USS Cooper
| USS Cooper, in New York before commissioning
USS Cooper, in New York before commissioning.
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| History | |
|---|---|
 United States |
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| Name: | USS Cooper |
| Namesake: | Elmer Glenn Cooper |
| Builder: | |
| Laid down: | 30 August 1943 |
| Launched: | 9 February 1944 |
| Sponsored by: | Mrs. Elmer G. Cooper |
| Commissioned: | 27 March 1944 |
| Fate: |
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| General characteristics | |
| Class & type: | Allen M. Sumner-class destroyer |
| Displacement: | 2,200 tons |
| Length: | 376 ft 6 in (114.76 m) |
| Beam: | 40 ft (12.2 m) |
| Draft: | 15 ft 8 in (4.78 m) |
| Propulsion: |
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| Speed: | 34 knots (63 km/h; 39 mph) |
| Range: | 6,500 nmi (12,000 km; 7,500 mi) at 15 kn (28 km/h; 17 mph) |
| Complement: | 336 |
| Armament: |
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USS Cooper (DD-695), an Allen M. Sumner-class destroyer, is the only ship of the United States Navy to be named for Elmer Glenn Cooper, a naval aviator who died in a seaplane accident in 1938. Cooper was launched 9 February 1944 by Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Company, Kearny, New Jersey; sponsored by Mrs. Elmer G. Cooper; and commissioned 27 March 1944, Commander J. W. Schmidt in command.
Operational History
Cooper cleared Boston, Massachusetts on 23 July 1944 for Pearl Harbor arriving 4 September. After operational training, she sailed 23 October for Ulithi, arriving 5 November, and put to sea at once to screen carriers in air attacks on Luzon, Ormoc Bay, and Manila Bay until 19 November.
After repairs at Ulithi, she entered San Pedro Bay, Philippines, 29 November and joined in patrols in Leyte Gulf until 2 December, when she sailed with the destroyers Allen M. Sumner and Moale to destroy shipping in Japanese-held Ormoc Bay. Here the ships engaged two small enemy destroyers and numerous small craft. At about 00:13 on 3 December, Cooper was torpedoed by the Japanese destroyer Take.[2]
Reports state that she suffered an explosion on her starboard side, then it broke in two, and sank within a minute. The presence of enemy forces prevented rescue of survivors until about 14:00, when "Black Cat" airplanes were able to save 168 of Cooper's crew; 191 were lost.
In the Battle of Ormoc Bay, Kuwa was sunk and Take was damaged by the American destroyers. In addition to the loss of Cooper, Allen M. Sumner and Moale were both damaged.[1]
Cooper was awarded one battle star for World War II service.
Trivia
A documentary TV film, USS Cooper: Return to Ormoc Bay, was produced by Bigfoot Entertainment and made its debut in mid-2006. It featured deep-sea diver Rob Lalumiere and survivors of the Cooper sinking.
References
- Brown, David. Warship Losses of World War Two. Arms and Armour, London, Great Britain, 1990. ISBN 0-85368-802-8.
- This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.
- Griggs, William F., "Prelude to Victory"
External links
- usscooper.com: USS Cooper documentary site
- Return to History - the dive on the USS Cooper by Rob Lalumiere
- Photo gallery of Cooper at NavSource Naval History
- hazegray.org: USS Cooper
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