Ship's History:
(DD-586: dp. 2,050; 1. 376'5"; b. 39'7"; dr. 17'9", s. 35 k.;
cpl. 329; a. 5 5", 6 dcp., 2 act., 10 21" tt.; cl. Fletcher)
Newcomb (DD-586) was laid down 19 March 1943 by Boston Navy Yard; launched 4
July 1943; sponsored by Mrs. C.C. Baughman; and commissioned 10 November 1943,
Comdr. L.B. Cook in command.
Newcomb shook down in the West Indies for a month, then made passage to the
Marshall Islands, arriving 4 April 1944 for two months duty on antisubmarine
patrol off the Japanese held Mille, Wotje, and Jaluit atolls. She next joined
the assault on Saipan as flagship for the screen from 29 May until 5 August,
serving as fire support and patrol ship at both Saipan and Tinian. On 22 June,
while guarding transports, she and Chandler (DMS-9) sank Japanese submarine
1-185, and on 4 July her well-directed fire broke up a Japanese banzai attack
north of Garapan on Spain.
Operating in the Fire Support and Bombardment Group for the assault on the Palaus
6 September to 1 October, Newcomb fired 23 separate shore bombardments and also
covered underwater demolition teams providing bombardment control spotting.
As flagship of Destroyer Squadron 56, Newcomb joined in the Leyte landings 12
October to 4 December, covering underwater demolition teams and firing preinvasion-bombardment,
call-fire, night-harrassing and illumination missions.
Her squadron made a daring night torpedo attack in the Surigao Strait phase
of the Battle for Leyte Gulf 25 October. At least one of her 5 torpedoes struck
battleship Yamashiro, sunk in this action. Closely straddled but not damaged,
Newcomb went to the aid of stricken Albert W. Grant (DD-649), providing medical
aid and a tow out of the battle area. In this classic sea battle, Newcomb and
her sisters played a key role in the great American victory which insured the
success of MacArthur's return to the Philippines, and effectively ended major
Japanese naval threats for the remainder of the war.
Often under fire from Japanese aircraft, several of which she destroyed, Newcomb
continued important service in the Philippines, engaging Japanese shore batteries
at Ormoc 9 December while screening landing craft, fighting a convoy through
heavy enemy air attack to Mindoro 19 through 24 December, and driving off 2
would-be kamikazes during the Lingayen landing 6 January 1945. She covered operations
in Lingayen Gulf through 24 January, then prepared for duty as fire support
ship at Iwo Jima from 10 February, where she covered minesweeping for three
days prior to the landing. During the invasion the destroyer engaged shore batteries
and fired pinpoint accurate bombardments of inestimable assistance to troops
ashore. She again engaged a Japanese submarine 25 February, with unknown results.
Departing Iwo Jima 10 March, Newcomb joined the Okinawa assault force 11 days
later, and again covered underwater demolition and minesweeping operations as
well as antiaircraft and shore bombardment until 6 April, when she was screening
minesweepers off Ie Shima. At least 40 enemy aircraft were observed in the area
during the day, and at 1600 suicide attacks began. Though handicapped by a low
ceiling, her gunners were able to drive off or shoot down several attackers,
but over a period of an hour and a half, she was struck five times With a skill
and fighting spirit which won them a Navy Unit Commendation, her crew worked
furiously to repair engine damage and extinguish fires, while continuing to
fight their ship and maneuver to avoid further crashes. Aid was rendered by
Leutze (DD-481), herself struck by the fifth kamikaze skipping across from Newcomb,
and Beale (DD-471). Indomitably afloat, fires and power out, with 18 killed,
25 missing, and 64 wounded, Newcomb was towed to Kerama Retto by Tekesta (ATF-93).
Repairs to her hull were made by Vestal (AR-4) under frequent enemy air attack,
and 14 June she left under tow for Saipan, Pearl Harbor, and San Francisco,
arriving 8 August. The end of the war ended further repairs, and Newcomb decommissioned
20 November 1945. Stricken from the Navy List 28 March 1946, she was scrapped
at Mare Island Navy Yard in October 1947.
Newcomb received 8 battle stars for World War II service.