As the Navy's island-hopping thrust toward Japan reached its climax, Ditter sailed 2 March for Eniwetok and Ulithi, departing the latter base 19 March for Okinawa. She arrived 25 March off the critical island, soon to be the scene of the largest amphibious assault of the Pacific war, and began hazardous minesweeping operations. The next day she dodged a torpedo during an encounter with a Japanese submarine. On 29 March she discovered two suicide boats off Okinawa, and sank one of them with gunfire. By the day of the invasion, 1 April, Ditter and her sister mine-craft had swept the channels and laid marker buoys, contributing importantly to the success of the initial landing. Next day her duties shifted to convoy escort, as the versatile ship protected transports on night retirement away from Okinawa. On the night of 2 April the ship shot down two bombers, and she continued to come under air attack in the days that followed as the' Japanese made an effort to stop the invasion with kamikaze tactics.
The kamikaze damage sustained in 1945.
J. William Ditter was assigned radar picket duty 12 April, and, subsequently, became the target of heavy air attack. She shot down several planes and assisted with several more until retiring to Kerama Retto 30 April. The ship was soon back on picket duty, however, and engaged in numerous battles with Japanese aircraft.
June 1945 - July 1946edit
While patrolling with Harry F. Bauer and Ellyson 6 June, J. William Ditter was attacked by a large group of kamikazes. The ship's gun crews downed five of the planes; but a sixth glanced off her No. 2 stack; and another crashed into her on the port side near the main deck. The ship lost all power and suffered many casualties; but damage control kept her afloat until she could be towed by tugUte to Kerama Retto the next day. Eventually she was repaired enough to steam to Saipan on 10 July and begin the voyage home. She touched at San Diego and the Canal Zone before arriving New York 12 July 1945. J. William Ditter was decommissioned there on 28 September 1945 and was scrapped in July 1946.
Merits and legacyedit
J. William Ditter received one battle star for World War II service.
As of 2009, no other ship has been named J. William Ditter.
william, ditter, robert, smith, class, destroyer, minelayer, united, states, navy, named, congressman, william, ditter, william, ditter, launched, bethlehem, shipbuilding, corporation, staten, island, york, july, 1944, sponsored, william, ditter, widow, congre. USS J William Ditter DD 751 DM 31 was a Robert H Smith class destroyer minelayer in the United States Navy She was named for Congressman J William Ditter J William Ditter was launched as DD 751 by Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation Staten Island New York 4 July 1944 sponsored by Mrs J William Ditter widow of Congressman Ditter The ship was reclassified DM 31 19 July 1944 and commissioned at New York Navy Yard 28 October 1944 At Norfolk January 1945 in camouflage Measure 32 Design 3d History United States NameJ William Ditter BuilderBethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation Staten Island New York Launched4 July 1944 Commissioned28 October 1944 Decommissioned28 September 1945 FateScrapped in July 1946 General characteristics Class and typeRobert H Smith class destroyer Displacement2 200 tons Length376 ft 6 in 114 76 m Beam40 ft 10 in 12 45 m Draft14 ft 2 in 4 32 m Speed36 5 knots 67 6 km h 42 0 mph Complement336 officers and enlisted Armament6 x 5 in 127 mm 38 cal guns 12 x 40 mm guns 8 x 20 mm cannons 2 x depth charge tracks 4 x depth charge projectors Contents 1 Service history 1 1 October 1944 May 1945 1 1 1 Battle of Okinawa 1 2 June 1945 July 1946 2 Merits and legacy 3 ReferencesService history editOctober 1944 May 1945 edit J William Ditter completed her shakedown off Bermuda in December She sailed from Norfolk Virginia 13 January 1945 and after transiting the Panama Canal and touching at San Diego California arrived Pearl Harbor 10 February Battle of Okinawa edit As the Navy s island hopping thrust toward Japan reached its climax Ditter sailed 2 March for Eniwetok and Ulithi departing the latter base 19 March for Okinawa She arrived 25 March off the critical island soon to be the scene of the largest amphibious assault of the Pacific war and began hazardous minesweeping operations The next day she dodged a torpedo during an encounter with a Japanese submarine On 29 March she discovered two suicide boats off Okinawa and sank one of them with gunfire By the day of the invasion 1 April Ditter and her sister mine craft had swept the channels and laid marker buoys contributing importantly to the success of the initial landing Next day her duties shifted to convoy escort as the versatile ship protected transports on night retirement away from Okinawa On the night of 2 April the ship shot down two bombers and she continued to come under air attack in the days that followed as the Japanese made an effort to stop the invasion with kamikaze tactics nbsp The kamikaze damage sustained in 1945 J William Ditter was assigned radar picket duty 12 April and subsequently became the target of heavy air attack She shot down several planes and assisted with several more until retiring to Kerama Retto 30 April The ship was soon back on picket duty however and engaged in numerous battles with Japanese aircraft June 1945 July 1946 edit While patrolling with Harry F Bauer and Ellyson 6 June J William Ditter was attacked by a large group of kamikazes The ship s gun crews downed five of the planes but a sixth glanced off her No 2 stack and another crashed into her on the port side near the main deck The ship lost all power and suffered many casualties but damage control kept her afloat until she could be towed by tug Ute to Kerama Retto the next day Eventually she was repaired enough to steam to Saipan on 10 July and begin the voyage home She touched at San Diego and the Canal Zone before arriving New York 12 July 1945 J William Ditter was decommissioned there on 28 September 1945 and was scrapped in July 1946 Merits and legacy editJ William Ditter received one battle star for World War II service As of 2009 no other ship has been named J William Ditter References editThis article incorporates text from the public domainDictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships The entry can be found here Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title USS J William Ditter amp oldid 1090238038, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
