USS Champlin (DD-601)
_at_Boston_in_November_1942.jpg) |
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| History | |
|---|---|
 United States
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| Name: | USS Champlin (DD-601) |
| Namesake: | Stephen Champlin |
| Builder: | Fore River Shipyard |
| Launched: | 25 July 1942 |
| Commissioned: | 12 September 1942 |
| Decommissioned: | 31 January 1947 |
| Fate: | sold for scrap, 8 May 1972 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | Benson-class destroyer |
| Displacement: | 1,620 tons |
| Length: | 347 ft 9 in (105.99 m) |
| Beam: | 36 ft 1 in (11.00 m) |
| Draught: | 17 ft 4 in (5.28 m) |
| Speed: | 38 |
| Complement: | 252 |
| Armament: | 4 x 5" (127 mm), 5 x 21" (533 mm) tt. |
USS Champlin (DD-601) was a Benson-class destroyer in the United States Navy during World War II. She was the second ship named for Stephen Champlin.
Champlin was launched 25 July 1942 by Bethlehem Steel Company, Fore River Shipyard, Quincy, Massachusetts; sponsored by Mrs. A. C. Brendel; and commissioned 12 September 1942, Lieutenant Commander C. L. Melson in command.
After escorting a convoy to NS Argentia, Newfoundland, and another to the Panama Canal Zone, Champlin sailed from New York 11 December 1942 on her first convoy crossing to Casablanca, returning to New York 7 February 1943. She sailed again on 4 March guarding a convoy which was constantly shadowed by German submarines for 6 days after it passed the Azores on 12 March. On that day, a radar contact was made ahead of the convoy, and Champlin charged ahead to investigate, finding the submarine on the surface. She opened fire, and attempted to ram the enemy, which made a crash dive. Champlin hurled a pattern of depth charges into the swirl, and sank U-130 at position 37°10′N 20°21′W / 37.167°N 20.350°W. As the convoy plodded east, Champlin and the other escorts fought a constant battle to protect it, but the convoy lost three merchantmen before reaching Casablanca. Champlin rescued every member of Wyoming's 127-man crew, as well as taking aboard two survivors from Molly Pitcher. The return convoy which arrived at Boston, Massachusetts 15 April was without incident.
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