USS Wilkes (DD-441) was a commissioned in the United States Navy from 1941 to 1946. After spending several decades in the reserve fleet, the destroyer was scrapped in 1972. History Construction Wilkes was the third ship of the U.S. Navy to be named for Charles Wilkes, who was an American naval officer and explorer. She was laid down on 1 November 1939 by the Boston Navy Yard, launched on 31 May 1940; sponsored by Mrs. Bessie Wilkes Styer; and commissioned on 22 April 1941. Initial operations Wilkes was ready for sea on 1 June 1941 and then conducted shakedown training off the New England coast. The destroyer arrived in Bermuda on 24 August and helped to screen the battleships and on their shakedown cruises in the Caribbean. She departed Bermuda on 9 September and, two days later, arrived back in Boston for a brief availability, setting sail on 25 September for Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and four days of training. Wilkes left Cuban waters and, on 2 October, arrived at Hampton Roads, Virginia, three days later. During the remainder of October, Wilkes visited Gravesend Bay, New York, Casco Bay, Maine; and Provincetown, Massachusetts. On 2 November, the destroyer arrived at NS Argentia, Newfoundland, briefly escorted , and made rendezvous with , which had just survived two torpedo hits, and escorted the damaged oiler to Cape Sable, Nova Scotia. On 28 November, Wilkes departed Cape Sable escorting Convoy HX 162. During the destroyer's passage to Iceland, Japanese naval aircraft attacked the Pacific Fleet's base at Pearl Harbor, pushing the United States into full participation in World War II. The convoy reached its destination the next day, and Wilkes spent the rest of December escorting convoys from Argentia, Newfoundland, to Hvalfjörður and Reykjavík, Iceland. Wilkes returned to Boston where she refueled, took on provisions, and remained through the holiday season. 1942 On 1 January 1942, the destroyer got underway and the following day arrived at Casco Bay, Maine, where she conducted exercise runs. On 5 January, Wilkes departed Casco Bay in company with , , and , bound for Argentia, Newfoundland. She arrived two days later and, on the 10th, made rendezvous with Convoy HX 169, accompanying it for the next eight days. On 18 January, she was relieved as escort, and she set course for Northern Ireland with Madison, Roper, and Sturtevant. Three days later, she moored at Derry. On 25 January,