Allied Warships

USS Parker (DD 604)

Destroyer of the Bristol class

Navy	The US Navy
Type	Destroyer
Class	Bristol
Pennant	DD 604
Built by	Bethlehem Steel Corp. (Staten Island, New York, U.S.A.)
Ordered	16 Dec 1940
Laid down	9 Jun 1941
Launched	12 May 1942
Commissioned	31 Aug 1942
End service	31 Jan 1947
History	Decommissioned 31 January 1947. Stricken 1 July 1971. Sold 25 May 1973 and broken up for scrap.

Commands listed for USS Parker (DD 604)

Please note that we're still working on this section
and that we only list Commanding Officers for the duration of the Second World War.

	Commander	From	To
1	Lt.Cdr. John William Bays, USN	31 Aug 1942	Dec 1943 (1)
2	T/Cdr. John Francis Flynn, USN	Dec 1943	15 Mar 1945 (1)
3	T/Cdr. LeRoy Thomas Taylor, USN	15 Mar 1945	21 Mar 1946 (1)

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Notable events involving Parker include:

21 Aug 1943

Convoy UGF 10.

This convoy departed Hampton Roads on 21 August 1943.

It was made up of the following merchant vessels / (troop) transports; Edmund B. Alexander (American, 21329 GRT, built 1905), General George W. Goethals (American, 12093 GRT, built 1942), Hawaiian Shipper (American, 7775 GRT, built 1941), Henry Gibbons (American, 12097 GRT, built 1943), J.W. McAndrew (American, 7997 GRT, built 1940), James Parker (American, 10021 GRT, built 1939), Lakehurst (American, 8108 GRT, built 1940), Monterey (American, 18017 GRT, built 1932), Santa Elena (American, 9135 GRT, built 1933), Santa Rosa (American, 9135 GRT, built 1932), Seatrain Texas (American, 8108 GRT, built 1940), Siboney (American, 6938 GRT, built 1918), Sloterdijk (Dutch, 9230 GRT, built 1940) and Thomas H. Barry (American, 11250 GRT, built 1930).

The naval tanker USS Chicopee (T/Cdr. B.F. Brandt, USN) was also part of the convoy as were the naval troopship USS Monticello (T/Capt. B.H. Colyear, USN), naval transports USS Dorothea L. Dix (T/Capt. L.B. Schulten, USN), USS Florence Nightingale (T/Capt. J.W. McColl, Jr., USN), USS Susan B. Anthony (Cdr. T.L. Gray, USNR), USS Anne Arundel (T/Capt. L.Y. Mason, Jr., USN), Thurston (T/Cdr. R.B. Vanasse, USN) and the naval stores ship USS Tarazed (Cdr. R.W. Chambers, USNR).

On departure the convoy was escorted by the battleship USS Texas (Capt. R. Pfaff, USN) and the destroyers USS Mervine (T/Cdr. D.R. Frakes, USN, with COMDESRON 15, T/Capt. C.C. Hartman, USN on board), USS Quick (T/Cdr. P.W. Cann, USN), USS Davison (T/Cdr. J.D. Collett, USN), USS Beatty (T/Cdr. W. Outerson, USN), USS Tillman (T/Cdr. C.S. Hutchings, USN), USS Parker (T/Cdr. J.W. Bays, USN, with COMDESRON 16, T/Capt. T.L. Wattles, USN on board), USS Boyle (T/Cdr. B.P. Field, Jr., USN), USS Champlin (T/Cdr. C.L. Melson, USN, with COMDESDIV 32, T/Capt. J.C. Sowell, USN on board), USS Kendick ( T/Cdr. C.T. Caufield, USN), USS Laub (T/Lt.Cdr. A.G. Hay, USN), USS Mackenzie (T/Cdr. D.B. Miller, USN), USS McLanahan (T/Lt.Cdr. N.C. Johnson, USN), USS Nields (T/Cdr. A.R. Heckey, USN) and USS Ordronaux (T/Cdr. R. Brodie, Jr., USN).

At 1500Q/22, USS Quick parted company with the convoy to proceed to New York.

On 25 August 1943, the destroyers fuelled from USS Chicopee.

On 30 August 1943, the the destroyers of DesRon 15 fuelled from USS Chicopee. These were USS Mervine, USS Davison, USS Beatty and USS Tillman. Also USS Kendrick from DesRon 16 was fuelled. These destroyers were to escort the Bizerta section of the convoy. Also USS Boyle received some fuel.

Around 2100Z/31, the (troop) transports Banfora (British, 9472 GRT, built 1914) and Rhona (British, 8602 GRT, built 1926) escorted by the destroyers HMS Antelope (Lt.Cdr. E.N. Sinclair, RN) and HMS Active (Lt.Cdr. P.G. Merriman, RN) joined the convoy coming from Casablanca. The patrol boats USS PC-471 (Lt. G. Washburn, USNR) and USS PC-482 (Lt. N.P. Hallowell, Jr., USNR) had also been with them as escorts but they did not join the convoy but returned to Casablanca.

Around 1630A/1, USS Texas and USS Chicopee parted company to enter Gibraltar. They took HMS Antelope and HMS Active with them as escorts.

Around 1900A/1, the escort carriers HMS Stalker (Capt. H.S. Murray-Smith, RN) and HMS Battler (A/Capt. F.M.R. Stephenson, RN) joined the convoy coming from Gibraltar. They were escorted by the escort destroyers HMS Farndale (Cdr. D.P. Trentham, RN) and HMS Haydon (Lt.Cdr. R.C. Watkin, RN) which also joined the convoy.

Around 1130A/2, the Oran section of the convoy parted company and entered that port. It was made up of the following ships; Edmund B. Alexander, General George W. Goethals, Hawaiian Shipper, Henry Gibbons, J.W. McAndrew, James Parker, Lakehust, Monterey, Santa Rosa, Seatrain Texas, USS Anne Arundel, USS Dorothea L. Dix, USS Florence Nightingale, USS Monticello, USS Tarazed and USS Thurston. With them the destroyers USS Parker, USS Boyle, USS Champlin, USS Laub, USS MacKenzie, USS McLanahan, USS Nields, USS Ordronaux also entered Oran (Mers-el-Kebir).

The remaining ships continued on towards the east.

Around 2106A/2, the first air attack by enemy aircraft was made on the convoy.

Around 0700A/3, the Algiers section was detached. This was made up of the Banfora, Rhona and USS Susan B. Anthony. Around the same time the destroyer HMS Wishart (Lt. J.A. Holdsworth, RN) joined the convoy coming from Algiers.

At 0730B/4, HMS Stalker and HMS Batter were detached to proceed to Malta. They took HMS Farndale and HMS Haydon with them as escorts. The destroyers HMS Ilex (Lt.Cdr. V.A. Wight-Boycott, OBE, RN) and HMS Petard (Lt.Cdr. R.C. Egan, RN) had just joined as additional escorts. Around 1115B/4, they were joined by yet another additional escort, the destroyer RHS Vasilissa Olga (Lt.Cdr. G. Blessas).

The remaining ships of the convoy arrived at Bizerta on 4 September 1943.

28 Oct 1943

Convoy KMF 25A

This convoy was formed off Oversay on 28 October 1943.

The convoy was made up of the following (troop) transports; Almanzora (British, 15551 GRT, built 1914), Anne Arundel (American, 7796 GRT, built 1941), Aorangi (British, 17491 GRT, built 1924), Argentina (American, 20614 GRT, built 1929), Aronda (British, 9031 GRT, built 1941), Dorothea L. Dix (American, 6736 GRT, built 1940), Edmund B. Alexander (American, 21329 GRT, built 1905), Hai Lee (Norwegian, 3616 GRT, built 1934), Hawaiian Shipper (American, 7775 GRT, built 1941), Henry Gibbons (American, 12097 GRT, built 1943), James Parker (American, 10021 GRT, built 1939), John Ericsson (American, 16552 GRT, built 1928), Marnix van St. Aldegonde (Dutch, 19355 GRT, built 1930), Monterey (American, 148017 GRT, built 1932), Ruys (Dutch, 14155 GRT, built 1937), Santa Elena (American, 9135 GRT, built 1933), Santa Paula (American, 9135 GRT, built 1932), Santa Rosa (American, 9135 GRT, built 1932), Sloterdijk (Dutch, 9230 GRT, built 1940), Staffordshire (British, 10683 GRT, built 1929), Strathmore (British, 23428 GRT, built 1935), Tegelberg (Dutch, 14150 GRT, built 1937), Thomas H. Barry (American, 11250 GRT, built 1930) and Thurston (American, 6509 GRT, 1942).

On assembly the convoy was escorted by the destroyers USS Davison (T/Cdr. J.D. Collett, USN, with COMDESRON 15, T/Capt. C.C. Hartman, USN on board), USS Parker (T/Cdr. J.W. Bays, USN, with COMDESRON 16, T/Capt. C.J. Cater, USN on board), USS Mervine (T/Cdr. D.R. Frakes, USN), USS Boyle (T/Cdr. B.P. Field, Jr., USN), USS Champlin (T/Cdr. C.L. Melson, USN), USS Laub (T/Lt.Cdr. A.G. Hay, USN), USS McLanahan (T/Lt.Cdr. N.C. Johnson, USN), USS Nields (T/Cdr. A.R. Heckey, USN), USS Ordronaux (T/Cdr. R. Brodie, Jr., USN), USS Beatty (T/Cdr. W. Outerson, USN) and USS Tillman (T/Cdr. C.S. Hutchings, USN).

Around 1440A/4, the Strathmore parted company with the convoy to make a short call at Gibraltar. She rejoined the convoy around 1830A/4 having been escorted by the AA cruiser HMS Colombo (Capt. D.H. Hall-Thompson, RN) which also joined the convoy.

Around 0500A/5, USS Davison, USS Laub and USS Tillman parted company to proceed to Oran to fuel. They rejoined the convoy around 1345A/5.

Around 1415A/5, USS Minerve parted company to make rendezvous with the attack cargo ships USS Oberon (T/Cdr. D.G. Greenlee, Jr., USN), USS Andromeda (T/Cdr. W.A. Fly, USN) and the destroyer escorts USS Frederick C. Davis (Lt.Cdr. O.W. Goepner, USNR) and USS Herbert C. Jones (Lt.Cdr. A.W. Gardes, Jr., USN) coming from Oran. They (re)joined the convoy around 1800A/5.

Around 0630A/6, the Anne Arundel, Aorangi, Dorothea L. Dix parted company with the convoy to proceed to Algiers escorted by USS Ordronaux.

Around 0800A/6, the escort destroyers HMS Croome (Lt. H.D.M. Slater, RN), HMS Haydon (Lt.Cdr. R.C. Watkin, RN), HMS Tetcott (Lt. A.F. Harkness, DSC, OBE, RNR), RHS Kanaris and RHS Themistocles joined the convoy coming from Algiers.

Around 0815A/6, USS Boyle, USS Champlin and USS Nields parted company with the convoy and proceeded to Algiers.

Around 1800A/6, the convoy was attacked in position 37°13'N, 06°12'E by 35 German aircraft from KG.26 (Major Klümper). They attacked with glider bombs and torpedoes. The result of the attack was that the Marnix van St. Aldegonde, Santa Elena and USS Beatty were hit and heavily damaged. USS Parker, USS Tillman and HMS Croome were ordered to assist them. They all sank later, USS Beatty around 2304A/6, the Marnix van St. Aldegonde and Santa Elena sank in the late afternoon / early evening of the following day after attempts to tow them to Philippeville had failed. They actually even collided with each other while under tow. To tow these ships the tugs HMRT Hengist, HMRT St. Day and salvage vessel HMS Salveda were sent out from Philippeville. USS Mervine and the Ruys were detached from the convoy to remain in the area of the attack to take over troops from the damaged ships.

Around 2110A/6, the Hai Lee and Thomas H. Barry were detached from the convoy and proceeded to Philippeville.

Around 0810A/7, USS Oberon and USS Andromeda left the convoy to proceed to Bizerta.

Around 0950A/7, the Palermo/Naples section of the convoy parted company. This section was made up of the Hawaiian Shipper, Henry Gibbons, James Parker, John Ericsson, Monterey, Santa Paula, Santa Rosa, Sloterdijk and Thurston. They were escorted by HMS Colombo, USS Davison, USS McLanahan, USS Frederick C. Davis and USS Herbert C. Jones.

Around 1645A/7, the destroyer USS Wainwright (T/Cdr. W.W. Strohbehn, USN) joined coming from Palermo.

Around 2215A/7, the Hawaiian Shipper, Henry Gibbons, James Parker, Santa Paula, Santa Rosa and Sloterdijk parted company to proceed to Palermo escorted by USS Wainwright.

The Naples section, made up of the John Ericsson, Monterey and Thurston arrived at its destination around 1030A/8 escorted by HMS Colombo, USS Davison, USS McLanahan, USS Frederick C. Davis and USS Herbert C. Jones.

Meanwhile the remaining ships of the convoy had continued eastwards escorted by HMS Haydon, HMS Tetcott, RHS Kanaris and RHS Themistocles.

On 8 November 1943, the Argentina, Aronda and Edmund B. Alexander arrived at Augusta after having been detached from the convoy.

On 9 November 1943, the (troop) transport Devonshire (11275 GRT, built 1939) joined the convoy coming from Taranto.

On 11 November 1943, the Almanzora, Staffordshire, RHS Kanaris and RHS Themistocles arrived at Alexandria after having been detached from the convoy.

The remainder of the convoy arrived at Port Said on 12 November 1943.

9 Nov 1943

Convoy MKF 25A.

The Naples section of this convoy departed that place on 9 November 1943. It was made up of the following (troop) transports; John Ericsson (American, 16552 GRT, built 1928), Monterey (American, 148017 GRT, built 1932) and Thurston (American, 6509 GRT, 1942). They were escorted by the AA cruiser HMS Colombo (Capt. D.H. Hall-Thompson, RN), destroyers USS Davison (T/Cdr. J.D. Collett, USN, with COMDESRON 15, T/Capt. C.C. Hartman, USN on board), USS McLanahan (T/Lt.Cdr. N.C. Johnson, USN) and the destroyer escorts USS Frederick C. Davis (Lt.Cdr. O.W. Goepner, USNR) and USS Herbert C. Jones (Lt.Cdr. A.W. Gardes, Jr., USN).

They all arrived at Palermo later the same day.

On 11 November 1943, the Palermo section of the convoy departed that place. It was made up of the three (troop) transports that had earlier made up the Naples section as well as the Hawaiian Shipper (American, 7775 GRT, built 1941), Henry Gibbons (American, 12097 GRT, built 1943), James Parker (American, 10021 GRT, built 1939), Santa Paula (American, 9135 GRT, built 1932), Santa Rosa (American, 9135 GRT, built 1932) and Sloterdijk (Dutch, 9230 GRT, built 1940). Escort was provided by the AA cruiser HMS Colombo, destroyers USS Davison, USS Parker (T/Cdr. J.W. Bays, USN, with COMDESRON 16, T/Capt. C.J. Cater, USN on board), USS Mervine (T/Cdr. D.R. Frakes, USN), USS Laub (T/Lt.Cdr. A.G. Hay, USN), USS McLanahan, USS Tillman (T/Cdr. C.S. Hutchings, USN), USS Edison (T/Cdr. H.A. Pearce, USN) and USS Wainwright (T/Cdr. W.W. Strohbehn, USN).

Also on 11 November 1943, the Augusta section departed that place. It was made up of the (troop) transports Aronda (British, 9031 GRT, built 1941), Derbyshire (British, 11660 GRT, built 1935), Dominion Monarch (British, 27155 GRT, built 1939), Edmund B. Alexander (American, 21329 GRT, built 1905), Leopoldville (11509 GRT, built 1929), Nea Hellas (British, 16991 GRT, built 1922) and Ville d'Oran (British, 10172 GRT, built 1936).

They were escorted by the escort destroyers ORP Slazak (Kmdr.ppor. (Cdr.) R. Nalecz-Tyminski, ORP), HMS Atherstone (Lt.Cdr. E.N. Wood, DSC, RNVR), HMS Catterick (Lt.Cdr. A. Tyson, RN) and HMS Cleveland (Lt.Cdr. J.K. Hamilton, RN).

The two sections joined company around 1100A/12.

At 0120A/13, the Derbyshire parted company to proceed to Philippeville escorted by USS Laub. The destroyer rejoined around 0800A/13, having taken with her the Thomas H. Barry (American (tanker), 11250 GRT, built 1930).

Around 0900A/13, USS Parker and USS McLanahan parted company to proceed ahead to Algiers to fuel.

Around 1200A/13, USS Mervine and USS Laub parted company to proceed to Algiers.

Around 1530A/13, USS Tillman parted company to proceed to Algiers.

Around 1615A/13, the (troop) transports Ancon (American, 10021 GRT, built 1939), Anne Arundel (American, 7796 GRT, built 1941) and Argentina (American, 20614 GRT, built 1929). Also joining the convoy were the destroyers USS Nields (T/Cdr. A.R. Heckey, USN), USS Ordronaux (T/Cdr. R. Brodie, Jr., USN) and the destroyer escorts USS Frederick C. Davis and USS Herbert C. Jones.

Around the same time the Aronda and Ville d'Oran parted company and proceeded to Algiers.

Around 1645A/13, USS Parker rejoined the convoy.

Around 2020A/13, USS Mervine and USS Tillman rejoined the convoy. ORP Slazak and HMS Cleveland then parted company to proceed to Algiers.

Around 2045A/13, HMS Atherstone and HMS Cattistock parted company to proceed to Algiers.

Around 2315A/13, USS Laub rejoined the convoy.

Around 0820A/14, the Oran section of the convoy joined. It was made up of the following (troop) transports; Dorothea L. Dix (American, 6736 GRT, built 1940) and Orontes (British, 20097 GRT, built 1929). Also the destroyers USS Boyle (T/Cdr. B.P. Field, Jr., USN) and USS Champlin (T/Cdr. C.L. Melson, USN) joined. USS Wainwright, USS Edison, USS Frederick C. Davis and USS Herbert C. Jones were then detached and proceeded to Oran.

Around 2010A/14, USS Davison parted company with the convoy to proceed ahead of it to Gibraltar to fuel.

Around 0500A/15, the armed merchant cruiser HMS Carnarvon Castle (Capt.(Retd.) E.W. Kitson, RN) and the troop transport Orbita (British, 15495 GRT, built 1915) departed Gibraltar to join the convoy which they did around 0600A/15.

Around 0615A/15, USS Davison departed Gibraltar to rejoin the convoy which she did around 0745A/15.

Around 0645A/15, HMS Colombo arrived at Gibraltar after having been detached from the convoy.

The convoy arrived in U.K. waters on 23 November 1943.