USS Cabana’s Seven Battle Stars Across the Pacific
USS Cabana wasn’t the biggest ship in the Pacific, but she packed a punch.
Built in Boston and launched in 1943, this destroyer escort quickly joined the war effort against Japan. From Pearl Harbor, she guarded vital supply ships during island invasions from the Marshalls to the Marianas.
Her hunter-killer groups tracked enemy subs while she screened invasion forces at Iwo Jima. After surviving countless patrols, Cabana proudly sailed into Tokyo Bay with occupation forces in September 1945.
The Boston Navy Yard where she was born now showcases these unsung heroes who earned an impressive seven battle stars.
This Little Ship Packed a Big Punch in the Pacific
The USS Cabana slid into the water at Boston Navy Yard on March 10, 1943, joining hundreds of other Evarts-class destroyer escorts built for the war.
The Navy put her to work on July 9, 1943, with the newest submarine-hunting gear. She left Norfolk on October 2, went through the Panama Canal, and reached Pearl Harbor by October 26.
The Navy sent her to join the Pacific Fleet, where she guarded tankers during attacks on Japanese spots in the Ellice and Gilbert Islands.
From Pearl Harbor to Japan’s Doorstep
Cabana left Pearl Harbor on January 28, 1944, with an important job – guarding transport ships carrying thousands of troops to Kwajalein atoll.
This was the first American attack on land Japan owned before the war.
The destroyer escort’s guns and sonar kept Japanese submarines away while 41,000 American troops landed. American forces took Kwajalein by February 7, giving the Navy a new base at Majuro lagoon.
Hunting the Hunters Under Pacific Waves
The Navy sent Cabana to join a hunter-killer group at Majuro through March and April 1944.
Her crew spent weeks checking the sea routes between the Marshall Islands and Hawaii, looking for Japanese submarines that might attack supply ships.
The 306-foot destroyer escort worked well for this job with her good range, sonar gear, and depth charges. Her crew watched around the clock, listening for the sound of submarines on their sonar.
Getting Ready for the Next Big Push
Cabana went back to Pearl Harbor in spring 1944 to get ready for Operation Forager – the huge attack on the Marianas Islands. The Navy needed these islands for new airfields that could put B-29 bombers closer to Japan.
They gave Cabana several jobs: gun support, radar watching, and escort work. The operation used 535 ships and 127,000 troops – the biggest beach landing yet in the Pacific war.
Her Guns Blazed at Saipan
The attack on Saipan started on June 15, 1944, with Cabana firing her guns to help the Marines fighting on shore. Her 3-inch guns hit Japanese spots along the coast and backed up Marine units as they moved inland.
The Japanese fought hard, with 30,000 men battling the Americans for three rough weeks. Cabana stayed in place, firing her guns whenever troops on land called for help.
Radar Eyes Watched for Danger at Guam and Tinian
Cabana moved on to protect ships during the Guam attack that began July 21, 1944. She took radar watch duty, looking for Japanese planes that might attack the ships.
When American forces hit Tinian on July 24, Cabana helped there too, finishing the capture of all main islands in the Marianas. These wins gave American forces bases just 1,500 miles from Japan.
By October, B-29 bombers started flying from the new Marianas airfields.
The Southern Palaus Needed Protection Too
The small warship got to Guadalcanal on September 18, 1944, to pick up another convoy job. She guarded ships carrying the 1st Marine Division to Peleliu in the southern Palau Islands.
The Marines landed on September 15 and met strong resistance from 11,000 Japanese troops hiding in caves. Cabana patrolled offshore, guarding the supply ships that kept the Marines fed and armed during the long battle.
She Stood Guard Off Bloody Iwo Jima
Cabana sailed from Pearl Harbor on February 11, 1945, guarding ships carrying more troops for the Iwo Jima fight. The main attack had started on February 19 with 70,000 Marines hitting the beaches.
From March 7-20, Cabana patrolled the waters off Iwo, protecting supply ships and hospital vessels from Japanese submarines and suicide planes. The enemy threw everything they had at the American fleet.
Keeping the Big Fleet Fueled and Armed
After a quick fix-up, Cabana joined Third Fleet ships at Ulithi and Guam on July 17, 1945. The Navy put her with Service Squadron Ten, the huge floating supply group that kept the fleet fighting.
She guarded tankers, ammo ships, and supply vessels that helped the carrier task forces attacking Japan.
This supply group let American carriers stay at sea for months, hitting Japanese targets without going back to port.
Victory Came With a Trip to Tokyo Bay
Throughout July and August 1945, Cabana kept guarding the supply groups during the final push against Japan. She protected tankers supporting the Third Fleet carrier planes that bombed Japanese cities and bases.
The war ended suddenly on August 15 when Japan gave up after atomic bombs hit Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Cabana entered Tokyo Bay on September 20, bringing in tankers to refuel the ships there.
Seven Stars for a Ship That Never Quit
The Navy awarded Cabana seven battle stars for her Pacific service, an impressive total that few destroyer escorts could match.
She earned these stars for operations in the Marshalls, Marianas, Western Carolines, Iwo Jima, and other campaigns. Most ships of her class received only 2-4 battle stars during the entire war.
Cabana left Japan in November 1945 and sailed back to San Diego through Pearl Harbor. The Navy decommissioned her on January 9, 1946, after 30 months of non-stop wartime service.
The little ship had traveled thousands of miles and helped win the Pacific war.
Visiting USS Cabana, Boston
You can visit USS Cassin Young at 21 Second Avenue in Charlestown Navy Yard to learn about destroyer escorts like USS Cabana that earned battle stars fighting Japanese submarines in the Pacific.
The Navy Yard grounds are free to enter daily, but you need photo ID for the security checkpoint if you’re 18 or older. Take destroyer tours May 24-October 13 on Wednesday-Sunday at 11am, 2pm, or 3pm.
The MBTA ferry stops at Pier 4 for easy waterfront access.
This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.
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