Hoel (DDG 13) - Naval Cruise Book

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3 HQBEL DD PRI TIIUA5 U1 IHTER Y WEST PA C DEPL 0 YMENT DEC. '68 JUN '69

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p 3' i 'USSHOFLQDD-5331 2, g A 3 7 USS HOEL QDD-5335 was built by Bethlehem Steel Shipbuilding Company in San Francisco. The keel was laid in june 1942, launched in December 1942, and commissioned in july 1943 . The ship was named for William R. Hoel, a famous Civil War volunteer Lieutenant Com- mander. After shakedown training in October 1943, HOEL reported to Fifth Fleet in Pearl Harbor. ln her first year of duty she served as carrier guard, provided shore bombardment . and close-in gunfire support for ground troops, served as radar picket, and escorted convoys. Finally, in October 1944, HOEL joined Rear Admiral Thomas L. Sprague's Escort -Carrier Group 77 .4. At daybreak of October 25, 1944 Task Group 77.4. 1 had launched strikes for the enemy fleeing the Battle of Surigao Strait. While this took place, the. powerful japanese Center Force under Admiral Kurita steamed the coast of Samar towards the invasion beach of Leyte where they hoped to destroy American amphibiousforces and troops . Undetected by radar, the japenese suddenly emerged from the morning mist and were upon the Carrier F orce. The Japanese force consisted of a destroyer screen, six cruisers, four battleships, and a second squadron of destroyers . Immediately, 'HOEL led the other destroyers in laying down a heavy smoke screen to shield the carriers from the japanese guns . The battleship KONGO opened fire . l-IOEL set her course directly, for the KONGO . After a furious exchange of gunfire, HOEL received a hit on her bridge, destroying all voicefcommunication. l-IOEL retaliated with five torpedoes . KONGO turned sharply to port to avoid the fish . The japanese guns found their mark and shells knocked out three mounts and HOEL's port engine. By shifting steering control aft and moving her rudder by hand, I-IOEL maneuvered and attacked the leading japanese cruiser I-LAGURO . One of l-IOEL's torpedoes found its mark and a column of water shot skyward from the I-IACURO . Reduced to one engine and two guns, it was now time to escape. She zig-zagged firing continously. All the Japanese ships in range opened up. Over 40 hits of 5 inch, 8 inch, and even 16 inch shells punched her full of holes At 0830 an 8 inch shell blew up her remaining engine. The engineering spaces were almost completely flooded. At 0835 word was passed to prepare to abandon ship. HOEL listed to port and settled by the stern. At 0855 she rolled over on her side and sank stern first. I-IOEL lost some 268 men in the Battle of Samar. She was posthumously awarded the ' Presidential Unit Citation. , 2