The USS Buck (DD-420) was a Sims-class destroyer built for the United States Navy and launched on May 22, 1939, at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard. Commissioned on May 15, 1940, she displayed typical wartime specifications of her class, designed for versatility in convoy escort, patrol, and combat roles. The ship’s dimensions, armament, and propulsion details align with the Sims-class standards, although specific measurements are not provided in the source. Constructed at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, Buck participated initially with the Atlantic Fleet before transitioning to the Pacific Fleet in early 1941. Her early service included convoy escort duties between Iceland and the United States, notably carrying the US 1st Provisional Marine Brigade to Reykjavík, Iceland. During her wartime service, Buck primarily performed convoy escort missions across the Atlantic and into the Mediterranean, protecting merchant ships from enemy attack, and engaging in patrol and screening operations. A significant incident occurred on August 22, 1942, off Nova Scotia, when Buck was struck on her starboard side by the troop transport Awatea during dense fog, resulting in the breaking of her keel and a severe hull breach that sliced through her fantail. The collision caused the deaths of seven sailors and left Buck damaged with her starboard propeller wrecked and her port propeller damaged. Despite extensive damage, Buck was towed to Boston for repairs, which lasted until November 1942, after which she resumed convoy escort duties. In 1943, Buck was assigned to the Mediterranean, participating in Operation Husky, the Allied invasion of Sicily. During this campaign, she conducted bombardments, screening, and patrol duties, including engaging and sinking the Italian submarine Argento on August 3, 1943, capturing most of her crew. Later, in support of Operation Avalanche—the landings at Salerno—Buck patrolled off the coast until she was ambushed by German U-boat U-616 on October 9, 1943. The torpedo attack caused her to flood and sink within minutes, with 97 survivors rescued afterward. Throughout her service, USS Buck earned three battle stars for her wartime contributions, exemplifying her role in convoy escort and naval operations during critical campaigns in 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.