Martha Washington II DE-30

Martha Washington

II

(DE-30: dp. 1,140; 1. 289'5"; b. 3511"; dr. 8'3"; s. 21 k.; cpl. 156; a. 3 3", 4 1.111, 9 20mm., 2 dct., 3 dcp., I dcp. (h.h.) ; el. Evarts)

Originally intended for lend lease to Britain, the second Martin (DE-30) was laid down as BDE-W by Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, Calif., 26 November 1942; launched 18 May 1943; redesignated DF-30, 16 June 1943; renamed Martin 23 June 1943; and commissioned 4 September 1943; Lt. Paul E. Warfield, USNR, in command.

Assigned to the Pacific Fleet, Martin escorted Idaho (BB-42) to San Diego 29 September to 2 October. After off San Diego , the escort ship got underway
in convoy for Pearl Harbor 11 November, arriving the 21st for service with TF 16. On 3 December, in company with Trathen (DD-530) and SS Mormacport, she steamed for the Ellice-Gilbert Islands area, returning to Pearl Harbor the 31st.

On 9 January 1944 Martin sailed with TG-58.4 for escort service during the initial Marshall operations, 11 January into late February. From arrival at Tulagi 18 March until 1 October she operated as a merchant ship escort in the Solomons.

During October the ship joined TG 30.8 to escort fueling units during the strikes on Formosa; Luzon, Philippines; and Okinawa, Ryukyus, beginning 10 October. From November to February 1945 she patrolled the western Carolines and Marianas. On 10 December 1944 Martin screened LSTs landing troops and supplies. on Leyte for the mopup operations following the landings In October and the ensuing Battle for Leyte Gulf. She operated out of Eniwetok from February 1945 on, escorting convoys to Kwajalein and Guam, Marshalls, and Ulithi, Carolines.

On 5 July Martin departed Kwajalein for the west coast, via Pearl Harbor, arriving San Francisco, Calif., 19 July. On 19 November she decommissioned at Mare Island Navy Yard and was struck from the Navy list 5 December. Martin was sold to Wilmington Transportation Co., Wilmington, Calif., 15 May, and delivered 3 June to be scrapped.