USS Laub (DD-613)
The second
USS Laub (DD-613) was a
Benson-class destroyer in the
United States Navy during
World War II. She was the 2nd ship to be named for
Henry Laub, who was killed during the
Battle of Lake Erie in
1813.
Laub was laid down
1 May 1941 by
Bethlehem Steel Corporation,
San Pedro, California; launched
28 April 1942; sponsored by Miss Barbara Mohun Handley, a collateral descendant of Henry Laub; and commissioned
24 October 1942,
Lieutenant Commander J. F. Gallaher in command.
After shakedown along the west coast,
Laub steamed through the
Panama Canal, arriving
Norfolk, Virginia 1 February 1943. She departed
New York 5 February, escorting a convoy to North Africa. After reaching
Casablanca, the destroyer patrolled the
African coast until departing
14 March with a return convoy to the United States.
The following month she sailed with another convoy; on
26 May, while escorting a return convoy, she joined other escorts in chasing off an enemy
U-boat set on attacking the vulnerable supply ships in the convoy. The destroyer departed New York on her third extended voyage
11 June to join Allied forces in north Africa preparing for the
invasion of Sicily. On
5 July she sailed from
Oran to screen the transports and their passage to the strategic Sicilian beaches.
The amphibious force arrived off Sicily 4 days later, made a dramatic night landing, and the next day fought off
Nazi aircraft. On the 11th, while bombarding the shore,
Laub assisted in downing an aircraft. Continuing fire support operations,
Laub destroyed four tanks and damaged strategic bridges.
The destroyer returned to
Mers el Kebir 15 July and continued operations in the
Mediterranean Sea until joining a convoy for America on
28 July.
Laub made additional convoy runs to north Africa and the
United Kingdom before returning to Oran to support the Allied campaigns in the Mediterranean.
Off north Africa
6 November, six planes made a
torpedo attack on
Laub's convoy, scoring several hits.
Laub proceeded to assist the stricken ships,
Beatty,
Maraix, and
Ruys, and rescued 341 survivors. From November 1943 until April 1944, the destroyer continued escort operations in the Mediterranean, and made several cross-Atlantic cruises from New York to the British Isles.
Returning to Oran
2 May,
Laub sailed 10 days later with
USS Philadelphia (CL-41) to provide fire support off the
Anzio beachhead on the west coast of Italy. On the 23rd while bombarding the
Italian coast,
Laub collided with
Philadelphia. Following temporary repairs at
Naples and additional ones at
Boston, Massachusetts the destroyer was back in Oran
2 December.
For the rest of the European campaign she performed escort and fire support missions off the French-Italian coast. Departing Oran
15 May 1945, she reached Boston on the 23rd and began training in the
Caribbean in preparation for Pacific duty.
Laub returned to
Casco Bay, Maine, when the
Japanese surrender was announced.
The destroyer arrived
Charleston, South Carolina,
2 November and decommissioned there
2 February 1946, joining the Atlantic Reserve Fleet. The
Laub was stricken from the Naval Register on
1 July 1971. She was then sold on
14 January 1975 and broken up for scrap.
Laub received four
battle stars for
World War II service.
See
USS Laub for other ships of the same name.
*
history.navy.mil: USS Laub*
navsource.org: USS Laub*
hazegray.org: USS Laub
