USS Blakeley (DD-150)



The second USS Blakeley (DD–150) was a Wickes class destroyer in the United States Navy during the World War II. She was named for Captain Johnston Blakeley. {| class="toc" id="toc"

Contents
[hide] *1 History
 * 2 See also
 * 3 References
 * 4 External links
 * }

History
Blakeley was launched 19 September 1918 by William Cramp and Sons Ship and Engine Building Company, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; sponsored by Mrs. C. A. Blakeley, wife of Commander Blakeley, great-grandnephew of Captain Blakeley; commissioned 8 May 1919, Commander W. Brown, Jr., in command; and joined the Atlantic Fleet.

Blakeley cruised along the east coast until going out of commission 29 June 1922 at Philadelphia Navy Yard. Except for 1932-37 when she served with the Scouting Fleet, Blakeleyremained out of commission at Philadelphia until 16 October 1939. The heavily damaged USS Blakeley after the attack by U-156Upon recommissioning, Blakeley joined the Neutrality Patrol and with America's entrance into World War II began patrol and convoy duty in the Caribbean. In February 1942 she helped escort the convoy carrying troops to garrison Curaçao Netherlands West Indies. While patrolling off Martinique; 25 May 1942,  U-156  under the command of Werner Hartenstein torpedoed her, carrying away 60 feet of her bow. Six men were killed and 21 wounded, but the crew saved the ship and brought her to Fort-de-France, Martinique, for emergency repairs. After additional repairs at Castries, Saint Lucia, British West Indies, and San Juan, Puerto Rico, Blakeley steamed to Philadelphia where she was refitted with a bow taken from her stricken sister USS Taylor (DD-94) and thoroughly overhauled. The Blakeley was the only U.S. World War I-era destroyer that was not sunk after being torpedoed by German U-boats.

In September 1942 Blakeley returned to duty with the Caribbean Sea Frontier and, with the exception of two voyages, continued escort and patrol work there until February 1945. From 1 January to 23 February 1943 she served with TG 21.13 on hunter-killer duty in the North Atlantic and between 24 March and 11 May 1943 she escorted a convoy to Bizerte, Tunisia.

She operated out of New London, Connecticut, 18 March 1945 – 13 June 1945 on training duty with submarines in Long Island Sound. Decommissioned at Philadelphia Navy Yard 21 July 1945, she was sold 30 November 1945.

Blakeley received one battle star for her convoy duty.

The Captain Johnston Blakeley Anchor monument, compromised of the anchor from the USS Wasp, an aircraft carrier during World War II was installed at Blakely corners in Blakely, Pennsylvania in 1976.[1]