USS Stephen Potter (DD-538) - 1944

1944

Stephen Potter was in the screen of the fast carriers when they made the first strike against Truk on 17 and 18 February 1944. Intrepid was damaged on the 17th by an aircraft torpedo, and the DD escorted the carrier back to the Marshalls. Stephen Potter departed there on 27 February, called at Pearl Harbor, and sailed to the West Coast of the United States. She arrived on 13 March and, five days later, began the voyage back to Majuro where she rejoined the fast carriers.

Stephen Potter screened the carriers as they launched strikes on 21 and 22 April supporting the assault on Hollandia, New Guinea. At the end of the month, they returned again to bomb Truk. Stephen Potter, Monterey and MacDonough were steaming south of Truk on 30 April when MacDonough made a radar contact on a submarine, which soon disappeared as the enemy submerged. Sonar contact was made, and MacDonough made two depth charge attacks. Stephen Potter came to assist with an attack, and a plane from Monterey gave its support. Several deep explosions were heard, and much oil and debris came to the surface as Japanese submarine I-174 died. On 1 May, the destroyer participated in the bombardment of Ponape Island in the Carolines. The task force refueled and rearmed at Majuro and, on 19 and 20 May, attacked Marcus Island before bombing Wake Island on 23 May. The ships returned to Eniwetok for refit in preparation for the Mariana Islands campaign.

Task Group 58.2 (TG 58.2) sortied on 6 June and, a week later, began strikes against Saipan. On 17 June, the task force moved into the Philippine Sea to block a strong Japanese fleet which threatened the American conquest of Saipan. The Battle of the Philippine Sea, commonly referred to as the "Marianas Turkey Shoot", began on 19 June and lasted for two days. During the battle, Stephen Potter rescued seven downed pilots. After a five-day refit period at Eniwetok, the ships attacked targets in the Bonin, Palau, and Caroline Islands during July before returning to the Marshalls for replenishment.

On 30 July, Stephen Potter joined TG 58.4 which, from 31 July to 8 August, provided air support for United States troops fighting on Guam. The destroyer steamed from Eniwetok on 30 August, rendezvoused with TG 38.2 on 3 September, and screened the fast carriers as their aircraft pounded the Philippines from 9 to 25 September. Strikes were launched against Mindanao, Luzon, Cebu, Leyte, Angaur, and Manila Bay. The task group was at Ulithi from 1 to 6 October when it again got underway.

Stephen Potter screened Admiral Gerald F. Bogan's carriers as they launched strikes against Okinawa on 10 October and against Formosa on 12, 13, and 14 October. On 13 October, Canberra was torpedoed below her armor belt and lost all power. She was taken in tow by Wichita, and Stephen Potter was assigned as one of their escorts. The next day, Houston, hit by a torpedo in the engine room, was taken in tow by Boston and joined the retiring Canberra group, now designated Task Unit (TU) 30.3.1. Munsee relieved Wichita of towing Canberra on 15 October, and Pawnee relieved Boston of her duties on 16 October. Houston was torpedoed again on the 16th, and all unnecessary men were removed. Stephen Potter took 83 on board. She detached to return to TG 38.2 on 20 October, which was en route to the Philippines to support Allied landings on Leyte which began that day. Air strikes were flown against Luzon on 22 October, and the carriers retired toward Manus the next day.

On 1 November, Stephen Potter proceeded to Ulithi, via Saipan, where she rendezvoused with the fast carriers and escorted them to the Philippines. Air strikes were flown against the Visayas area, Manila, and Luzon from 11 to 25 November when the force retired.

The task group had a short rest at Ulithi and, on 11 December, moved to the operating area east of Luzon to support the landings at Mindoro. Beginning on 14 December, the carriers launched strikes against Luzon for three consecutive days and, after refueling, returned to Ulithi on 24 December.

Stephen Potter was underway again on 30 December 1944 to join TG 38.2 en route to a launching point for attacks against Formosa. Air strikes were launched against Formosa and Okinawa for two days and, after moving southeast, against Luzon on 6 and 7 January 1945.