USS Badger (DD–126) was a United States Navy Wickes-class destroyer in commission from 1919 to 1922 and from 1930 to 1945. She saw service during World War II. She was named for Commodore Oscar C. Badger.

Construction and commissioning

Badger was launched on 24 August 1918 by the New York Shipbuilding Corporation at Camden, New Jersey, sponsored by Mrs. Henry F. Bryan, granddaughter of Commodore Badger. She was commissioned on 29 May 1919.

Service history

Pre-World War II

Following her commissioning, Badger reported to the United States Atlantic Fleet. She steamed to the Mediterranean, where she cruised until August 1919. Upon her return to the United States East Coast, she was assigned to the United States Pacific Fleet, arriving at San Diego, California, in September 1919. She served at various naval bases on the United States West Coast until May 1922, when she was decommissioned.

Upon recommissioning in January 1930, Badger served with the Battle Force and Scouting Force in the Pacific. In April 1933, she returned to the Atlantic and thereafter participated in coastal cruises and reserve training. From 1938 to 1939, she operated with Special Squadron 4 based at Villefranche-sur-Mer, France. Upon her return to Norfolk, Virginia, she joined Destroyer Division 53, Patrol Force, with additional summer assignments to the Midshipmen Coastal Cruise Detachment.

From March to April 1941, Badger was refitted to better equip her for escort duties. Her gun armament and two triple mounts of torpedo tubes were removed, replaced by six 3"/50 caliber dual-purpose guns. Two triple torpedo tube mounts were retained, and an improved anti-submarine armament of 24 depth charges was fitted.[2][3]

World War II

The United States entered World War II on 7 December 1941. Between December 1941 and October 1944, Badger operated as a convoy escort in the Atlantic and Caribbean. Twice she escorted convoys to North Africa (15 October – 28 November 1943 and 15 February – 24 March 1944), and for a brief period (27 June – 1 September 1943) she served as a unit of anti-submarine hunter-killer groups, Task Groups 21.12 and 21.16.

In October 1944, Badger transited the Panama Canal and conducted anti submarine training in the Gulf of Panama off Balboa, Panama Canal Zone. Between 15 November 1944 and 20 June 1945, Badger served with the Anti-Submarine Development Detachment, Port Everglades, Florida, conducting anti-submarine warfare development exercises.

Decommissioning and disposal

Badger arrived at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on 22 June 1945 and was decommissioned on 20 July 1945. She was sold on 30 November 1945 for scrapping.

Awards

 American Defense Service Medal

Bronze star European–African–Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with one battle star for World War II service

 World War II Victory Medal

Badger received her battle star while operating with Task Group 21.12 in 1943.

Convoys escorted

Convoy Escort Group Dates Notes

ON 26 20-29 Oct 1941[4] 33 ships escorted without loss from Iceland to Newfoundland prior to US declaration of war

HX 159 10-19 Nov 1941[5] 32 ships escorted without loss from Newfoundland to Iceland prior to US declaration of war

ON 39 29 Nov-4 Dec 1941[4] 35 ships escorted without loss from Iceland to Newfoundland prior to US declaration of war

HX 166 21-31 Dec 1941[5] 33 ships escorted without loss from Newfoundland to Iceland

ON 53 9-19 Jan 1942[4] 26 ships escorted without loss from Iceland to Newfoundland

HX 174 9-17 Feb 1942[5] 27 ships escorted without loss from Newfoundland to Iceland

SC 71 5 March 1942[6] Iceland shuttle

SC 77 11–14 April 1942[6] Iceland shuttle

SC 79 21 April 1942[6] Iceland shuttle

ON 91 1–5 May 1942[4] Iceland shuttle

SC 81 5 May 1942[6] Iceland shuttle

SC 83 17 May 1942[6] Iceland shuttle

SC 85 7 June 1942[6] Iceland shuttle

HX 194 22 June 1942[5] Iceland shuttle

SC 89 29 June 1942[6] Iceland shuttle

ON 112 14–17 July 1942[4] Iceland shuttle

SC 91 19 July 1942[6] Iceland shuttle

HX 212 MOEF group A3 23 Oct-1 Nov 1942[5] from Newfoundland to Northern Ireland; 5 ships torpedoed & sunk

ON 145 MOEF group A3 10-18 Nov 1942[4] from Northern Ireland to Iceland; 3 ships torpedoed (1 sank)

ON 144 19-22 Nov 1942[4] Iceland shuttle

SC 111 MOEF group A3 2-16 Dec 1942[6] 20 ships escorted without loss from Newfoundland to Northern Ireland

ON 156 MOEF group A3 24 Dec 1942-8 Jan 1943[4] 19 ships escorted without loss from Northern Ireland to Newfoundland

UGS 11 14–19 July 1943[7] 59 ships escorted without loss from Chesapeake Bay to Mediterranean Sea

UGS 15 Support Group with USS Core 27 August-2 September 1943[7] 50 ships escorted without loss from Chesapeake Bay to Mediterranean Sea

UGS 21 Support Group with USS Block Island 15–18 October 1943[7] 67 ships escorted without loss from Chesapeake Bay to Mediterranean Sea

GUS 20 Support Group with USS Block Island 13–14 November 1943[8] 78 ships escorted without loss from Mediterranean Sea to Chesapeake Bay

UGS 23 Support Group with USS Block Island 14–19 November 1943[7] 51 ships escorted without loss from Chesapeake Bay to Mediterranean Sea

GUS 32 7–23 March 1944[8] 91 ships escorted without loss from Mediterranean Sea to Chesapeake Bay