Skip to main content
Naval History and Heritage Command

Naval History and Heritage Command

Tags
Related Content
Topic
Document Type
  • Themed Collection
Wars & Conflicts
File Formats
  • Image (gif, jpg, tiff)
Location of Archival Materials
  • NHHC

USS Jouett (DD-396)

Please see below for item level images and donated collections containing photographs of USS Jouett (DD-396)

USS Jouett (DD-396) was laid down 26 March 1936 by Bath Iron Works Corp., Bath, Maine; launched 24 September 1938; sponsored by Mrs. J. R. Todd; and commissioned at Boston 25 January 1939, Comdr. G. W. Clark in command.

Following shakedown training which took USS Jouett (DD-396) to England and Ireland, the ship returned to Norfolk 29 April 1939 and began operating on neutrality patrol along the East and Gulf Coasts. She stood out of Pensacola Bay 15 February 1940 as one of the escorts for USS Tuscaloosa (CA-37), carrying President Roosevelt on a cruise through the Gulf of Panama, returning to Pensacola 1 March 1940.

USS Jouett (DD-396) began offensive antisubmarine patrols between Brazil and Africa, helping to keep the all-important ocean supply lines open. She accompanied Army engineers to lonely Ascension Island 30 March 1942 where an airfield was carved from the bleak landscape. USS Jouett (DD-396) convoyed the precious oil tankers from Trinidad south during the months that followed, often attacking submarines with depth charges. In December 1942, the ship returned to Charleston for repairs, hut by 21 January 1943 she was back in Natal harbor, Brazil.

USS Jouett (DD-396) returned to Charleston once more in March 1944 and engaged in training operations in Casco Bay, Maine, before sailing for England in convoy 16 May 1944. There she joined a Reserve Fire Support Group for the long-awaited invasion of France. USS Jouett (DD-396) arrived off Omaha beach 8 June, escorting coastal steamers with support troops embarked. She repelled an air attack that day, and until 21 June screened British heavies during shore bombardment and provided antisubmarine screen for the Omaha Beach transport area. The second front established, USS Jouett (DD-396) escorted convoys to and from the Firth of Clyde until 12 July 1944 when she sailed with a convoy for Algeria.

The destroyer arrived at Oran 21 July to prepare for the next major European operation, the invasion of southern France. This duty continued until 3 September, after which the ship operated on patrol out of Toulon. USS Jouett (DD-396) sailed from Oran 31 December 1944 for repairs at Charleston. After refresher training in Casco Bay in April, the battletested ship made convoy voyages to England and Cuba before the end of the war 15 August 1945. She decommissioned at Philadelphia Naval Shipyard 1 November 1945 and was scrapped there in 1946.

For a complete history of USS Jouett (DD-396) please see its DANFS page.