Allied Warships
USS Leary (i) (DD 158)
Destroyer of the Wickes class
USS Leary shortly before she was sunk
| Navy | The US Navy |
| Type | Destroyer |
| Class | Wickes |
| Pennant | DD 158 |
| Built by | New York Shipbuilding Corp. (Camden, New Jersey, U.S.A.) |
| Ordered | |
| Laid down | 6 Mar 1918 |
| Launched | 18 Dec 1918 |
| Commissioned | 5 Dec 1919 |
| Lost | 24 Dec 1943 |
| Loss position | 45.15N, 21.40W |
| History | Decommissoned 29 June 1922 On 24 December 1943, the American hunter-killer Task Group 21.14, formed around the USS Card was spotted by a German reconnaissance aircraft and the wolfpack Borkum was ordered to attack. The carrier had a narrow escape when three FAT torpedoes fired at 01.43 hours by U-415 (Neide) missed her. The same U-boat also missed the USS Decatur (DD 341) with a Gnat. At 05.05 hours, U-275 fired a Gnat at the USS Leary (DD 158) (Cdr. James Ellsworth Kyes) and hit her on the starboard side in the after engine room. A second Gnat fired by U-382 (Zorn) at 05.21 hours missed the already sinking destroyer. She sank after a huge internal explosion within one minute about 585 miles west-north-west of Cape Finisterre in position 45º15'N, 21º40'W. 97 of the crew died and 57 survived and were rescued by the USS Schenck (DD 159), which found U-645 (Ferro) later the same day, evaded a torpedo and sinks the U-boat with depth charges.Amongst those who died was the Commanding officer Keyes. Hit by U-boat |
| U-boat Attack | See our U-boat attack entry for the USS Leary (i) |
Commands listed for USS Leary (i) (DD 158)
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| Commander | From | To | |
| 1 | Cdr. James Ellsworth Kyes, USN | ??? | 24 Dec 1943 |
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Noteable events involving Leary (i) include:
24 Dec 1943
On 24 Dec 1943 she was part of the escort for USS Card, when she was hit by 3 torpedoes, fired by U-275. 97 of her crew of 149 were lost.
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