World War II Database

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ww2dbaseLaunched in Feb 1937, Craven conducted her first training in the Caribbean Sea and along the east coast of the United States, then spent some time in San Diego. In the first half of 1939, she participated in a fleet problem in the Caribbean Sea, but after the European War commenced she returned to the Pacific as an anti-submarine destroyer. During the attack on Pearl Harbor, she was out at sea along with carrier Enterprise between Wake and Pearl Harbor. She participated in raids on Japanese-held Marshalls, Gilberts, and Wake islands in Feb 1942, and conducted general convoy duties all across Central and South Pacific, including many missions escorting troop transports to Guadalcanal. On 6 and 7 Aug 1943, she was part of a task force sweeping Vella Gulf which sank three Japanese destroyers and damaged a cruiser. She later screened fleet carriers during landing missions against various Japanese island garrisons. She returned to Pearl Harbor on 11 Oct 1944 and had overhaul and training, then arrived at New York on 26 Jan 1945 for exercises and anti-submarine patrol. In May 1945, she transported government officials to Tangiers, then remained in the Mediterranean Sea for escort and training duties until end of the war. After some time in New York, San Diego, and Pearl Harbor after the war, she was decommissioned in 1946.

Destroyer Craven Interactive Map

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Craven Operational Timeline

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