Central Pacific
The ship sailed 22 January 1944 for the Marshalls. She covered the unopposed landings on Majuro 31 January and then sailed to Kwajalein Atoll. Taking up firing position inside the lagoon 2 February, she provided gunfire support for the advancing Marines until the island was secured 3 days later. Then Haggard patrolled and escorted transports in the Kwajalein area until sailing for Engebi, Eniwetok Atoll 17–19 February. There the destroyer again provided close fire support with her 5 inch guns, helping to secure Eniwetok. With the Marshalls in American hands, Haggard arrived 7 March at Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides.
For the next months, Haggard operated with 3rd Fleet in the New Guinea-Solomons area. Her duties included reconnaissance patrols, convoying, and screening escort carriers. She also worked occasionally with minecraft and screened a minelaying operation 9 May in the Solomons, passing within 800 yards of an enemy-held beach on Buka Passage. During the night of 16–17 May the destroyer was patrolling with Franks (DD-554) and Johnston (DD-557) when she picked up an underwater sound contact. With quickness and accuracy the three ships delivered depth charge attacks and were credited with the sinking of the Japanese submarine I-176.
Haggard joined 5th Fleet at Eniwetok 21 May to prepare for the Marianas operation, as America's amphibious might pressed across the Pacific. Departing Eniwetok 8 July, Haggard arrived Guam with battleships Pennsylvania (BB-38) and New Mexico (BB-40) and other fleet units 17 July and began a devastating bombardment of the beach fortifications. With the landing on Guam of Marines 21 July, the destroyer turned to close fire support, lending her accurate gunfire to the battle ashore.
Next on the timetable of the Pacific island campaign was the Palau group, needed to provide an air base for further advances. Haggard was withdrawn from Guam to Espiritu Santo 24 August 1944 and later joined the Western Escort Carrier Group off the Solomons 4 September. During the invasion of Peleliu 15 September Haggard screened carrier groups as they provided bombardment and close fire support for Marines ashore. Aircraft from her group also bombarded Ulithi before the ships returned to Manus' Seeadler Harbor 1 October.
Read more about this topic: USS Haggard (DD-555)
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