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NavSource Online: Mine Warfare Vessel Photo Archive

DD-773 / DM-34 Aaron Ward


Robert H. Smith Light Minelayer: Laid down, 12 December 1943 as Aaron Ward (DD-773), an Allen M Sumner Class Destroyer at Bethlehem Steel Co., San Pedro, CA.; Launched, 5 May 1944; Reclassified a Light Minelayer (DM), 19 July 1944; Commissioned USS Aaron Ward (DM-34), 28 October 1944; Decommissioned, 28 September 1945; Struck from the Naval Register, July 1946; Sold for scrapping.

Specifications: Displacement 2,380 t.(lt) - 3,370 t.(fl); Length 376' 6"; Beam 40' 10"; Draft 18' 10"; Speed 34kts; Complement 363; Armament three twin 5"/38 dual purpose gun mounts, six twin 40mm gun mounts, eleven 20mm guns, two .50 cal. machine guns, two dct, four dcp; Propulsion four Babcock and Wilcox boilers, two General Electric geared turbines, 60,000shp at 36.5kts, two shafts, Range 3,300 nm at 20kts.


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Size Image Description Source
Aaron Ward 100k - Hyperwar US Navy in WW II
Aaron Ward 88k - Hyperwar US Navy in WW II
Aaron Ward 173k Photographed on 17 November 1944. The ship is painted in Camouflage Measure 32, Design 11a.
Courtesy of Donald M. McPherson, 1975
US Navy Photo NH 83213
Naval Historical Center
Aaron Ward 131k Kerama Retto, 4 May 1945 showing kamikaze damage.
US Navy photo
USS LCS(L)3 1-130 Association
Aaron Ward 174k Damage amidships received during Kamikaze attacks off Okinawa on 3 May 1945. View looks down and aft from Aaron Ward's foremast, with her greatly distorted forward smokestack in the lower center. Photographed while the ship was in the Kerama Retto on 5 May 1945. A mine is visible at left,on the ship's starboard mine rails.
US Navy Photo 80-G-330107
Naval Historical Center
Aaron Ward 106k In the Kerama Retto anchorage, 5 May 1945, showing damage received when she was hit by several Japanese suicide planes off Okinawa on 3 May. Note three-bladed aircraft propeller lodged in her superstructure, just forward of the after 5"/38 twin gun mount.
Collection of Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, USN
US Navy Photo NH 62571
Naval Historical Center
Aaron Ward 88k In the Kerama Retto anchorage, 5 May 1945, showing damage received when she was hit by several Kamikazes off Okinawa on 3 May.
Collection of Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, USN
US Navy Photo NH 2572
Naval Historical Center
Aaron Ward 130k 9 September 1945 -

View the Aaron Ward (DM-34)
DANFS history entry located on the Haze Gray & Underway web site, the main archive for the DANFS Online Project.
Crew Contact And Reunion Information
U.S.Navy Memorial Foundation
Fleet Reserve Association

Naval Minewarfare Association
Association of Minemen
Back To The Main Photo Index Back to the Destroyer (DD) Photo Index Back to the Aaron Ward (DD-773) Page Back To the Mine Warfare Ship Photo Type Index Back To The Light Minelayer (DM) Photo Index

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