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Sims

Ship Designation: 
DD-409
Date Lost: 
Thursday, May 7, 1942
Battle of the Coral Sea
In late April, a Japanese task force was assembled to win control of the Coral Sea area and thereby isolate Australia. American ships were divided into task forces centered around Lexington and Yorktown, ... Sims was ordered to escort oiler, Neosho (AO23). The task force refueled on May 5 and 6 and then detached Neosho and Sims to continue to the next fueling point. ... On the morning of May 7, a search plane from the Japanese striking force sighted the oiler and destroyer and reported them to Admiral Takagi as a carrier and a cruiser. Takagi ordered an all-out attack. At 0930 15 high level bombers attacked the two ships but did no damage. At 1038, 10 attacked the destroyer, but skillful maneuvering evaded the nine bombs that were dropped. A third attack against the two ships by 36 dive bombers was devastating. Neosho was soon a blazing wreck as the result of seven direct hits and one plane that dived into her. ... Sims was attacked from all directions. The destroyer defended herself as best she could. Three 500-pound bombs hit the destroyer. Two exploded in the engine room; and, within minutes, the ship buckled amidships and began to sink, stern first. As Sims slid beneath the waves, there was a tremendous explosion that raised what was left of the ship almost 15 feet out of the water. ... Chief R. J. Dicken, in a damaged whaleboat, picked up 15 other survivors. They remained with Neosho, still afloat despite severe damage, until they were rescued by Henley (DD-391) on 11 May.

Lost At Sea Log

Number of sailors in this log: 225

Namesort descending Service Branch
FC 2c George Ryan USN
AS Harding Salpeter USN
F 3c Alfred Sanzari USN
AS Sidney Saunders USN
CBM Stanley Schumacher USN
CM 2c C. Scott USN
F 3c George Sellet USN
FC 1c Alex Sentelik USN
WT 2c Alonzo Settlemire USN
Sea 1c Arthur Sheron USN
EM 1c Arthur Shidler USN
Lt Max Silverstein USN
Sea 2c Grady Singletary USN
Sea 2c Thomas Sligh USN
F 2c Henry Smith USN
Sea 2c Clen Smith USN
F 3c Charles Smithson USN
Sea 2c William Sneed USN
Sea 2c David Stevenson USN
Lt Andrew Stewart USN

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Dictionary of American Naval FIghting Ships