+02/21/07 USS ANTHONY DD515 Home Page

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USS ANTHONY DD515
HOME PAGE



USS ANTHONY DD515
Thanks to Bill Wenger for above photo.



IMPORTANT NOTICE TO EVERYONE
EFFECTIVE NOVEMBER 1, 2006
NO UPDATED WILL BE ADDED TO THE SITE.
Visit Bob's Homepage for more information.

click here ----
Bob's Homepage



This web site is dedicated to the World War II Crewmembers and families of the USS ANTHONY DD515.
Built by Robert E. (Bob) Ross RMCS, US Navy (RET) who served on the USS HUDSON DD475.

Thanks to everyone who contributed information and photos.


REUNION INFORMATION
The Fourteenth Reunion of USS ANTHONY was held May 21 thru 24, 2002 at Branson, MO.
No information received from anyone yet.
Anyone having photos or list of activities and those attending please email to me.
Note in Newsletter #38, Nov. 2002 questions if there will be more reunions or Future NewsLetters.. Lets hope someone can be found to Host future reunions.

NO MORE REUNION WILL BE HELD
MOST CREWMEMBERS HAVE BEEN TRANSFERRED TO THE PROMISED LAND
See News Letter #39, May 2, 2003


USS ANTHONY DD-515
HISTORY

********************************************** Anthony Statistics
Standard Displacement: 2050 tons.
Armament: Five 5-in .28 caliber dual purpose guns.
Length overall: 376 ft 5 in. Beam 39 ft 7 in.
Draft 17ft 9 in.
Speed: 35 knots.
Complement: 329
Fletcher Class

The second Anthony (DD-515) was launched 20 December 1942 Bath Iron Works Corp, Bath, Maine: sponsored by Misses Alice and Frances Anthony; and commissioned 26 February 1943, Lieutenant B. Van Mater in command.

Anthony steamed to the Pacific in May 1943. The following months were spent in training and escort duty out of Pearl Harbor. On 1 November 1943 she provided fire support at the landing at Empress Augusta Bay, Bougainville, as flagship of Destroyer Division 90. A week later Anthony helped defend transports carrying reinforcements against a very strong Japanese air attack, shooting down several planes. For the next few months the ship conveyed transports and supply ships in the Solomon Islands; conducted anti-shipping sweeps; and took part in the bombardment of Rabaul, New Britain (24 February 1944) Anthony furnished fire support for the landings on Green (15-19 February 1944) Emirau Islands (20 March) Saipan (14 June-8 July), Guam (12 July-9August;, and Tinian (24 July). During the Battle of the Philippine Sea (19-20 June 1944) she rescued several carrier pilots who had run out of gasoline returning from strikes against the Japanese fleet.

During August-October 1944 she had convoy duty, followed by an overhaul at San Francisco (October-December ) . In January she returned to the Western Pacific to take part in the invasions of Iwo Jima (19 February 6 March 1945) and Okinawa. During 1 April-24 June 1945 Anthony served as a radar picket off Okinawa, and helped repel five heavy air attacks, with only slight damage on 26 May and 7 June 1945. Following her Okinawa service Anthony joined TF 95 in sweeps along the China coast during July and August She entered Nagasaki, Japan, 14 September and remained in Japanese waters until 17 November 1945. Anthony returned to Charleston, S. C., and was placed out of commission in reserve 17 April 1946. She remained in "mothballs" until 29 April 1947 when she was transferred to Commandant, 6th Naval District for modernization and repair preparatory to transfer to Germany. On 17 January 1948 the transfer was effected and she was renamed Z-1.

Anthony received seven battle stars for her wartime exploits and the Navy Unit Commendation for her service at Okinawa (1-19 April and 19-24 June 1945).
(See below)

***************************************************

Note- Possible conflict
In next to last para above, it list January 17, 1948 as transfer date..
I received email from Al Trudeau, assigned to Repair/Refit crew for Anthony in 1957-1958. Advised me disposition info was incorrect. He sent info citing DANF Vol-1, Part A, Page 319.

CLICK HERE TO VISIT THIS SITE IS: Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships
URL IS: http://www.history.navy.mil/download/Volume%201%20Part%20A/v1pta35.pdf

THIS brings up ACROBAT READER PDF FILE. If you want to read, it took me 15 minutes to download.

I am attaching info from last para from this document. Both are official Navy versions. ??Which is correct?? This will give both versions.

**********
Quote: Preservation work began shortly after her (Anthony) arrived in Charleston SC to ready the ship for inactivation. Anthony was placed out of commission, in reserve, on 17 April 1946.
On 17 January 1958 the destroyer was loaned to the Federal Republic of Germany. She was returned to the United States custody and simultaneously struck from the Navy List on 15 April 1972. The ship was then sold to West Germany on 27 June 1972 for cannibalization and scrapping. UnQuote.


Thanks to Dave McComb for Commendation

NAVY UNIT COMMENDATION AWARDED
TO U.S.S. ANTHONY DD515

THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY

WASHINGTON

The Secretary of the Navy takes pleasure in commending the

UNITED STATES SHIP ANTHONY
for service as follows:

For outstanding heroism as a Fire Support Vessel and Radar Picket Ship during the Okinawa Campaign, from April 1 to 19, 1945, and June 19 to 24, 1945. A natural and frequent target for heavy Japanese aerial attack while occupying advanced and isolated stations, the U.S.S. ANTHONY defeated all efforts of enemy Kamikaze and dive-bombing planes to destroy her. Constantly vigilant and ready for battle, she sent out early air warnings, provided fighter direction and, with her own gunfire, downed eleven hostile planes and routed many more; she furnished close fire support for initial landings and advances and participated in shore bombardment missions, and she rendered valiant service in preventing air attacks in strength against the Naval forces off the Okinawa beachhead. A seaworthy, fighting ship, the ANTHONY, her officers and men achieved a gallant combat record which attests the teamwork, courage and skill of her entire company and enhances the finest traditions of the United States Naval Service."

All personnel attached to and serving on board the U.S.S. ANTHONY during one or both of the above-mentioned periods are authorized to wear the NAVY UNIT COMMENDATION Ribbon.

/s/ James Forrestal
Secretary of the Navy


Thanks to Charlotte Goerlich for the two commendations

C O M M E N D A T I O N
ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT,
U.S.S. ANTHONY DD515

15 January 1945:

Commended for outstanding contribution to the record compiled by the USS ANTHONY, as authorized by ComDesRon 45 in his letter of commendation to the Engineering Officer, Serial 16 of 25 September 1944, quoted in part herewith:

"The USS ANTHONY completed one year of continuous active service in advanced areas during which the ship steamed over 100,000 miles in missions against the enemy -- Maintained a record of 100% reliability - benefited by only one period of so much as 10 days tender availability.

"Yourself, the other officers, Petty Officers, and enlisted men of the engineer's force of the USS ANTHONY are highly commended for the outstanding record of operation and maintenance that you have upheld throughout an extended period of arduous operations."

/s/ E. B. TAYLOR
C. J. VAN ARSDALL, Jr.
Commander, U. S. Navy,
Commanding

The second one is dated 10 DEC 1946. My husband was a WT1/C when he was discharged in July 1946. This is from the Navy Department, BUREAU OF NAVAL PERSONNEL, Washington 25, DC


Note:The copy below was sent to each crewmember by the Awards Department. Does anyone have a copy of this commendation that was sent by the Secretary of the Navy? If so, email to me. Bob

NAVY UNIT COMMENDATION AWARDED
TO U.S.S. ANTHONY DD515

To: Mr. Robert Otto Goerlich, Ex-WT1, USN, 243 86 45

Subject: Navy Unit Commendation awarded to U. S. S. Anthony (DD-515)

1. The Secretary of the Navy has awarded the Navy Unit Commendation to the U. S. S. Anthony for outstanding heroism as a Fire Support vessel and Radar Picket Ship during the Okinawa Campaign from 1-19 April 1945 and from 19-24 June 1945.

2. By virtue of your service in the ANTHONY during one or both of the periods mentioned above, you are hereby authorized to wear as part of your uniform a Navy Unit Commendation ribbon, one of which is transmitted herewith.

3. This authorization has been made a part of your official record in the Bureau of Naval Personnel.

By direction of Chief of Naval Personnel:

(???) Floyd
Assistant to Director,
Medals and Awards
Encl:
1. NUC Ribbon

(The question marks for the first name are because I can't make it out.)
Charlotte Goerlich

Thanks to Charlotte Goerlich for the two commendations


AREAS OF OPERATIONS:
NORTH SOLOMONS
BOUGAINVILLE
BISMARCK ARCHIPELAGO
MARIANAS
CAROLINES
IWO JIMA
OKINAWA


Information on what happened to USS ANTHONY DD515

T.L.Valmas informed me that previous info about the Anthony being transferred to the Greek Navy was incorrect. Several ships were transferred but not the Z1 (Anthony).

Heinz Albers, a German Sailor who served on the USS ANTHONY DD515, renamed by Germany Z1, in 1965 and 1966. He advised me that after stripping her it was towed to the Med and used as a target ship for Submarine Torpedo Exercises. She was sunk on May 16, 1979.

He sent a photo of the torpedo hitting her.

I have added his email to the Contributors section, Heinze Albers.


Anthony Email Address Page
Dan Nolan, Anthony web page.
Dan has a website dedicated to the Martial Arts. He has included a page on the ANTHONY. Lots of photos of crewmembers.
ANTHONY Contributor Page
Anthony News Letter & Reunion Info Index
Story of Mad Anthony Pages
Anthony Photo Album
Anthony Photos- Then & Now
NEW SECTION BUILT -- SHIPS LOG
Bill Wenger sent me this abstract from the Anthony Deck Log
and I thought all might be interested. If I get others they will be added.

Anthony Ships Log
Heinz Albers Website
------July 2006 Revised and new url.
---for German Z1 - Old Anthony). Photos/history
- - - Link to his Home Page --- In German

- - - Link to History file. --- In English
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