General History: USS Ward - First To Fight

The USS Ward was, at her launching, as average as a destroyer could get. She was built fast, but her service did not lead one to believe she was anything special.
Until, after twenty years languishing in reserve, she would be taken out. And would come to fire the first American shots in the Pacific War.
Further Reading:
www.amazon.com/USS-Ward-first...
www.amazon.com/USS-Ward-Opera...
www.amazon.com/Attack-Pearl-H...
www.amazon.com/U-S-Destroyers...

[@alephalon7849]

It's fitting that a ship named Ward lived up to the archaic meaning of its name, which is "guard" or "protect". She was a valiant ship that protected her crew to the very end.

[@johngregory4801]

I remember crying when they found the minisub with that hole at the base of the conning tower. USS Ward's kill was FINALLY confirmed!! And her crew's stubborn honesty justified.

[@jonathanbair523]

I got to meet one of her gunners at one of her main guns on the Minnesota State Capital ground. Getting to hear from him in 90... He told me how to operate the gun, what all the stuff dose to turn the gun and adjust the elevation.

[@brucelytle1144]

I first heard of the Ward while in boot camp in 1970. One of the guys in the company told me about the action on Dec. 7, 41, because his grandfather had been the OOD on Ward when they attacked the sub. He told us that his grandfather lived in that (he pointed to a house up on Poont Loma) house, and he had retired as an Admiral (of some sort). Even in 1970 he (the guy in my company) was insisting that they had hit the sub.

[@petestorz172]

Four-pipers were in a weird situation at the start of WW2: insufficiently modern; too small for thorough upgrade; too good to simply scrap out of hand. Hence the conversions to various auxiliary functions. IIRC, conversion to fast transport lowered such DDs' speed from 34 Kn to ~24 Kn - slower than they had been, but faster than larger, more capacious, by-design transports. Like Omaha class CLs, serving in various less than front line roles freed front-line quality ships from having to do those less demanding duties.

[@richardcutts196]

The Gun you showed at 00:07:06 is the actual gun from the Ward. Since at the time it was manned by reservists from Minnesota they were able to get ahold of the gun. It is displayed outside the state capital in St. Paul.

[@jonathanbair523]

I remember getting to meet one of her gunners... He told me how the history books where wrong the Ward fired and sink the IJN mini sub before the attack, so they fired the opening shots of the war. I was in awe of hearing that story as a 6 year old and him telling me how the gun worked... Then in like 2002 or so they found the mini sub with the single shell hole in the conning tower at the water line just like the crew said...

[@pittsburghmcconnell]

Best one so far.

[@William-a-smith345]

old four stackers were made in thier hundreds yet not one exists complete which is a shame though a few of the little destroyers had formidable service most famous been the former uss buchanan DD131 that became hms campbeltown which rammed the St nazaire dock in 1942

[@glencrandall7051]

Great story done well. One the History Guy might have reported. Thank you for sharing.🙂

[@69Applekrate]

Nicely done! informative, interesting too. thanks much

[@ironiczombie2530]

Nice job on this video, keep up the good work!

[@eddieb1323]

Well done video on the history of USS Ward. I did not know the the rest of the ships story after the morning of the attack, she served well. I look forward to more content like this !!

[@philgiglio7922]

Outerbridge was in hisFirst day of command that morning. That he would be the man ordered to scuttle his first ever command must have been heartbreaking

[@victorboucher675]

Thank you.

[@spudhut2246]

Excellent video and history. I am enjoying your work!

[@mbryson2899]

Great video, I love the detail!

[@73Trident]

Really good doc, thanks.

[@Idahoguy10157]

In the Destroyers for Base trade the US Navy took the occasions to gift the Royal Navy with some four stack rust bucket destroyers

[@RetiredSailor60]

Bravo Zulu shipmates from a retired OS1(SW/AW) USN. Tin Can Sailor; USS Semmes DDG 18 1983-84 and USS Kinkaid DD 965 1987-89. Additionally, USS Cape Cod AD 43 1984-86, USS Whidbey Island LSD 41 1993-96 and USS Wasp LHD 1 2000-03...

[@m.streicher8286]

Those Japanese and their armour piercing engines

[@barbershoppodcast]

The first day of the war FOR AMERICA - as WW2 started Sep.1,1939, 2 years and 3 months earlier I'm sure you meant. Good piece tho.

[@jonathanbair523]

What happened that day?? German started to attack other countries and Euro broke out in WWII, but the US stayed out of it till Pearl Harbor got attacked when the US entered the war... Before the attack we where semi neutral tho we did send cargo of war goods/products for the UK forces.

[@lloydknighten5071]

If any of the Pearl Harbor ships that should have been saved as a memorial, it should have been U.S.S WARD!

[@kevinhaywood1268]

Kinda hard to do when she didn't survive the war. 🙄🙄