USS Peiffer (DE-588)
Encyclopedia
USS Peiffer (DE-588) was a Rudderow-class
destroyer escort
in the United States Navy
during World War II
.
Peiffer was laid down 21 December 1943 by the Bethlehem-Hingham Shipyard, Inc., Hingham, Mass.; launched 26 January 1944; sponsored by Mrs. Frank W. Peiffer, mother of Ensign Peiffer; and commissioned 15 June 1944, Lieutenant Commander W. F. Jones in command.
Following shakedown off Bermuda
, Peiffer trained with submarine
s off southern New England
and on 30 September 1944 got underway, with Escort Division 71, for the Panama Canal
. She arrived Seeadler Harbor
, Manus
, 7 November. Steaming then to Hollandia
, she escorted a convoy to Leyte
and back, and, on 28 December, joined Task Group 78.5 for the invasion of Luzon
. Sailing northwest 30 December, she screened the Blue Beach attack group to the San Fabian
assault area, then continued to provide anti-submarine arid anti-aircraft protection for the group during the initial landings, 9 January 1945. The following day she retired and on the 13th arrived in Leyte Gulf
, whence she escorted LST’s carrying supplies and reinforcements to Luzon.
Detached from the 7th Amphibious Force 20 February, Peiffer reported for duty with the Philippine Sea Frontier
, with which she remained for the final months of World War II. During that time she interrupted inter-island escort of convoy and anti-submarine patrol duties only once, in late July, to escort to Guam
. Returning to Leyte 10 August, she remained in the Far East after the Japanese surrender
and during the next few months patrolled in Philippine waters, escorted convoys to Okinawa, and, prior to sailing for the United States, carried personnel to Shanghai
. On 24 November departed the China
coast, and after a brief return to the Philippines, steamed east.
Peiffer arrived at San Pedro, California, 4 January 1946. In March she shifted to San Diego where she decommissioned, 1 June 1946, and entered the Pacific Reserve Fleet. She was struck from the Navy List
1 December 1966 and her hulk was destroyed as a target 16 May 1967.
Peiffer earned one battle star during World War II.
Rudderow class destroyer escort
The Rudderow class destroyer escorts were destroyer escorts launched in the United States in 1943 to 1945. Of this class, 22 were completed as destroyer escorts, and 50 were completed as Crosley-class high speed transport and were re-classified as High speed transport APDs. One ship was converted...
destroyer escort
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...
in the 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...
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...
.
Peiffer was laid down 21 December 1943 by the Bethlehem-Hingham Shipyard, Inc., Hingham, Mass.; launched 26 January 1944; sponsored by Mrs. Frank W. Peiffer, mother of Ensign Peiffer; and commissioned 15 June 1944, Lieutenant Commander W. F. Jones in command.
Following shakedown off Bermuda
Bermuda
Bermuda is a British overseas territory in the North Atlantic Ocean. Located off the east coast of the United States, its nearest landmass is Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, about to the west-northwest. It is about south of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, and northeast of Miami, Florida...
, Peiffer trained with submarine
Submarine
A submarine is a watercraft capable of independent operation below the surface of the water. It differs from a submersible, which has more limited underwater capability...
s off southern New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
and on 30 September 1944 got underway, with Escort Division 71, for the Panama Canal
Panama Canal
The Panama Canal is a ship canal in Panama that joins the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean and is a key conduit for international maritime trade. Built from 1904 to 1914, the canal has seen annual traffic rise from about 1,000 ships early on to 14,702 vessels measuring a total of 309.6...
. She arrived Seeadler Harbor
Seeadler Harbor
Seeadler Harbor, also known as Port Seeadler, is located on Manus Island, Admiralty Islands, Papua New Guinea and played an important role in World War II...
, Manus
Manus Island
Manus Island is part of Manus Province in northern Papua New Guinea and is the largest island of the Admiralty Islands. It is the fifth largest island in Papua New Guinea with an area of 2,100 km², measuring around 100 km × 30 km. According to the 2000 census, Manus Island had a...
, 7 November. Steaming then to Hollandia
Jayapura
Jayapura City is the capital of Papua province, Indonesia, on the island of New Guinea. It is situated on Yos Sudarso Bay . Its approximate population in 2002 was 200,000....
, she escorted a convoy to Leyte
Leyte
Leyte is a province of the Philippines located in the Eastern Visayas region. Its capital is Tacloban City and occupies the northern three-quarters of the Leyte Island. Leyte is located west of Samar Island, north of Southern Leyte and south of Biliran...
and back, and, on 28 December, joined Task Group 78.5 for the invasion of Luzon
Luzon
Luzon is the largest island in the Philippines. It is located in the northernmost region of the archipelago, and is also the name for one of the three primary island groups in the country centered on the Island of Luzon...
. Sailing northwest 30 December, she screened the Blue Beach attack group to the San Fabian
San Fabián
San Fabián is one of 21 communes in the Ñuble Province of central Chile's Biobío Region. The capital is the town of San Fabián de Alico. The commune spans an area of .-Administration:...
assault area, then continued to provide anti-submarine arid anti-aircraft protection for the group during the initial landings, 9 January 1945. The following day she retired and on the 13th arrived in Leyte Gulf
Leyte Gulf
Leyte Gulf is a body of water immediately east of the island of Leyte in the Philippines, adjoining the Philippine Sea of the Pacific Ocean, at . The Gulf is bounded on the north by the island of Samar, which is separated from Leyte on the west by the narrow San Juanico Strait, and on the south by...
, whence she escorted LST’s carrying supplies and reinforcements to Luzon.
Detached from the 7th Amphibious Force 20 February, Peiffer reported for duty with the Philippine Sea Frontier
Philippine Sea Frontier
The Philippine Sea Frontier was a United States Navy Sea Frontier active in 1941, and reformed in 1944.On 8 December 1941 it was part of the 16th Naval District, a component of the United States Asiatic Fleet....
, with which she remained for the final months of World War II. During that time she interrupted inter-island escort of convoy and anti-submarine patrol duties only once, in late July, to escort to Guam
Guam
Guam is an organized, unincorporated territory of the United States located in the western Pacific Ocean. It is one of five U.S. territories with an established civilian government. Guam is listed as one of 16 Non-Self-Governing Territories by the Special Committee on Decolonization of the United...
. Returning to Leyte 10 August, she remained in the Far East after the Japanese surrender
Surrender of Japan
The surrender of Japan in 1945 brought hostilities of World War II to a close. By the end of July 1945, the Imperial Japanese Navy was incapable of conducting operations and an Allied invasion of Japan was imminent...
and during the next few months patrolled in Philippine waters, escorted convoys to Okinawa, and, prior to sailing for the United States, carried personnel to Shanghai
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
. On 24 November departed the China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
coast, and after a brief return to the Philippines, steamed east.
Peiffer arrived at San Pedro, California, 4 January 1946. In March she shifted to San Diego where she decommissioned, 1 June 1946, and entered the Pacific Reserve Fleet. She was struck from the Navy List
Navy List
A Navy List or Naval Register is an official list of naval officers, their ranks and seniority, the ships which they command or to which they are appointed, etc., that is published by the government or naval authorities of a country....
1 December 1966 and her hulk was destroyed as a target 16 May 1967.
Peiffer earned one battle star during World War II.
External links
- Photo gallery at navsource.org