The damaged U.S. Navy destroyer USS <i>Nelson</i> (DD-623). Nelson was anchored in position No. 13 on the "Dixie Line" as part of the screen around the Omaha beachhead, Normandy (France), on the night of 12 June 1944. At 01:05 hrs on the 13th she made a radar contact, challenged the contact by flashing light, and opened fire. The destroyer had fired ten salvos when a torpedo from the German motor torpedo boat <i>S 138</i> struck her just aft the No. 4 gun mount, blowing off the stern and No. 4 mount. 24 of her crew were killed or missing and nine wounded. After emergency repairs at Derry, Northern Ireland, where her No. 2 turret and torpedo tubes were removed as a weight saving/stability measure, the destroyer was towed to Boston where she received a new stern.
U.S. Department of the Navy. First Naval District. Office of the Assistant Chief of Staff for Administration. Office of the Historical Officer.
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