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USS CONYNGHAM (DD-371)


Flag Hoist/Radio Call Sign - NATC

CLASS - MAHAN As Built.
Displacement 2103 Tons (Full), Dimensions, 341' 4" (oa) x 35' 5" x 12' 4" (Max)
Armament 5 x 5"/38AA, 4 x 0.5" MG, 12 x 21" tt.(3x4).
Machinery, 49,000 SHP; General Electric Geared Turbines, 2 screws
Speed, 36.5 Knots, Range 6500 NM@ 12 Knots, Crew 158.
Operational and Building Data
Laid down by Boston Navy Yard September 19 1934.
Launched September 14 1935 and commissioned November 4 1936.
Conyngham survived the Atomic Bomb test at Bikini Atoll.
Decommissioned December 20 1946.
Stricken June 13 1948.
Fate Sunk as target off California July 2 1948.

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Conyngham 73kBorn about 1744 in County Donegal, Ireland, Gustavus Conyngham commanded the merchant brig Charming Peggy in 1775. When his ship was interned in Europe, Conyngham sought and on 01 March 1777 obtained a captain's commission in the Continental Navy. As commanding officer successively, of Surprise and Revenge, he became a terror to British shipping, taking some sixty prizes in eighteen months. As a privateer he was captured in 1779, escaped to Europe, and was recaptured while returning to America in 1780. Exchanged a year later, he was in France preparing to cruise against the British when the war ended. He returned to the merchant service and commanded the armed brig Maria during the Quasi-War with France. As a member of the Common Council of Philadelphia, he assisted in the defense of that city during the War of 1812. Captain Conyngham died 27 November 1819 at Philadelphia.
Painting of Captain Gustavus Conyngham, Continental Navy by V. Zveg, 1976, based on a miniature by Louis Marie Sicardi. Courtesy of the U.S. Navy Art Collection, Washington, D.C. Naval History & Heritage Command photo NH 84902-KN
Tony Cowart/Robert M. Cieri
Conyngham 54kUndated, location unknown.-
Conyngham 65kUndated, location unknown.-
Conyngham 93kUndated, location unknown.Robert M. Cieri
Conyngham
0537129
284kConyngham as completed, probably at Boston, circa 1936-37.Dave Wright
Conyngham 227kThe twin launching of the USS Case (DD-370) and USS Conyngham (DD-371) at the Boston Navy Yard, September 1934. USS Case is on the right. Dale Hargrave
Conyngham 192kMoored at Copenhagen, Denmark during her maiden cruise, spring 1937.Ron Reeves
Conyngham 146kOff Boston Navy Yard, 09 September 1937. USN photo.Joe Radigan
Conyngham 149kCirca 1938, location unknown.Ron Reeves
Conyngham 484kUSS Conyngham (DD-371) Maneuvering at sea with USS Reid (DD-369) and USS Clark (DD-361), during the later 1930s. National Archives photo 80-G-171113Fred Weiss
Conyngham 796kUSS Conyngham (DD-371) transferring mail to another destroyer, during operations at sea in 1941. Conyngham appears to be painted in camouflage Measure 1.
Naval History & Heritage Command photo NH 61512
Fred Weiss
Conyngham 92kIn Sydney harbor, Australia, March 1941.Marc Piché
Conyngham 72kUSS Conynham (DD-371) in Sydney harbor, Australia, March 1941. Australian War Memorial photo 008051.Mike Green
Conyngham 445kUSS Conyngham (DD-371) off the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, 22 January 1942. Note that she still has her number three 5"/38 gun. National Archives photo 19-N-27127Fred Weiss
Conyngham 191kAt Mare Island, January 22 1942.Ed Zajkowski
Conyngham 23kOff Mare Island, 10 July 1942.Robert Hurst
Conyngham 186kOff Mare Island on July 10, 1942. Photo from the collection of the Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum.Darryl Baker
Conyngham 991kUSS Detroit (CL-8) at the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, 15 August 1942. Note her after 6"/53 guns and men lounging on the fantail. Circles mark recent alterations to the ship. Destroyers in the background include USS Preston (DD-379), at right, and USS Conyngham (DD-371), at left. On the far side of the pier from them are USS Caldwell (DD-605), in the far center distance beyond Preston's bow, and USS Walke (DD-416), at left beyond Conyngham. YOS-1 is in the far right distance. Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives. Photo #: 19-N-33050.Robert Hurst
Conyngham 65kFebruary 1943, location unknown.Robert Hurst
Conyngham 493kUSS Conyngham (DD-371) at Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides, 15 February 1943. Destroyer in the right background appears to be USS Strong (DD-467). National Archives photo 80-G-38661Fred Weiss
Conyngham   Conyngham   Conyngham   Conyngham
Four views of USS Conyngham (DD 371) in the Mare Island channel on 19 May 1944. She was in overhaul at Mare Island from 18 March until 24 May 1944. Tug YMT-10 is to the left of Conyngham. The ship is painted in camouflage Measure 32, Design 23d.
Darryl Baker
Conyngham 180kAt Mare Island, 22 May 1944, after running post-overhaul trials off the Farallon Islands. The inboard destroyer is Flusser (DD-368).Ed Zajkowski
Conyngham   Conyngham
USS Conyngham seen in fire support and screening duty among transports off Saipan, 12-14 June, 1944. Photos by J R Eyerman, Life Magazine. Used for educational and non-commercial purposes.
John Chiquoine
Conyngham 1070kIn Pearl Harbor channel, 24 March 1946. National Archives photo 19-N-115885Fred Weiss

USS CONYNGHAM DD-371 History
View This Vessels DANFS History entry at the Naval History & Heritage Command website

Commanding Officers
Thanks to Wolfgang Hechler & Ron Reeves


CDR Gilbert Corwin Hoover    Nov 4 1936 - Jun 20 1938

CDR David Stolz Crawford    Jun 20 1938 - Mar 3 1939

LCDR James Edwin Craig    Mar 3 1939 - Jun 18 1940

LCDR Byron Samuel Anderson    Jun 18 1940 - Dec 15 1941

CDR Henry Chesley Daniel    Dec 15 1941 - Dec 31 1942 (Later VADM)

CDR James Henry Ward    Dec 31 1942 - Dec 11 1943

CDR Brown Taylor    Dec 11 1943 - 26 Jan 1945

LCDR Frank Weddigen Bampton    Jan 26 1945 - May 21 1945

LT Henry James Feltus    May 21 1945 - Dec 20 1946


Crew Contact And Reunion Information

Contact Name: Dave Suckow
Address: 1871 Silver Bell Rd #103, Eagan MN 55122-1187
Phone: (615)681-1927
E-mail: dsuckow@comcast.net
Next Reunion: Sept 19-23 at the Holiday Inn Sun Spree, 3900 Atlantic Ave, VA Beach VA.
Reunion Contact: Len Gordon; PO Box 106; Milltown NJ 08850; (732)432-0588 DDGgusboat@aol.com

Note About Contacts.

The contact listed, Was the contact at the time for this ship when located. If another person now is the contact, E-mail me and I will update this entry. These contacts are compiled from various sources over a long period of time and may or may not be correct. Every effort has been made to list the newest contact if more than one contact was found.


Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
Naval Historical Center Pearl Harbor Action Report
Tin Can Sailors Website
Destroyer History Foundation
Official U.S.Navy Destroyer Website

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This page was created by Fred Willishaw (ex ARG-4, AS-11 & DD-692) and is maintained by David L. Wright
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Last Updated 12 July 2024