USN
Bristol Class Destroyer
Laid Down
2 11, 1941 (Kearny NJ)
Launched
Nov 22, 1941
Commissioned
March 4, 1942
Dimensions
348 | 36 | 13
Tons
1,839
Armament
4 x 5" guns
7 x 20mm
2 x dual 40mm
5 x 21 Torpedoes
2 Depth Charge Racks
Crew
208
(Captain Orville F. Gregor)
Discovered
1995
Ship History
The second Aaron Ward in the Navy, built by the Federal Shipbuilding and Dry dock Company in Kearney, NJ. After shakedown off Maine and outfitting at New York Naval Yard sailed for the Pacific on May 20, 1942, via Panama Canal to San Diego, operating briefly off the west coast. Then to Hawaii on June 30, 1942 and to Tonga. During this period dropped depth charges on two sound contacts. Assigned to screening duties for re supply of Guadalcanal.
Guadalcanal Campaign
Aaron Ward was in the vicinity when USS Wasp was torpedoed on September 15th. Attacked by Japanese Kates and Zeros at 0724, with three bombs exploding astern of the ship, 100-300 yards away. They were delayed an hour due to a Japanese air raid. Then, Aaron Ward shelled Kokumbona area with the USS Lardner on October 17, 1943. Coastwatcher Martin Clemens was aboard the Aaron Ward to spot targets. Assisted USS Chester CA-27 hit by a torpedo from I-76, and dropped depth charges on the sub, then escorted the ship to Espirito Santo. Returned to Guadalcanal and preformed another shore bombardment. Guarding troops landing on November 11-12, she claimed a plane shot down and damaging two others.
Naval Battle off Guadalcanal
On November 12th participated in the Naval Battle off Guadalcanal, leading the four destroyers in the rear, had two torpedoes pass beneath her, but managed to fire at targets. Hit by a shell to the direction finder and eight other direct hits. A total of 15 KIA and 57 WIA. She lost steering control at 0225, and dead in the water ten minutes later, and called for a tug. When the tug Bobolink ATO-131 arrived to take the destroy in tow, Japanese battleship Hiei spotted the ship and fired four salvos before US planes distracted the fire. Arrived at Tulagi at 0830 and was temporarily repaired and sent to Hawaii, reaching Pearl Harbor on December 20, 1942. She rejoined the fleet on February 6, 1943, and preformed escort duties again, including repelling an air attack on March 20th.
Sinking History
On April 7, 1943, the USS Aaron Ward escorted USS Ward APD-16 and three LSTs from Russell Islands to Savo. Notified of an impending air raid (Operation I-Go), was sent to cover LST 449 off Togoma Point, Guadalcanal, joining the ship at 1419. Dogfights erupted in the sky and three planes attacked the Aaron Ward, which returned fire with 20mm, 40mm and 5" guns. Three bombs struck near the ship: one near miss tore holes in the side, second hit the engine room, third hit near port side causing more holes, 20 were KIA, 7 MIA and 59 WIA. The crew struggled to fight the damage, and it was attempted to beach the ship near Tinete Point off Tulagi, but instead sank at 21:35.
Shipwreck
Discovered by the join efforts of Ewan Stevenson (researcher), Brian Bayley (first diver) and the crew of
Solomon Sea in 1995. This is the
only US capital ship that is divable outside of Bikini Atoll. The wreck sits upright on a sandy bottom at about 240
feet (70m) off Tinete Point, off Florida Island, near Tulagi.
The two forward 5" guns and the bow, reaches a depth of about
200 feet (60 m). You can then ascend to the bridge, examine the
20mm Oerlikons
and the gun director (165 feet/50m). A slightly deeper dive involves
heading aft past the torpedo tubes, rear funnel, searchlight, 40mm
Bofors,
aft 5 inch guns, to the severely damaged stern. The depth charge racks,
rudder and one propeller can be seen without going below 215 feet
(65
m).
Because of the depth of this wreck, all dives are decompression dives which require the appropriate training and experience in extended range diving. For safety reasons, twin tanks with a separate regulator and gauges on each tank, and a dive computer are required for this dive, and extended range protocols are enforced. In order to stay within the maximum depth for air diving, it is recommended that divers not descend below the deck level.
A dive to the two forward 5 inch guns and the bow, reaches a depth of about 200 feet (60 m). You can then ascend to the bridge, examine the 20mm Oerlikons and the gun director (165 feet/50m). A slightly deeper dive involves heading aft past the torpedo tubes, rear funnel, searchlight, 40mm Bofors, aft 5 inch guns, to the severely damaged stern. The depth charge racks, rudder and one propeller can be seen without going below 215 feet (65 m).
Ewan Stevenson adds:
"I have heard that the Aaron Ward has been intensively stripped for souvenirs now with a band of divers from Sydney particularly thorough. I sincerely regret that I won't have a chance to view some of these artifacts on the wreck. A diver from Aussie phoned me on the weekend and said divers were using crow bars to break into areas on the wreck."
References
X Attack of I-Operation by Richard Dunn
240 feet (70 m)
Diving the Aaron Ward
