USS Caldwell (DD-605)

Figure 1:  USS Caldwell (DD-605) off the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, on 7 August 1943. Official US Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center. Click on photograph for larger image.   

Figure 2:  USS Caldwell (DD-605) off the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, on 7 August 1943. Note barrage balloon in the upper left distance. Official US Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center. Click on photograph for larger image.

Figure 3:  Forward view of the USS Caldwell (DD-605) at the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, on 2 August 1943. US Navy photograph. Click on photograph for larger image.   

Figure 4:  Aft view of the USS Caldwell (DD-605) at the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, on 2 August 1943. US Navy photograph. Click on photograph for larger image.   

Figure 5:  USS Caldwell (DD-605) 2 February 1944, as seen from USS Manila Bay (CVE-61). Photograph courtesy of Eric Hudson.  Click on photograph for larger image.

Figure 6:  USS Caldwell (DD-605) in March 1945 at San Francisco, California.  Photograph courtesy of Ed Zajkowski. Click on photograph for larger image.

Figure 7:  USS Caldwell (DD-605) off San Francisco, California, 3 March 1945. Official US Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center. Click on photograph for larger image.

Named after Lieutenant James R. Caldwell (1778-1804), who was killed in action against the Barbary pirates at Tripoli, Libya, on 7 August 1804, the 1,620-ton USS Caldwell was a Benson class destroyer that was built by the Bethlehem Steel Company at San Francisco, California, and was commissioned on 10 June 1942. The ship was approximately 348 feet long and 36 feet wide, had a top speed of 35 knots, and had a crew of 257 officers and men. Caldwell was armed with four 5-inch guns, six 0.5-inch machine guns, ten 21-inch torpedo tubes, and depth charges.

In September of 1942, Caldwell was assigned to the northern Pacific, where she escorted convoys and combat forces to the US Aleutian Islands. Caldwell also participated in the American amphibious assault on Attu Island in the Aleutians in May 1943. In September 1943, the ship steamed south and joined aircraft carrier task forces in raids on Tarawa and Wake Islands. In November, Caldwell escorted landing ships for the invasion of Makin Island, which was part of the overall operation to take the Gilbert Islands from Japan.

After returning to the United States for a brief overhaul at San Francisco, Caldwell returned to duty and in January and February 1944 participated in the invasions of Kwajalein and Majuro in the Marshall Islands. During these amphibious assaults, Caldwell collided with the escort carrier USS White Plains (CVE-66). Caldwell managed to remain with the task force for a week before steaming to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, for repairs. After being repaired, Caldwell took part in American naval strikes on Japanese bases in the central Pacific and New Guinea. For the rest of 1944, Caldwell was assigned to patrol and escort duties near the Marshall Islands and, later in the year, in the Philippines.

On 12 December 1944, while escorting landing craft in Ormoc Bay off the coast of Leyte in the Philippines, Caldwell was attacked by a number of kamikaze aircraft. One of the suicide planes smashed right into Caldwell’s bridge, just as two bombs exploded on either side of the ship. Caldwell was in serious trouble, with 33 men killed in the explosions and 40 wounded, including the ship’s commanding officer. But Caldwell’s after guns continued to fire on the remaining Japanese planes, chasing them away and forcing them to seek other targets. Extremely well-trained damage control parties on board Caldwell managed to save the ship, even though she was severely damaged.

Temporary repairs were made to Caldwell at San Pedro Bay, Leyte. The ship eventually managed to make it all the way back to San Francisco for a major overhaul. In April 1945, Caldwell returned to the Pacific battle zone and spent the next few months assigned to escort duty. After that, she became part of the invasion force given the task of re-taking Borneo from the Japanese. But on 27 June 1945, Caldwell struck a mine in Brunei Bay off the coast of Borneo. Fortunately, the ship escaped with moderate damage and no casualties. After temporary repairs were made at Victoria, Australia, Caldwell steamed to San Pedro Bay for more permanent repairs. The ship was docked at the Philippines when hostilities ended in the Pacific in August 1945.  

During the first two months of the post-war era, Caldwell escorted landing craft in the western Pacific and then returned to the United States. Caldwell was sent to the east coast and on 24 April 1946 was decommissioned at Charleston, South Carolina. For the next 20 years, she remained in the US Navy’s Atlantic Reserve Fleet. The destroyer was sold for scrapping in November 1966. USS Caldwell received eight battle stars for her service during World War II.

USS Winona

Figure 1:  Lithograph of USS Winona by Endicott & Company, New York, circa 1861. Courtesy of William Poillon, 1939. US Naval Historical Center Photograph. Click on photograph for larger image.

Figure 2:   Line engraving of USS Winona published in Harper's Weekly, 28 September 1861, depicting the anticipated appearance of the gunboat when completed. She had been launched on 14 September 1861 but was not commissioned until 11 December 1861. US Naval Historical Center Photograph. Click on photograph for larger image.

Figure 3:  "View of Ship Island, Louisiana. -- By our Special Artist on Board the 'Sagamore.'" Line engraving, published in Harper's Weekly, 1862, depicting several US Navy ships anchored off the federal base at Ship Island in early 1862. Ships are (from left to right) Winona, New London, Niagara, Sagamore, Wissahickon, and Massachusetts. Other features identified, in the center and right background, are Fort Massachusetts on Ship Island, the 9th Connecticut and 22nd Massachusetts Regiments and a military camp. US Naval Historical Center Photograph. Click on photograph for larger image.

Figure 4:  "Reconnoissance of Forts Jackson and St. Philip, on the Mississippi, by Gun-boats from Flag-officer Farragut's Squadron.” Line engraving published in Harper's Weekly, 1862, depicting the attack on the obstructions below the forts, 20 April 1862. US Navy gunboats shown in right center are Itasca and Pinola. Further to the right are Kennebec and Winona. Fort Jackson is shown at far right, with Confederate gunboats beyond. US Naval Historical Center Photograph. Click on photograph for larger image.

Figure 5:  "The Splendid Naval Triumph on the Mississippi, April 24th, 1862." Colored lithograph published by Currier & Ives, 1862. It depicts Union Admiral David Farragut's fleet passing Forts Jackson and St. Phillip, below New Orleans, Louisiana. Courtesy of the US Navy Art Collection, Washington, DC. US Naval Historical Center Photograph. Click on photograph for larger image.

Figure 6:  USS Winona in the Mississippi River off Baton Rouge, Louisiana, March 1863. Note the identification number "2" painted on her smokestack. US Naval Historical Center Photograph. Click on photograph for larger image.

Figure 7:  USS Winona off Baton Rouge, Louisiana, March 1863. Note the identification number "2" painted on her smokestack. US Naval Historical Center Photograph. Click on photograph for larger image.  

Figure 8:  "Landing of General Potter's and Admiral Dahlgren's Troops at Bull's Bay, South Carolina." Line engraving, based on a sketch by John Everding, published in Harper's Weekly, March 1865, depicting the landings made on 16-17 February 1865. Ships shown include (as identified below the print, from left to right -- all US Navy): State of Georgia, Pawnee, Juniata, Harvest Moon -- flagship, Wando, Winona, Shenandoah, and Canandaigua. US Naval Historical Center Photograph. Click on photograph for larger image.  

Named after a town in Minnesota, the 691-ton USS Winona was a single-screw steam gunboat that was built by C. & R. Poillon at New York City. Because of the start of the Civil War in America in April 1861, the Union Navy was in desperate need of warships, especially gunboats, for its naval campaign against the Confederacy. As a result, ships were built rapidly in the north to fulfill this need. Winona was launched on 14 September 1861, delivered to the US Navy at the New York Navy Yard on 26 November, and officially commissioned into the Navy on 11 December 1861, roughly 90 days from when it was launched. The ship was approximately 158 feet long and 28 feet wide, had a top speed of ten knots, and had a crew of 114 officers and men. Winona was armed with one 11-inch gun, two 24-pounder guns, and two 20-pounders.

Winona was sent to the Gulf of Mexico in December of 1861. She participated in the Union Navy’s operations against Confederate defenses on the Mississippi River below New Orleans, Louisiana. On 24 April 1862, Winona attempted to pass Forts Jackson and St. Philip at the mouth of the Mississippi, the two main Confederate forts defending New Orleans. Winona, though, got snagged on an obstruction in the river while the rest of her unit fought its way past the Confederate forts on the river banks. Winona eventually broke free of the obstruction, but remained below the forts with Union Commander David Dixon Porter’s mortar boat flotilla as Flag Officer Admiral David Farragut’s fleet moved up the Mississippi to capture New Orleans. Four days later, Winona’s commanding officer took part in accepting the Confederate surrender of Fort St. Philip.

In May 1862, Winona steamed up the Mississippi River with Admiral Farragut’s fleet and joined in the bombardment of the Confederate stronghold at Vicksburg, Mississippi. Winona twice sailed past the Confederate batteries at Vicksburg and bombarded enemy positions at Grand Gulf, Mississippi. The Union gunboat also briefly fought the Confederate ironclad CSS Arkansas on 15 July 1862, but neither ship was seriously damaged.

In late August 1862, Winona joined the Union blockade of Mobile, Alabama. On 4 September, while on blockade duty, Winona fired on the Confederate raider CSS Florida as that ship made a daring run into Mobile Bay. Unfortunately for the Union warship, Florida got away and made it to Mobile. Winona then returned to the Mississippi River, where she was damaged in action with Confederate artillery on 14 December. After being repaired, Winona returned to duty and from April to July 1863 was involved in the Union campaigns against Port Hudson, Mississippi, and Vicksburg. Winona also assisted in repelling a Confederate attack on the Union position at Donaldsonville, Louisiana.

Winona was under repair and being overhauled at Baltimore, Maryland, from August 1863 to February 1864. She then became part of the Union’s South Atlantic Blockading Squadron, operating along America’s east coast from South Carolina to Florida. Among her exploits were the destruction of a Confederate blockade runner in March 1864, attacks on Southern forts near Savannah, Georgia, and participation in a Union amphibious landing at Bulls Bay, South Carolina, in February 1865.

After the Confederacy surrendered in April 1865, Winona was sent north and decommissioned on 9 June. Laid up first at the US Navy’s Portsmouth, New Hampshire, Navy Yard, Winona was moved to the New York Navy Yard in New York City on 22 November. The ship was sold at New York on 30 November 1865 and subsequently became the civilian cargo vessel C.L. Taylor. She remained in civilian merchant service for at least another two decades. Not a bad career for a warship that was built in roughly 90 days.

S.S. Caledonia

Figure 1:  Poster showing the British passenger liner S.S. Caledonia, built in 1904 for the Anchor Line and used primarily for trips between Glasgow, Scotland, and New York City. Click on photograph for larger image.

Figure 2:  S.S. Caledonia prior to World War I, date and place unknown. Photograph courtesy of Old Ship Photo Galleries (http://www.photoship.co.uk). Click on photograph for larger image.

Figure 3:  S.S. Caledonia prior to World War I, date and place unknown. Photograph courtesy of www.norwayheritage.com. Click on photograph for larger image.

Figure 4:  An Anchor Line postcard of S.S. Caledonia, probably prior to World War I, date unknown. Photograph courtesy of www.norwayheritage.com. Click on photograph for larger image.

Figure 5:  Another Anchor Line postcard of S.S. Caledonia. The date on the back of the card is 21 March 1914. This postcard was posted at the Pas de Calais, France, on 21 March 1914 by A. Elrick to Mrs. A McDougall, 59 Vernon Street, Maryhill, Glasgow, Scotland. The inscription on the card says, “Just a photo of the ship. We came here on Wednesday for England and weather permitting, will arrive on Sunday. I hope you got my letters. Ta ta. Yours sincerely, A Elrick.” Alexander McKenzie Elrick, the author of the postcard, was a gunner in the British Army attached to the Royal Garrison Artillery/111th Heavy Battery and was killed at the Somme, France, on 20 June 1918. Click on photograph for larger image.

Figure 6:  Anchor Line dinner menu from S.S. Caledonia on 4 July 1905, during a trip from Glasgow, Scotland, to New York City. Click on photograph for larger image.

Figure 7:  A stateroom on board Caledonia. Photograph taken from an Anchor Line travel brochure dated 1911. Click on photograph for larger image.

Figure 8:  First class dining saloon aboard Caledonia. Photograph taken from an Anchor Line travel brochure dated 1911. Click on photograph for larger image. 

Figure 9:  First class music saloon aboard Caledonia. Photograph taken from an Anchor Line travel brochure dated 1911. Click on photograph for larger image.

Figure 10:  Photograph of Caledonia dated 1904, possibly shortly after being launched, but it probably was actually taken in 1905 around the time of the ship’s maiden voyage on 25 March. Courtesy of the Peabody Museum, Salem, Massachusetts. Click on photograph for larger image.  

  
The 9,223-ton S.S. Caledonia was a British passenger ship built for the Anchor Line by David and William Henderson & Company at Glasgow, Scotland, and was launched on 22 October 1904. Caledonia went on her maiden voyage on 25 March 1905 and was used primarily for trips between Glasgow and New York City. The ocean liner was approximately 500 feet long and 58 feet wide and had a top speed of 16 knots. Caledonia could accommodate roughly 250 first class passengers, 350 second class passengers, and 850 third class passengers.

From 1905 to 1914, Caledonia was one of the premier passenger liners that steamed between Glasgow and New York City on a weekly basis. Her fastest time between Scotland and the United States was 6 days and 20 hours. According to a 1911 travel brochure printed by the Anchor Line, Caledonia boasted the following amenities:

"First Cabin passengers are furnished with a liberal table, including all the delicacies of the season, and everything necessary on the voyage. Wines and liquors of finest quality can be had on board at moderate prices. The Dining Saloons, Music Hall, Ladies' Boudoir and Gents' Smoking Rooms are all located on the Upper and Promenade Decks, and, by means of electric bells, are in communication with the Steward's department. Every steamer carries a duly qualified Surgeon and experienced Stewardesses, and is provided with a select Library, including all the latest Guide Books of European travel. Staterooms are located on the Main and Upper Decks, are large, have electric lights, and are perfectly ventilated and elegantly furnished, accommodating two, three and four passengers each. All Staterooms are provided with electric bells connected with Steward's department."

The rates for passage on board Caledonia ranged from $67.50 to $125, depending on the accommodations. Children between the ages of one and ten traveled for half fare. Infants under one year made the trip for only $5.

When World War I began in August 1914, the British government requisitioned Caledonia and converted the elegant liner into a troop ship. After her conversion, Caledonia could carry 3,074 troops and 212 horses. For more than two years, the ship carried soldiers and their equipment to France and to various locations around the Mediterranean.

On 5 December 1916, while on a voyage carrying mail but no troops from Salonica, Greece, to Marseille, France, Caledonia was attacked by the German submarine U-65 under the command of Captain Hermann von Fischel. Caledonia was torpedoed without warning by U-65 approximately 125 miles east of Malta. Although his ship was sinking, Caledonia's commanding officer, Captain James Blaikie, steered the troop ship towards the U-boat and tried to ram her. Caledonia actually managed to hit the U-boat, causing severe damage to the submarine.

But the U-boat stayed afloat as Caledonia sank, with the loss of only one life. Evidently, there was enough time for the rest of the crew to abandon ship and make it to the lifeboats before Caledonia went down. Fortunately, the absence of troops on board the ship helped keep the number of fatalities low. Had the ship been fully loaded with troops, the death toll would undoubtedly have been much higher.

However, Captain Fischel of U-65 was so enraged by being rammed by Caledonia that he took Captain Blaikie prisoner from one of the lifeboats. For a time, Germany threatened to execute Captain Blaikie for trying to sink U-65. But the British government made it known to the German government (through the US ambassador at Berlin, since America was still neutral at that time) that a German officer prisoner-of-war would be shot if Captain Blaikie was executed. Evidently, the Germans backed down from their threat and Blaikie was sent for the rest of the war to an officers' prisoner-of-war camp at Friedberg, Germany.