destroyers , , , and departing from Darwin to Surabaya escorting the transport Bloemfontein. That transport had been part of the Pensacola Convoy and had left Brisbane 30 December 1941 with Army reinforcements composed of the 26th Field Artillery Brigade and Headquarters Battery, the 1st Battalion, 131st Field Artillery and supplies from that convoy destined for Java. In February Barker took part in the abortive attempts to stem the Japanese advance into the Dutch East Indies. She participated in the anti-aircraft actions off Bali (4 February 1942) and Banka Island (15 February). Barker was damaged by near misses in the action of 15 February, and required emergency repairs. She retired to Exmouth Gulf, Australia, arriving 19 February for repair and overhaul. Between March and May 1942, Barker operated out of Fremantle, Australia, on patrol and escort duty. She then sailed to Tongatapu where she arrived 24 May. Remaining there until 29 June, she then proceeded to Pearl Harbor via Samoa and New Caledonia. In August, she proceeded to Mare Island Navy Yard where she underwent overhaul. Between October 1942 and May 1943, Barker escorted convoys between San Francisco, California and Pearl Harbor. She departed San Diego 23 May 1943 for the east coast, arriving at Casco Bay, Maine, 2 June. On 27 June, as a member of the hunter killer TG 21.12 (Core group), she departed New York to search for enemy submarines in the Atlantic. When was sunk by aircraft from on 13 July, Barker rescued 33 survivors. Returning to New York on 1 August, Barker departed with the Group on another anti-submarine sweep on 16 August. On 24 August Cores aircraft found and sank and . Barker rescued 36 survivors of U-185 and 9 from U-604 Between 6 September 1943 and 1 October 1944, Barker made two trans-Atlantic convoy escort crossings to England and four to North Africa. The remainder of Barkers active service was performed as a convoy escort in the Caribbean, to Newfoundland, and along the eastern seaboard of the United States. She arrived at Philadelphia 4 June 1945, was decommissioned 18 July, and sold 30 November 1945. Awards Barker received two battle stars for her participation in World War II. As of 2013, no other US Navy ship has been named Barker. References External links Clemson-class destroyers World War II destroyers of the United States Ships built by William Cramp & Sons 1919 ships