Destroyer Squadron 60

Destroyer Squadron 60
Destroyer Squadron 60 emblem
Active	World War II 19 February 2003 – present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Navy
Type	Destroyer Squadron
Role	Naval surface/strike/anti-aircraft warfare ballistic missile defense (BMD)
Part of	United States Sixth Fleet
Garrison/HQ	Naval Station Rota, Spain.
Motto(s)	Fighting Forward Toward Victory
Commanders
Commodore	Captain Tate Westbrook

Destroyer Squadron 60 (DESRON 60) is a Destroyer squadron of the United States Navy. Destroyer Squadron 60 is one of three U.S. Navy destroyer squadrons permanently based outside the continental United States.

During World War Two, Destroyer Squadron 60 consisted two destroyer divisions, the 119th and 120th, under the overall command of Captain William L. Freseman.

Destroyer Squadron 60 was part of the naval force assigned to Omaha Beach during the Normandy invasion of June 1944. On 6 June 1944, the Meredith struck a mine, and after being towed to the Bay of the Seine, sank on 9 June 1944. DESRON 60 subsequently was part of Task Force 129 which carried out the shore bombardment of the French seaport Cherbourg.

During the Pacific War, Destroyer Squadron 60 initially participated in the Philippines campaign. The squadron was part of the escort screen for Task Group 78.3, the amphibious assault force that invaded Leyte on October 1944. The squadron also participated in the ensuing Battle of Ormoc Bay. On 3 December 1944, during an attack on a Japanese convoy, the Cooper was torpedoed and sunk. Destroyer Squadron 60 subsequently operated as part of the destroyer screen for Task Group 77.2, the Bombardment and Fire Support Group for the January 1945 Invasion of Lingayen Gulf (pictured).

Destroyer Squadron 60 next operated with Task Force 38, the U.S. Third Fleet's Fast Carrier Task Force. On 16–17 February 1945, TF-38 flew air strikes against the Japanese home islands, Bonin Islands, and Volcano Islands to prevent any reinforcements of the Japanese garrison on Iwo Jima. During this period, Barton and Ingraham collided, and Moale was detached to escort the two damaged destroyers back to Saipan for repairs.