USS Somers (DD-381)

Somers circa 1944, with mid-war armament modifications including removal of No. 3 5-inch mount and one of the three torpedo tube mounts in favor of 40mm and 20mm guns.
History
United States
Namesake:	Richard Somers
Builder:	Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Company
Laid down:	27 June 1935
Launched:	13 March 1937
Commissioned:	1 December 1937
Decommissioned:	28 October 1945
Struck:	28 January 1947
Fate:	sold to Boston Metals, Baltimore
General characteristics
Class and type:	Somers-class destroyer
Displacement:	1850 tons (2905 tons full)
Length:	381 feet
Beam:	36 feet 11 inches
Draft:	14 feet
Propulsion:	52,000 shp; geared turbines, 2 screws
Speed:	39 knots
Range:	6500 nm@ 12 knots
Complement:	294
Armament:	As Built: 8 × 5-inch/38 caliber guns (127 mm) single purpose (4 × 2) 8 × 1.1-inch/75 caliber guns (28 mm) (2 × 4) 2 × .50 caliber machine guns (12.7 mm) 12 × 21-inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes (3 × 4), 12 torpedoes 2 × depth charge stern racks 1944: 6 × 5-inch/38 caliber guns (127 mm) single purpose (3 × 2) 2 × 40 mm Bofors guns (1 × 2) 6 × 20 mm Oerlikon cannons 8 × 21-inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes (2 × 4), 8 torpedoes 2 × depth charge stern racks

USS Somers (DD-381) was a destroyer commissioned in the United States Navy from 1937 to 1945. She was the lead ship of the Somers-class of destroyer leaders and was named for Richard Somers. During World War II, Somers was active in the South Atlantic, the North Atlantic, and the Mediterranean Theater of Operations.

Somers was laid down on 27 June 1935 at Federal, Kearny, New Jersey launched on 13 March 1937; co-sponsored by Miss Marie Somers and Miss Suzanne Somers; and commissioned at the New York Navy Yard on 1 December 1937, CDR James E. Maher in command. Though active for only eight years she acquired an enviable record.

In 1938 she transported a consignment of gold from the Bank of England to New York. On 6 November 1941, she and the cruiser USS Omaha captured the German freighter Odenwald which was carrying 3800 tons of scarce rubber while disguised as the American merchantman Willmoto.

Odenwald was taken to Puerto Rico. An admiralty court ruled that since the ship was illegally claiming American registration, there were sufficient grounds for confiscation. A legal case was started claiming that the crews of the two American ships had salvage rights because the Odenwald crew's attempt to scuttle the ship was the equivalent of abandoning her. The court case, settled in 1947 ruled the members of the boarding party and the prize crew were entitled to $3,000 apiece while all the other crewmen in Omaha and Somers were entitled to two months’ pay and allowances. This was the last prize money awarded by the US Navy.

In November 1942 Somers, with USS Milwaukee (CL-5) and USS Cincinnati (CL-6), intercepted another German blockade runner, the Anneliese Essberger, near Brazil.