View source for USS Longshaw

{{Short description|Fletcher-class destroyer}}
{{Use American English|date=October 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2024}}
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|Ship image=[[File:USS Longshaw;0555903.jpg|300px|USS ''Longshaw'' (DD-559)]]
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|Ship country=United States
|Ship flag={{USN flag|1945}}
|Ship name=''Longshaw''
|Ship namesake=[[William Longshaw, Jr.]] 
|Ship ordered=
|Ship builder=[[Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corporation]]
|Ship laid down=16 June 1942
|Ship launched=4 June 1943
|Ship acquired=
|Ship commissioned=4 December 1943
|Ship decommissioned=
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|Ship honors=
|Ship fate=Scuttled after running aground and receiving heavy shore fire south of [[Naha]], 18 May 1945
|Ship notes=
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|Ship class={{sclass|Fletcher|destroyer}}
|Ship displacement={{convert|2,050|LT|t}}
|Ship length=376&nbsp;ft 6&nbsp;in (114.7&nbsp;m) 
|Ship beam=39&nbsp;ft 8&nbsp;in (12.1&nbsp;m)
|Ship draft=17&nbsp;ft 9&nbsp;in (5.4&nbsp;m)
|Ship propulsion=60,000&nbsp;shp (45&nbsp;MW); 2 propellers
|Ship speed={{convert|35|kn|lk=in}}
|Ship range=6500 [[nautical mile|nmi]] (12,000&nbsp;km) @ 15&nbsp;kt
|Ship complement=273
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|Ship armament= {{Fletcher class destroyer armament}} 
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'''USS ''Longshaw'' (DD-559)''', a {{sclass|Fletcher|destroyer}}, was a ship of the [[United States Navy]] named for Dr. [[William Longshaw, Jr.]] (1836&ndash;1865), who served in the Navy and was killed during the [[American Civil War|Civil War]].

''Longshaw'' was laid down 16 June 1942 by the [[Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corporation]], [[Seattle, Wash.]]; [[Ship naming and launching|launched]] 4 June 1943, sponsored by Mrs. Ella Mae Richards; and [[ship commissioning|commissioned]] on 4 December 1943. She was lost to shore fire off [[Naha]] after grounding on a reef, on 18 May 1945.

==History==

===Shakedown; 1943===
''Longshaw'' was launched, commissioned, and put to sea (15 December 1943) for tests, training, and shakedown off the west coast.<ref>{{Cite web |title=USS Longshaw – Excursions in Jewish Military History and Jewish Genealogy |url=http://theyweresoldiers.com/index.php/tag/uss-longshaw/ |access-date=2024-11-17 |website=theyweresoldiers.com}}</ref> She returned to port (26 
January 1944) for post-shakedown availability (repairs).

===Raids, Hollandia Operation; February&ndash;May 1944<ref>{{Cite web |title=USS Longshaw – Excursions in Jewish Military History and Jewish Genealogy |url=http://theyweresoldiers.com/index.php/tag/uss-longshaw/ |access-date=2024-11-17 |website=theyweresoldiers.com}}</ref>===
Following shakedown off the west coast, ''Longshaw'' sailed from [[San Francisco, California|San Francisco]] 18 February 1944, via [[Pearl Harbor]], for the [[Marshall Islands|Marshalls]] arriving [[Kwajalein]] 4 March. Assigned to the [[U.S. 5th Fleet|5th Fleet]], the destroyer got underway for [[Majuro]] 15 March, where she then conducted a patrol off [[Wotje]] and [[Maloelap]] Islands until the 21st. The ship stood out from Majuro the next day, screening the replenishment group for the [[Fast Carrier Task Force]] (Task Force 38/58) during strikes on [[Palau]], [[Yap]], [[Ulithi]], and [[Woleai]], 30 March and 1 April, returning to Majuro on the 6th. Six days later, she sailed again, steaming via [[Manus Island|Manus]] for [[Jayapura|Hollandia]], escorting the same task group as planes from the flattops pounded the [[New Guinea]] coast to support landings by General [[Douglas MacArthur]]'s troops. ''Longshaw'' return to Pearl Harbor 9 May for minor repairs and training.

===Marianas Operation, Tinian; May&ndash;August 1944===
Getting underway for the [[Mariana Islands|Marianas]] on 30 May, escorting part of the northern attack force, the destroyer arrived off [[Saipan]] 15 June. For the next two months, except for a brief voyage to [[Eniwetok]], she remained there, screening the [[escort aircraft carrier|escort carrier]]s providing air support for the invasion and also operating as a rescue ship for downed aviators. Sailing to Eniwetok on 22 August, ''Longshaw'' departed on the 29th to guard the carriers of Task Group 38.3 (TG 38.3) during strikes against targets on Palau, [[Mindanao]], and [[Luzon]] in support of the assault on the [[Palau]]s, the steppingstone to the [[Philippines]].

===Western Caroline Islands Operation; September&ndash;October 1944===
On 9 September, in company with other ships of her task group, the destroyer attacked a convoy of Japanese [[lugger]]s off Mindanao, herself destroying three small coastal vessels. She continued to support carrier operations against Japanese in the Philippines until proceeding to Ulithi on 2 October.

===Leyte Operation; October&ndash;December 1944===
''Longshaw'' sortied with TG 38.3, 6 October for intensified airstrikes in preparation for the [[Philippines campaign, 1944-45|Philippines invasion]]. Planes from the carriers hit airfields on [[Okinawa Island|Okinawa]], Luzon, and [[Taiwan|Formosa]], 10 to 13 October. ''Longshaw'', in the screen, shot down one Japanese [[torpedo bomber]] during the furious Formosa air battle on the 12th. The fast carriers continued their operations in support of the [[Battle of Leyte|invasion of Leyte]], hitting the Philippines airfields steadily until the night of 24 October, when the mighty armada turned northward to engage the Japanese northern force the next day in the [[Battle off Cape Engaño]]. In a series of crushing airstrikes, American naval aircraft sank the remnants of Japan's carrier force.

Based at Ulithi, ''Longshaw'' operated with TG 38.3 through the end of the year, screening the carriers in airstrikes at enemy bases on Okinawa, Formosa, and Luzon, helping to clear the way for the invasion of the latter island in January.

===Luzon Operation; January 1945===
On the night of 9&ndash;10 January 1945, the destroyer accompanied the fast carriers through [[Bashi Channel]] between the Philippines and Formosa, entering the [[South China Sea]]. For the next 10 days, TF 38 operated unchecked, launching attacks at Japanese installations in [[French Indochina]], Formosa, and the [[China]] coast, including [[Hong Kong]] and [[Hainan]]. After returning through [[Balintang Channel]], the flattops pounded Okinawa once more, 22 January, before retiring to Ulithi on the 26th.

===Iwo Jima, Okinawa; February&ndash;May 1945===
''Longshaw'' departed Ulithi 10 February with a night-fighter direction team on board. Sailing with the fast carrier force, she served as a fighter-direction and radar picket vessel during the airstrikes on [[Tokyo]], 17 to 18 February; and, for the remainder of the month, escorted TG 58.5, the night carrier group in actions off [[Iwo Jima]]. Returning to Ulithi 12 March, the destroyer joined [[Okinawa naval order of battle#Gunfire and Covering Force (Task Force 54)|Task Force 54]] (TF 54), which stood out for Okinawa on the 21st, escorting the support and bombardment unit for the invasion. Arriving 25 March, the ship shelled enemy targets ashore in support of American troops. Serving in this capacity throughout April and into May, the ship's crew performed magnificently. On call for naval gunfire support day or night, ''Longshaw'' remained continuously on station supplying her much needed firepower, despite steady attacks by Japanese suicide planes.

==Fate==
On the morning of 18 May 1945, following a four-day period of fire support, ''Longshaw'', en route to her patrol area, ran aground on a [[coral reef]] just south of [[Naha]] airfield, at 0719. Other attempts to free her failing, [[tugboat|tug]] [[USS Arikara (ATF-98)|''Arikara'']] (ATF-98) arrived at 0945. At 1000,<ref name="dd559-history" /> tug's skipper, Lieutenant John Aikin, and Radioman First Class James J Zikus, boarded to arrange recovery and communications.<ref name="our-navy" /> Towing commenced at 1100. At 1101, Japanese shore batteries opened up, hitting the water between ''Arikara'' and ''Longshaw''. The stranded destroyer attempted to fight back as best she could; but, as she opened fire, her bow was completely blown off by a hit in the forward magazine. When efforts to save her appeared hopeless, the order "Abandon Ship" was relayed by word of mouth from the bridge. At 1105, all hands on the bridge were killed, injured, or stunned; the ''Longshaw'''s skipper, Lieutenant Commander Clarence William Becker, was reportedly there, mortally wounded,<ref name="dd559-history" /> along with Radioman Zikus of the ''Arikara''.<ref name="our-navy" /> At 1115, the abandon ship order reached the aft fire room and engine room.<ref name="dd559-history">{{cite web |title=USS Longshaw, DD 559, Division of Naval History |url=http://www.destroyersonline.com/usndd/dd559/offhis.htm |work=USS Longshaw, DD 559 |publisher=DestroyersOnline.com |access-date=14 November 2011 |archive-date=2 April 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402212815/http://www.destroyersonline.com/usndd/dd559/offhis.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref>

About 1200, [[Landing Craft Infantry|LCI(L)]]-[[USS LCI(L)-356|356]] came alongside to remove all wounded.<ref name="dd559-history" /> The ship was burning, shells were exploding in their magazines, and the decks were hot enough to cause burns; many in the rescue party were awarded medals.<ref name="lci-356">{{cite web |last=Adair |first=Clarence Donald "Don" |title=LCI 356 |url=http://www.amphibiousforces.org/Interest/LCI356/LCI356.html |work=Amphibious Forces Memorial Museum |access-date=2013-03-20 |format=contemporaneous letter from a crew member}}</ref>

The casualties included 86 dead or missing, including the skipper. (The missing were later declared dead.<ref name="dd559-mia">{{cite web |title=MIA list for USS Longshaw DD559 |url=http://www.destroyersonline.com/usndd/dd559/mia.txt |work=USS Longshaw, DD 559 |publisher=DestroyersOnline.com |access-date=14 November 2011 |archive-date=3 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303220256/http://www.destroyersonline.com/usndd/dd559/mia.txt |url-status=dead }}</ref>) In addition to the dead and missing, 95 crew members were wounded, and 113 crew members survived the sinking.<ref name="our-navy">{{cite web |title=68 - Bulletin Board of Naval Interest - WWII Archives |url=http://www.wartimepress.com/archive-article.asp?TID=Bulletin%20Board%20of%20Naval%20Interest&MID=68&q=99&FID=745 |work=Our Navy |publisher=WartimePress.com |access-date=14 November 2011 |quote=Of the two men left alive who were on the destroyer's bridge at the time of the hit there, one was Radioman Zikus who had carried out his orders to remain with the ship and relay information. The Skipper of the Longshaw, Lieut. Comdr. Clarence W. Becker, was listed as missing, and the total casualties were announced as 179, including fifteen killed and seventy-three missing. |archive-date=9 October 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161009190147/http://www.wartimepress.com/archive-article.asp?TID=Bulletin%20Board%20of%20Naval%20Interest&MID=68&q=99&FID=745 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="dd559-crew">{{cite web |title=USS Longshaw, DD 559, Crew List |url=http://www.destroyersonline.com/usndd/dd559/crewlist.htm |work=USS Longshaw, DD 559 |publisher=DestroyersOnline.com |access-date=14 November 2011 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304030501/http://www.destroyersonline.com/usndd/dd559/crewlist.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Later in the afternoon, ''Longshaw'', battered beyond salvaging, was destroyed by gunfire and torpedoes from U.S. ships.

==Honors==

''Longshaw'' received nine [[battle star]]s for [[World War II]] service.

List of battle stars:<ref name="dd559-history" />
*[[Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal|Asiatic-Pacific Raids]]
*[[Landing at Aitape|Hollandia Operation]]
*[[Mariana and Palau Islands campaign|Marianas Operation]]
*[[Battle of Tinian|Tinian Capture and Occupation]]
*[[Mariana and Palau Islands campaign|Western Caroline Islands Operation]]
*[[Battle of Leyte Gulf|Leyte Operation]]
*[[Battle of Luzon|Luzon Operation]]
*[[Battle of Iwo Jima|Iwo Jima Operation]]
*[[Battle of Okinawa|Okinawa Gunto Operation]]
<!-- Battle stars, with dates from DestroyersOnline:
*[[Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal|Asiatic-Pacific Raids]] 30 March–1 April / 29 April–1 May 1944
*[[Landing at Aitape|Hollandia Operation]] 21–24 April 1944
*[[Mariana and Palau Islands campaign|Marianas Operation]] 15 June–9 August / 21 July–15 August 1944
*[[Battle of Tinian|Tinian Capture and Occupation]] 24 July–9 August 1944
*[[Mariana and Palau Islands campaign|Western Caroline Islands Operation]] 6 September–14 October / 9–24 September 1944
*[[Battle of Leyte Gulf|Leyte Operation]] 10 October / 11–14 October / 15, 17–19 October; 13–14, 19–25 November; 14–16 December / 21 October / 24–26 October 1944
*[[Battle of Luzon|Luzon Operation]] 3–4, 9,15, 21 January / 6, 7 January / 12, 16 January / 22 January 1945
*[[Battle of Iwo Jima|Iwo Jima Operation]] 15-16, 25 February; 1 March / 15 February–12 March 1945
*[[Battle of Okinawa|Okinawa Gunto Operation]] 25 March–18 May 1945
-->

== References ==
*{{DANFS|http://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/l/longshaw.html}}
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
*[http://www.destroyersonline.com/usndd/dd559/           destroyersonline.com: USS ''Longshaw'' – Timeline, including the ship's final day.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160810145245/http://www.destroyersonline.com/usndd/dd559/ |date=2016-08-10 }}
*[http://www.amphibiousforces.org/Interest/interest.html amphibiousforces.org: LCI 356 USS – Rescue of survivors aboard ''Longshaw''.]
*[https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/l/longshaw.html history.navy.mil: USS ''Longshaw'' (DD-559) 1943–1945 - Detailed history, several photos.]
*[http://www.navsource.org/archives/05/559.htm           navsource.org: USS ''Longshaw'' – Photographic history, including battle damage pictures.]
*[http://uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/1975.html        uboat.net: USS ''Longshaw'' – Map of loss position, and other information.]
*[http://www.hazegray.org/danfs/destroy/dd559txt.htm     hazegray.org: USS ''Longshaw'' – A brief history.]
*[https://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?135291             wrecksite.eu: ''Longshaw'' Destroyer 1943–1945.]
{{Fletcher class destroyer}}
{{May 1945 shipwrecks}}
{{coord missing|Pacific Ocean}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Longshaw}}
[[Category:World War II destroyers of the United States|Longshaw (DD-559)]]
[[Category:Ships built in Seattle]]
[[Category:World War II shipwrecks in the Philippine Sea]]
[[Category:1943 ships]]
[[Category:Fletcher-class destroyers of the United States Navy|Longshaw (DD-559)]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in May 1945]]
[[Category:Ships sunk by coastal artillery]]