USS O'Brien (DD-725)

History
USS O'Brien (DD-725), off Boston, Massachusetts, 3 May 1944
United States
Name:	O'Brien
Namesake:	Jeremiah O'Brien
Builder:	Bath Iron Works
Laid down:	12 July 1943
Launched:	8 December 1943
Commissioned:	25 February 1944
Decommissioned:	18 February 1972
Struck:	18 February 1972
Fate:	Sunk as target off California on 13 July 1972
General characteristics
Class and type:	Allen M. Sumner-class destroyer
Displacement:	2,200 tons
Length:	376 ft 6 in (114.76 m)
Beam:	40 ft (12 m)
Draft:	15 ft 8 in (4.78 m)
Propulsion:	60,000 shp (45,000 kW); 2 propellers
Speed:	34 knots (63 km/h; 39 mph)
Range:	6,500 nmi (12,000 km; 7,500 mi) at 15 kn (28 km/h; 17 mph)
Complement:	336
Armament:	6 × 5 in (127 mm)/38 cal. guns, 12 × 40 mm AA guns, 11 × 20 mm AA guns, 10 × 21 inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes, 6 × depth charge projectors, 2 × depth charge tracks

USS O'Brien (DD-725), an Allen M. Sumner-class destroyer, was the fourth ship of the United States Navy to be named after Captain Jeremiah O'Brien and his five brothers, Gideon, John, William, Dennis and Joseph, who captured HMS Margaretta on 12 June 1775 during the American Revolution.

The fourth O'Brien (DD-725) was laid down by Bath Iron Works, Bath, Maine, 12 July 1943 and launched on 8 December 1943; sponsored by Miss Josephine O'Brien Campbell greatgreat-great granddaughter of Gideon O'Brien. The ship was commissioned at Boston Naval Shipyard, Commander P. F. Heerbrandt in command on 25 February 1944.

After shakedown out of Bermuda, British West Indies and Norfolk, Virginia O'Brien joined convoy forces 14 May 1944 en route to Scotland and England. Following patrol and escort duty near England, she participated the invasion of Normandy and in-shore Bombardment of Cherbourg. On 25 June while supporting minesweepers well inshore of the battleship Texas, which was engaging German shore batteries at Cape Levi, near Cherbourg, O'Brien's own gunfire was so accurate that enemy gunnery positions shifted from Texas to O'Brien. She received a direct hit just abaft the bridge, but was able to stay on station long enough to lay a smoke screen for Texas. Thirteen men were killed and nineteen wounded. Following temporary repairs on the Isle of Portland, England, O'Brien escorted a convoy to the Boston Naval Shipyard where she underwent extensive work.

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