The Craven was launched on February 25, 1937 and commissioned into the U. S. Navy at Charleston Navy Yard, Boston, Massachusetts on September 2, 1937. The peacetime complement was 8 officers and 150 crewmen. During most of WWII, the complement was 19 officers, 13 chiefs and 248 crewmen. During the shake down cruise, the Craven steamed alone through the Panama Canal, to Guayaquil, Ecuador, then back through the Canal into the Caribbean Sea to Jamaica, Guantanamo Bay and back to the Boston Navy Yard by December 14, 1937. It remained in the Boston area awaiting the installation of the electro-hydraulic equipment for the 5-inch guns and adding a gun-director.

In August 1938, the Craven left for San Diego, California and remained in the area with Destroyer Division 11 (DesDiv-11) conducting various drills and tactical maneuvers with units of the U. S. Fleet. In January 1939, the ship left the area with the U. S. Fleet (U.S.S. Pennsylvania, OTC & Fleet Guide), for combined maneuvers in the Caribbean. The ship participated in Fleet Problem 20 with the fleet, including the U.S.S. Yorktown, around Cuba, Virgin Islands, and Haiti. The Craven then reported to the Norfolk Navy Yard on April 14, 1939

The Craven left for San Diego on 4/21/39 with the U. S. Fleet, arriving on 5/14/39. The ship conducted flotilla tactics with the U.S.S. Enterprise (SOPA). It then reported to the Oakland, California Navy Yard for repairs, arriving on 7/1/39. It left for San Diego, arriving on 9/21/39 where it remained until 4/1/40. It left for San Pedro, California, then preceeded with the U. S. Fleet 6 for the Hawaiian Islands, arriving 4/14/40 to participate in Fleet Problem 21 in the Island area. Later, it left the Islands for San Francisco along with Battleships West Virginia, Colorado and Yorktown, arriving on 6/1/40. It returned to San Diego on 6/7/40, then departed for the Hawaiian Islands and arrived at Lahaina, Maui on 6/14/40. It conducted fleet maneuvers around the Islands out of Pearl Harbor until 10/14/40, then returned to San Diego, arriving 10/21/40. It remained there throughout the rest of 1940.

On January 1, 1941, the Craven with units of DesDiv-11 and the Battleship Pennsylvania departed for the Hawaiian Islands. On 2/7/41, the ship left Pearl Harbor with Task Force Three, DesDiv-11 & CruDiv-8, 5th Fleet, for Midway Island. Returned to Pearl Harbor 2/21/41. Left Pearl in company with DesDiv-11 and Carrier Enterprise on 5/1/41 for San Diego and arrived 5/7/41. Transported a large number of men to Pearl Harbor for assignment to various ships and Naval stations. Arrived on 5/14/41. Practiced many tactical maneuvers and battle situations around the Islands with various ships of the Fleet, including BatDiv-1, CruDiv-5, CarDiv, MinRon-2, DesRon-6 (Lexington, Arizona, Enterprise and several submarines) May to November 27, 1941.

The Craven left Pearl Harbor with Task Force 8 on November 28, 1941 as part of the anti-submarine screen for the Enterprise, Task Force flagship of Admiral Halsey, to deliver aircraft of Marine Fighter Squadron 211 to Wake Island. Returning to Pearl Harbor, the Task Force was approaching that base on the morning of December 7, 1941. At 0835, a radio message was received: “Air raid on Pearl Harbor, this is no drill.” Fortunately, heavy seas had slowed the formation. Otherwise, these ships would also have been berthed in the Harbor and subject to the Japanese attack. Craven continued to provide screen for the Enterprise while the Task Force maneuvered in the area with planes searching for enemy aircraft and ships searching for submarines. Entered Pearl Harbor on the 8th for provisions and left on the 9th to continue search for enemy submarines in the Island area, returning to Pearl occasionally for supplies.

Craven was assigned convoy duty of transports, tankers and freighters between Pearl and San Francisco from 3/22/42 to 6/1/42. Three trips east and two trips west. It went in dry dock at Mare Island on 4/1/42 for overhaul and outfitted with radar (Fox Dog, Sail Cast and Sail George). Underway for convoy duty on the 8th. Craven was assigned to TF-1, BatDiv-2, BatDiv-3 and BatDiv-4, CarDiv on 6/2/42 at San Francisco and steamed to Los Angeles and returned to San Francisco 6/24/42. Left 7/5/42 for screening Task Force and patrolling off the coast. Returned to San Francisco 7/11/42. Left harbor 7/19/42 with BatDiv-4 for battle exercises. Returned 7/22/42

Left 9/1/42 for Task Force exercises en route to San Diego. Arrived 8/3/42. Conducted daily escort exercises with transports in and out of San Diego harbor. Left with troop transports for San Francisco on the 11th and arrived on the 13th. Left with Amphibious Force transports on 8/16/42 to escort them for amphibious landing practice. Craven detached from duty on the 18th and returned to San Francisco.

Left harbor on the 21st to escort TF-15.9, convoy #2117, of freighters to Honolulu and Pearl Harbor. Arrived on 8/31/42. Screened two submarines and two mine sweepers for torpedo firing exercises off Barber’s Point on 9/4/42. Returned to Pearl Harbor that evening.

Left Pearl Harbor on 9/6/42 for escort of convoy #4196 to San Francisco. Arrived on the 14th. Left harbor on 9/22/42 to escort convoy #2135 to Pearl Harbor. Arrived on 10/2/42. Left Pearl on the 8th for tactical maneuvers and battle exercises with battleships in the Island area. Returned to Pearl on the 14th.

Left Pearl Harbor 11/12/42 with TF-11, bound for the Fiji Islands. Crossed International Date Line on the 20th. Arrived Viti Levu, Fiji on the 22nd. Left on the 24th escorting transports of soldiers for “Button”, New Hebrides islands. Arrived on the 26th. Returned to “Button” on the 28th. Left on 12/1/42 with TF-22 for “White Poppy”, Noumea, New Caledonia. Arrived on the 5th.

Left on the 7th with transports and freighters for “Cactus”, Lunga Point, Guadalcanal Island, Solomon Islands to land troops and supplies. Arrived on the 12th. Craven and heavy units then anchored in Tulagi Harbor (PT-boat flotilla). Escorted transports and infantry landing craft between Tulagi and Lunga Point several times.

Left Tulagi on 12/20/42 for Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides Islands. Arrived on the 22nd. Left on the 23rd for Noumea. Arrived on the 24th and spent Christmas at Noumea. Left on the 27th with heavy units conducting battle and flight exercises and entered Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides on 12/30/42. Happy New Year.

Got underway on 1/1/43 and arrived at Noumea on the 3rd. Left on the 6th to escort heavy units at sea during a terrible hurricane. Returned to Noumea on the 11th. Left on the 15th for patrol duty and returned on the 17th. Left on the 18th and returned on the 21st. Left in a few hours with fleet and returned on the 26th. Got underway on the 27th with TG-62.8 bound for Guadalcanal with transports and heavy units. Arrived at Lunga Point on the 30th and screened transports while unloading marines. Left Task Group on 2/1/43 to join TF-11. All units arrived at Noumea on the 14th. Left on the 15th with transports en route to Guadalcanal again. Arrived at Lunga Point on the 19th, then proceeded to Tulagi Harbor, Solomon Islands.

Left on 2/20/43 en route to Koli Point to embark 200 troops and supplies to take to landing operations at Russell Islands. Arrived at Banika Island on the 23rd, unloaded troops and returned to Tulagi harbor. Left on the 24th to load SeaBee’s, equipment and 50 tons of ammunition off Tetere Point, then delivered same to build fighter strip on Wenham Cove, Russell Islands. Returned to Tulagi and repeated same with troop barges on almost daily runs until 3/11/43. Patrolled area around Russell Islands and Tulagi 3/12/43 to 3/23/43. Left the area on the 23rd for Espirito Santos. Arrived on the 26th.

Left Espirito Santos on 3/27/43 for Sydney, Australia. Arrived on the 31st. Made repairs to ship, provisioned, loaded ammunition, and enjoyed liberty. Left on 4/11/43 screening transports to Noumea harbor, New Caledonia. Arrived on the 15th. Got underway on the 19th to join TF-14 and returned to post on the 23rd. Patrolled the area and escorted other ships almost daily until 5/17/43. Left Noumea on the 18th with TF-10 and TF-14. Returned to Noumea with injured pilot on the 23rd. Daily patrols and exercises in the area until 6/20/43. Received repairs at Tender and dry dock at Noumea 6/21-26/43.

Got underway on the 7/9/43 with amphibious force TG-36.3 for the New Georgia area. Returned to Noumea on 7/25/43. Left on the 27th to escort troop transports to Guadalcanal Island. Arrived on the 30th and patrolled the area while troops were unloaded. Reported to TG-31.2 on the 31st and patrolled the New Georgia area. Returned to Tulagi on 8/1/43.

Got underway after refueling and proceeded to Port Purvis, British Solomon Islands. Arrived on the 2nd. Left to patrol area off Kukum Beach and Blanche Channel covering landing of LST’s. Returned to Tulagi Harbor on the 6th for fuel and got underway for Vella Gulf (The Slot). See Battle of Vella Gulf. Returned to Tulagi on 8/7/43.

Got underway on 9/23/43 en route to San Francisco, via Bora Bora. Arrived at Bora Bora on the 29th, then proceeded to San Francisco with TU-34.5.7. Arrived on 10/9/43 for major overhaul at Mare Island. Repairs completed by 11/22/43. Got underway on 11/27/43 for post-trial runs outside Golden Gate and returned. Left on the 30th with military passengers for Pearl Harbor. Arrived 12/12/43. Conducted daily tactical maneuvers, gunnery exercises and training around the Islands until 1/13/44.

Left Pearl on 1/19/44 with ComTaskGroup 58.4 (Admiral Mare A. Mitscher’s Carrier Task Force) for the Marshall Islands. Arrived in the area on the 30th and then anchored in Roi Anchorage, Marshall Island on 2/7/44. Got underway on the 9th escorting TG-58.4 for air strikes against Eniwetok Atoll. Returned to Roi Anchorage on the 13th. Ships left harbor over night for deployment and returned in the morning. Got underway on the 15th with Task Group for air strikes again and landing troops at Eniwetok. Left the area on the 8th and proceeded toward Majuro Atoll, Marshall Islands. Arrived 3/1/44.

Got underway on 3/8/44 with TG-58.4 for Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides. Arrived on the 13th. Left on the 21st after Tender availability with DesDiv-11 for scheduled exercises. Returned to port. Left on the 22nd for sortie of TG-36.2. Formed with other Task Groups and are on the way to strike Palau Island and Woleai Islands, about 500 miles east of the Philippines. Task Group58.1: Carriers Enterprise, Belleau, Wood, Cowpens; Cruisers Sante Fe, Mobile, Biloxi, Oakland; Destroyers DesRon 46 and DesRon 50. Task Group 58.2; Carriers Bunker Hill, Hornet, Monteray, Cabot; Battleships Iowa, New Jersey; Cruisers CruDiv 6. Task Group 58.3; Carriers Yorktown, Lexington, Princeton, Langley; Battleships Massachusetts, North Carolina, South Dakota, Alabama; Cruisers CruDiv 5 plus San Juan; Destroyers DesDiv 28, DesRon 23 and Des Div 11 plus Case.

Left the area 4/2/44 for Majuro Atoll. Arrived on the 6th. Got underway on the 12th with TG-50.17 and later assigned to TG-58.1. Destination Hollandia. Arrived in the area on the 22nd and Carrier planes conducted air strikes on Wake Island. Task Group was in the vicinity of Truk Island and Ponape Island, in the Caroline’s, on 5/1/44. Task Group 58.1; Carriers Hornet, Yorktown, Monterey, Langley; Cruisers Santa Fe, Mobile, Biloxi, Oakland; Destroyers DesDiv 11 (Maury, Craven, Gridley, Helm McCall plus Case; Des Ron 46 Izard, Charrette, Conner, Bell, Burns, Boyd, Bradford, Brown, Cowell.

Entered Majuro Lagoon on the 5/4/44 and departed on the 6th. Departed with units of DesDiv-11 heading for Pearl Harbor. Arrived on 5/11/44 receiving repairs from Tender for several days.

Got underway 5/29/44 with heavy units for Majuro Atoll in the Marshall Island. Task Group 12.5; Carriers Yorktown, Princeton and Monterey; Destroyers Maury, Craven, Gridley, McCall, Bagley, Mugford and Helm. Arrived on 6/4/44. Left on the 6th for Kwajalein Harbor. Arrived on the 7th and joined TG-58.1 at sea.

Group joined TG-58.2, TG-58.3 and TG-58.4 for strike on the 11th at Guam in the Mariana, Rota and Saipan Islands. Sailed for the Bonin Islands (Chichi Jima, Iwo Jima) on the 14th and arrived on the 5th. Rendezvous with other groups of TG-58 in an area west of Saipan for the Battle of the Philippine Sea (6/18-30/44). Task force maneuvered between Guam, Mariana’s, Bonin, Iwo Jima and the Philippines deep in Japanese territory.

Craven entered Eniwetok Lagoon on 6/27/44 for Tender duty. Got underway on the 30th with TG-58.1 en route for the Bonin Islands. Craven sailed 10,723 nautical miles in June. Joined TG-58.2 on 7/3/44 to conduct air strikes on Chichi Jima and on the 4th, air strikes at Iwo Jima. Carriers Hornet, Yorktown, Belleau Wood and Bataan; Cruisers Boston, Baltimore, Canberra, Oakland and San Juan; Destroyers (Desron 46) Izard, Charrette, Conner, Bell, Burns, Boyd, Bradford, Brown and Cowell.

Reached the Guam area on 7/8/44 for bombarding the airfield and patrolling around the Island. Left for Saipan on the 15th, picked up mail and returned to Task Group. Left the area en route to the Caroline Islands on the 25th. Raids on Yap on the 26th, sighted Mariana’s on the 31st. Craven sailed 12, 866 nautical miles in July. On 8/1/44 Craven with TG-58.1 near Saipan now en route to Bonin Islands. Left the area on the 6th and headed for Eniwotok and a rest for both ship and crew. Arrived on the 9th and received Tender availability, dry dock and routine work on the ship for 10 days.

Left Eniwetok on 8/28/44 with TG-38.4 en route to the Bonin Islands. Arrived on the 31st and bombarded Chichi Jima on 9/1/44. Bombarded Iwo Jima on the 2nd and then set course for Saipan. Arrived on the 4th, anchored, loaded ammunition and supplies and left on the 5th for air strikes and shelling at Yap and Palau. Arrived in the area on the 8th to support troop landings, then moved on to Peleiu Island on the 16th. Left the Palau area on the 18th for the Admiralty Islands. Arrived Manus Harbor, Admiralties on the 21st and anchored with heavy units. Got underway on the 24th with TG-38.4 for the Palau Islands. Craven left the formation on the 29th and proceeded independently for Pearl Harbor, via Saipan. Arrived at Saipan 10/1/44, fueled, and then escorted freighters to Eniwetok Atoll. Arrived Eniwetok on the 5th, fueled and anchored. Left for Pearl Harbor on the 6th. Arrived on 10/11/44.

Unloaded ammunition and underwent repairs, calibration and inclination tests during period of 10/12/44 – 11/13/44. Assigned to various Naval exercises in the Hawaiian Island area 11/14-21/44. Engaged in amphibious training exercises with Army troops along various shore lines of Oahu 11/26-28/44. Continued other exercises 11/29/44 – 12/31/44.

Got underway from Pearl Harbor on 1/2/45 for San Diego. Arrived on the 8th. Left San Diego on the 11th for New York City via the Panama Canal. Traversed the Canal on the 19th, stopped at Charleston, South Carolina for foul weather gear on the 24th and arrived New York City on 1/26/45. Unloaded ammunition and prepared for major overhaul at the Brooklyn Naval Yard.

Left New York Harbor 3/21/45 for Casco Bay, Maine for assignment of anti-submarine patrols with ComDesLant off the New England coast. Arrived at Casco Bay on the 22nd. The ship patrolled at various assigned sectors returning as necessary to Casco Bay for fuel, supplies and ammunition. On 4/27/45 the ship was assigned anti-submarine escort for an eastbound convoy. Returned to the normal assigned patrol area on the 28th, then ordered to proceed to New York Harbor. Arrived on the 29th. Left the harbor on 5/2/45 for anti-submarine escort for convoy TG-62.4 destined for the United Kingdom and Le Havre, France. Convoy was near the middle of the Atlantic Ocean on VE Day (5/7/45). Full wartime surveillance continued. Arrived off Scilly Isles, England on the 13th and Le Havre, France on the 14th. Entered Southampton, England on the 15th. Left en route for Plymouth, England on the 16th for dry dock to repair hull. Left Plymouth on the 20th for escort duty of convoy of transports back to the States. Arrived at New York on 5/29/45. Proceeded to the Brooklyn Navy Yard for repairs.

Left New York on 6/19/45 for Portland, Maine. Left 6/22/45 for assignment to the western Mediterranean area as TG-125.1. Arrived at Gibraltar on the 30th. Delivered the U.S. Minister and his family to Tangiers on 7/1/45. For seven months, the Craven cruised to many ports in the Mediterranean as a token occupational force, official availability and ambassador relationship with the countries. Ports of call as follows: Gibraltar, 7/1/45; Oran, Algeria, 7/2; Naples, Italy, 7/6; Palermo, Sicily, 7/13; Gibraltar, 7/16; Casablanca, French Morocco, 7/24; Oran, 8/4; Algiers, 8/14; VJ Day on the 15th; Palermo, 8/24; Naples, 8/27; Isle of Capri, 8/29; Naples, 9/4; Marseilles, France, 9/6; Nice, France 9/19; Palermo, 9/20; Oran, 9/23; Casablanca, 9/26; Oran, 10/15; Palermo, 10/20; Naples, 12/6; Capri, 12/8; Naples, 12/13; Palermo, 12/17; Oran, 12/20; Tangiers, 12/21; Casablanca, 12/22/45; Oran, 1/6/46; Gibraltar, 1/18/46.