Edsall class destroyer escort
Encyclopedia
The Edsall class destroyer escort
s were built primarily for ocean anti-submarine escort service during World War II
. The lead ship, USS Edsall (DE-129)
was commissioned on 10 April 1943 at Orange, Texas
. The class was also known as the FMR type from their Fairbanks-Morse Reduction-geared diesel drive used in the submarines of the time. This was the only World War II DE class in which all the ships originally ordered were completed as United States Navy
Destroyer Escorts. Destroyer escorts were regular companions escorting the vulnerable cargo ships. In late WWII plans were made to replace the 3" guns with 5" guns. But only USS Camp (DE 251) was refitted after a collision. In total all 85 were completed by three shipbuilding companies: Beth Staten Island (47), Consolidated Orange (18), and Houston (20). Many convoys were escorted by these ships and most were en route to the pacific theater when Japan surrendered. One of the ships participated in Operation Dragoon
and two were attacked by guided missiles used by the Germans.
campaign. sank 5 German U-boats and awarded Presidential Unit Citation, 7 battle stars. was in TG 22.3 with Pope and Pillsbury and participated in the capture of U-505. - the sole surviving example of the Edsall-class; a museum ship in Galveston, Texas
. received a Navy Unit Commendation
for action three days after the war ended.
Destroyer escort
A destroyer escort is the classification for a smaller, lightly armed warship designed to be used to escort convoys of merchant marine ships, primarily of the United States Merchant Marine in World War II. It is employed primarily for anti-submarine warfare, but also provides some protection...
s were built primarily for ocean anti-submarine escort service during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. The lead ship, USS Edsall (DE-129)
USS Edsall (DE-129)
USS Edsall was the lead ship of her class of destroyer escort in the United States Navy. She was the second Navy ship named in honor of Seaman Norman Edsall ....
was commissioned on 10 April 1943 at Orange, Texas
Orange, Texas
Orange is a city in Orange County, Texas, United States. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 18,643. It is the county seat of Orange County, and is the easternmost city in Texas. Located on the Sabine River at the border with Louisiana, it is part of the Beaumont–Port Arthur...
. The class was also known as the FMR type from their Fairbanks-Morse Reduction-geared diesel drive used in the submarines of the time. This was the only World War II DE class in which all the ships originally ordered were completed as United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
Destroyer Escorts. Destroyer escorts were regular companions escorting the vulnerable cargo ships. In late WWII plans were made to replace the 3" guns with 5" guns. But only USS Camp (DE 251) was refitted after a collision. In total all 85 were completed by three shipbuilding companies: Beth Staten Island (47), Consolidated Orange (18), and Houston (20). Many convoys were escorted by these ships and most were en route to the pacific theater when Japan surrendered. One of the ships participated in Operation Dragoon
Operation Dragoon
Operation Dragoon was the Allied invasion of southern France on August 15, 1944, during World War II. The invasion was initiated via a parachute drop by the 1st Airborne Task Force, followed by an amphibious assault by elements of the U.S. Seventh Army, followed a day later by a force made up...
and two were attacked by guided missiles used by the Germans.
Hull Numbers
A total of 85 Edsall class destroyer escorts were built.- DE-129 through DE-152 Beth Staten Island
- DE-238 through DE-255 Consolidated Orange
- DE-316 through DE-338 Beth Staten Island
- DE-382 through DE-401 Houston
Destroyed or damaged in combat
- DE-136 USS Frederick C. DavisUSS Frederick C. Davis (DE-136)The USS Frederick C. Davis was an Edsall-class destroyer escort built for the United States Navy during World War II. Named for Ensign Frederick Curtice Davis , she was the first U.S. Naval vessel to bear the name.Frederick C...
- sunk April 24, 1945 by U-546 in the North Atlantic - DE-143 USS FiskeUSS Fiske (DE-143)The USS Fiske was an Edsall-class destroyer escort built for the United States Navy during World War II. Named for Rear Admiral Bradley Allen Fiske, she was the first of two U.S. Naval vessels to bear the name....
- sunk August 2, 1944 by U-804 north of the AzoresAzoresThe Archipelago of the Azores is composed of nine volcanic islands situated in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean, and is located about west from Lisbon and about east from the east coast of North America. The islands, and their economic exclusion zone, form the Autonomous Region of the... - DE-319 USS LeopoldUSS Leopold (DE-319)The USS Leopold was an built for the United States Navy during World War II. Named for Ensign Robert Lawrence Leopold , she was the only U.S...
- torpedoed March 9, 1944 by U-371Unterseeboot 371German submarine U-371 was a Type VIIC U-boat of the German Kriegsmarine during World War II. The submarine was laid down on 17 November 1939 at the Howaldtswerke yard at Kiel, launched on 27 January 1941, and commissioned on 15 March 1941 under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Heinrich Driver...
south of IcelandIcelandIceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population... - DE-320 USS MengesUSS Menges (DE-320)The USS Menges was an Edsall-class destroyer escort built for the United States Navy during World War II. Named for Ensign Herbert Hugo Menges , she was the first U.S...
- torpedoed April 20, 1944 by U-371Unterseeboot 371German submarine U-371 was a Type VIIC U-boat of the German Kriegsmarine during World War II. The submarine was laid down on 17 November 1939 at the Howaldtswerke yard at Kiel, launched on 27 January 1941, and commissioned on 15 March 1941 under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Heinrich Driver...
off AlgiersAlgiers' is the capital and largest city of Algeria. According to the 1998 census, the population of the city proper was 1,519,570 and that of the urban agglomeration was 2,135,630. In 2009, the population was about 3,500,000...
, damaged - DE-401 USS HolderUSS Holder (DE-401)USS Holder was an Edsall-class destroyer escort built for the United States Navy during World War II. Named for Lieutenant Randolph Mitchell Holder , she was the first of two U.S...
- damaged April 11, 1944 off AlgiersAlgiers' is the capital and largest city of Algeria. According to the 1998 census, the population of the city proper was 1,519,570 and that of the urban agglomeration was 2,135,630. In 2009, the population was about 3,500,000...
by German aircraft
Transferred to US Coast Guard from 1951 to 1954
- DE-322 USS NewellUSS Newell (DE-322)USS Newell was an Edsall-class destroyer escort built for the U.S. Navy during World War II. She served in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and provided destroyer escort protection against submarine and air attack for Navy vessels and convoys. Post war, she served in various capacities before being...
- redesignated WDE-422 - DE-324 USS FalgoutUSS Falgout (DE-324)USS Falgout was an Edsall-class destroyer escort built for the U.S. Navy during World War II. She served in the Atlantic Ocean and provided destroyer escort protection against submarine and air attack for Navy vessels and convoys. Post-war, she was borrowed by the U.S...
- redesignated WDE-424 - DE-325 USS LoweUSS Lowe (DE-325)USS Lowe was an Edsall-class destroyer escort built for the U.S. Navy during World War II. She served in the Atlantic Ocean the Pacific Ocean and provided destroyer escort protection against submarine and air attack for Navy vessels and convoys...
- redesignated WDE-425 - DE-328 USS FinchUSS Finch (DE-328)USS Finch was an Edsall-class destroyer escort in the service of the United States Navy. She was named in honor of Lieutenant Joseph W. Finch, Jr., USNR.Finch was first launched on 28 August 1943 at Orange, Texas as DE-328...
- redesignated WDE-428 - DE-331 USS KoinerUSS Koiner (DE-331)USS Koiner was an built for the U.S. Navy during World War II. She served in the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean and provided destroyer escort protection against submarine and air attack for Navy vessels and convoys. Post-war, she was loaned to the U.S...
- redesignated WDE-431 - DE-334 USS ForsterUSS Forster (DE-334)USS Forster was launched 13 November 1943 by Consolidated Steel Corp., Orange, Texas; sponsored by Mrs. E. W. Forster, widow of Machinist Forster; and commissioned 25 January 1944. She served as an escort in the Atlantic and Mediterranean during World War II...
- redesignated WDE-434 - DE-382 USS RamsdenUSS Ramsden (DE-382)USS Ramsden was an Edsall-class destroyer escort built for the U.S. Navy during World War II. She served in the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean and provided destroyer escort protection against submarine and air attack for Navy vessels and convoys. Post-war, she performed other tasks with the...
- redesignated WDE-482 - DE-385 USS RicheyUSS Richey (DE-385)USS Richey was an Edsall-class destroyer escort built for the U.S. Navy during World War II. She served in the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean and provided destroyer escort protection against submarine and air attack for Navy vessels and convoys.She was named in honor of ensign Joseph Lee...
- redesignated WDE-485 - DE-387 USS VanceUSS Vance (DE-387)USS Vance was an Edsall class destroyer escort, named after Joseph Williams Vance, Jr.-History:Vance was laid down on 30 April 1943 at Houston, Tex., by the Brown Shipbuilding Co.; launched on 16 July 1943; sponsored by Mrs. Joseph W. Vance, mother of the late Lt. Vance; and commissioned on 1...
- redesignated WDE-487 - DE-389 USS Durant - redesignated WDE-489
- DE-391 USS ChambersUSS Chambers (DE-391)USS Chambers was an built for the U.S. Navy during World War II. She served in the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean and provided destroyer escort protection against submarine and air attack for Navy vessels and convoys. Post-war she continued an active life, serving with the U.S...
- redesignated WDE-491
Transferred to other countries
- DE-250 USS HurstUSS Hurst (DE-250)The second USS Hurst was an built for the United States Navy during World War II. She was laid down in January 1943 and launched in August the same year by the widow of namesake Edwin William Hurst, who had been awarded two Distinguished Flying Crosses earlier in the war...
- transferred to the Mexican NavyMexican NavyThe Mexican Navy is the naval branch of the Mexican military responsible for conducting naval operations. Its stated mission is "to use the naval force of the federation for the exterior defense, and to help with internal order". The Navy consists of about 56,000 men and women plus reserves, over...
as Comodoro Manuel Azueta Perillos (E-30) - DE-251 USS CampUSS Camp (DE-251)USS Camp was an built for the U.S. Navy during World War II. She served in the Atlantic Ocean the Pacific Ocean and provided destroyer escort protection against submarine and air attack for Navy vessels and convoys....
- transferred to South VietnamSouth VietnamSouth Vietnam was a state which governed southern Vietnam until 1975. It received international recognition in 1950 as the "State of Vietnam" and later as the "Republic of Vietnam" . Its capital was Saigon...
as Tran Hung Dao. Later, to PhilippinesPhilippinesThe Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
as Rajah LakandulaBRP Rajah Lakandula (PF-4)The BRP Rajah Lakandula was a Destroyer Escort / Frigate of the Philippine Navy, and was its only ex-USN . She was also the flagship of the Philippine Navy from 1981 to 1988.-History:... - DE-326 USS Thomas J. GaryUSS Thomas J. Gary (DE-326)USS Thomas J. Gary was an . The ship was named for Seaman 2nd Class Thomas Jones Gary. The ship was renamed Thomas J. Gary on 1 January 1945 to free the name for planned light cruiser ....
- transferred to TunisiaTunisiaTunisia , officially the Tunisian RepublicThe long name of Tunisia in other languages used in the country is: , is the northernmost country in Africa. It is a Maghreb country and is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Its area... - DE-334 USS ForsterUSS Forster (DE-334)USS Forster was launched 13 November 1943 by Consolidated Steel Corp., Orange, Texas; sponsored by Mrs. E. W. Forster, widow of Machinist Forster; and commissioned 25 January 1944. She served as an escort in the Atlantic and Mediterranean during World War II...
- transferred to South VietnamSouth VietnamSouth Vietnam was a state which governed southern Vietnam until 1975. It received international recognition in 1950 as the "State of Vietnam" and later as the "Republic of Vietnam" . Its capital was Saigon...
as Tran Khanh Du. Later, captured by North VietnamNorth VietnamThe Democratic Republic of Vietnam , was a communist state that ruled the northern half of Vietnam from 1954 until 1976 following the Geneva Conference and laid claim to all of Vietnam from 1945 to 1954 during the First Indochina War, during which they controlled pockets of territory throughout...
and used as training vessel
Notable ships of class
sister ship of USS Pope. Was in TG 22.3 with Pope and participated in the capture of U-boat U-505. was in Task Force 22.3 that was centered on escort carrier , which captured German U-boat U-505. was in TG 22.3 with Pope, Pillsbury and Chatelain and participated in the capture of U-505. and each received a Navy Unit Commendation for action during the AnzioOperation Shingle
Operation Shingle , during the Italian Campaign of World War II, was an Allied amphibious landing against Axis forces in the area of Anzio and Nettuno, Italy. The operation was commanded by Major General John P. Lucas and was intended to outflank German forces of the Winter Line and enable an...
campaign. sank 5 German U-boats and awarded Presidential Unit Citation, 7 battle stars. was in TG 22.3 with Pope and Pillsbury and participated in the capture of U-505. - the sole surviving example of the Edsall-class; a museum ship in Galveston, Texas
Galveston, Texas
Galveston is a coastal city located on Galveston Island in the U.S. state of Texas. , the city had a total population of 47,743 within an area of...
. received a Navy Unit Commendation
Navy Unit Commendation
The Navy Unit Commendation of the United States Navy is an award that was established by order of the Secretary of the Navy James Forrestal on 18 December 1944...
for action three days after the war ended.