>From the “Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships,” 

(1969) Vol. 4, p.307.





McNULTY





	John Thomas McNulty, born 23 April 1897 at 

Philadelphia, Pa., enlisted in the Navy 14 August 1917 for 

World War I service, until discharged 7 August 1919.  He 

reenlisted 15 July 1920 for the period to 10 July 1924, and 

after his third enlistment, 29 July 1924, served 

continuously until his death while serving in heavy cruiser 

ASTORIA (CA-34) during the Battle of Savo Island 9 August 

1942.  Commissioned ensign 3 November 1941, he was promoted 

to lieutenant (j.g.) 15 June 1942.





DE-581

Displacement:  1,450 t.

Length:  306’0”

Beam:  37’0”

Draft:  9’8”

Speed:  23 k.

Complement:  186

Armament:  2 5”; 8 40mm; 10 20mm; 3 21” torpedo tubes;

	8 depth charge projectors;

	2 depth charge tracks;

	1 hedge hog

Class:  RUDDEROW



	McNULTY (DE-581) was laid down 17 November 1943 by 

Bethlehem-Hingham Shipyard, Inc., Hingham, Mass.; launched 8 

January 1944; sponsored by Mrs. Helen K. McNulty; and 

commissioned 31 March 1944, Lt. Comdr. William C. Jennings 

in command.



	After shakedown off Bermuda, McNULTY trained along the 

east coast until leaving Chesapeake Bay on escort duty with 

UGS-46 to Bizerte, Tunisia.  Her guns helped drive off an 

attacking German bomber 12 July 1944, and her convoy safely 

reached Bizerte 2 days later.  Following another convoy 

mission to New York, she made a similar crossing from 

Norfolk to Tunisia to New York, then sailed with Cort Div 67 

for the Pacific 3 November.



	Arriving in Hollandia, New Caledonia 17 December, 

McNULTY joined the 7th Fleet.  Her first convoy escort 

mission was to Leyte, 19 December to 2 January 1945.  In 

less than 24 hours, she sortied with TG 78.9, the 2d 

Lingayen Supply Group, and with it underwent a series of 

kamikaze attacks off Luzon 12 January 1945.  Two merchantmen 

were damaged, and more than 100 soldiers aboard one of these 

killed.  McNULTY safely reached Lingayen Gulf 13 January, 

then escorted ships back to Leyte, arriving 19 January.



	McNULTY patrolled off Luzon 9 January, as the San 

Narciso Attack Force carried out the unopposed landings 

which spearheaded the drive to liberate Manila.  She 

continued patrol and escort duty in the Philippines and to 

the Admiralties, Moluccas, New Guinea, and Okinawa under the 

operational control of the Philippine sea frontier until the 

close of the war.



	McNULTY sailed from Subic Bay 1 September to support 

occupation operations, first escorting hospital ship RELIEF 

(AH-1) from Okinawa to Korea, then cruised the China coast 

before sailing for home from Okinawa 14 October.  She 

arrived San Diego 5 November, decommissioned there 2 July 

1946, and entered the Pacific Reserve Fleet, where she 

remains into 1969.



	McNULTY received two battle stars for World War II 

service.



	[Stricken from the Navy Register on 1 March 1972, 

McNULTY was sunk as a target off southern California on 16 

November 1972.



K. Jack Bauer and Stephen S. Roberts, “Register of Ships of 

the U. S. Navy, 1775-1990,” p.233.]





Transcribed by Michael Hansen

mhansen2@home.com