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USS Gilmer (DD-233/APD-11)

Please see below for item level images and donated collections containing photographs of USS Gilmer (DD-233/APD-11) 

USS Gilmer (DD-233) was launched 24 May 1919 by the New York Shipbuilding Corp., Camden, N.J.; sponsored by Mrs. Elizabeth Gilmer Miles, Secretary Gilmer's granddaughter; and commissioned 30 April 1920, lit. (j.g.) Harold J. Wright commanding.

From 27 August 1920 to 11 August 1923 USS Gilmer (DD-233) made two round trip transatlantic voyages out of New York to European and Mediterranean ports. She subsequently engaged in training exercises along the Eastern seaboard, in the Caribbean, and out of West Coast ports until 1938. Decommissioned at Philadelphia 31 August 1938, USS Gilmer (DD-233) recommissioned 25 September 1939 following the outbreak of World War II and was attached to the Atlantic Fleet Destroyer Division as flagship. She conducted patrols and exercises in the Atlantic and Caribbean until reaching San Diego 4 November 1940 and continued these duties along the Pacific coast until the United States entered the war.

USS Gilmer (DD-233)  was at sea off Puget Sound when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor 7 December 1941. She immediately began antisubmarine patrol and escort duties and continued her missions until entering drydock 13 November 1942. She was redesignated APD-11 on 22 January 1943 following conversion. On 5 April USS Gilmer (APD-11) sailed from Tulagi and as flagship of Transport Division 16 engaged in antisubmarine patrols in those waters. She called at Noumea 22 April and put in at Townsville, Australia, 8 May, making two round trip escort voyages thence to Brisbane 13 May-22 June 1943. 

On 12 May the ship sailed from Hollandia to embark UDT teams at Pearl Harbor and debarked them 14 June 1944 at the initial assault on Saipan. Two days later she discovered and sank four Japanese cargo ships, taking 24 prisoners, and escaping serious damage. Patrolling and screening activities continued through 24 February, when USS Gilmer (APD-11) sailed for Leyte, arriving four days later. After touching Ulithi, she took parf in the Okinawa operation, closing that island 25 March 1945 as flagship of the UDT's. The next day a kamikaze took off her galley deckhouse on its way overboard, killing one and wounding three crewmen. USS Gilmer (APD-11) supported the invasion until 9 April when she sailed for repairs at Pearl Harbor, but returned to Okinawa 4 July to recommence patrolling duties.

Following antisubmarine screening assignments for convoys bound from the Philippines to Okinawa, USS Gilmer (APD-11) moored at Nagasaki 13 September after Japan's surrender to carry POW's thence to Okinawa. She sailed from that island 15 October to escort a convoy to Hong Kong, arriving 22 October, and sailed again 2 days later to escort troopships carrying the Chinese 13th Army to Chinwangtao. After further escort and patrol voyages along the China coast, USS Gilmer (APD-11) sailed from Tsingtao 26 November for the United States and finally moored in the U.S. again at Philadelphia 11 January 1946. Decommissioned 5 February 1946, her name was struck from the Navy list 25 February 1946. USS Gilmer (APD-11) was sold for scrapping 3 December 1946.

For a complete history of USS Gilmer (DD-233/APD-11) please see its DANFS page.