zoom_in Click to enlarge

USS Johnston (DD-557)

▲ ▼

description USS Johnston (DD-557) Overview

USS Johnston, hull number DD-557, was a Fletcher-class destroyer of the United States Navy commissioned during the Second World War. On 25 October 1944, during the Battle off Samar, Johnston attacked a much larger Japanese force while helping protect American escort carriers and was sunk after sustained combat. Her commanding officer, Ernest E. Evans, was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor, and the ship's wreck was positively identified in the Philippine Sea in 2021.

help USS Johnston (DD-557) FAQ

Why did USS Johnston attack a much larger Japanese fleet?

Johnston was protecting the lightly armed escort carriers of Task Unit 77.4.3, known as Taffy 3, during the Battle off Samar on 25 October 1944. Commander Ernest E. Evans ordered torpedo and gun attacks against Japanese cruisers and battleships despite the overwhelming disparity.

What happened to Commander Ernest E. Evans during the Battle off Samar?

Evans continued directing Johnston after being wounded and after the destroyer had suffered crippling damage. He was lost with the ship and received the Medal of Honor posthumously.

When was the wreck of USS Johnston discovered?

Debris associated with the ship was found in 2019, and a deeper expedition positively identified the main wreck in 2021. It rests more than 6,000 metres below the Philippine Sea.

How is USS Johnston connected to the destroyer escort USS Samuel B. Roberts?

Both ships fought as part of Taffy 3's desperate defense off Samar, although Samuel B. Roberts was a smaller destroyer escort. The wreck of Samuel B. Roberts was later found even deeper than Johnston, at nearly 7,000 metres.

swap_horiz

Looking for USS Johnston (DD-557) alternatives? Compare top competitors ranked & scored

arrow_forward