View source for USS O'Flaherty

{{Short description|John C. Butler-class destroyer}}
{{good article}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2021}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin
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{{Infobox ship image
| Ship image = Port side view of USS O'Flaherty 8 June 1944.tif
| Ship caption = USS ''O'Flaherty'' off Boston, 8 June 1944
}}
{{Infobox ship career
| Hide header = 
| Ship country = United States
| Ship flag = {{USN flag|1947}}
| Ship name = ''O'Flaherty''
| Ship namesake = Frank Woodrow O'Flaherty
| Ship ordered = 
| Ship builder = [[Consolidated Steel Corporation]], [[Orange, Texas]]
| Ship laid down = 4 October 1943
| Ship launched = 14 December 1943
| Ship acquired = 
| Ship commissioned = 8 April 1944
| Ship decommissioned = January 1947
| Ship in service = 
| Ship out of service = 
| Ship struck = 1 December 1972
| Ship reinstated = 
| Ship honours = 
| Ship fate = [[Ship breaking|Sold for scrap]], 27 November 1973
| Ship notes = 
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
| Hide header = 
| Header caption = 
| Ship class = {{sclass|John C. Butler|destroyer escort}}
| Ship displacement = *{{cvt|1350|LT|t|0|lk=on}} ([[Displacement (ship)#Standard displacement|standard]])
*{{convert|1745|LT|t|0|lk=off}} ([[full load]])
| Ship length = {{convert|306|ft|m|abbr=on|1}} ([[o/a]])
| Ship beam = {{convert|36|ft|10|in|m|abbr=on|1}}
| Ship draft = {{convert|13|ft|4|in|m|abbr=on|1}}
| Ship power = 2 [[boiler]]s; {{convert|12000|shp|abbr=on|lk=on}}
| Ship propulsion = 2 propellers; 2 geared [[steam turbine]]s
| Ship speed = {{convert|24|kn|lk=in}}
| Ship range = {{convert|6000|nmi|abbr=on|lk=in}} at {{convert|12|kn}}
| Ship complement = 14 officers and 201 enlisted men
| Ship sensors = *SL surface search [[radar]]
*SA series air search radar
*QC series [[sonar]]
| Ship EW = 
| Ship armament = *2 × single [[5-inch/38-caliber gun|{{cvt|5|in|0}} guns]]
*2 × twin [[Bofors 40 mm Automatic Gun L/60|{{cvt|40|mm}}]] [[AA gun]]s 
*10 × single [[Oerlikon 20 mm cannon|{{cvt|20|mm}}]] AA guns 
*1 × triple [[American 21-inch torpedo|{{cvt|21|in|0}}]] [[torpedo tube]]s 
*8 × [[depth charge]] throwers
*1 × [[Hedgehog (weapon)|Hedgehog]] [[Anti-submarine weapon|ASW mortar]]
*2 × depth charge racks
| Ship notes = 
}}
|}
'''USS ''O'Flaherty'' (DE-340)''' was a {{sclass|John C. Butler|destroyer escort}} built for the [[United States Navy]] during [[World War II]]. She was named for [[Ensign (rank)|Ensign]] Frank Woodrow O'Flaherty, a pilot who posthumously received the [[Navy Cross (United States)|Navy Cross]] for his actions at the [[Battle of Midway]].

[[Keel laying|Laid down]] in October 1943, [[Ceremonial ship launching|launched]] in December of that year, and [[Ship commissioning|commissioned]] almost four months later, ''O'Flaherty'' served on [[convoy]] escort duty in the Pacific from August 1944. She operated out of [[Pearl Harbor]] in the eastern Pacific during November and December, initially with a [[Hunter-killer Group|hunter-killer group]]. During the first half of 1945, ''O'Flaherty'' protected [[escort carrier]]s in the [[invasion of Lingayen Gulf]], the [[Battle of Iwo Jima]], and the [[Battle of Okinawa]], which occurred in rapid succession. In the final months of the war in the Pacific, she returned to convoy escort duty. [[Decommissioned (ship)|Decommissioned]] postwar, ''O'Flaherty'' spent more than twenty years in the [[Pacific Reserve Fleet]] before being [[Ship breaking|sold for scrap]] in the early 1970s.

== Design ==
{{Main|John C. Butler-class destroyer escort}}The ''John C. Butler''-class [[destroyer escort]]s were designed to meet a need for large numbers of cheap [[Anti-submarine warfare|anti-submarine]] escort ships for ocean [[convoy]]s, and as a result carried little [[Anti-surface warfare|anti-surface]] armament. The class was part of an initial requirement for 720 escorts to be completed by the end of 1944, which was significantly reduced.{{Sfn|Friedman|1982|p=|pp=141, 149}}
[[File:Diagram of US Navy WWII destroyer escort.png|left|thumb|A United States Navy diagram of a destroyer escort|alt=|299x299px]]
''O'Flaherty'' was {{Convert|306|ft|m|1}} long [[Length overall|overall]] with a [[Beam (nautical)|beam]] of {{convert|36|ft|10|in|m|1}} and a [[Draft (hull)|draft]] of {{convert|13|ft|4|in|m|1}}.{{Sfn|DANFS O'Flaherty|p=}} She displaced {{convert|1350|LT|t|0|abbr=|lk=on}} [[Standard displacement|standard]] and {{convert|1745|LT|t|0}} [[full load]], with a complement of 14 [[Officer (armed forces)|officers]] and 201 [[Enlisted rank|enlisted men]].{{Sfn|Friedman|1982|p=421}}

The ship was propelled by two [[Westinghouse Electric Corporation|Westinghouse]] geared [[steam turbine]]s powered by two "D" Express [[boiler]]s, which created {{Convert|12000|shp|kW|lk=on|abbr=}} for a designed maximum speed of {{convert|24|kn|lk=in}}. She had a range of {{convert|6000|nmi|lk=in}} at {{convert|12|kn}}.{{Sfn|Friedman|1982|p=421}}

=== Armament and sensors ===
''O'Flaherty'' mounted a [[main battery]] of two single [[Gun turret|turret]]-mounted [[5-inch/38-caliber gun|5-inch/38 caliber guns]], one forward and one aft of the superstructure, to protect against surface and aerial threats, directed by the [[Ship gun fire-control system|Mark 51 Gunnery Fire-Control System]]. In addition, she mounted two twin [[Bofors 40 mm Automatic Gun L/60|40 mm Bofors]] [[anti-aircraft guns|anti-aircraft (AA) guns]], [[superfiring]] over the 5-inch guns,{{Sfn|Friedman|1982|p=|pp=141, 149}} and ten single [[Oerlikon 20 mm cannon|20&nbsp;mm Oerlikon AA cannon]], also controlled by the Mark 51 fire-control system. Equipped with triple-mounted [[American 21-inch torpedo|{{convert|21|in|mm|0|adj=on}}]] [[torpedo tube]]s, the ship also carried two [[depth charge]] racks, eight [[K-gun]] depth-charge throwers and one [[Hedgehog (weapon)|Hedgehog]] [[spigot mortar]] as anti-submarine weapons.{{Sfn|DANFS O'Flaherty|p=}} She was equipped with QC series [[sonar]],{{Sfn|Friedman|1982|p=421}} SL surface [[search radar]],{{Sfn|Friedman|1981|p=149}}{{Sfn|Callan|1945a|p=3}} and SA series air search radar.{{Sfn|Friedman|1981|p=146}}

==Construction and service==

=== Construction, shakedown, and initial Pacific operations ===
[[Keel laying|Laid down]] by the [[Consolidated Steel Corporation]] of [[Orange, Texas]], on 4 October 1943, ''O'Flaherty'' (DE-340) was [[Ship naming and launching|launched]] on 14 December of that year, [[Ship sponsor|sponsored]] by the sister of her namesake, [[Ensign (rank)|Ensign]] Frank Woodrow O'Flaherty, a pilot who posthumously received the [[Navy Cross (United States)|Navy Cross]] for his actions at the [[Battle of Midway]], where he was captured and killed by the Japanese. The ship was [[Ship commissioning|commissioned]] on 8 April 1944.{{Sfn|DANFS O'Flaherty|p=}} Following commissioning, she received supplies, ammunition, and fuel at the Orange City Docks, followed by gunnery testing off [[Sabine Pass]]. Throughout the month ''O'Flaherty'' completed her fitting out at the [[Todd Shipbuilding|Todd]] [[Galveston, Texas|Galveston]] Dry Docks, and was [[Deperming|depermed]] before sailing for [[Bermuda]] on 25 April.{{Sfn|Farnham|1944a|p=|pp=1–2}} After arrival, the ship undertook a [[shakedown cruise]] off the island for most of May, attached to the [[United States Fleet Forces Command|Atlantic Fleet]].{{Sfn|Farnham|1944b|p=|pp=1–2}}
[[File:Starboard_view_of_USS_O'Flaherty_(DE-340),_June_1944.jpg|thumb|''O'Flaherty'' in Boston on 8 June 1944, viewed from the starboard side]]
For repairs to correct deficiencies found during her shakedown, ''O'Flaherty'' was ordered to the [[Boston Navy Yard]].{{Sfn|Farnham|1944b|p=|pp=1–2}} In early June, she sailed to [[Naval Station Norfolk|Norfolk]] to become part of the screen for the [[battleship]] {{USS|New York|BB-34|2}}, which was operating on training cruises for [[US Naval Academy]] [[Midshipman|midshipmen]]. The ship escorted ''New York'' until reaching [[Trinidad]], from which it departed on 20 June for the [[Panama Canal]] in company with [[sister ship]] {{USS|Jack Miller||2}}. After transiting the canal three days later, the two destroyer escorts joined the [[United States Pacific Fleet|Pacific Fleet]] and continued to [[Pearl Harbor]] following a stopover at [[Naval Base San Diego|San Diego]].{{Sfn|Farnham|1944c|p=|pp=1–4}} Arriving at Pearl Harbor on 12 July, she screened the [[escort aircraft carrier|escort carrier]] {{USS|Rudyerd Bay|CVE-81|2}} on a voyage to [[Majuro]] from 20 to 26 July. After arriving at Majuro, ''O'Flaherty'' continued to [[Tarawa]], from which she escorted the troopship ''Sea Fiddler'' to [[Eniwetok]] at the end of the month.{{Sfn|DANFS O'Flaherty|p=}}{{Sfn|Farnham|1944d|p=|pp=1–5}}

=== Guam and Eniwetok convoy escort duty ===
Departing Eniwetok for [[Guam]] at the beginning of August, ''O'Flaherty'' screened the escort carrier {{USS|Santee|CVE-29|2}} to Guam, where the latter flew her air group ashore on 4 August to assist in the [[Battle of Guam (1944)|retaking of the island]].{{Sfn|DANFS O'Flaherty|p=}} For the next four days, the ship operated as part of the screen for [[attack transport]]s during the night and patrolled in the anti-submarine screen. At the end of this period she departed for Eniwetok as escort to the repair ship {{USS|Grapple|ARS-7|2}}, arriving there on 12 August. Six days later, ''O'Flaherty'' left Eniwetok as escort to a convoy of tankers bound for [[Manus Island|Manus]] in the [[Admiralty Islands]], which arrived at its destination on 28 August.{{Sfn|Farnham|1944e|p=|pp=1–7}} Returning to Eniwetok on 2 September, she departed for Manus again on an eight-day voyage, this time screening the [[destroyer tender]] {{USS|Piedmont|AD-17|2}} and the [[ammunition ship]] {{USS|Lassen|AE-3|2}}.{{Sfn|Farnham|1944f|p=|pp=1–3}}

Returning to Eniwetok, ''O'Flaherty'' departed again on 19 September as escort for the [[Guadalcanal]]-bound [[Oiler (ship)|oiler]] {{USS|Ashtabula|AO-51|2}} and the merchantman ''Polau Laut'', but two days later swapped convoys with another set of escorts midocean. The ship turned around and escorted the [[stores ship]] {{USS|Talita|AKS-8|2}} and [[Torpedo net|net]] [[cargo ship]] {{USS|Zebra|AKN-5|2}} back to Eniwetok, arriving on 24 September. She spent the rest of the month and the first days of October anchored there for repairs and replenishment.{{Sfn|Farnham|1944f|p=|pp=1–3}} Beginning at midnight on 2/3 October, ''O'Flaherty'' steamed {{Convert|600|mi|km|abbr=}} to rescue the survivors of a crashed [[PBM Mariner]] [[flying boat]] from [[VP-41|Patrol Bombing Squadron 21]], picking up the entire crew with the assistance of patrol aircraft on 4 October.{{Sfn|DANFS O'Flaherty|p=}} Back at Eniwetok, she soon departed for Guadalcanal, escorting the troopship SS ''Alcoa Polaris'', but was replaced by another destroyer escort and diverted to Manus en route.{{Sfn|Farnham|1944g|p=|pp=1–2}} Departing Manus on 12 October as the escort for the Majuro-bound escort carrier {{USS|Hollandia||2}}, the ship steamed back to Eniwetok after completing the mission and was sent to Pearl Harbor via Majuro.{{Sfn|Farnham|1944g|p=|pp=3–7}}

=== Hunter-killer operations and Lingayen Gulf ===
Arriving on 26 October, ''O'Flaherty'' received new [[combat information center]] equipment and became part of a [[Hunter-killer Group|hunter-killer group]] built around the escort carrier {{USS|Corregidor|CVE-58|2}} to investigate reports of Japanese submarine activity in the Pacific between [[Hawaii]] and the [[West Coast of the United States|west coast]]. She became flagship of Escort Division (CortDiv) 64 at the end of the month,{{Sfn|Farnham|1944g|p=|pp=3–7}} and spent much of November patrolling with the hunter-killer group, although no submarines were spotted. The ship picked up the crew of a [[TBM Avenger]] [[torpedo bomber]] from ''Corregidor'' that crashed in a night landing attempt on 16 November, although one crewman died of his injuries aboard ''O'Flaherty''. The hunter-killer group was dissolved upon return to Pearl Harbor on 19 November and she spent the rest of the month and the beginning of December at anchor for routine maintenance.{{Sfn|Farnham|1944h|p=|pp=1–5}}
[[File:Approach_of_U.S._Naval_Forces_to_Lingayen_Gulf,_January_1945_-_Map.jpg|alt=A map of the Philippines with arrows denoting the movement of forces|thumb|upright=1.35|The approach to Lingayen Gulf, January 1945]]
''O'Flaherty'' screened the escort carrier {{USS|Makassar Strait|CVE-91|2}} while the latter conducted flight training operations off Pearl Harbor between 6 and 10 December. She picked up one pilot who crashed after takeoff from the carrier, and after her return to Pearl Harbor the commander of CortDiv 64 moved to another destroyer escort. After anti-submarine exercises with the submarine {{USS|S-46|SS-157|2}} on 12–13 December the ship departed for Manus on 15 December as part of the screen for the escort carrier {{USS|Wake Island|CVE-65|2}}. Arriving there on 26 December, ''O'Flaherty'' joined Task Unit 77.4.3, commanded by [[Rear admiral (United States)|Rear Admiral]] [[Ralph A. Ofstie|Ralph Ofstie]], which provided air cover to Task Force 79 (the [[Lingayen]] Attack Force) of the [[United States Seventh Fleet|Seventh Fleet]] for the [[invasion of Lingayen Gulf]].{{Sfn|Farnham|1944i|p=|pp=1–4}} She departed on 31 December as part of the screen for the task unit, centered around the escort carriers {{USS|Kitkun Bay||2}} and {{USS|Shamrock Bay||2}}. The ship made an unsuccessful search for downed aviators from ''Kitkun Bay'' on 5 January 1945.{{Sfn|Farnham|1945|p=1}}

As they approached Lingayen, Task Force 79 and ''O'Flaherty''<nowiki/>'s task unit became the target of [[kamikaze]] raids.{{Sfn|DANFS O'Flaherty|p=}} On the morning of 8 January, the ship fired a single 5-inch AA round against a Japanese aircraft approaching the nearby Task Group 79.1, her first shot in a combat operation. She ceased fire to avoid hitting pursuing American fighters, which drove off the attacker. Just after sunset, ''O'Flaherty'' put up AA fire against a lone kamikaze that crashed into ''Kitkun Bay'', taking the escort carrier out of the fight. The ship fired further rounds against high-flying Japanese aircraft as she moved to screen the escorts assisting ''Kitkun Bay'', and rescued a ''Kitkun Bay'' sailor from the water. She continued to screen the escort carrier and sent boats to return ''Kitkun Bay'' personnel taken off by other escorts to the carrier after she regained power on the next day.{{Sfn|Farnham|1945|p=|pp=1–4}}

''O'Flaherty'' was sent to escort the escort carriers of Task Unit 77.4.2 (commanded by Rear Admiral [[Felix Stump]]) as they provided air support for the Lingayen landings on 11 January while ''Kitkun Bay'' headed to the continental United States for repairs.{{Sfn|Farnham|1945|p=|pp=1–4}} On 17 January she headed back to [[Ulithi]] as part of the screen for several escort carriers after the beachhead was secured, conducting an unsuccessful search for a man overboard off the escort carrier {{USS|Lunga Point||2}} on the next day before arriving at her destination on 23 January.{{Sfn|Farnham|1945|p=|pp=5–6}} ''O'Flaherty'' resupplied at Ulithi, and while there Farnham was replaced by Lieutenant Commander Paul L. Callan on 30 January.{{Sfn|Callan|1945a|p=1}}  In preparation for the [[invasion of Iwo Jima]], she participated in rehearsals for the landings on islands east of Ulithi on 3 and 6 February, as part of the anti-submarine screen.{{Sfn|Callan|1945a|p=2}}

=== Iwo Jima ===
On 10 February, Rear Admiral [[Calvin T. Durgin|Calvin Durgin]]'s Support Carrier Group (Task Group 52.2), of the Amphibious Support Force (Task Force 52) of the [[Fifth Fleet]] departed Ulithi. ''O'Flaherty'' was included in the screen for Rear Admiral [[Clifton Sprague]]'s Task Unit 52.2.1, centered around five escort carriers – {{USS|Natoma Bay||2}}, {{USS|Petrof Bay||2}}, {{USS|Sargent Bay||2}}, {{USS|Steamer Bay||2}}, and ''Wake Island''.{{Sfn|Y'Blood|1987|p=321}} The screen also included the destroyer ''{{Ship|USS|Ralph Talbot|DD-390|2}}'' and the destroyer escorts ''{{Ship|USS|Richard S. Bull||2}}'', ''{{Ship|USS|Richard M. Rowell||2}}'' and ''{{Ship|USS|Grady|DE-445|2}}''. The Task Group reached [[Saipan]] on 12 February, where final rehearsals were conducted and ''O'Flaherty'' briefly detached to Task Unit 52.2.2 on the next day before returning to Task Unit 52.2.1 on 14 February, as the latter steamed towards Iwo Jima together with the shore bombardment force.{{Sfn|Callan|1945a|p=|pp=4–6}} They took station off Iwo Jima late on 15 February before the escort carriers began launching pre-landing strikes against Japanese positions on it and the [[Bonin Islands]] on the morning of the next day.{{Sfn|Y'Blood|1987|p=323}}
[[File:Pilot_being_transferred_from_USS_O'Flaherty_(DE-340)_to_escort_carrier.jpg|thumb|A rescued pilot being transferred from ''O'Flaherty'' to an escort carrier via [[breeches buoy]]]]
Following three days of airstrikes and naval bombardment, the invasion of Iwo Jima began on 19 February.{{Sfn|Y'Blood|1987|p=328}} That morning, ''O'Flaherty'' expended 541 shells from her 5-inch and AA guns in a failed attempt to sink a [[naval mine]]. Later in the day, she picked up the pilot of a crashed [[FM-2 Wildcat]] from the escort carrier {{USS|Anzio|CVE-57|2}}. Continuing on screen duty as the escort carrier air groups supported the American advance on the island, the ship transferred the downed aviator to ''Natoma Bay'' on 21 February and was detached with ''Wake Island'', ''Petrof Bay'', ''Grady'', and the destroyer ''{{Ship|USS|Halligan|DD-584|2}}'' to join Task Units 52.2.2 and 52.2.3 after the [[fleet carrier]] {{USS|Saratoga|CV-3|2}} was knocked out of action by kamikaze attacks.{{Sfn|Y'Blood|1987|p=338}} She returned to Task Unit 52.2.1 on 23 February,{{Sfn|Callan|1945a|p=|pp=9–12}} and remained off Iwo Jima on 8 March with Task Unit 52.2.3 (centered around the escort carriers ''Wake Island'', {{USS|Saginaw Bay||2}} and {{USS|Tulagi||2}}) when Task Unit 52.2.1 departed for Ulithi, as airfields were opened on Iwo Jima for [[United States Army Air Forces|army]] aircraft that replaced those of the escort carriers in support of the troops. ''O'Flaherty'' followed with Task Unit 52.2.3, the last of the escort carriers to leave Iwo Jima, on 11 March, returning to Ulithi three days later.{{Sfn|Y'Blood|1987|p=|pp=344–345}}{{Sfn|Callan|1945b|p=|pp=4–6}} Although many ships were sunk or damaged during the Iwo Jima operation, ''O'Flaherty'' escaped unscathed.{{Sfn|DANFS O'Flaherty|p=}}

=== Okinawa ===
The period of rest for the crew of ''O'Flaherty'' at Ulithi proved brief; on 21 March she departed for the [[invasion of Okinawa]] with the Support Carrier Group.{{Sfn|Callan|1945b|pp=4–6}} The ship continued as one of the nine destroyer escorts and five destroyers forming the screen for Task Unit 52.1.1, which now centered around seven escort carriers – {{USS|Makin Island|CVE-93|2}}, {{USS|Fanshaw Bay||2}}, ''Lunga Point'', ''Natoma Bay'', {{USS|Savo Island||2}}, ''Steamer Bay'', and ''Anzio''.{{Sfn|Y'Blood|1987|pp=348–349}} The task unit arrived off Okinawa on 25 March and the escort carriers began launching strikes against the island before the beginning of the landings on 1 April; ''O'Flaherty'' would remain in the vicinity of the island for more than a month.{{Sfn|Y'Blood|1987|p=|pp=353, 355}} Transferred to screen Task Unit 52.1.2, which included the escort carriers {{USS|Marcus Island||2}}, ''Petrof Bay'', ''Saginaw Bay'', ''Wake Island'', ''Tulagi'', and ''Rudyerd Bay'', on 31 March,{{Sfn|Callan|1945b|p=|pp=9–11}} she put into [[Kerama Retto]] with ''Saginaw Bay'' on 2 April for refueling. While anchored that morning, ''O'Flaherty'' contributed with her aft 40&nbsp;mm guns to flak that helped shoot down a diving Japanese [[A6M Zero]].{{Sfn|DANFS O'Flaherty|p=}}{{Sfn|Callan|1945c|p=1}}{{Sfn|Y'Blood|1987|pp=356–357}}

Task Unit 52.1.2 was targeted by kamikaze raids in the late afternoon of 3 April. Two aircraft dived on ''Wake Island'', both of which crashed into the water near the carrier. The explosion of one of the aircraft holed the hull of ''Wake Island'', taking her out of action for repairs.{{Sfn|Y'Blood|1987|pp=358–359}} A third narrowly missed the screening destroyer {{USS|Capps||2}}, and ''O'Flaherty'' opened 5-inch fire on a fourth heading for ''Capps'', which was shot down by the [[combat air patrol]].{{Sfn|DANFS O'Flaherty|p=}} On the first day of the [[Operation Kikusui|Kikusui]] massed kamikaze attacks, 6 April, the ship was berthed close to ''Tulagi'' in Kerama Retto when nearby {{USS|LST-447||2}} was sunk by a kamikaze.{{Sfn|Y'Blood|1987|p=362|pp=}}{{Sfn|Callan|1945c|p=|pp=2–3}} She continued screening Task Unit 52.1.2 off Okinawa and continued this mission on 15 April when the task unit moved off the [[Sakishima Islands]] to launch strikes against Japanese airfields there.{{Sfn|Y'Blood|1987|p=|pp=373–374}}{{Sfn|Callan|1945d|p=4}} After the task unit returned to strikes against Okinawa, ''O'Flaherty'' was detached with ''Anzio'' to Task Unit 52.1.1 on 17 April, but the ship returned to Task Unit 52.1.2 two days later. She experienced heavy vibrations on 24 April and depth charged a false contact on the next day. As land-based aircraft took over support duties at Okinawa, ''O'Flaherty'' departed for repairs to Guam on 29 April with ''Saginaw Bay'' and ''Savo Island.''{{Sfn|Callan|1945c|pp=7, 10–12}}{{Sfn|Y'Blood|1987|p=380|pp=}}
[[File:5"_gun_being_transferred_from_USS_Oberrender_(DE-344)_to_USS_O'Flaherty.jpg|thumb|upright|''Oberrender''<nowiki/>'s 5-inch gun being transferred to ''O'Flaherty'' by the destroyer tender {{USS|Cascade|AD-16|2}}]]
After arriving at [[Apra Harbor]] on Guam on 3 May, ''O'Flaherty'' was forced to remain there by damage to one of her shafts, while her crew rested.{{Sfn|Callan|1945e|p=|pp=1–2}}{{Sfn|Larrabee|1945|p=6}} She was drydocked on {{USS|ARD-26||2}} between 4 and 8 June for the necessary repairs, and on 9 June departed with the escort carriers {{USS|Manila Bay||2}} and {{USS|Shipley Bay||2}} to join Task Force 32 of the [[United States Third Fleet|Third Fleet]] (the former Task Force 52, renamed when Admiral [[William Halsey Jr.|William Halsey]] took command of the fleet) off Okinawa.{{Sfn|Callan|1945f|p=1}} On 13 June the ship picked up a crashed [[TBF Avenger]] crew from ''Shipley Bay'' and joined up with Task Unit 32.1.3 on the same day. Her forward 5-inch gun was rendered inoperable in a 14 June collision with the escort carrier {{USS|Block Island|CVE-106|2}} while taking on ammunition.{{Sfn|Callan|1945f|pp=1, 3}} ''O'Flaherty'' put into Kerama Retto on 20 June to replace the damaged 5-inch gun with one from her irreparably damaged sister {{USS|Oberrender||2}} and while there witnessed a kamikaze raid on 21 June that hit several support ships.{{Sfn|Callan|1945f|p=6|pp=}} On the latter date, organized resistance ended on Okinawa.{{Sfn|Y'Blood|1987|p=404|pp=}} Okinawa proved to be her last combat operation; during her service ''O'Flaherty'' lost no personnel in combat.{{Sfn|Larrabee|1945|p=2}}

=== Return to convoy duty and end of service ===
[[File:USS_John_C._Butler_(DE-339)_steaming_behind_O'Flaherty_(DE-340),_August_1945.jpg|thumb|upright|left|''John C. Butler'' steaming behind ''O'Flaherty'' at Ulithi, August 1945]]
Ready for sea again, ''O'Flaherty'' spent a day in the anti-submarine screen off Okinawa and on 10 July departed as escort commander for a convoy to Guam consisting mostly of [[Landing Ship, Tank]]s (LST).{{Sfn|Callan|1945g|p=|pp=1–2}} After an uneventful voyage, the ship reached Guam on 16 July, and departed for Ulithi, where she arrived on 17 July. With Task Group 94.17, which included the escort carrier {{USS|Salamaua||2}}, ''O'Flaherty'', and her sister {{USS|John C. Butler|DE-339|2}}, she operated on anti-submarine patrol in the Marianas–Okinawa convoy lanes until the two destroyer escorts were relieved by three others on 28 July.{{Sfn|Callan|1945g|p=|pp=4–6}}{{Sfn|DANFS Salamaua|p=}} ''O'Flaherty'' and ''John C. Butler'' proceeded to Okinawa, from which they departed on 30 July as part of the escort for a Saipan-bound convoy of LSTs and [[Landing Ship Medium]]s.{{Sfn|Callan|1945g|p=8|pp=}} She rode out a [[typhoon]] en route and reached Saipan on 7 August, departing for Ulithi with ''John C. Butler'' on the next day. Arriving at Ulithi on 9 August, both destroyer escorts turned around on 14 August as escorts for an Okinawa-bound convoy of auxiliaries.{{Sfn|Callan|1945h|p=|pp=1–3}} With a crew excited at news of the [[Victory over Japan Day|Japanese surrender]], she reached Okinawa with the convoy on 20 August and turned around on the next day with a Ulithi-bound convoy. Arriving at her destination on 27 August, she spent time there repairing a turbine needing a replacement bearing.{{Sfn|Callan|1945h|p=|pp=4–7}}

Departing on a final convoy run to Okinawa on 4 September, ''O'Flaherty'' returned to Ulithi for routine repairs on 15 September. She remained at anchor there for the rest of the month and early October, the routine broken by occasional exercises with other destroyer escorts.{{Sfn|Callan|1945i|p=|pp=1–5}} Between 7 and 10 October the ship went to sea to retrieve or sink a drifting barge deemed a navigational hazard, with her captain deciding to tow it back to Ulithi after attempts to sink it by gunfire failed. Returning to Guam on 11 October, she spent a brief period at [[Chuuk Lagoon|Truk]], then went back to Guam to return to the continental United States via Eniwetok and Pearl Harbor in November, arriving at [[Port of Los Angeles|Los Angeles]].{{Sfn|DANFS O'Flaherty|p=}}{{Sfn|Callan|1945j|p=|pp=1–9}}

Postwar, ''O'Flaherty'' conducted operations off California before being [[Decommissioned (ship)|decommissioned]] at San Diego in January 1947.  She remained in the [[Pacific Reserve Fleet]] berthed at [[Mare Island]], [[Vallejo, California]]{{Sfn|DANFS O'Flaherty|p=}} until she was struck from the [[Navy List]] on 1 December 1972.{{Sfn|Gardiner|Chesneau|1980|p=137|pp=}} The ship was [[Ship breaking|sold for scrap]] on 27 November 1973.{{Sfn|Bauer|Roberts|1991|p=235}}

==Awards==
''O'Flaherty'' received four [[battle stars]] for World War II service,{{Sfn|DANFS O'Flaherty|p=}} one each for her participation in the capture and occupation of Guam, the Lingayen Gulf landing, the assault and occupation of Iwo Jima, and the assault and occupation of Okinawa.{{Sfn|Bureau of Naval Personnel|1948|p=|pp=51–52, 132}}

==References==

=== Citations ===
{{reflist}}

=== Bibliography ===

*{{cite book|last=Bauer|first=K. Jack|last2=Roberts|first2=Stephen S.|title=Register of Ships of the U.S. Navy, 1775–1990: Major Combatants|publisher=Greenwood Press|year=1991|location=[[Westport, Connecticut]]|isbn=0-313-26202-0}}
*{{cite book|title=Naval Radar|last=Friedman|first=Norman|publisher=Conway Maritime Press|year=1981|isbn=0-85177-238-2|location=London|author-link=Norman Friedman}}
*{{cite book|title=U.S. Destroyers: An Illustrated Design History|last=Friedman|first=Norman|publisher=Naval Institute Press|year=1982|isbn=0-87021-733-X|location=Annapolis, Maryland}}
*{{cite book|title=Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946|publisher=Naval Institute Press|year=1980|isbn=0-87021-913-8|editor-last1=Gardiner|editor-first1=Robert|location=Annapolis, Maryland|editor-last2=Chesneau|editor-first2=Roger}}
*{{cite web|url=https://www.history.navy.mil/content/history/nhhc/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/o/o-flaherty.html|title=O'Flaherty (DE-340)|date=18 April 2016|work=[[Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships]]|publisher=[[Naval History & Heritage Command]]|access-date=20 October 2018|ref={{sfnRef|DANFS O'Flaherty}}}}
*{{cite web|url=https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/s/salamaua.html|title=Salamaua (CVE-96)|date=27 April 2016|work=Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships|publisher=Naval History & Heritage Command|access-date=2 November 2019|ref={{sfnRef|DANFS Salamaua}}}}
*{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/littlegiantsuses00yblo|title=The Little Giants: U.S. Escort Carriers Against Japan|last=Y'Blood|first=William T.|publisher=United States Naval Institute|year=1987|isbn=0-87021-275-3|location=Annapolis, Maryland}}

'''Military documents'''

*{{cite web|url=https://www.fold3.com/image/1/295417016|title=War Diary, USS O'Flaherty, 24 January to 28 February 1945|last=Callan|first=Paul L.|date=1945a|publisher=United States Navy|via=[[Fold3]]|url-access=subscription|access-date=18 October 2019}}
*{{cite web|url=https://www.fold3.com/image/1/295879688|title=War Diary, USS O'Flaherty, 1 to 31 March 1945|last=Callan|first=Paul L.|date=1945b|publisher=United States Navy|via=Fold3|url-access=subscription|access-date=1 November 2019}}
*{{cite web|url=https://www.fold3.com/image/1/295921307|title=War Diary, USS O'Flaherty, 1 to 30 April 1945|last=Callan|first=Paul L.|date=1945c|publisher=United States Navy|via=Fold3|url-access=subscription|access-date=1 November 2019}}
*{{cite web|url=https://www.fold3.com/image/1/300780662|title=Action Report, Okinawa Operation, 21 March 1945 to 3 May 1945|last=Callan|first=Paul L.|date=1945d|publisher=United States Navy|via=Fold3|url-access=subscription|access-date=2 November 2019}}
*{{cite web|url=https://www.fold3.com/image/1/296148929|title=War Diary, USS O'Flaherty, 1 to 31 May 1945|last=Callan|first=Paul L.|date=1945e|publisher=United States Navy|via=Fold3|url-access=subscription|access-date=2 November 2019}}
*{{cite web|url=https://www.fold3.com/image/1/296606660|title=War Diary, USS O'Flaherty, 1 to 30 June 1945|last=Callan|first=Paul L.|date=1945f|publisher=United States Navy|via=Fold3|url-access=subscription|access-date=2 November 2019}}
*{{cite web|url=https://www.fold3.com/image/1/300385925|title=War Diary, USS O'Flaherty, 1 to 31 July 1945|last=Callan|first=Paul L.|date=1945g|publisher=United States Navy|via=Fold3|url-access=subscription|access-date=2 November 2019}}
*{{cite web|url=https://www.fold3.com/image/1/300771680|title=War Diary, USS O'Flaherty, 1 to 31 August 1945|last=Callan|first=Paul L.|date=1945h|publisher=United States Navy|via=Fold3|url-access=subscription|access-date=2 November 2019}}
*{{cite web|url=https://www.fold3.com/image/1/300862974|title=War Diary, USS O'Flaherty, 1 to 30 September 1945|last=Callan|first=Paul L.|date=1945i|publisher=United States Navy|via=Fold3|url-access=subscription|access-date=2 November 2019}}
*{{cite web|url=https://www.fold3.com/image/1/301650543|title=War Diary, USS O'Flaherty, 1 October to 30 November 1945|last=Callan|first=Paul L.|date=1945j|publisher=United States Navy|via=Fold3|url-access=subscription|access-date=2 November 2019}}
*{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/DecorationsMedalsRibbonsBadges1948/|title=Decorations, Medals, Ribbons, Badges of the United States Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard 1861–1948|publisher=Bureau of Naval Personnel|year=1948|series=NAVPERS 15790|location=Washington, D.C.|oclc=2504188|ref={{sfnRef|Bureau of Naval Personnel|1948|}}}}
*{{cite web|url=https://www.fold3.com/image/1/274534297|title=War Diary, USS O'Flaherty, April 1944|last=Farnham|first=D. W.|date=1944a|publisher=United States Navy|via=Fold3|url-access=subscription|access-date=16 August 2019}}
*{{cite web|url=https://www.fold3.com/image/1/274556591|title=War Diary, USS O'Flaherty, May 1944|last=Farnham|first=D. W.|date=1944b|publisher=United States Navy|via=Fold3|url-access=subscription|access-date=16 August 2019}}
*{{cite web|url=https://www.fold3.com/image/1/274556591|title=War Diary, USS O'Flaherty, June 1944|last=Farnham|first=D. W.|date=1944c|publisher=United States Navy|via=Fold3|url-access=subscription|access-date=16 August 2019}}
*{{cite web|url=https://www.fold3.com/image/1/279783818|title=War Diary, USS O'Flaherty, July 1944|last=Farnham|first=D. W.|date=1944d|publisher=United States Navy|via=Fold3|url-access=subscription|access-date=16 August 2019}}
*{{cite web|url=https://www.fold3.com/image/1/282676524|title=War Diary, USS O'Flaherty, August 1944|last=Farnham|first=D. W.|date=1944e|publisher=United States Navy|via=Fold3|url-access=subscription|access-date=16 August 2019}}
*{{cite web|url=https://www.fold3.com/image/1/287105729|title=War Diary, USS O'Flaherty, September 1944|last=Farnham|first=D. W.|date=1944f|publisher=United States Navy|via=Fold3|url-access=subscription|access-date=16 August 2019}}
*{{cite web|url=https://www.fold3.com/image/1/292498339|title=War Diary, USS O'Flaherty, October 1944|last=Farnham|first=D. W.|date=1944g|publisher=United States Navy|via=Fold3|url-access=subscription|access-date=17 August 2019}}
*{{cite web|url=https://www.fold3.com/image/1/292576355|title=War Diary, USS O'Flaherty, November 1944|last=Farnham|first=D. W.|date=1944h|publisher=United States Navy|via=Fold3|url-access=subscription|access-date=17 August 2019}}
*{{cite web|url=https://www.fold3.com/image/1/293483738|title=War Diary, USS O'Flaherty, 1–30 December 1944|last=Farnham|first=D. W.|date=1944i|publisher=United States Navy|via=Fold3|url-access=subscription|access-date=17 August 2019}}
*{{cite web|url=https://www.fold3.com/image/1/295219386|title=War Diary, USS O'Flaherty, 31 December 1944 to 23 January 1945|last=Farnham|first=D. W.|date=1945|publisher=United States Navy|via=Fold3|url-access=subscription|access-date=22 August 2019}}
*{{cite web|url=https://www.fold3.com/image/1/302742215|title=Factual History of the USS O'Flaherty (DE-340)|last=Larrabee|first=Robert K.|date=1945|publisher=United States Navy|via=Fold3|url-access=subscription|access-date=5 November 2019}}

==External links==
*[http://www.navsource.org/archives/06/340.htm USS ''O'Flaherty'' photo gallery at NavSource.org]
*[https://www.desausa.org/oflaherty_photos.htm USS ''O'Flaherty'' crewmember photographs] and [https://www.desausa.org/uss_oflaherty_history.htm history] at Destroyer Escort Sailors Association

{{John C. Butler class destroyer escort}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Oflaherty}}
[[Category:John C. Butler-class destroyer escorts]]
[[Category:Ships built in Orange, Texas]]
[[Category:1943 ships]]
[[Category:World War II frigates and destroyer escorts of the United States]]