USS Kearny (DD-432), a Gleaves-class destroyer, was a United States Navy warship during World War II. She was noted for being torpedoed by a German U-boat in October 1941, before the U.S. had entered the war. She survived that attack, and later served in North Africa and the Mediterranean. She was named for Commodore Lawrence Kearny (1789–1868). Early history Kearny was launched 9 March 1940, by the Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Company in Kearny, New Jersey, sponsored by Miss Mary Kearny. She was commissioned on 13 September 1940. After shakedown and sea trials, Kearny got underway 19 February 1941, from New York Harbor for St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, where she took part in the Neutrality Patrol off Fort de France, Martinique, French West Indies, until 9 March. The new destroyer patrolled around San Juan, Puerto Rico, and escorted ships in the Norfolk area until August when she sailed for NS Argentia, Newfoundland, to escort North Atlantic convoys. Convoys escorted Kearny incident On October 17, 1941, while the U.S. was still officially neutral in World War II, Kearny was docked at Reykjavík in Iceland, whose occupation had been taken over from the Allies by the Americans in July that year. A "wolfpack" of German U-boats attacked a nearby British convoy, and overwhelmed her Canadian escorts. Kearny and three other U.S. destroyers were summoned to assist. Immediately on reaching the action, Kearny dropped depth charges on the U-boats, and continued to barrage throughout the night. This action was specifically cited as a provocation in Hitler's declaration of war on the U.S. two months later. At the beginning of the midwatch 17 October, a torpedo fired by struck Kearny on the starboard side, killing 11 and injuring 22 others. The crew confined flooding to the forward fire room, enabling the ship to get out of the danger zone with power from the aft engine and fire room. Regaining power in the forward engine room, Kearny steamed to Iceland at , arriving 19 October. After temporary repairs Kearny got underway Christmas Day 1941, and moored six days later at Boston, Massachusetts, for permanent repairs. The survival of Kearny led to renewed support for split fire rooms and engine rooms in naval vessels. Later history From 5 April to 28 September 1942, Kearny escorted convoys to Great Britain, the Panama Canal, and Galveston, Texas. Late in September, she was assigned to the North African invasion.