USS Collett (DD-730) refueling from USS Massachusetts (BB-59) on April 18, 1945

USS Collett (DD-730) alongside USS Massachusetts (BB-59) to refuel on April 18, 1945, while steaming with Task Group 58.1 off Okinawa. When Collett commenced fueling from Massachusetts on the morning of April 18, 1945, it was a day like any other while screening the carriers of Task Force 58. However, shortly after taking her communication relay station, she was ordered to rendezvous with USS Mertz (DD-691) to the scene of a submarine contact. USS Heermann (DD-532) and USS McCord (DD-534) were already on the scene, and after relieving them, the two began making single runs on the contact. After Collett’s fourth run, Mertz reported debris and an oil slick; the sunken sub would later be identified as the Japanese submarine I-56.

Footage (428-NPC-11448): https://catalog.archives.gov/id/2518991
USS COLLETT War Diary 4/1-30/45: https://catalog.archives.gov/id/13999...
USS MASSACHUSETTS War Diary 11/12/44 to 12/31/45 (EugeneLeeSlover.com): https://eugeneleeslover.com/USNAVY/US...
USS COLLETT Rep of action & sinking of enemy submarine southeast of the Ryukyu Islands 4/18/45: https://catalog.archives.gov/id/77485...