USS Eldridge (DE-173)

The USS Eldridge was a destroyer escort built for the United States Navy during World War II. It was part of the Cannon class and was named in honour of Lieutenant Commander Eldridge.  

Construction of the ship began in early 1943, and it was launched in July and commissioned in August of the same year. Lieutenant Commander Eldridge, the ship's namesake, was a Naval Academy graduate and a decorated aviation officer who was killed in action in the Solomon Islands in 1942.  

The USS Eldridge primarily served in the Atlantic during the war, making several voyages between January 1944 and May 1945 to escort convoys transporting troops and supplies to North Africa and Southern Europe. It safely delivered nine such convoys. Later in 1945, it was sent to the Pacific, where it performed escort and patrol duties around Okinawa after encountering an unidentified underwater object on its journey.

After the end of the war, the USS Eldridge was put into reserve in June 1946. It was later transferred to Greece in 1951 under a defence assistance act, where it was renamed HS Leon (D-54). The ship served the Greek Navy for many years before being decommissioned in 1992 and subsequently sold for scrap in 1999.

The USS Eldridge received several awards for its service in World War II, including campaign medals for its participation in the American, European-African-Middle Eastern, and Asiatic-Pacific theatres, as well as the World War II Victory Medal and the Navy Occupation Service Medal.

It's important to note that the ship is widely associated with the "Philadelphia Experiment," a story claiming the ship was involved in invisibility experiments. However, according to the provided text, this is generally considered a hoax.

IJN Battleship Musashi

The Japanese battleship Musashi was one of the most powerful and massive warships ever built, part of the legendary Yamato class during World War II. Named after a historic Japanese province, its construction at the Mitsubishi Shipyard in Nagasaki began in 1937, was launched in 1940, and commissioned into service in August 1942.

Musashi was an enormous vessel, displacing 64,000 tons with a length of over 263 meters (862 feet). Powered by steam turbines generating 150,000 horsepower, it could reach a top speed of 27.5 knots and had a considerable range. It required a crew of around 2,500 personnel.

Its primary offensive power came from nine massive 460-millimeter (18.1-inch) guns housed in three turrets, complemented by numerous 155-millimeter secondary guns and a formidable array of anti-aircraft weapons, including 127-millimeter and 25-millimeter guns. To withstand attacks, Musashi boasted incredibly thick armour, including a 410-millimeter waterline belt and heavily protected decks and turrets. It also carried floatplanes for reconnaissance and was equipped with early radar and hydrophone systems.

After its commissioning, Musashi served as the flagship of the Combined Fleet, participating in various patrols and troop transport missions. In early 1944, it was damaged by an American submarine, leading to repairs and an increase in its anti-aircraft defences. Its active service came to a dramatic end during the Battle of Leyte Gulf on October 24, 1944. Targeted relentlessly by American carrier-based aircraft, the Musashi endured a staggering 19 torpedo and 17 bomb hits before finally capsizing and sinking, though over half its crew were rescued.

For over seven decades, the wreck of the Musashi remained hidden. In March 2015, a research team funded by Paul Allen discovered its remains approximately 910 meters (3,000 feet) below the surface of the Sibuyan Sea in the Philippines, marking a significant archaeological find that raised important questions about its preservation.

HMS Duke of York

HMS Duke of York underway in heavy seas.

                                                                                                       Source: © IWM (A 7552)

HMS Duke of York was a King George V-class battleship of the Royal Navy, built by John Brown and Company and commissioned in November 1941. Her design, like that of her sister ships, was influenced by the limitations of pre-war naval treaties, resulting in a main armament of 14-inch guns.

This formidable warship had a standard displacement of over 36,700 long tons and was powered by steam turbines giving her a top speed of 28 knots. Her primary weapons were ten 14-inch guns in one twin and two quadruple turrets, supported by sixteen 5.25-inch dual-purpose guns and numerous smaller anti-aircraft guns, including 40mm "pom-poms" and 20mm Oerlikons.

During World War II, HMS Duke of York had a notable service history. In December 1941, she carried Prime Minister Winston Churchill to the United States. She was involved in escorting vital Arctic convoys to Russia and participated in diversionary operations during Allied invasions. A key moment in her career was the Battle of the North Cape in December 1943, where she played a crucial role in the sinking of the German battleship Scharnhorst. Although hit twice by the German ship with little significant damage, Duke of York's 14-inch shells disabled Scharnhorst, contributing to her eventual destruction after a prolonged engagement.

In 1945, she was transferred to the British Pacific Fleet and was present in Tokyo Bay for the Japanese surrender ceremonies, serving as the fleet's flagship. After the war, HMS Duke of York continued in active service with the Home Fleet until 1949, was laid up in 1951, and ultimately scrapped in 1957.