USS Ingraham (DD-444) c. 22 August 1942

USS Ingraham (DD-444) c. 22 August 1942
(from Dragon USS Buchanan (DD-484) in 1/350 scale, kit no. 1021 © 2008)

USS Ingraham (DD-444) was launched on 15 February 1941 at the Charleston Navy Yard;; and commissioned on 19 July 1941, Lieutenant Commander William M. Haynsworth, Jr., in command.

Ingraham was guarding Scotland-bound convoy T-20 out of Halifax. During the 20-24 watch on the night of 22 August, she and USS Buck (DD-420) were in their patrol sectors north and NE of the convoy in heavy fog. At some point, Buck was ordered to go alongside the lead ship of the second of four ship columns and deliver a message. She chose to cross the first column astern of USS Philadelphia and ahead of HMT Atawea, a large troopship carrying 5000 Canadian troops. Unfortunately, Buck couldn’t clear the ships and at 22:33 was nearly cut in half aft of mount 54 by Atawea and left dead in the water, but afloat.

Ingraham was ordered to render assistance. Five minutes later, she too attempted to thread the needle between Atawea and the third ship in the column, US Navy Oiler USS Chemung (AO-30). Ingraham didn’t make it; Chemung sliced her in half and she sank almost immediately, accompanied by a large explosion, presumed to be her armed depth charges, and which killed the majority of her crew in the water.

Only 11 men survived the collision, picked up by USS Bristol (DD-453)

May God rest their souls.