Keywords: Damaged stern of USS Nelson (DD-623) in June 1944.jpg The damaged U S Navy destroyer USS Nelson DD-623 Nelson was anchored in position No 13 on the Dixie Line as part of the screen around the Omaha beachhead Normandy France on the night of 12 June 1944 At 01 05 hrs on the 13th she made a radar contact challenged the contact by flashing light and opened fire The destroyer had fired ten salvos when a torpedo from the German motor torpedo boat S 138 struck her just aft the No 4 gun mount blowing off the stern and No 4 mount 24 of her crew were killed or missing and nine wounded After emergency repairs at Derry Northern Ireland where her No 2 turret and torpedo tubes were removed as a weight saving/stability measure the destroyer was towed to Boston where she received a new stern 7321602 1944-06 U S Department of the Navy First Naval District Office of the Assistant Chief of Staff for Administration Office of the Historical Officer PD-USGov-Military-Navy USS Nelson DD-623 June 1944 in the Battle of Normandy |