United States Navy — Destroyer escort
USS Martin (DE-30) — service history
This is the full service history. For the vessel's particulars, photograph and specifications, see the entry.
In the words of the US Navy. The account below is reproduced verbatim from the Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, compiled by the Naval History and Heritage Command — a work of the United States Government, in the public domain, and the only text on this site not written here.
Before commissioning
(DE‑30: dp. 1,140; l. 289'5"; b. 35'1"; dr. 8'3"; s. 21 k.; cpl. 156; a. 3 3", 4 1.1", 9 20mm., 2 dct., 3 dcp., 1 dcp. (h.h.); cl. Evarts )
The first Martin, a screw tug, was retained a contraction of its former merchant name, James McMartin. The second Martin (DF‑30) was named for Luther Charles Martin, born 10 December 1903 in Indianapolis, Ind. He enrolled in the U.S. Naval Reserve 15 July 1920 to serve in an enlisted status until 4 November 1937 when he was appointed carpenter. Assigned to Astoria (CA‑34) on 5 November 1937, Carpenter Martin was killed in action on board the heavy cruiser in the South Pacific before she sank during the Battle of Savo Island, 9 August 1942.
Second World War 1939–1945
1942
Originally intended for lend lease to Britain, the second Martin (DE‑30) was laid down as BDE‑30 by Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, Calif., 26 November 1942; launched 18 May 1943; redesignated DE‑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 shakedown 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.
1944
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.
1945
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.
References
Every work this entry draws on. There are no numbered markers in the text above: what we hold is the provenance of the page — this history, this article, these photographs.
- History Martin II (DE-30) Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, Naval History and Heritage Command. A work of the United States Government, in the public domain — the only text on this site reproduced verbatim.
- Facts USS Martin (DE-30) Structured facts only — dates, dimensions, armament and fate. No wording is taken from it. Harvested 1 August 2026.
- Photograph USS Martin (DE-30) fitting out at the Mare Island Naval Shipyard on 2 July 1943 U.S. Navy — U.S. Navy Mare Island Naval Shipyard photo DE-29-4824-43 from Navsource.org — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
- Photograph Launch of USS Martin (DE-30) at Mare Island Naval Shipyard on 18 May 1943 U.S. Navy — U.S. Navy Mare Island Naval Shipyard photo [1] from Navsource.org — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons