USS Finnegan

Career
Laid down:	5 July 1943
Launched:	22 February 1944
Commissioned:	19 August 1944
Battle Stars:	3 for World War II
Decommissioned:	27 November 1945
Struck:	19 December 1945
Fate:	Sold for scrapping, June 1946
General characteristics
Class:	Evarts class destroyer escort
Type:	GMT (diesel-electric tandem motor drive, short hull, 3" guns)
Displacement:	1,140 (std), 1,430 tons (full)
Dimensions:	289' 5" (oa), 283' 6" (wl) x 35' 0" x 11' 0" (max)
Range:	4,150 nm
Speed:	19 knots
Complement:	15 officers / 183 enlisted
Armament:	3 x 3"/50 Mk22 (1x3), 1 x 1.1"/75 Mk2 quad AA (4x1), 9 x 20mm Mk 4 AA, 1 Hedgehog Projector, Mk10 (144 rounds), 8 Mk6 depth charge projectors, 2 Mk9 depth charge tracks
Propulsion:	4 GM Model 16-278A diesel engines with electric drive, 6000 shp, 2 screws

USS Connolly (DE-306) was an Evarts class destroyer escort constructed for the U.S. Navy during World War II. She was sent off into the Pacific Ocean to protect convoys and other ships from Japanese submarines and fighter aircraft. She performed escort and antisubmarine operations in dangerous battle areas and returned home with three well-earned battle stars.

She was named after Chief Radio Electrician William Michael Finnegan who was killed during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor; was launched 22 February 1944 by Mare Island Navy Yard; sponsored by Mrs. Charles Schroeder, sister of Ensign Finnegan; and commissioned 19 August 1944, Lieutenant Commander Hoffman, USNR, in command.

== World War II Pacific Theatre operations

Finnegan arrived at Pearl Harbor 8 November 1944 to serve as escort for submarines conducting training exercises prior to their war patrols. She voyaged to Midway Island escorting a transport between 11 and 20 December, then returned to duty with submarines until 9 January 1945. After amphibious training exercises in the Hawaiian Islands, Finnegan sailed escorting a group of LSTs and submarine chasers, two of which she towed for parts of the passage to Saipan.

== Supporting the Iwo Jima operations

On 15 February 1945, the escort ship sailed from Saipan for the assault on Iwo Jima, during which she screened transports as they launched their boats for the initial invasion 19 February.

Sinking of Japanese Submarine I-370

On 26 February, while escorting empty transports to Saipan, Finnegan made a surface contact by radar, and was detached from the screen to locate and sink Japanese submarine I-370 in a 4-hour attack, in 22°45' N., 141°27' E.

== Supporting Invasion of Okinawa operations

From Saipan, Finnegan screened the transports on to Espiritu Santo, arriving 15 March 1945. She sailed 10 days later for Ulithi, the vast base from which the Okinawa assault was staged, and on 9 April, she reached the newly assaulted island. Sailing on antisubmarine patrols, as well as screening assault shipping, Finnegan fired to drive off a would-be suicide plane 28 May. On 10 July she departed Okinawa for duty in the Philippines on local escort and patrol assignments until 15 September.

Post-War Decommissioning

Finnegan then sailed for Eniwetok, Pearl Harbor, and Charleston, South Carolina, where she was decommissioned and placed in reserve 27 November 1945. She was sold for scrapping in June 1946.

Awards

Finnegan received three battle stars for World War II service.

References

 This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.

See also

• List of United States Navy ships
• World War II
• Convoy
• Destroyer escort
• Destroyer

External links

• Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships
• NavSource Online: Destroyer Escort Photo Archive - USS Finnegan (DE 307)