The USS Helm (DD-388) was a Bagley-class destroyer built for the United States Navy, launched on 27 May 1937 by the Norfolk Navy Yard and commissioned on 16 October 1937 under Lt. Comdr. P. H. Talbot. As a Bagley-class vessel, she measured approximately 348 feet in length, with a beam of around 36 feet, and displaced about 1,525 tons standard. Designed for versatility, Helm was equipped with multiple guns, torpedo tubes, and anti-aircraft defenses suitable for fleet screening, patrol, and combat operations. Throughout her service, Helm operated initially in the Caribbean and along the West Coast, becoming actively engaged in World War II Pacific theater operations after the attack on Pearl Harbor. Notably, she was the only ship underway at the start of the Pearl Harbor attack on December 7, 1941, manning her guns and shooting down at least one attacking aircraft while sustaining minor damage from near misses. Helm also participated in rescue missions, including evacuating Department of the Interior workers from Howland and Baker islands in January 1942, and rescued survivors from sunken ships during the Battle of the Coral Sea. Helm's combat record is distinguished by her participation in pivotal battles, such as the Guadalcanal campaign, where she screened transports under heavy Japanese attack, and the Battle of Savo Island, where she responded to the sinking of Allied cruisers. She also played a significant role in the Battle of the Philippine Sea, helping to sink Japanese carriers during the "Marianas Turkey Shoot," and participated in the Battle of Leyte Gulf, assisting in sinking Japanese ships and defending the invasion fleet from kamikaze attacks. Her service included extensive escort, screening, and shore bombardment duties across the Pacific, supporting amphibious landings at Guadalcanal, New Britain, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa. Decommissioned on 26 June 1946, Helm was used as a target during Operation Crossroads atomic tests and was subsequently sold for scrapping in 1947. Her distinguished service earned her 11 battle stars, marking her as a significant vessel in the Pacific theater during World War II.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.