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USS McLanahan was launched in September 1942 and was assigned to the Atlantic Fleet to assist coastal convoys.
She was subsequently engaged as escort for various transatlantic convoys en-route to the Mediterranean.
She was involved in Operation Husky - the invasion of Sicily and in 1944 formed part of the Allied forces involved in the Anzio offensive and the invasion of southern France.
She was deployed to Gibraltar in March 1945 where she remained for the remainder of the war patrolling the Mediterranean approaches as far south as Casablanca.
She joined the Inactive Fleet and was decommissioned in February 1946.
USS McLanahan earned 4 battle stars for World WarII service.
Gibraltar Philatelic.
Gibraltar SG724ms.

Built as a destroyer under yard No 9010 by Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation, San Pedro, California for the USA Navy.
29 May 1941 laid down.
02 September 1942 launched as the USS McLANAHA (DD-615), christened by Mrs. Dorothy Howard. She was one of the Benson class.
Displacement 1,620 ton standard, 2,395 full load, dim. 106.17 x 11.00 x 5.28m. (draught).
Powered by Bethlehem turbines, 50,000 shp, twin shafts, speed 35 knots.
Range by a speed of 12 knots, 6,500 mile.
Armament: 4 – 5 inch, 4 – 20mm guns and 5 – 21 inch torpedo tubes, six depthcharge throwers.
Crew 259.
19 December 1942 commissioned under command of Lieut. Commander H.R. Hummer.
McLANAHAN departed San Diego 19 February 1943 for assignment with DesRon 16 Atlantic Fleet. She arrived at Norfolk 10 March and, after additional training at Casco Bay, Maine, and several coastal convoys, departed on her first transatlantic convoy, to Algeria, 28 April. She returned to the east coast 8 June, departing again for north Africa on the 11th. The destroyer arrived at Oran 21 June to prepare for operation "Husky," the invasion Of Sicily. From 6 to 15 July, she, with other units of TF 81, maintained an antisubmarine - antiaircraft screen to protect the invasion forces at Gela. She then returned to escort duties in the Mediterranean and Atlantic.
During the next 9 months) her convoys suffered only three losses. On 6 November, while en route to Naples from Oran, her convoy was attacked by enemy aircraft which launched rocket bombs and torpedoes at the Allied ships. McLANAHAN escaped damage, but two merchantmen and one escort were lost.
On 13 May 1944, she departed Oran for Naples to aid in the Anzio offensive. For the next month and a half she followed the advancing Allied lines up the Italian coast, providing gunfire support and ensuring the eves flow of supplies. By the end of July, she had begun preparations for operation "Anvil," the invasion of southern France. She spent the first part of August off Sicily in amphibious exercises, sailing for the assault area on the 13th. By the 15th, she was in position providing fire support to the forces landing near St. Raphael. On the 18th, she Joined the beachhead screen and, along the Italian and Sicilian coasts, protected the invasion forces and their supply lines from enemy aircraft and submarines. At the end of the month, she returned to Oran and continued on, a few days later, to New York, arriving there 14 September.
McLANAHAN returned to the Mediterranean 21 December and on 19 January 1945 joined "le Grande Garde" patrol in the bombardment of the Ligurian coast from Monte Carlo to Genoa. While off San Remo, 11 February, a large caliber projectile fired by a shore battery exploded 20 to 40 feet off her port quarter. Resultant damage included, in addition to one dead and eight severely wounded, numerous holes above and at the water line and one gun out of commission.
On 20 February, . McLANAHAN departed for Oran. She returned to Toulon 21 March for an awards ceremony at which Rear Adm. P. Jaugard, French Navy, presented her captain, medical officer, and 12 other crew members with the Croix de Guerre. Her next assignment took her to Gibraltar, where, for the remainder of the war in Europe, the destroyer patrolled the Mediterranean approaches as far south as Casablanca. After the surrender at Reims she cruised in the Tyrrhenian Sea and off north Africa and on 30 June sailed for Boston, arriving 8 July.
On 14 August, McLANAHAN departed Boston for the Pacific war zone, but, with receipt of news of Japan's surrender, her orders were changed. She remained with the Atlantic Fleet, completing cruises to New York, New Orleans, and Guantanamo Bay before mooring at Charleston, S.C., 3 November. There she Joined the Inactive Fleet and decommissioned 2 February 1946.
01 July 1971 struck from the Navy List.
12 June 1974 sold for $150.999 to Andy International Brownsville, Texas for scrapping.
McLANAHAN earned four battle stars for World War II service.

Gibraltar 1994 44p sgMS724, scott660c


Source Encyclopead of American Fighting Ships.
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