The Edsall was chosen by a long time supporter who had an in law who served aboard her. Now the story of the Edsall. The Edsall was the first destroyer to sink a destroyer in World War II. She was the little destroyer that could. Despite setbacks with equipment and just bad luck, she kept fighting on. Until March 1, 1945 when several Japanese battleships found her. She slugged it out as long as she could until the damage was so great she slipped under the waves. Her wreck was found by an Australian survey crew off Christmas Island in 2023 and positively identified in November 2024.
But this is the story of her winning. She was off Darwin, Australia in January of 1942 pulling convoy duty. The morning of the 20th found her escorting the USS Trinity. A torpedo wake was spotted to the starboard. Edsall’s first move was to put herself between the sub and the ship she was escorting. By 0637 the Edsall had located the submarine at a distance of 2300 yards. Another convoy ship would take on this submarine. The Edsall continued to screen until 0710.
Later that day, she was sent with the USS Alden to go look for submarines off Port Darwin. At 1900 both the US ships spotted three allied corvettes (not named after flowers). They exchanged signals looking for information about where enemy submarines may be found. One corvette was searching the southern end of a diesel oil slick.
At 1929, while searching the northern end of the slick, the Edsall picked up target. This was the I-124. The corvette searching with the Edsall was notified and indicated they had acquired the same target. The Edsall headed for the target, indicating it was dead ahead. At 1933 the corvette laid a pattern of depth charges. The Edsall then commenced ranging and dropped five depth charges. Two did go off. Results showed that the target had been hit. In fact, she was destroyed.
During her remaining time, the Edsall would continue convoy duty or ferrying equipment to the islands held by Allies. It was on one such mission she was sunk. Only 6to 8 men would survive. All would perish in Japanese POW camps.
Sources:
Action Taken Against Submarines by the U.S.S. Edsall courtesy of NARAThe Edsall (DD-219) courtesy of the Naval History and Heritage Command
The USS Edsall, sunk by Japanese forces in World War II, has been found, NPR, November 13, 2024