USS Perry ( DD - 340 ) The third USS " Perry " ( DD - 340 / DMS - 17 ) was a " Clemson " - class destroyer in the United States Navy following World War I . She was one of eight ships named for Oliver Hazard Perry . History . " Perry " was laid down 15 September 1920 at the Mare Island Navy Yard , Vallejo , California ; launched 29 October 1921 ; sponsored by Miss Anne R . Scudder ; and commissioned 7 August 1922 , Lt . Richard H . Booth in command . " Perry " operated out of San Diego until 17 January 1923 . Then decommissioned , she remained in reserve until recommissioned 1 April 1930 . Operations off California were followed in late summer by a cruise to Alaska with members of the US Senate embarked for an inspection trip . Squadron , fleet and joint Army – Navy – Coast Guard exercises in the eastern Pacific , the Caribbean and the western Atlantic filled her schedule for the next decade . On 2 April 1940 , " Perry " departed San Diego , California for her new homeport , Pearl Harbor escorting the Arizona . For the next five months she patrolled in Hawaiian waters , then in October , entered the naval shipyard at Pearl Harbor for conversion to a high speed minesweeper . Redesignated DMS – 17 , effective 19 November 1940 , she joined MinRon 2 at Pearl Harbor in January 1941 . In late spring , she sailed back to San Diego , whence , on 1 July , she departed to escort USS Arizona to Pearl Harbor . On 7 December 1941 , " Perry " was moored at Pearl Harbor . Shortly after the Japanese attack she got underway and , having shot down a plane , took up patrol and minesweeping duties in the approaches to the harbor entrance . She continued offshore patrols until 31 May 1942 , and then sailed east to California . Alterations at Mare Island followed and on 31 July , she departed , as convoy escort , for Pearl Harbor . From Hawaii , she steamed to Kodiak to assist in the Aleutian Islands campaign . For the next year , until after the retaking of Kiska , 15 August 1943 , " Perry " performed minesweeping and rescue missions and escorted troop and supply convoys in the foggy waters of the north Pacific . On 8 September , " Perry " departed Adak and sailed south . Stopping first in Hawaii , she continued on to San Francisco for repairs . Back at Pearl Harbor 27 November , she joined the 5th Fleet , then staging for the Marshall Islands campaign . On 31 January 1944 , she arrived off Kwajalein and took up antisubmarine station in the transport area . She departed that atoll five days later , escorted troopships to Noumea , conducted sweeping operations in the Solomons , and then , on 3 April , sailed with MinRon 2 for New Guinea . Three days later , she joined the 7th Fleet at Milne Bay . In mid - month she got underway , with TG 77 . 3 and , acting as ocean escort and antisubmarine screen , arrived with that group off Aitape on the 22nd . Prior to the assault there , she swept between Tamara and Alli Islands , and then took up antisubmarine patrol and shore bombardment duties . " Perry " remained in New Guinea waters until 6 May , when she steamed east to rejoin the 5th Fleet in the Solomons and prepare for the invasion of the Marianas . Assigned to TG 51 . 17 , " Perry " arrived off Saipan and commenced sweeping operations 13 June , under cover from the battleship s of TF 58 . Completing sweeping operations the following day , she resumed screening duties in the forward area , maintaining as much protection as possible for the transports off the assault beaches through the landings and the Battle of the Philippine Sea . On 26 June , she departed Saipan for Eniwetok , from where she sailed , with TG 53 . 1 , for Guam . Between the 14th and the 20th she screened vessels delivering the preinvasion bombardment ; then , as troops were landed on the 21st , joined the screen of the fire support units . Prior to departing the Marianas , five days later , " Perry " participated in the shelling of Rota , then returned to Guam , from where she sailed , the same day , for Eniwetok in the transport screen . Further exercises in the Solomons preceded her next , and last , assignment , the Palau invasion . On 6 September MinRon 2 sortied from Florida Island . On the 12th they reached their objective and the units commenced sweeping operations off Pelelieu Island . At 0811 , a mine explosion destroyed " Perry ' s " port sweep gear . By 1028 she had replaced the gear and was back in formation to continue operations until early afternoon . That night she carried out antisubmarine patrols and early the next morning , 13 September , resumed her sweeping mission . At 1418 , off Anguar , a violent underwater explosion , starboard side amidships , shook the ship . All steam to her main engines was lost and the forward fireroom was demolished and flooded . Steam and oil sprayed in all directions and the ship took on a 30 ’ list to port . The list increased and , at 1420 , the commanding officer ordered “ abandon ship ” . With the aid of final attempts to save the vessel were made , but , at 1515 , all remaining personnel were ordered off . At 1605 , " Perry " capsized . She broke in two at the point of damage and , at 1607 , sank in 40 fathoms of water . " Perry " ( DMS – 17 ) earned 6 battle star s during World War II . The wreck of " Perry " was found on 1 May 2000 . In December 2003 , a diver , Michael Norwood , died while filming on the wreck for the television show " Deep Sea Detectives " . See and for other ships of this name .