Rodman (DD 456) - Naval Cruise Book

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ESTCORTINGE THE DPRESIDENTT I Q . , ,November and December 19 43 9 p 1 During November and December 1943, the RODMAN was one of a squadron of destroyers that screened the U. S.- S. IOWA whenshe carried the president and his party over to the Big Three conference at Casablanca, North Africa. : THE SINKING OF THE U-616 May 14 to 17, 1944 Early in May 1944 Destroyer Division 19 of which the . , RODMAN was a member reported for duty to Commander 0 Destroyers Eighth Fleet in the Mediterranean. The division GTGGTL Water 01161' the F'0T90CLStl6 was designated a Hunter-Killer group, a special group for sinking submarines. D - At about 0430 May 14th, two merchant ships were tor- pedoed off Oran. The local escort began its SG211'Ch, and the HU'Ht9F-Killer SFOUD Of Vf'hiCh the RODMAN was a member was dispatched to the scene. They arrived at 12:30 and relieved the local escort. 5 -

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weather was so violent on this trip, that after the muzzle bag had been shot off SUD one in firing at the enemy air Craft, H0 0119 could get on the forecastle for five days to replace it, The three ships were the first U. S. Naval vessels to enter Murmansk, since the be- ginning of the Wars. THE INVASION 0F NORTH AFRICA November 8 1942 to July 9, 1943 During the invasion of North Africa the RODMAN operated as an anti-submarine screen for the U. S., S. SANTEE. During this operation the RODMAN did her first rescue Work, saving the lives of the crews of several planes that were forced to mzikc crash landings on the water. 4

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There then began a seventy-four hunt which resulted in the sinldnl el general track of the submarine it appeared that she was trying to rmd Spain. The submarine was attacked with depth charges again and , badly damaged, none of these attacks was fatal. As the attack contilwd dl marine were becoming exhausted and the submarine was in great Bi U them. During the last night she became so desperate that she audi with one of the ships, but she was quickly forced to dive again. By the morning of the 17th the hunt had brought the ships just outside th the coast of Spain, and it was evident that if the submarine was not IRR At 0715 in the morning contact was regained and the submarine Wu Ink with depth charges. l This attack damaged her so badly that the U-Boat commander Win at 0808 he surfaced. The submarine was quickly sunk by the combild Killer group. Fifty three survivors of the submarine were rwovercd, I recovered twenty seven, including the Commanding Oflicer. 0 i While returning to Oran at high speed several violent etplouinm Shlp. It was at first thought to be an aerial bomb, but aim' Q reasoned that it must have been a torpedo exploding in the wake 61 lil K