Talk:USS Ralph Talbot

Friendly fire anecdote

Hi, I am writing in regard to the action at Savo Island of DD 390. My sources of information are Ralph Cottingham and "Mac" Mahill, both of whom were aboard that ship at the time. These were eyewitnesses to the affair. Cottingham was Fire Controlman and Mahill(sp)(Otherwise known as Clint Rogers as he had been adopted as a child.) was another fire control man who ran the 5" 38 caliber guns aboard DD 390. Both stated that the shells that hit the ship's sick bay and killed the ship's doctor came from 8" guns from the USS Chicago.

Their story goes as follows: The DD 390 or RT had been shot up pretty badly by the Japanese fleet and had been engaged at one point with some 3 Japanese cruisers and one destroyer. Their masts had been damaged and the DD 490 no longer resembled an American warship very much though it was under power and still able to fight.

The USS Chicago appeared to be convinced that anything coming from that direction must be Japanese as they had decided that USS Blue and USS Ralph Talbot had been sunk. The Chicago opened fire in salvos. The first wwent long. The Rt's captain radioed the Chicago with ship identity and said, "Cease firing or we shall make a torpedo run on you." By this time, the second salvo struck, falling short and the third was in the air, hitting the sick bay and killing the ship's doctor.

Both agreed that the pharmacist's mate who had survived all of this and was the only person aboard with official medical training, (though all sailors had basic first aid training), did miracles in saving the lives of many wounded sailors.

There is more to the story that does not appear in the official record. The people I interviewed were aboard the ship when the fires were burning and the ship was listing. Some four sailors aboard the ship at the time told me stories independently of each other about the events surrounding the Savo Island affair.

After DD 390 had been damaged further by friendly fire from USS Chicago, fires were raging aboard ship. There was a single boat aboard that had not been damaged or destroyed in the engagement. It was a boat with a motor and usually used to transfer people from ship to shore and vce versa whilst in port.

According to accounts by four different people present at the time, The ship's commander and all officers got aboard this motorized boat to "recconoiter" and returend after dawn the following day when it became apparent that the DD 390 had no fires going on and was not in imminent danger of sinking. I understand from Navy records that several of these officers received major Navy awards for courage in combat.

I would discount the claims had they been made at the same time and in the same place. What lent credibility to the statements in my mind was that no individual hear the account of another. No individual was aware of statements made by former shipmates, except in one case, regarding the shelling by the USS Chicago.

I believe there are some holes in the US Navy account of this incident as well as in Wikipedia's story. I would like to pursue the matter a bit more and learn the truth insofar as it is possible to determine the truth. I have not edited the account in Wikipedia as I do not profess to know all. All I can say is that current factual matter of which I am aware does not square wth what is being reported. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Petitjean1 (talk • contribs) 21:50, 16 October 2007 (UTC)

Armament of DD 390

I have been told by several people who served about the USS ralph Talbot that the ship carried two four torpedo mounts on each side. One of the men wa a former torpedoman. If his statement is true, the DD 390 was armed with 16 torpedos at eight per side. If his infrmation is correct, the statement about armament in the article is incorrect.

Such armament could help explain why DD 390 was in such demand for attacks potentially employing torpedos. Most destroyers carried fewer torpedo mounts and that could explain why DD 390 was popular for attacking forces, in nightimr torpedo rraids.Many destroyers and other ships had had extensive retrofitting and changes in armament. Guns were added and some other modifications were made. The specifications for machinery are based on original design and are not necessarily accurate for later in the war. A story circulating among the remaining crew members mentions a race after a new destroyer was placed in service. The new tin can boastd 42 knot speed by design specs. It lagged behind DD 390 and othet destroyers. I can't prove that but have accounts from seven men who were present Of course, the Navy is reluctant to report such things.

Any comment from eyewitnesses proving or contradicting these statements would care to comment and perhaps offer additional information. I simply want honest answers. I understand that a few other destroyers had similar modifications, some that were authorized and some that weren't. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Petitjean1 (talk • contribs) 08:09, 6 April 2009 (UTC)