Скачать или смотреть USS Edsall DD 219 - "The USN's Dancing Mouse"

USS Edsall (DD-219) met a tragic yet valiant end during the early days of the Pacific War. In one of history’s most remarkable David-versus-Goliath naval battles, she displayed elusive evasive maneuvers, which caused Japanese observers to refer to her as "The Dancing Mouse". On March 1st, 1942, she went toe to toe with 2 Japanese battleships and 2 heavy cruisers for almost a full 1 and a half before succumbing to a combined Japanese air and sea attack, approximately 200 miles east of Christmas Island. The surface ships fired a combined 1300 rounds of 14-inch and 8-inch gunfire at the destroyer, while she was attacked by 26 dive bombers. Edsall was awarded 2 battle stars for her World War 2 service. However, because there were no living US witnesses to Edsall’s last fight, there were no Medals of Honor, Navy Crosses or Presidential Unit Citations handed out for what was one of the most gallant and valorous actions in the history of the United States Navy.


Sources/Credits (photos):
Navsource, Naval History & Heritage Command, US Naval Institute, US National Archives


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