USS Hoel, a 2050-ton Fletcher class destroyer built at San Francisco, California, was commissioned in late July 1943. After shakedown operations along the west coast, she departed for the Pacific combat zone in October 1943. A month later, she took part in the Gilbert Islands invasion as part of the screen for U.S. escort aircraft carriers. She performed a similar mission during the Marshalls operation during January and February 1944, also providing gunfire support during landings on Eniwetok. Hoel was based in the south Pacific from March 1944, escorting convoys, performing anti-submarine patrols and serving with the escort carriers of the Third and Seventh Fleets. She also participated in the Peleliu invasion during September 1944.
Hoel continued to operate with escort carriers during the invasion of Leyte in October 1944. When the Japanese Navy counter-attacked to produce the decisive Battle of Leyte Gulf, she was operating north of Leyte. A powerful enemy surface force encountered her task group east of Samar on the morning of 25 October, and Hoel and other destroyers valiantly attacked them with guns and torpedoes in order to cover the escort carriers' retreat. Though Hoel was sunk in this Battle off Samar, with the loss of nearly three-quarters of her crew, her sacrifice helped to save all but one of the escort carriers and to deflect the Japanese from their mission of attacking the Leyte invasion force.
USS Hoel was named in honor of Acting Volunteer Lieutenant Commander William R. Hoel, a hero of Western Rivers operations during the Civil War.
This page features, or provides links to, all the views we have related to USS Hoel (DD-533).
For post-August 1943 views related to this ship, see:
If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions." |
Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.
Photo #: NH 97895 USS Hoel (DD-533) Off San Francisco, California, 3 August 1943. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center. Online Image: 60KB; 740 x 615 pixels |
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Photo #: 19-N-49316 USS Hoel (DD-533) Off San Francisco, California, 3 August 1943, soon after commissioning. She was completed with three 20mm guns mounted just forward of her pilothouse structure. Note the blimp overhead. Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives. Online Image: 62KB; 740 x 590 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system. |
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Photo #: 19-N-49318 USS Hoel (DD-533) Off San Francisco, California, 3 August 1943. Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives. Online Image: 66KB; 740 x 595 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system. |
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Photo #: 19-N-49319 USS Hoel (DD-533) Off San Francisco, California, 3 August 1943. Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives. Online Image: 71KB; 740 x 595 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system. |
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Photo #: NH 97896 USS Hoel (DD-533) Off San Francisco, California, 3 August 1943. Note the ship's name painted on her stern. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center. Online Image: 68KB; 740 x 605 pixels |
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Photo #: 80-G-65436 USS Hoel (DD-533) Underway in San Francisco Bay, California, 7 August 1943. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. Online Image: 62KB; 740 x 610 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system. |
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Photo #: 80-G-65438 USS Hoel (DD-533) Underway in San Francisco Bay, California, 7 August 1943. The city of San Francisco and the Bay Bridge are in the background. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. Online Image: 70KB; 740 x 605 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system. |
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Photo #: 80-G-65441 USS Hoel (DD-533) Underway in San Francisco Bay, California, 7 August 1943. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. Online Image: 76KB; 595 x 765 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system. |
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For post-August 1943 views related to this ship, see:
If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions." |
Page made 3 March 2002