USS Fanning (DD-385) was a Mahan-class destroyer, in the United States Navy named for Nathaniel Fanning. Her first action was during World War II, immediately following the 7 December 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor. Fanning continued to serve in the Pacific Theatre throughout the war, and was decommissioned 14 December 1945. She was one of the last Mahan-class destroyers. Fanning and USS Dunlap were built from the same basic Mahan design but slightly modified. Some sources refer to them as the Dunlap-class destroyers.
History
Fanning was launched 18 September 1936 by United Shipyards, Inc., New York City; sponsored by Miss Cora A. Marsh, great-great granddaughter of Lieutenant Fanning; and commissioned 8 October 1937.
Trials, fitting out, shakedown, and minor repairs occupied Fanning until 22 April 1938 when she joined Philadelphia (CL-41) at Annapolis, Maryland, to escort the cruiser as she carried Franklin D. Roosevelt, President of the United States on a Caribbean cruise. After returning to New York on 11 May, she underwent overhaul, escorted MS Kungsholm with Gustaf VI Adolf, the Crown Prince of Sweden, embarked, then sailed for the west coast to join the Battle Force in September. Based in San Diego, California, the destroyer conducted antiaircraft gunnery, antisubmarine, and tactical exercises. In the next 3 years, Fannings schedule took her back to the Atlantic once and to Hawaii several times, all the while enhancing her battle readiness.
1941
The attack on Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941 found Fanning at sea with TF 8 returning to Pearl Harbor from Wake Island where Enterprise (CV-6) had delivered the squadron of Marine Corps fighter planes which became Wake's only airborne defense. The force made a search, refueled at Pearl Harbor on 8 December, and the following day sortied to hunt submarines. They made several contacts. Aircraft from Enterprise sank Japanese submarine I-70 on 10 December in . Fanning sailed from Pearl Harbor with TF 8 on 19 December to relieve Wake Island, however, the island fell before help could arrive, and the reinforcements were delivered to Midway.
1942
In mid-January 1942 while underway for Tutuila, she encountered a blinding rainstorm during which she collided with Gridley (DD-380), badly damaging both ships. After emergency repairs at Pago Pago, she returned to Pearl Harbor where her bow was restored.
She was part of TF 16 which sailed on 8 April 1942 to rendezvous with TF 18. This combined force, commanded by Vice Admiral William F. Halsey, Jr., and carrying the Doolittle raiders, was charged with launching the first American offensive against the Japanese homeland. Returning safely to Pearl Harbor on 25 April after the successful mission, she escorted an Army tug to Canton Island and returned to San Francisco for needed repairs.
The destroyer made two voyages along the west coast and escorted three convoys to Pearl Harbor before 12 November when she joined TF 11 for duty in the Solomon Islands. The rest of the year was spent in convoy and patrol among the islands.
1943
In January 1943 she deployed with TF 11 against the Japanese on Guadalcanal. From 20 to 25 February she assisted TF 64 in supporting an occupation force on the Russell Islands, participated in exercises and patrol, and steamed with TG 36.3 to afford protection to troops occupying Munda Island.
In September she escorted a transport convoy from Noumea to Guadalcanal. Late in the month she got underway with Case (DD-370), McCall (DD-400), and Craven (DD-382) for San Francisco and a period of overhaul. She completed the year in patrol and in training and exercise operations off the Aleutian Islands.
1944
On 19 January 1944 Fanning sailed with TG-58.4 for operations in the Marshalls where planes from Saratoga (CV-3) struck at Wotje, Taroa, Utirik, and Rongelap with a 4-day uninterrupted bombardment of Eniwetok which precursed a later all-out attack. For the remainder of the month Fanning and other units of the escort group shuttled between Kwajalein and Eniwetok, making 25 strikes in 19 days, and providing support for the amphibious landings on the latter island.