USS Bennion (DD-662)

USS Bennion (DD-662), 13 January 1945
History
United States
Namesake:	Mervyn S. Bennion
Builder:	Boston Navy Yard
Laid down:	19 March 1943
Launched:	4 July 1943
Commissioned:	14 December 1943
Decommissioned:	20 June 1946
Struck:	15 April 1971
Honours and awards:	10 Battle Stars Presidential Unit Citation American Campaign Asiatic-Pacific Campaign (8 stars) World War II Victory Navy Occupation Service Philippine Presidential Unit Citation Philippine Liberation (2 stars)
Fate:	Sold for scrap, 30 May 1973
General characteristics
Class and type:	Fletcher class destroyer
Displacement:	2,050 tons
Length:	376 ft 6 in (114.7 m)
Beam:	39 ft 8 in (12.1 m)
Draft:	17 ft 9 in (5.4 m)
Propulsion:	60,000 shp (45 MW); 2 propellers
Speed:	35 knots (65 km/h)
Range:	6500 nm @ 15 kn (12,000 km @ 28 km/h)
Complement:	329 officers and men (1943)
Armament:	5 × 5-inch 38 caliber guns, 4 × 40 mm AA guns, 4 × 20 mm AA guns, 10 × 21 inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes, 6 × depth charge projectors, 2 × depth charge tracks

USS Bennion (DD-662) was a Fletcher-class destroyer of the United States Navy. The ship was named for Captain Mervyn S. Bennion who was killed in action during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, while in command of West Virginia. Captain Bennion was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.

Bennion was launched 4 July 1943 by Boston Navy Yard, sponsored by Captain Bennion's widow. It was commissioned 14 December 1943 with Commander Joshua W. Cooper in command.

On 5 January 1944, Bennion encountered two Japanese Matsu class destroyers, Hinoki and Momi, both returning to China after the aircraft carrier Unryu was torpedoed and sunk by USS Redfish (SS-395). Other US destroyers joined in the short fight, and both Japanese destroyers turned away, only for Momi to be caught, torpedoed and sunk by TBM Avengers of Task Force 77 shortly afterwards. Hinoki was later caught and sunk with all hands by gunfire of USS Charles Ausburne (DD-570) and three other destroyers.

Bennion departed Philadelphia, Pa. 3 March 1944 escorting Bataan to the Pacific. Arriving at Pearl Harbor 22 March, she trained and patrolled in Hawaiian waters until 29 May 1944. Moving westward she served as a fighter director and radar picket ship during the following campaigns: