USS Daly (DD-519)

Construction

Daly was laid down in Staten Island, New York by Bethlehem Steel in April 1942. She was launched in October 1942 and commissioned in March 1943, with Commander R.G. Visser at the helm. Daly carried a crew of 273 and offered a cruising speed of 38 knots. She was armed with five five-inch anti-aircraft guns, four one and one-tenth-inch anti-aircraft guns, four 20-millimeter anti-aircraft guns, and ten 21-inch torpedo tubes.

Naval History

Daly spent her initial months at sea performing screening and patrol duties along the east coast of the US and in the North Atlantic. In August 1943, she sailed for Adak, Alaska, where she spent several months assisting the invasion of Kiska before departing for Pearl Harbor.

In December 1943, Daly traveled to New Guinea, where she assisted in the assault on Cape Gloucester. During the battle, she downed two Japanese planes and rescued 168 survivors from the sinking Browson, while suffering a loss of power from a depth charge.

In 1944, Daly participated in the invasion of the Admiralty Islands, the Hollandia operation, and the bombardment of Toem-Wakde-Sarmi. In October, she joined the battle of Leyte Gulf. In February 1945, Daly arrived at Iwo Jima, where she screened air support carriers and rescued survivors from yet another ship. In March she joined the invasion at Okinawa, and in April she suffered damage from a suicide attack when a plane crashed just 25 yards from the ship. The resulting explosion, though indirect, killed three and injured another 16 from Daly’s crew.

Daly returned to the US in December 1945 and was decommissioned and placed on reserve. It was 1951 before the ship was recommissioned. During the 1950s, she sailed to Korea, Northern Europe, and the Mediterranean. In 1957, she sailed as an emissary of US foreign policy, visiting Sierra Leone, South Africa, Kenya, Pakistan, Aden, Eritrea, and the Canary Islands.

In May 1960, Daly was once again decommissioned. She was later broken up and sold for scrap.

Asbestos Risk on the USS Daly (DD-519)

Many areas aboard the USS Daly were constructed with asbestos containing material, but the substance could be found in heavy concentrations in high heat areas such as the boiler, pump, and engine rooms. Workers in these areas including boilermen and engine mechanics were frequently cutting or sawing asbestos insulation or gasket material. This caused asbestos fibers to be released into the air and those in the vicinity were at risk of breathing them in. This type of asbestos exposure is linked to mesothelioma cancer. Many of the USS Daly’s sailors have been diagnosed with this serious disease long after they were retired from the Navy. If you are one of them, you may be eligible for financial compensation. To request information, simply fill out the form on this page and we will send you some.

Sources

Haze Gray & Underway. Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. DD-519.
http://www.hazegray.org/danfs/destroy/dd519txt.htm