to 25 knots. Resumed base course at
0031.
1830 0630 Changed fleet axis to 150° T.
2000 0800 Position 20-34(S); 163-01(E). Weather clear.
Wind S, force 2. Sea, clam, moderate swell.
Visibility 30 miles. Flying condition good.
2303 1103 Commenced scheduled machine gun exercise
firing at sleeve. Two men on MORRIS hit by
bullet fired from ship in formation.
0000 1200 Position 19-49(S); 162-32(E). Distance made
good previous 24 hours: 275 miles. Course
303° T.
0020 1220 Alongside U.S.S. WASHINTON to receive medical
officer.
0256 1456 Transferred wounded man to SOUTH DAKOTA.
0710 0910 Left formation at speed 25 knots to
investigate radar contact bearing 255° T, 13
miles. Contact later assumed to be dense rain
cloud. Many contacts were made varying from 2
to 10,000 yards on numerous bearings. Nothing
sighted.
0800 2000 Position 18-01(S); 161-38(E). Abandoned
search, and changed base course to 352° T,
speed 20 knots, to rejoin formation on morning
of November 13, 1942.
E.S.B.
WAR DIARY
CONFIDENTIAL U.S.S. MORRIS (DD417) November 13, 1942.
Changes in Organization: U.S.S. WASHINGTON, SOUTH DAKOTA,
WALKE, BENHAM, GWIN, PRESTON,
MUSTIN, left formation.
G.C.T. L.C.T.
1804 0604 Sighted Task Force 16 bearing 075° T, 10
miles.
1916 0716 Joined formation and took station 45° on port
bow of WASHINGTION, 2500 yards. Speed 20
knots.
2000 0800 Position 14-21(S); 161-22.5(E). Weather
clear. Wind SE, force 2. Sea, clam, heavy
swell. Visibility 40 miles. Flying condition
good.
0000 1200 Position 13-48(S); 161-35(E). Distance made
good previous 24 hours: 362 miles. Course
351° T.
0720 1920 U.S..S WASHINGTON, SOUTH DAKOTA, BENHAM, GWIN,
WALKE and PRESTON left formation in company.
MUSTIN departed on independent duty.
0800 2000 Position 14-26(S); 161-58(E).
0930 2130 Changed base course and screen axis to 270° T.
0950 2150 Changed base course and screen axis to 300° T,
speed 23 knots. Took station 5000 yards on
port beam of carrier.
1110 2310 Increase speed to 25 knots.
E.S.B.
WAR DIARY
CONFIDENTIAL U.S.S. MORRIS (DD417) November 14, 1942.
G.C.T. L.C.T.
2000 0800 Position 12-46(S); 158-51.51(E). Weather
cloudy. Wind SE, force 2. Sea, clam,
moderate swell. Visibility 30 miles. Flying
condition good.
2020 0820 Emergency general quarters. Went to boiler
condition I. Formed anti-aircraft screen.
Unidentified planes reported; changed base
course and screen axis to 105°T.
2031 0831 Carrier launched 44 planes; 25 fighters and 19
bombers.
2154 0954 Enemy 4 engined bomber shot down bearing
046°T, distance 32 miles.
2210 1010 Carrier recovered 8 planes.
2219 1019 Changed base speed to 27 knots.
2222 1022 Friendly flying fortress flew over formation.
2304 1104 Carrier launched 8 planes.
2327 1127 Carrier recovered 15 planes.
0000 1200 Position 12-46.5(S); 159-00(E). Distance made
good previous 24 hours: 265 miles. Course
292°T.
0043 1243 Carrier recovered 7 planes.
0134 1334 Carrier recovered 1 plane.
0206 1406 Carrier launched 20 planes.
0307 1507 Carrier recovered 8 planes.
0452 1652 Changed base speed to 18 knots.
0620 1820 Set boiler condition II.
0800 2000 Position 14-48(S); 159-51(E).
E.S.B.
WAR DIARY
CONFIDENTIAL U.S.S. MORRIS (DD417) November 15, 1942.
Changes in Organization: Task Group 16.6 - PENSACOLA,
NORTHAMPTON, MORRIS (DD4), RUSSELLL,
and ANDERSON proceeding on detached
duty to fuel and await orders in
accordance with Commander South
Pacific Force dispatch 150140.
G.C.T. L.C.T.
2000 0800 Position 17-54(S); 160-01(E). Weather cloudy.
Wind SE, force 4. Rather rough sea.
Visibility 30 miles. Flying condition fair.
0000 1200 Position 17-54(S); 160-01(E). Distance made
good previous 24 hours: 307 miles. Course
170°T.
0035 1235 Changed fleet axis to 130°T.
0405 1605 Task Group 16.6 detached from Task Force 16.
Base course 065°T, speed 20 knots.
0800 2000 Position 17-57(S); 161-56(E).
E.S.B.
WAR DIARY
CONFIDENTIAL U.S.S. MORRIS (DD417) November 16, 1942.
G.C.T. L.C.T.
2000 0800 Position 16-16.5(S); 165-24(E). Weather
clear. Wind E, force 5. Rather rough sea.
Visibility 40 miles. Flying condition good.
2341 1141 Sighted land bearing 065°T, distance 31 miles.
0000 1200 Position 15-58(S); 166-35(E). Distance made
good pervious 24 hours: 400 miles. Course
073°T.
0230 1330 Changed zone time to minus eleven.
0450 1550 Entered Segond channel Espiritu Santo, New
Hebrides. Moored alongside U.S.S. GUADALUPE
To fuel. Moored to GUADALUPE for night.
E.S.B.
WAR DIARY
CONFIDENTIAL U.S.S. MORRIS (DD417) November 17, 1942.
G.C.T. L.C.T.
2044 0744 Shifted berth. Moored to U.S.S. SHAW at berth
D-3.
2100 0800 Weather clear. Wind E, force 1. sea, calm,
moderate swell. Visibility 30 miles. Flying
condition good.
E.S.B.
WAR DIARY
CONFIDENTIAL U.S.S. MORRIS (DD417) November 18, 1942.
G.C.T. L.C.T.
2100 0800 Weather rainy. Wind E, force 1. sea, calm,
moderate swell. Visibility 10 miles. Flying
condition poor.
0447 1547 Went to emergency general quarters. Submarine
reported in vicinity.
0652 1752 Underway standing out of channel to patrol off
East entrance Segond channel to hunt for
submarine. Speed 12 knots on course 150°T and
330°T.
E.S.B.
WAR DIARY
CONFIDENTIAL U.S.S. MORRIS (DD417) November 19, 1942.
G.C.T. L.C.T.
1300 0000 On patrol outside East entrance to Segond
Channel, Espiritu Santo.
2100 0800 Position 15-29.5(S); 167-17(E). Weather
clear. Wind SE, force 2. sea, moderate,
moderate swell. Visibility 40 miles. Flying
condition good.
2321 1021 Proceeding up channel to harbor to fuel.
0240 1340 Anchored in Berth D minus 2, Segond Channel.
E.S.B.
WAR DIARY
CONFIDENTIAL U.S.S. MORRIS (DD417) November 20, 1942.
G.C.T. L.C.T.
2100 0800 Weather clear. Wind N, force 1. Sea, calm,
moderate swell. Visibility 35 miles.
Flying condition good.
E.S.B.
WAR DIARY
CONFIDENTIAL U.S.S. MORRIS (DD417) November 21, 1942.
G.C.T. L.C.T.
2100 0800 Weather clear. Wind SE, force 1. Sea, calm,
no swell. Visibility 35 miles. Flying
condition good.
E.S.B.
WAR DIARY
CONFIDENTIAL U.S.S. MORRIS (DD417) November 22, 1942.
G.C.T. L.C.T.
2100 0800 Weather clear. Wind SE, force 1. Sea, calm,
no swell. Visibility 40 miles. Flying
condition good.
E.S.B.
WAR DIARY
CONFIDENTIAL U.S.S. MORRIS (DD417) November 23, 1942.
G.C.T. L.C.T.
2100 0800 Weather cloudy. Wind SE, force 1. Sea,
calm, no swell. Visibility 35 miles.
Flying condition good.
E.S.B.
WAR DIARY
CONFIDENTIAL U.S.S. MORRIS (DD417) November 24, 1942.
Changes in Organization: U.S.S. ANDERSON and MORRIS underway
To join Commander Task Force SIXTEEN
At Noumea, New Caledonia. Changed
Organization of Task Force 16.
G.C.T. L.C.T.
1853 0553 Underway with U.S.S. ANDERSON for White Poppy.
1926 0626 Base course 150° T, speed 20 knots.
2000 0800 Position 15-58(S); 167-03(E). Weather
overcast. Wind NE, force 3. Sea, clam,
moderate swell. Visibility 30 miles. Flying
condition fair.
2106 0806 Base course 180° T.
2136 0836 Base course 166° T.
0000 1100 Organization of Task Force SIXTEEN effective
in accordance with Commander South Pacific
Force dispatch 230612, of November 1942:
TASK FORCE SIXTEEN Rear Admiral SHERMAN
ENTERPRISE
SAN DIEGO
Destroyer Squadron TWO Commander HOLCOMB
MORRIS
ANDERSON
HUGHES
MUSTIN
RUSSELL
ELLET
CLARK
0100 1200 Position 17-14(S); 167-20(E). Distance made
good pervious 24 hours 115 miles. Course
180°T.
0900 2000 Position 19-43(S); 168-04(E).
E.S.B.
WAR DIARY
CONFIDENTIAL U.S.S. MORRIS (DD417) November 25, 1942.
G.C.T. L.C.T.
1430 0130 Changed base course to 205° T.
1520 0220 Sighted land bearing 260° T, 13 miles.
1830 0530 Sighted Isle of Pines, 245° T, distance 30
miles.
2100 0800 Position 23-03(S); 167-39(E). Weather clear.
Wind ENE, force 2. Sea, calm, heavy swell.
Visibility 35 miles. Flying condition good.
0031 1131 Sighted U.S.S. SOUTH DAKOTA and two
destroyers.
0100 1200 Position 23-01(S); 166-33(E). Distance made
good previous 24 hours 427 miles. Course
201° T.
0204 1304 Sighted Amedee Island light bearing 358° T,
distance 8 miles.
0235 1335 Entered Bulari Passage and proceeded up
channel to Dumbea Bay.
0415 1515 Alongside S.S. "J.C. O'DONNEL" to fuel.
0615 1715 Completed fueling.
0649 1749 Underway to moor alongside ANDERSON in Berth
A-11.
0745 1845 Moored.
Following ships of Task Force 16 present:
ENTERPRISE, SAN DIEGO, CLARK, RUSSELL,
ANDERSON, and MORRIS. SOPA Comsopac (Admiral
H.F.HALSEY). various units operating under
Comsopac also present.
E.S.B.
WAR DIARY
CONFIDENTIAL U.S.S. MORRIS (DD417) November 26, 1942.
G.C.T. L.C.T.
2100 0800 Weather clear. Wind NE, force 1. Sea,
calm, no swell. Visibility 40 miles.
Flying condition good.
0740 1840 Got underway and went alongside U.S.S. WHITNEY
for repairs.
E.S.B.
WAR DIARY
CONFIDENTIAL U.S.S. MORRIS (DD417) November 27, 1942.
G.C.T. L.C.T.
2100 0800 Weather clear. Wind S, force 1. Sea, calm,
no swell. Visibility 30 miles. Flying
condition good.
E.S.B.
WAR DIARY
CONFIDENTIAL U.S.S. MORRIS (DD417) November 28, 1942.
G.C.T. L.C.T.
2100 0800 Weather clear. Wind S, force 1. Sea, calm,
no swell. Visibility 30 miles. Flying
condition good.
E.S.B.
WAR DIARY
CONFIDENTIAL U.S.S. MORRIS (DD417) November 29, 1942.
G.C.T. L.C.T.
2100 0800 Weather clear. Wind SW, force 1. Sea,
calm, no swell. Visibility 40 miles.
Flying condition good.
E.S.B.
WAR DIARY
CONFIDENTIAL U.S.S. MORRIS (DD417) November 30, 1942.
Changes in Organization: U.S.S. MUSTIN entered Noumea, New
Caledonia and rejoined Task Force
SIXTEEN.
G.C.T. L.C.T.
2100 0800 Weather clear. Wind SW, force 1. Sea,
calm, no swell. Visibility 40 miles.
Flying condition good.
E.S.B.
Information on the MORRIS
DICTIONARY OF FIGHTING SHIPS
History of the U.S.S. MORRIS DD-417
Morris (DD-417) was laid down at the navy yard, Norfolk, Va., 7
June 1938; launched 1 June 1939; sponsored by Mrs. Charles R.
Nutter, great-granddaughter of Commodore Charles Morris, and
commissioned 5 March 1940, Comdr. H. B. Jarrett in command.
Morris , flagship of DesRon 2, followed her shakedown with
routine training schedules until the summer of 1941 when she
joined the North Atlantic Patrol. With the entry of the United
States into World War II, she entered the Charleston, N.C., Navy
Yard, where she was equipped with the first fire control radar to
be installed on a destroyer. By 3 January 1942 she was underway
for Pearl Harbor, rejoining her squadron there at the end of
February. Attached to TF 17, the destroyer sailed 16 March for
Noumea, and into her first major enemy engagement, the Battle of
Coral Sea. Prior to the battle, she guarded the carriers of the
task force as their planes struck at enemy shipping in Tulagi
Harbor and in the Lousiade Archipelago. During the 4-day battle,
4 to 8 May, she splashed one enemy plane and damaged two while
screening Yorktown and Lexington and, when the latter was heavily
damaged, pulled alongside to rescue some 500 survivors. Damage
received during the rescue forced her back to Pearl Harbor were
hurried repairs put her back into condition for the Battle of
Midway a month later. In that action she again pulled alongside a
sinking carrier, Yorktown, to rescue over 500 survivors.
Morris 's next action came in late August when she joined TF 81
in support of the Guadalcanal campaign. For the next 2 months she
screened carriers and patrolled among the Solomons. On 25
October, following a 3-day independent sweep through the
Gilberts, she rejoined TF 17 and took part in the Battle of the
Santa Cruz Islands. During the action she destroyed six aircraft
and once more came to the rescue of a sinking carrier, this time
Hornet from which she took on 550 survivors. As in other rescue
operations her superstructure was damaged, but, after repairs at
Espiritu Santo, she was back in the Guadalcanal area, first
operating with Enterprise and then as supply unit escort to the
Russel.
In May 1943 Morris departed the southern Pacific and sailed north
to support the capture and occupation of Attu and Kiska, the
Aleutian end of the Japanese ribbon defense. Thence, after the
Kiska operation, she returned to San Francisco for a 7-week
overhaul. In November she again joined an air support group
escorting Liscome Bay, Coral Sea, and Corregidor in the Gilbert
Islands offensive, during which, for a fourth time, she went to
aid a sinking carrier, Liscome Bay. As the task forces pressed
further into the central Pacific, Morris sailed with them into
the Marshalls. On 30 January 1944 she led a column of warships in
a shore bombardment mission against Wotje. Thence she steamed to
Kwajelein Atoll, where, while providing close fire support off
Namur, she wiped out a Japanese counterattack force from an
adjacent island. In mid-February she departed Kwajelein and moved
with TG 51.11 to support the seizure and occupation of Eniwetok
Arriving on the 17th, she continued carrier operations through
the 24th when she sailed for Pearl Harbor.
DD-417 returned to combat in April 1944, when as a unit of the
7th Fleet she took part in all the western New Guinea landings,
beginning with Hollandia. In May and June she give are support in
the Toem-Wakde-Sarmi areas and then during the Biak Island
operation. In July she went against enemy guns on Noemfoor Island
and then at Cape Sansapor. In August she participated in
operations against Halmahera and Morotai and then began
preparations for the initial invasion of the Philippines.
On 16 October, with TG 8.G, she got underway for Leyte Gulf.
Safely delivering her charges, transports with the first
reinforcement groups aboard, on the 21st, she took up anti-
aircraft station and, for several days, experienced meetings with
the newest Japanese tactics, the kamikaze Throughout the next
month she continued to escort troops and supplies to Leyte. With
the dawn of the new year, 1945, she was enroute north for the
Luzon operations. Arriving within the week she participated in
preinvasion bombardment and then provided fire support during the
landings on the 9th. For 18 days she patrolled, bombarded and
fought off kamikazes.
Detached from the 7th Fleet after Luzon, Morris rejoined the 5th
Fleet and prepared for Okinawa. On 1 April she arrived off Kerama
Retto with TG 51.11. For the next 5 days she escorted transports
and oilers and cruised in various assigned sectors on
antiaircraft and antisubmarine patrols. On the 6th, while
patrolling station A-11, A "Kate," carrying either a heavy bomb
or torpedo, closed in on her. Morris guns scored hits and set the
plane afire, but could not stop it. Shortly after 1815 it crashed
into the ship on the portside, between the No. 1 and No. 2 guns.
Fires caused by the explosions spread quickly. Two hours were
needed to bring them under control with another 30 minutes to
extinguish them. Morris then returned to Kerama Retto where
temporary repairs somewhat corrected her demolished bow and
subsequent draft of 18 feet 3 inches, her large protrusion of
plating on the starboard side and her damaged steering on 22 May
she started out across the Pacific and on 18 June entered the
Hunters Point Drydock, San Francisco. Declared neither seaworthy
nor habitable, she was decommissioned 9 November, struck from the
Naval Register 28 November; stripped and sold to Franklin
Shipwrecking 2 August 1947 and then resold to the National Metal
& Steel Corp., Terminal Island, Calif, 17 July 1949.
Morris received 15 battle stars for her action in World War II.
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)
Links to other web-sites with information on the
U.S.S. MORRIS
To learn more about the U.S.S. MORRIS Please visit these
Web-site
Destroyer
History Foundation
Hullnumber.com
NavSource
Online Has photos of DD-417
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