USS Stack (DD-406)

USS ''Stack'' (DD-406) was a in the United States Navy. She was named for Edward Stack.

History

''Stack'' was laid down on 25 June 1937 by the Norfolk Navy Yard, Portsmouth, Virginia; launched on 5 May 1938; sponsored by Miss Mary Teresa Stack; and commissioned on 20 November 1939, Lieutenant Commander Isaiah Olch in command.

Following shakedown which lasted until 4 April 1940, including a cruise to the West Indies and Rio de Janeiro, ''Stack'' proceeded to the west coast and thence to Pearl Harbor where she operated with the Pacific Fleet until June 1941. She then returned to the east coast for an overhaul at the Philadelphia Navy Yard. ''Stack'' began patrolling off Bermuda late in November with the Neutrality Patrol. After the United States entered World War II, ''Stack'' continued to patrol in the Caribbean until 22 December when she was assigned to escort from Bermuda to Norfolk, Virginia.

On the 28th, she sailed from Norfolk as screen for , She arrived at Casco Bay, Maine, two days later. She refueled and got underway for Argentina in the screen for and .

1942

Arriving in Argentia on New Year's Day 1942, she was assigned to patrol duty. On 15 January 1942, she picked up two survivors from SS ''Dayrose'' which had been torpedoed the night before off Cape Race.

From 17 to 24 January, ''Stack'' escorted a convoy which was transporting the first American Expeditionary Force troops to Ireland. En route from Hvalfjörður to Reykjavík, Iceland, on 29 January, she was ordered on a submarine sweep after the , operating with Task Force (TF) 15, was torpedoed. Steaming at 25 knots on a night sweep, ''Stack'' sighted a submarine close aboard. She returned to the point where it had been seen and made two depth charge attacks on sound contact. came to assist and also made two attacks. The submarine, U-132, suffered damage to a diesel compressor and was forced to return to France for repairs.

''Stack'' departed Iceland on 31 January and operated out of Casco Bay until 17 March. That morning, patrolling with zero visibility, she collided with ''Wasp''. Since her number one fireroom was completely flooded, she steamed to the Philadelphia Navy Yard and underwent repairs until May.

On 5 June, ''Stack'' joined TF 37 consisting of ''Wasp'', , , , , , and and headed for San Diego, California. The force arrived there on 19 June, was redesignated TF 18, and ordered to Nukualofa, Tongatapu Island, on the 25th. Arriving on 18 July, the ships spent five days preparing for battle, and sailed for the invasion of Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands.

1943

''Stack'' covered the Guadalcanal-Tulagi landings with Destroyer Squadron (DesRon) 12 and was then assigned independent escort and patrol duty in the Guadalcanal area. On 16 January 1943, she was ordered to return to the west coast, via Pearl Harbor, for yard availability. ''Stack'' entered the Mare Island Navy Yard on 2 February. Following repair, overhaul and sea trials, she sailed on the 23d to escort SS ''Matsonia'' to Pearl Harbor and continue on to Efate, New Hebrides Islands.

''Stack'' operated out of Efate from 20 April until late May. During this time, she made several patrols off Guadalcanal. She then screened covering the southern supply routes. Assigned to TF 31 in July and August, she had her first opportunity to "slug it out" with the enemy. ''Stack'' was under attack by Japanese aircraft on 17 and 18 July near New Georgia Island. On the night of 6 and 7 August, in what would be known as the Battle of Vella Gulf, ''Stack'', with other units of Task Group (TG) 31.2, was searching for enemy traffic along Gizo and Kolombangara island. At 2335, reported that she had made radar contact at 19,000 yards. The group tracked the enemy and identified them as four ships in column. The American ships opened the battle with a successful torpedo attack, followed by gunfire and more torpedoes. This resulted in the sinking of three Japanese destroyers, ''Arashi'', ''Hagikaze'', and ''Kawakaze'', and damage to the fourth. The destroyers were loaded with troops who were to have been landed at Kolombangara as reinforcements for the Japanese garrison there. There were no American losses, and the task group retired to Tulagi.

''Stack'' joined TF 38 to participate in raids against Rabaul during November. On the 11th, two carrier attacks had already been launched when radar picked up a flight of incoming bogies. The actual attack began at 1355 when ''Stack'' commenced firing on a group of 20 Vals coming in on her starboard bow. Thereafter, antiaircraft fire was continuous from the task force against all types of Japanese planes. The attacking force numbered about 90 planes. ''Stack'' downed one and had two more probable kills.

''Stack'' then operated with TG 50.4 during the assault and landings on Tarawa