page_title: USS Glennon (DD-620)
section_title: Invasion of Normandy and sinking
hierarchical_section_title: USS Glennon (DD-620) / Service history / Invasion of Normandy and sinking
caption_attribution_description: The U.S. Navy destroyer USS Glennon (DD-620), at right, after her stern was blown off by a mine, off Normandy, France, on 8 June 1944. The destroyer escort USS Rich (DE-695), a U.S. PT boat, a British motor launch, and a U.S. Auk-class minesweeper are standing by. Rich soon hit another mine, which also destroyed her stern, and was then sunk by a third mine. Glennon was sunk by shore batteries two days later.
context_page_description: USS Glennon (DD-620) was a Gleaves-class destroyer, the first ship of the United States Navy to be named for Rear Admiral James H. Glennon, who was a recipient of the Navy Cross.
context_section_description: Assigned to Assault Force "U" of the Western Naval Task Force, she arrived in the Baie de la Seine, France, on 6 June.  After patrolling around the bombardment group for submarines and fast German torpedo boats, she joined in gunfire support of troops ashore.
  On 7 June, she hurled in 430 5-inch (127 mm) shells ashore in support of troops advancing north toward Quinéville.  Under command of Commander Clifford A. Johnson, she was again approaching her gunfire support station at 08:30, 8 June, when her stern struck a mine.  A whaleboat picked up survivors while minesweepers Staff and Threat arrived on the scene, one passing a towline while the other swept ahead of the damaged destroyer. The destroyer escort Rich closed in the wake of the minesweepers to assist, then felt a heavy explosion as she slowly rounded Glennon's stern to clear the area.  Minutes later a second explosion blew off a 50-foot (15 m) section of Rich's stern, followed by a third mine explosion under her forecastle. Rich sank within 15 minutes of the first explosion.
  The minesweeper Staff found she could not budge Glennon, whose stern seemed to be firmly anchored to the bottom by her starboard propeller.  Most of her crew boarded Staff, and those remaining on Glennon lightened her stern by pumping fuel forward and jettisoning depth charges and topside gear. On 9 June, salvage equipment was assembled, and some 60 officers and men of Glennon came back on board. The following morning, just as Cdr. Johnson was preparing to resume efforts to save his ship, a German shore battery near Quinéville found her range.  A second salvo hit Glennon amidships and cut off all power. After a third hit, Cdr. Johnson ordered his crew to abandon ship and the men were taken off in a landing craft. Glennon floated until 21:45, 10 June 1944, then rolled over and sank (location: 49°31′15″N 001°09′16″W).  She suffered 25 lost and 38 wounded.
  Glennon was awarded two battle stars for services in World War II.
caption: Glennon after hitting a mine on 8 June 1944.
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