USS Mayrant (DD-402)

USS Mayrant (DD-402)

USS Mayrant (DD-402) was a Benham-class destroyer of the United States Navy. The Benham class shared the same hull and torpedo-heavy design philosophy as the Bagley class, carrying sixteen 21-inch torpedo tubes. Ten ships were built between 1938 and 1940. They served in both the Atlantic and Pacific theaters during World War II.

Named for Captain John Mayrant, who served under John Paul Jones aboard USS Bonhomme Richard during the battle with HMS Serapis and was wounded in the action, USS Mayrant was built by Boston Navy Yard, Charlestown, Massachusetts and commissioned in September 1939. Severely damaged during the invasion of Sicily on 26 July 1943 when a German bomb hit near her forward engine room, killing two men and breaking her keel. Mayrant was towed to port and repaired. Returned to service and participated in the Normandy invasion on D-Day, 6 June 1944, providing fire support on the beaches of northern France.

USS Mayrant earned 6 battle stars for service in: Atlantic convoy escort, Operation Torch, Sicily, Salerno, Normandy. Decommissioned October 1945. Sold for scrap March 1948.

This collection features apparel and merchandise honoring USS Mayrant (DD-402) and the men who served aboard her. 1,657 tons standard displacement. 341 feet in length. Four 5"/38 caliber dual-purpose guns. Sixteen 21-inch torpedo tubes in four quadruple mounts. Top speed 38.5 knots. Crew of 184.