USS Plunkett (DD-431), 1940-46
The Gleaves-class destroyer, USS Plunkett (DD-431) was commissioned on July 17, 1940, at New Jersey. Ordered to serve on Neutrality Patrols, she operated in the Atlantic, Caribbean, and Mediterranean on Atlantic Convoys, occasionally supporting the Royal Navy with British Home Fleet. In November 1942, Plunkett supported the North African Campaign following Operation Torch. During the Allied Invasion of Sicily in July 1943, she operated with Task Group 80.5 and later assisted in the North African to Italy convoys for the Italian Campaign. On January 24, 1944, while screening transports for the Battle of Anzio, Plunkett was hit by German bombs, killing 23 crewmembers, with a further 28 missing. Repaired at New York Navy Yard, New York, in May 1944, she steamed for Ireland to support the Normandy Invasion, which was followed with support of the Invasion of Southern France that August. Assigned to the Pacific following repairs, training, and convoy duty in the Atlantic in early 1945, she escorted occuption forces to Japan, then served in the Aleutian Islands until ordered to the east coast for decommissioning in May 1946. Plunkett was transferred to the Republic of Chinese (Taiwan) Navy and served as ROCS Nan Yung (DD-17) until 1975.
Image: NH 107430: USS Plunkett (DD-413), aerial in March 1945. Note, Camoflage Measure 32, Design 3D design. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.
