USS Hambleton

Samuel Hambleton was born in 1777 in Talbot County, Md. Entering the Navy as a Purser 6 December 1806, he served as Acting Lieutenant in Lawrence during the battle of Lake Erie in the War of 1812. Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry commended Hambleton for gallant conduct in encouraging his men and personally working a gun until severely wounded. Until 1832 Purser Hambleton served actively in the Navy, attached to Java and Columbus during Mediterranean cruises and to John Adams and Erie in the West Indies. With the exception of a tour of duty at the Philadelphia Navy Yard from 1843 to 1845, Hambleton remained on leave or waiting order from 1832 until his death 17 January 1851 in Talbot County.

Hambleton (DD-455) was laid down by the Federal Shipbuilding & Drydock Co., Kearney, N.J., 16 December 1940, launched 26 September 1941; sponsored by Mrs. Nannie Hambleton Martin, great grandniece of Samuel Hambleton; and commissioned 22 December 1941, Cmdr. Forrest Close in command.

Departing Norfolk 31 January 1942, in company with her sister ship Emmons, Hambleton began a shakedown, unique in wartime, that took her through the Panama Canal to Callao, Peru; Valparaiso, Chile; Guayaquil, Ecuador; Cartagena, Colombia; and Balboa, C.Z. She was diverted for antisubmarine search north of Cuba in early March and on 15 March 1942 rescued six men on a life raft who had survived the torpedoing of SS Ceibra. After antisubmarine patrol along the East Coast and intensive training in Casco Bay, Maine, Hambleton sailed as escort to Augusta, and Ranger 14 April. Reaching Africa's Gold Coast 10 May, Ranger launched her cargo of P-40 fighter planes for the North African fighting and headed back to the West Indies. In heavy rain and low visibility 17 May Hambleton collided with Ellyson (DD-454) and had to proceed to San Juan and then Charleston for repairs.

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From the Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, compiled by the Naval History and Heritage Command (Hambleton (DD-455)). A work of the United States Government, in the public domain.