The USS Mannert L. Abele: A Tribute to Courage and Sacrifice in World War II

The USS Mannert L. Abele (DD-733), a Fletcher-class destroyer, played a pivotal role in the United States Navy’s operations in the Pacific during World War II. Commissioned in 1943, she was named in honor of Lieutenant Mannert L. Abele, a naval officer who gave his life in the Battle of the Coral Sea. The ship’s service, though brief, was marked by significant action, and it ultimately met a tragic end in April 1945 when it was struck by a Japanese Ohka (“Baka”) manned missile. In this article, we explore the Mannert L. Abele’s history, her role in the Pacific theater, her camouflage design, and her untimely sinking, honoring the ship and her crew for their bravery and sacrifice.

The Launch and Early Service of the USS Mannert L. Abele

The Mannert L. Abele was laid down on August 1, 1943, at the Bath Iron Works shipyard in Maine, and was launched on February 6, 1944. This Fletcher-class destroyer was one of the most successful destroyer designs used by the U.S. Navy during World War II, and it had a variety of roles including anti-submarine warfare, screening larger vessels, and providing fire support during amphibious operations.

The ship was commissioned on March 15, 1944, under the command of Commander H.R. Davis. She was named in honor of Lieutenant Mannert L. Abele, a U.S. Navy officer who was killed in action during the Battle of the Coral Sea in 1942. Abele had been a part of a reconnaissance flight that helped spot the Japanese fleet during the battle. Tragically, Abele’s plane was shot down during the battle, and he died while trying to defend his country. Naming the ship after Abele was a fitting tribute to his courage and sacrifice.

Upon entering service, the Mannert L. Abele joined the U.S. Pacific Fleet and became an active participant in the intense naval combat that characterized the Pacific campaign. Her primary tasks included providing protection for aircraft carriers and conducting bombardment missions in support of amphibious landings on islands occupied by Japanese forces.

Camouflage Measure 32, Design 11A: A Ship Concealed in Plain Sight

In August 1944, the Mannert L. Abele was painted in Camouflage Measure 32, Design 11A, a distinctive and complex paint scheme intended to confuse enemy forces and protect the ship from aerial and surface attacks. Camouflage Measure 32 was part of a broader effort by the U.S. Navy to develop camouflage patterns that would make ships harder to detect and target, particularly from the air.

The camouflage design was specifically developed for ships operating in the Pacific, where aerial reconnaissance and bombing were constant threats. Design 11A, like other camouflage patterns used during the war, involved various shades of gray and blue, which were carefully chosen to blend the ship into the ocean and sky. The pattern aimed to make the ship harder to discern at a distance, especially when viewed from an aircraft above.

The application of camouflage patterns like Measure 32 was part of a larger strategic effort to protect American naval vessels from the increasing threat posed by Japanese aircraft and submarines. It was especially important in the Pacific theater, where naval combat often occurred in vast, open waters, and the ability to remain concealed could make the difference between life and death for a ship and its crew.

While the camouflage design was an important measure of defense, the Mannert L. Abele would face an enemy much more deadly than mere visibility—one that used unprecedented tactics to strike at Allied ships.

The USS Mannert L. Abele in Combat

The Mannert L. Abele spent much of 1944 and 1945 participating in various operations throughout the Pacific. She provided screening for larger ships in task forces and carried out bombardment missions in support of ground troops. She also participated in the Battle of Iwo Jima and later the Battle of Okinawa, two of the most significant and bloody confrontations in the Pacific theater.

During these operations, the Mannert L. Abele proved to be a reliable and effective destroyer. She escorted aircraft carriers and other vessels, providing protection from enemy aircraft and surface threats. She also played a vital role in the final stages of the war in the Pacific by supporting amphibious assaults on Japanese-held islands, which were crucial to the Allied strategy of island-hopping. The ship’s participation in these operations, along with the courage of her crew, contributed significantly to the Navy’s successes during the war.

However, as the war approached its final stages, the Mannert L. Abele would face a new and terrifying weapon in the form of the Japanese Ohka (“Baka”) manned missile, which would deliver a tragic blow to the ship.

The Attack and Sinking of the USS Mannert L. Abele

In April 1945, the Mannert L. Abele was assigned to a task force supporting the Allied invasion of Okinawa, the last major amphibious operation of the Pacific War. During this operation, the ship encountered a new and deadly threat: the Japanese Ohka missile, a flying bomb carried by specially modified aircraft.

The Ohka was a manned missile, designed to be launched from the air by a bomber. Once released, the missile would glide towards its target, and its pilot would guide it on a suicide mission, hoping to strike a devastating blow to enemy ships. The Ohka was powered by a rocket engine, and it could reach speeds of up to 600 miles per hour, making it extremely difficult to intercept.

On April 12, 1945, while providing screening for the invasion forces off the coast of Okinawa, the Mannert L. Abele was struck by an Ohka missile. The missile hit the ship’s forward magazine, causing an explosion that tore through the ship and quickly led to her sinking. Despite the crew’s best efforts to save the ship, the damage was too severe, and the Mannert L. Abele went down. Tragically, 74 crew members lost their lives in the attack, while many others were wounded.

The sinking of the Mannert L. Abele was a significant loss to the U.S. Navy, not just because of the ship’s capabilities and her crew’s courage but because it highlighted the increasing desperation of the Japanese military as the war neared its end. The use of Ohka missiles was a last-ditch effort to inflict damage on the overwhelming Allied forces, and the attack on the Mannert L. Abele was a testament to the lengths to which the Japanese were willing to go in their effort to turn the tide of the war.

Remembering the USS Mannert L. Abele

The USS Mannert L. Abele was a symbol of bravery, sacrifice, and the unyielding determination of the U.S. Navy during World War II. The ship’s service in the Pacific, her involvement in critical battles such as Okinawa, and her ultimate sinking at the hands of a new, terrifying weapon all serve as reminders of the courage and commitment of the sailors who served on her.

While the Mannert L. Abele was lost in the final stages of the war, the ship’s legacy lives on. Her name, painted on the side of her hull, now rests in the annals of naval history as a tribute to the sailors who gave their lives for victory. Their sacrifices, along with those of countless others, helped to ensure the defeat of the Axis powers and the eventual victory of the Allies.

The USS Mannert L. Abele may have been sunk in April 1945, but her memory lives on in the stories of the brave men who served aboard her and in the lessons learned during her service in the Pacific.