USS Ward was laid down as a 1,247-long-ton (1,267 t) Wickes-class destroyer (designated DD-139) in the United States Navy during World War I, later converted to a high speed transport (designated APD-16) in World War II.

USS Ward (APD-16) on fire after she was hit by a "Kamikaze" in Ormoc Bay, Leyte, 7 December 1944. She sank later in the day. Exactly three years earlier, on the morning of 7 December 1941, while on patrol off Pearl Harbor, Ward fired the first shot of the Pacific War.

On December 7, Ward was patrolling off the entrance to Pearl Harbor when she encountered, attacked, and sank a Japanese Midget Submarine, which were the first shots of the Pacific War. Converted...

Ward sank at 1130 on 7 December 1944, in Ormoc Bay between Poro Island and Apali Point. Her name was struck from the Navy list on 20 January 1945. Ward earned one battle star for World War II services as a destroyer and eight as a fast transport.

USS Ward (DD 139, later APD-16) construction and launching at Mare Island Navy Yard, California. Shown: Starboard view in drydock, July 6, 1918. Launched on June 1, 1918, she was commissioned on July 24, 1918. Ward was redesignated as APD-16 in February 1943.

On July 17, 1943 embarks U.S. Marines from the 4th Raider Battalion on Guadalcanal then departs as part of a destroyer-transport convoy with USS Ward (APD-16), USS Kilty (DD-137), USS McKean (APD-5) and USS Waters (APD-8) for the seven hour voyage overnight to Enogai.

Dec 8, 2011 · USS Ward APD-16 burning after being hit by Kamikaze. Ward war was not over. She was converted to a Fast Transport and redesigned APD-16 in 1943. She participated in actions in the Solomons, New Guinea and the Philippines.

USS Ward was named in honor of Commander James H. Ward, USN, (1806-1861), the first U.S. Navy officer to be killed in action during the Civil War. This page features, and provides links to, selected views concerning USS Ward (Destroyer # 139, later DD-139 and APD-16).

USS Ward (DD-139) was a 1,247 long tons (1,267 t) Wickes-class destroyer in the United States Navy during World War I, later APD-16 (see High speed transport) in World War II. She fired the first American shot in World War II, when she engaged the …

The USS Ward (APD16) departed Leyte Gulf at 1330 6 December 1944 as part of The Ormoc Attack Group, Task Group 78.3, under command of Rear Admiral A.D. STRUBLE (CTG78.3) in the USS Hughes. The mission was to land elements of the 77 Division (Less one RCT), U. S. Army at Ormoc Bay in order to form a "Wedge" between the enemy forces in that area.