USS Conyngham (DD-371)
The USS Conyngham (DD-371) served in the US Navy for approximately one decade during the first half of the 20th century. She was named for Gustavus Conyngham, an Irish naval captain who attacked British supply ships during the Revolutionary War. Conyngham was built as a Mahan-class vessel and was the second ship of that name.
Construction
Conyngham was laid down in Boston, Massachusetts at the Boston Navy Yard in September 1934. She was launched in September 1935 and commissioned in November 1936, with Commander G.C. Hoover at the helm. Conyngham carried a crew of 158 and had a cruising speed of 36.5 knots. She was armed with five five-inch anti-aircraft guns, four half-inch machine guns, and twelve 21-inch torpedo tubes.
Naval History
Conyngham embarked on her maiden cruise to northern Europe in the spring of 1937. Later that year, she sailed for San Diego for a posting in the Pacific. In April 1940, Conyngham set sail for Pearl Harbor. She was active during the Japanese attack in December 1941, splashing several planes.
Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, Conyngham was engaged in escort duty for a time before screening carriers in the Battle of Midway. In the fall of 1942, she defended carriers during the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands and later bombarded Kokumbona. It was during this maneuver that Conyngham collided with another destroyer. Repairs were minor, and she later returned to the South Pacific for patrol and escort duties.
In 1943, Conyngham supported several landings and bombardments. During the landing at Lae, Conyngham sustained damage from three enemy bombers. One crewman was injured. Repairs were brief, and Conyngham was soon back at sea.
In 1944, Conyngham participated in the Marianas operation, the bombardment of Saipan, and the engagement at Leyte Gulf. In November, Conyngham was strafed by an enemy float plane. Seventeen men were wounded, but damage to the ship was relatively minor and she was able to participate in the landings at Ormoc Bay in December. The following year saw Conyngham in Hollandia, Leyte, Luzon, Palawan, and Borneo.
Conyngham was decommissioned in December 1946 and was then used as a target during U.S. tests of atomic weapons. After receiving 14 battle stars for service in World War II, Conyngham was eventually sunk during one such test at Bikini in July 1948.
Asbestos Risk on the USS Conyngham (DD-371)
The installation of asbestos-containing materials in the construction of oceangoing ships was mandated by the US Congress in the 1930s, after a deadly fire aboard a cruise ship caused the deaths of more than 100 passengers and crew. Conyngham utilized asbestos insulation in large amounts in boilers and engine spaces, and in fireproofing in all sections of the vessel. Asbestos has long been known for its insulation properties, but it was also proven to be the leading cause of serious illnesses like lung cancer and pleural mesothelioma.
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Sources
Haze Gray & Underway. Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. DD-371.
http://www.hazegray.org/danfs/destroy/dd371txt.htm Retrieved 8 January 2011.
NavSource Naval History, USS Conyngham (DD-371).
http://www.navsource.org/archives/05/371.htm Retrieved 8 January 2011.
