USS Hammann (DD-412)
USS Hammann (DD-412) was a Sims-class destroyer during World War II. She was named in honor of Ensign Charles Hammann, a naval aviator who received a Medal of Honor.
Construction
Hamman was launched by the Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Company in Kearny, New Jersey on February 4, 1939. She was sponsored by Miss Lillian Hamman. Commander Arnold E. True took command of Hammann on August 11, 1939.
Naval History
Following shakedown, Hammann participated in training and other operations off the east coast for two years. On the day of the Pearl Harbor attacks, Hammann was located in Iceland. Following the attacks, Hammann sailed to Norfolk, Virginia for fuel and supplies before heading to the Pacific. For the next several months, Hammann participated in a variety of exercises while also serving as a screen to various ships.
On April 27, 1942, Hammann assisted with a surprise air raid in Tulagi. One week later, she was sent to Guadalcanal to rescue two fighter pilots who had been downed about 40 miles north of the area. Four days after rescuing the pilots, Hammann saw action at the Battle of the Coral Sea. During this battle, Hammann screened carriers while firing at Japanese torpedo planes. She then went on to rescue nearly 500 men from Lexington, which had been hit by two torpedoes and subsequently sunk.
On May 30, Hammann began participation in the Battle of Midway. While screening Yorktown on June 4, she shot down several enemy aircraft. After Yorktown took two torpedo hits, Hammann picked up the survivors and transferred them to bigger ships. She later assisted with attempts to salvage Yorktown, but these attempts failed when the carrier was hit and sunk by another torpedo launched by I-168.
Due to her proximity to Yorktown at the time she was hit by the final torpedo, Hammann was severely damaged. Just four minutes after the explosion, Hammann was sunk. A violent underwater explosion killed many of the crewmembers as they attempted to escape. A total of 80 crewmembers were lost in the devastation, while the survivors were taken on board Balch and Benham.
Hammann received two battle stars for her services during World War II. Her skipper, Commander Arnold True, was awarded a Distinguished Service Medal and the Navy Cross for his performance while commanding Hammann at the Battle of the Coral Sea and the Battle of Midway.
Asbestos Risk on the USS Hammann (DD-412)
Hammann sailed for less than three years, and many of her crew were killed while attempting salvage on Yorktown. The survivors of that operation, however, were likely exposed to asbestos products during their service. Hammann, like most vessels constructed in the late 1930’s, made extensive use of asbestos insulation and fireproofing in nearly every compartment.
Exposure to worn or damaged asbestos carries the highest risk. The sailors aboard Hammann dealt with such products in the course of their duty, as the ship participated in several battles during World War II. Crewmen assigned to damage control, fire brigades, and engineering usually had the greatest exposure. Asbestos fibers are known to cause a number of serious illnesses later in life, including mesothelioma.
Sources
Hammann. Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Department of the Navy – Naval Historical Center.
http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/h2/hammann-i.htm
