On 12 January 1943, while covering preliminary landings of U.S troops on Amchitka Island, in the Aleutians, the strong current in Constantine Harbor swept USS Worden onto a pinnacle rock. With her hull opened to the sea amidships, the destroyer was left aground and without power. Her sister ship, USS Dewey, attempted to tow her to safety, but the tow line broke. Worden was then twisted around by the current and left at the mercy of the waves. Her Commanding Officer ordered her abandoned, and small craft from the ships present began to remove her crew. Before this work could be completed, some of her men were cast overboard into the icy seas, and fourteen were lost. Worden gradually capsized to starboard, broke in two and sank.
This page features all the views we have related to the grounding and loss of USS Worden.
For other views related to this ship, see:
If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions." |
Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.
Photo #: 80-G-75600 Loss of USS Worden (DD-352) Worden aground in Constantine Harbor, during the occupation of Amchitka, Aleutian Islands, Alaska, on 12 January 1943. USS Dewey (DD-349), which unsuccessfully tried to tow Worden off, is standing by in the left center. The grounded ship later broached, broke in two and sank. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. Online Image: 138KB; 740 x 615 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system. |
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Photo #: 80-G-75598 Loss of USS Worden (DD-352) Worden aground in Constantine Harbor, during the occupation of Amchitka, Aleutian Islands, Alaska, on 12 January 1943. USS Dewey (DD-349) is standing by at right. After attempts to tow her off failed, the grounded ship broached, broke in two and sank. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. Online Image: 117KB; 740 x 610 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system. |
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Photo #: 80-G-75594 Loss of USS Worden (DD-352) Worden sinking after she went aground in Constantine Harbor, during the occupation of Amchitka, Aleutian Islands, Alaska, on 12 January 1943. Note oil spreading around the ship. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. Online Image: 109KB; 610 x 675 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system. |
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Photo #: 80-G-75591 Loss of USS Worden (DD-352) Boats removing Worden's crew, after she went aground in Constantine Harbor during the occupation of Amchitka, Aleutian Islands, Alaska, on 12 January 1943. USS Dewey (DD-349) is standing by in the foreground. Ship in the distance, in the upper right, is USS Arthur Middleton (AP-55). Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. Online Image: 110KB; 740 x 610 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system. |
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Photo #: 80-G-75586 Loss of USS Worden (DD-352) Worden being abandoned, after going aground in Constantine Harbor during the occupation of Amchitka, Aleutian Islands, Alaska, on 12 January 1943. Note men in the water near the landing craft in the foreground, and steam pouring from Worden's stacks and midships area. Fourteen of her crewmen were lost in the icy waters in this incident. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. Online Image: 88KB; 740 x 610 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system. |
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Photo #: 80-G-75577 Loss of USS Worden (DD-352) Worden capsized and broken in two after she went aground in Constantine Harbor, during the occupation of Amchitka, Aleutian Islands, Alaska, on 12 January 1943. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. Online Image: 148KB; 740 x 610 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system. |
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For other views related to this ship, see:
If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions." |
Page made 1 May 2002