DET (Cannon) class (1943)

The DET (better known as the Cannon class from its lead vessel DE99) were considered a repeat of the previous “Long Hull” TE/TEV or Buckley design, the third escort destroyers types of the US Navy in world war two. Initially coming from the 1940 British request for Atlantic escorts, the majority served in the Pacific. They were part of the 563 destroyer escort (1000 ordered until cancelled in 1943) built by American Yards with iterative improvements reflected acronyms such as GMT, TE, TEV/WGT, DET/FMR. Ungamorous like escort aircraft carriers, they really were the workhorse of the allies for ASW escort in 1944-45.

The Cannon class were caracterized by their modified General Motors diesel turboelectric propulsion plant (DET for Diesel, Electric, Turbo), which was their major difference with the Buckley/TE as the latter combined these and steam turbines. The TEV had diesels instead, for an ouptut of 6,000 hp, half that of the Buckley class on the same “long hull”. They were still capable of a respectable 21 knots, giving them the capability of zooming in and out of a convoy and chase down a surfaced U-Boat.

In appearance they still were a near-repeat of the long hulls, and sported three dual purpose 3-in (76 mm)/50 guns and a generous light AA, but also three torpedo tubes to keep an anti-ship apability and one Hedgehog anti-submarine mortar in addition to their traditional ASW depth charge launchers and racks. In all, 116 were ordered in 1942, but 44 were cancelled and 72 were ultimately completed through four naval yards. Some saw service with the Free French Navy, and they had a long postwar career in many other navies.

Development

The DET class were an important players in the battle of the Atlantic, equyal part with other factors including Ultra, new detection systems, new tactics like escort carrier-based hunter-killer groups or just out-producing Germany in terms of liberty and victory ships to replace losses, in the most gigantic battle of attrition in history. In the Pacific, the Cannon class took they share of the action, not necessary on the frontline (albeit at the Battle of Samar the Buckley class did wonders) but on the still important logistic train of TF 38/T58 and other fleets operating in the Pacific, but also escorting the essential amphibious groups, either assault ships and escort carriers supporting these, enabling the “island-hopping campaign” and freeing the hands of more important fleet destroyers for capital ship escort.

Initially their very existence was uncertain. The concept itself of an “escort destroyer” is proper to World War II. The Royal Navy, desperate for escorts in 1940, especially after the fall of France and Germany obtaining direct access to the north sea and Atlantic, north and south, the ASW effort required initially the same sloops and sub-chasers just like in WWI. But Britain, notably in the Dunkirk evacuation, lost many fleet destroyers, also tasked of ASW escort. On the US standpoint in 1939 the lack of ASW escort was not a concern given the isolationist policy at home, and there was an “insurance” hundreds of vintage “four stacker” flush deck destroyers of the Clemson and Wickes still in the inventory, active or in reserve and mothballs. Many had been sold for BU in 1932, but those that remained were considered plenty enough to face any threat.

On the British side, emergency programs saw the creation of the Flower class corvettes, converting existing sloops and requisitioning trawlers to create additional coastal sub-chasers. But the bedrock of the program, alongside the more ambitious River class frigates, ordered from civilian yards, was the BDE program (1941) to be ordered from military yards, despite they were already burden with repairs of damaged fleet destroyer and building new ones. In September 1939 all treaties became void, and there was no limitations on global tonnage anymore so Britain or the US could rise their industrial ouput to produce any escort, of any tonnage and armament. The sky was the limit.

Still, the very concept of a destroyer escort, a ship less capable than a fleet destroyer solely for escort work was an appealing one. ASW warfare progressed well in the interwar, notably with the introduction of the sonar, better depht charge racks and launchers (called Y-Gun in US service). The first escort type in US service as all its successors, was derived from a escort vessel design studies that the General Board requested already in 1940. The success of the British Hunt class, especially following the Mills-Cochrane mission of the Royal Navy, was a significant to the US admiralty program, even if the US were still not at war. The restoration into active service of legacy Wickes-Clemsons class was one thing, but their full modernization was abandoned due the little improvement they would offer in comparison more capable, modern destroyers.

There was even opposition to dedicated ASW destroyers as a diversion to the current, and already congress-capped destroyer construction programmes. British interest in what they called “light second-rate destroyers” revitalized the idea, and this was prior to President Roosevelt altering the US escort strategy. On June 23, 1941, the British Supply Council in North America requested that the Secretary of the Navy release a hundred escort ships for its own needs as British Yards already had their hands full.

The US design emerging from BuShips saw its own needs as well and notably that it could have both an ASW and AA escort, with optional A/S capabilities on the same standardized hull. This initially stressed a dual-purpose main battery of three 3-in/50 instead of two single-purpose 4-in/50 and triple torpedo tubes notably against German surface raiders. These modifications as requested were far from solving the problem of supplying these new built, so Britain obtained on US “flush-deckers”. The US design had a conn. one level above the helm, a British type bridge, and by August 15, 1941, President Rooselevelt authorized 50 British destroyer escorts (BDE), despite Bureau of Ships’ objection that standard destroyers would do.

Even earlier in July 1941 the president decided to facilitate British access to US shipyards’ proposals for that BDE, going overhead of BuShip and calling for the design skills of various yards. Anothr immediate decision was to participate in convoy escort up to the mid-Atlantic, where British ships would fully take over. The British Mills-Cochrane expedition touring these US Yards still had under the arm plans of their own Hunt class design and wanted a Mark 2 made in US Yards essentially.

The final point of all this was that after the Pearl Harbour attack, the US would embark on a massive program of 1000 escort destroyer divided into six classes all testing various engine configurations, generating acronyms. The first, the GMT class was essentially initially a BDE capable of 24 knots and diesels as steam turbines were already in high demand. But eve with diesels, there were production bottleneck notably due to submarine-type diesel engines or landing crafts already in high demand as well. The final US design was essentially a larger Hunt class, 130 tons heavier and 33 feet longer. Many manufacturers were contacted in the US to sped up their capacity and manufactoring larger, 1,500 horsepower diesel engines. GM on its part received an order of electric motors and gears production for new gearboxes rose considerably. These ASW escorts needed to be agile, more than fast.

After the “short hulls” or “GMTs” (“GM Tandem” diesel) it was envisioned that turbo-electric was the ideal drive, leading to the “long hull” to accomodate these, but on the same horsepower, always with the goal or reaching 24 kts. The “long hull” was standardized ultimately and mixed with other propulsion options like a geared diesel drive on the FMR (for reduction geared, also half-Power), and the diesel-electric system on a long hull, the DET type seen here, and then the geared turbine alternative with relatively tiny gears (WGT). All these variants were the result of machinery supply problems.

Construction

The DE (Destroyer Escort) Program planned initially a total of 1005 units, including 105 “GMTs,” 54 “TEs,” 252 “TEVs” (“TEs” with 5-in guns), 293 “WGTs, and “116 “DETs” as well as 85 “FMRs.” Initial spreading into these class was to guarantee completion of 260 ships in 1943, but local initiatives in various yards and streamline deliveries meant this objective was beaten as 300 were delivered in 1943 alone, almost 3/4 of the final deliveries. However si,ce the Battle of the Atlantic turned out to be a win for the allies already that year, mass cancellations started in the autumn of 1943, 305 in September-October, 135 in 1944, whereas many of these ships too advanced in construction were converted to fast light transports (APD) helping out the allied amphibious campaign, mostly in the pacific. On the matter, none of the “DET” were converted. Of the twenty radar picket conversions, none were from the DET class either.

The “TEVs” and “WGTs” followed the original BDE design, but had space reservations for the future installation of two enclosed 5in/38 instead of their initial 3-in/50 dual purpose guns. The from were much more capable, notably for A/S and more versatile due to their heavier shells, including against aviation if needed thanks to the new fuses developed in 1943. Like all DEs but the “GMTs”, the “DET” carried torpedo tubes despite the Royal Navy, who first requested these, changed its mind and requested their removal from all DEs given to them. However this was for the best, as the weight spared led to the installation of their own hedgehogs, installed on all DEs from mid-1943. Unlike the “TEVs” and “WGTs”, the “DET” kept their original high British-style bridge related to the 180-foot minesweeper/PCE, also buiot in the US from British Admiralty requirements.

The Yards in charge were the following:

Bethlehem, Hingham Shipyard, MA: Lead builder, 17 ships DE51 to 155 (many converted as APD).
Bethlehem, Fore River Shipyard, MA: 10 ships DDE 667 to 683
San Francisco Shipyard, CA: 12 ships DE-633 to 644
Charleston Navy Yard, SC: 15 ships DE 199 to 213
Consolidated Steel, TX: 12 ships DE-789 to 800
Defoe Shipbuilding, MI: 13 ships DE-693 to 705
Dravo Corporation, PA: 3 ships, DDe 665 to 667
Norfolk Navy Yard, VA: 10 ships DE-153 to 198
Philadelphia Navy Yard, PA: 14 ships DE 214 to DE 223

Design of the class

The “DET” meaning “Diesel, Electric, Turbo” were a follow-up “long hull” type equipped with a 6000 hp diesel-electric powerplant, comprising four 1,500hp diesels-generators coupled with 2 electric motors and complex gearbox in order to have the range and agility to the expense of top speed. Unlike the BDE they had longer, flush-deck hulls for ease of construction as well as all US design tendencies short of the British style bridge. Many modifications were done on the standard “long hull design” communicated to all yards to make the production quicker just as for the Fletchers, Gearing and Allen M Sumner. However, the flush deck hull was also known to cause some waste of space inside the hull, notably below the sloped deck forward with peculiar internal arrangements.

Hull and general design

The DET or Cannon class was virtually a clone of the “long hull” type shared by most classes but the last Ruderrow. It displace 1,240 tons standard and 1,620 tons full load for an overall length of 93.3 m (306 ft) and beam of 11 m (36 ft) and a draft of 3.5 m (11 ft) full load. The Complement amounted to 15 officers and 201 enlisted men but could grow higher as extra AA were aded in 1944-45. The basic design remained the same as before and quite different from destroyers at that time which they looked like shortened versions, with a single mainmast and single funnel. The first main gun was on deck forward, unshielded but with a wave breaker around. The second was located on the second level of the deck which had three, the last being the open observation deck as per British design requirements. “B” gun mount was superfiring, with two 20 mm AA mounts on either side, then came the main bridge deck and enclosed bridge with a lower open bridge circling around and an axial 20mm Position in front oof it, overhanging. The enclosed deck was for the helmsman, with the navigation officer and his map table behind and other operators, radar and sonar. The captain and XO cabins were also conveniently nearby.

Powerplant: GM Diesel generators

Original factory photo of the Cleveland 16-278A diesel which developed 1600 hp.

The most distinctive point of the whole 500+ destroyer escort was their powerplant. The DET class had its acronym standing up from its diesel electric tandem drives, the same as for the Evarts-class (GMT = General Motors Tandem). However the peculiarity of the DET design was its substitution for a turboelectric propulsion plant as primary difference with the predecessor Buckley (“TE”) class. The DET was succeeded by a direct-drive diesel plant on its successor Edsall (“FMR”) class.

General Motors 16-278A diesel engines

The diesels came from the Cleveland Diesel Engine Division of General Motors after the 1938 reorganization, with the Model 248 series, derived from the Winton 201A engine. Further changes and increases in cylinder displacements resulted in the Model 278 and 278A during World War II, and 98% of Cleveland Diesels were under government contracts by 1939. The plant was expanded in 1941 and eventually produced 70% of submarine diesel in the whole of the US. Employment rose to 5,000 but dropped by 1947 down to 1,000 before bouncing again in the 1950s when three plants were acquired at Clinton Road in Cleveland, Ohio. Development and production of nuclear powered submarines graduelly decrease production, later moved to the Electro-Motive Division facility in LaGrange, Illinois.

These 278 engines existed in 6, 8, 12, 16 Cylinder configurations, hence the name 16-248A in our case. They equipped 97 Evarts-class destroyer escorts (diesel-electric) (whih needed four 16-cylinder engines as main propulsion) as well as 72 Cannon-class destroyer escorts in diesel-electric configuration, also four 16-cylinder engines, but also 57 of 343 PC-461-class submarine chasers (two 1,440 bhp 16-cylinder engines coupled with a Farrel-Birmingham single reduction gear) and many of the 68 PCE-842-class patrol craft with a Falk single reduction gearing, in tht case two 12-cylinder engines. That a total of c1000 diesels.

Protection

As escort ships, the DET or Cannon class like their sister classes lacked any armor at all like destroyers. They could be defeated at any range by the 8.8 cm deck guns of the standard U-Boats on any part of the hull or structures like butter. In fact, if there was no short fuse setup, the shells tended to simply go through side to side and explode out of the ship harmlessely if hitting the structure… But the same is true for 20 mm FLAK rounds. However, a surfaced U-boat would be overpowered by gunfire, just by combined 20 mm Oerlikon not only taksking of 40 mm Bofors and 3-in main guns. Issue was to get the right depression, so U-Boat captains knew how to close in enough.

Protection in these ships was limited to damage control underwater. Flooding containment was the main focus. The DET/Cannon were thus heavily compartmented, with bulkheads separating the engine room from the drive unit as well as the fore and aft sections plus the two pairs of diesel engines. As demonstrated by numerous destroyers during World War II, destroyer escort could theoretically survived a torpedo hit, especially on their extremities, bow or stern, staying afloat if one or the latter was cut clean off.

There was a partial double hull with some side tanks that could be filled with oil or seawater when the first was spent to keep stability, to absorb the damage from blasts built also counter-flood to some extent. Like all warships the danger posed by ammunition magazines deep down offered the possibility to install sea-cocks for that use. But there was no cover for the primary weapons. The flat shields were standard on the Oerlikon AA weapons. Only if fitted with 5-in/38 turrets some protection was offered against shrapnel. But the Cannon class kept their unshielded 3-in/50 main guns. Shields in that case would have been an hinderance for AA fire anyway.

Armament

Like previous ships, the Cannon class came equipped in standard with three 3-inch/50 guns, dual-purpose. The BuShips design preferred them over the 5-in/38 guns because of weight concerns, as well as because the 5-in/38 did not offered back in 1941 the same level of lethality. The 3-in/50 was a proven and trusted design with a good elevation ideal to deal with the Luftwaffe’s potential FW-200 Condor at high altitude or when depressed, with surfaced or submerged U-Boats. To match British initial requirements, an array of 20 mm Oerlikon AA weapons was also installed to counter attacks from lower altitudes. However the Bofors was installed from the start on the Cannon class. To deal with the occasional surface ship, the Cannon class also came equipped woth a US standard 533 mm or 21 inches triple torpedo tubes bank. It was kept until the end of their service. Captains considered it useful against a possible U-Boat if caught surfaced, more than a surfaced opponent, but the requirement back in 1940 was to deal with German commerce raiders. By 1943 they were no longer a threat.

For a fast ASW attack, the best asset of the DET class was its new standard Hergdehog Mark 1 anti-submarine mortar. They proved perfect to hit a U-boat that was just located and started to dive. The standard was the 24-spigot mortar, 178 mm Mk 10 ASWRL. This was completed by 120 Depth Charges (160 on other classes) for passes during long, exhausting chase hours. These were dispensed by two stern racks and eight side projectors (also known as Depth Charge Throwers or Y-Guns) occupying a large part of the stern deck.

3 inch/50 Mark 20 guns

The Mark 20 was a far more recent version of the successful dual-purpose light-medium 76 mm naval guns, almost at the end of the line, whereas the Mark 2 had been in service since 1915. With their ability to raise to +85° and their constant lack of protection, they could reach a range of 14,600 yards (13,400 meters) at 43° elevation and 30,400 feet (9,300 meters) at AA ceiling. They required a small crew consisting of a single gunner with an optical telescope and a peep-site. With manual loading and ramming, the Mark 20 could fire about 20 rounds per minute. They were easy to handle and had 13-pound (5.9-kg) HE rounds. They were available in AP, AA with VT promixity fuze in 1944, and HE or illumination, some of which were always prepared to fight U-boats’ surface night tactics. It is unlikely that the automated Mark 22 (1944) ever took the place of the Mark 20.

40mm/56 Mk 1.2

Possibly the best AA gun of World War II, at least for the Allies, the heavy puncher was widely used. On the superstructure, a twin or two single single, and then two twin mount positioned aft. The 40 mm (1.57 in) Bofors, which is still in use today and is renowned for its hitting power and dependability, requires no introduction. The manual handling of the gravity-fed, 4-round clips is the only thing limiting this 56-caliber (2.24 m/7.35 ft) gun’s 80–100 effective rate of fire, which is 120 rounds per minute (cyclic). With regard to airplanes, the muzzle velocity is 881 m/s (2,890 ft/s) and the effective range is 5,000 m (5,500 yd). In contrast to the Mark 2 quad mount, the Mk.1 was the Twin mount and was primarily unshielded.
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20 mm/70 Mark 4 Oerlikon

On the Cannon class they were distributed on seven several positions, four aft of the funnel initially, one in front of the bridge. But the standard by 1944 was to have nine of them in 1944, with extra positions forward on either side of the bridge, same level as the B 3-in/50 main gun. There were also two aft deck posts.
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Depth Charges

Eight DCT (Depth Charge Thrower or K) guns were standard equipment; four of them faced the aft quadrant and four the broadside. They were positioned aft on either side. Two 10-DC depth charge racks aft finished this, bringing the total number of depth charges to 120–160. This was a huge ship that was larger than any other US ship, indicating their area of expertise. This was their only ASW weapon until the Hedgehog was introduced and replaced the “B” mount.

Mark 7:

Most likely, the finished Mark 7 models were utilized. They weighed 745 pounds (338 kg) and carried a 600-pound (272 kilogram) TNT payload with a sink rate and terminal velocity of 9 feet per second (2.7 mps). They were designed in 1937 and went into service the following year. It was adjustable between 50 and 300 feet (15 and 91 meters).
In the early stages of World War II, it was essentially a modified Mark 4, which was installed as standard on all destroyers, destroyer escorts, and ASW ships. It was redesigned to make building easier. Due to rumors of U-boats that could reach more than 250 meters, Mod 1 raised the depth setting to 600 feet (183 meters) when it arrived in August 1942. With a higher sink rate of 13 frames per second (4 mps), Mod 2’s warhead was increased to 400 pounds (181.4 kg) of TNT.

Mark 8:

This variant, which was designed in 1941 and released in 1943, was a magnetic handgun with an aluminum case to prevent magnetic interference. Compared to earlier preset depth charges, this “proximity” model was significantly more sophisticated and accurate. With a sink rate of 11.5 fps (3.5 mps) and settings ranging from 50 to 500 feet (15-152 m), it was able to carry 270 lbs. (122 kg) of TNT despite weighing “only” 525 lbs. (238 kg). Compared to the Mark 6 or even the subsequent Mark 9, the USN deemed it seven times more deadly. However, when it blew up…

It required a lot of upkeep and was unreliable. So much so that the model was discontinued from service in 1945 and a backup hydrostatic pistol was installed. The magnetic pistol burst when 20–25 feet (6–7.5 m) got close after arming itself when it detected the hull from 35 feet (11 m) to 200 feet (61 m). It was sorted by 150 lbs. (68 kg) of lead weight because it was too light. With 76,000 manufactured, this model was hailed as a USN “secret weapon” that would help win the war in the Atlantic. However, crews immediately found weaknesses in it, and it was quickly withdrawn after the war, with about 57,000 remaining in storage by September 1945.

Mark 9:

This was the standard-issue DC from 1943 to 1945 and well beyond, and it was from the same generation as the Mark 8. Technically, they were essentially the same as the preceding Mark 7, but they had a “teardrop” shape that allowed for a significantly higher sink rate in tests. They also included fins to generate a stabilizing spin, which allowed them to sink much more precisely. The Mod 2 could be set up to 1,000 feet (305 meters), the sink rate could be lowered to 15 (4.5 mps) if necessary by installing spoiler plates on the nose that functioned as brakes, and the warhead TNT was swapped out for Torpex. To enable slower warships (DEs, Frigates, and Sub-Hunters) to avoid the explosion plume, they were supplied as kits.

Mods 0, 1, and 2 had warheads that ranged from 200 lbs. (91 kg) TNT to 190 lbs. (86 kg). They weighed 320 lbs./145 kg, 320 lbs./145 kg, and 340 lbs. (154 kg) accordingly. The sink rate also fluctuated, ranging from 14.5 fps (4.4 mps) to 22.7 fps (6.9 mps).
The settings ranged from 50 to 300 feet (15-91 m) or 600 feet (183 m), which is almost the same as the Mark 7.

K Guns (Mark 6)

In 1941, the Projector Mark 6 was released, firing a single depth charge of the Mark 6, 9, or 14. The distances covered in only 3.4 to 5.1 seconds range from 60 to 150 yards (55 to 137 meters). They were typically positioned three on each side aft on the deck, near the aft deckhouse, on all destroyers equipped. For destroyers, it is four to six, but for destroyer escorts, it can reach eight. They persisted until the 1950s, when their output was so high that lend-lease was also a major source of funding.

The depth charge was put into each K-Gun, which was made up of an arbor (holder) that was placed inside the projector. It was deemed a hazard even though it could not be recovered until a cable was fastened to it after it fell into the sea. They were inexpensive metal parts that could be expanded. These were partially constructed from a 61 cm x 15 cm tube that was closed on one end and ended with a 12 by 31 inch (30.5 x 79 cm) tray on the other end. When shot, it became the primary projectile because it was designed to fit into the projector barrel. They weighed 70 pounds (32 kg) at first, then 65 pounds (29.5 kg) on later models, increasing range.
Black powder was utilized as the K-Gun propellant. The arbor was placed inside a tubular casing that measured 3″ (7.62 cm). The charge changed when the loads fluctuated between the required range of 60, 90, and 150 yards (55, 82, and 137 meters).

The USS Asheville (PF-1) tested the Mark 9’s built-in arbor in 1944, but the technology was too complicated and expensive to justify production in comparison to expandable arbors. Thousands of tons of arbors are thought to have been placed on the Atlantic bottom following World War II, but they most likely rusted away because they were not given any special care.

Mark 63 fire-control system (cold war)

The Mark 63 Gun Fire Control System (Mk.63 GFCS) was installed on most of the Cannon class that saw service in other navies. It was composed of the AN/SPG-34 radar tracker and the Mark 29 gun sight, to control the single or twin QF 4-inch naval gun Mk XVI and Mk.33 twin 3″/50 cal guns if installed.

Sensors

There too, it was pretty well rounded for their mission, covering all aspects surface, air and undersea passive or active detection.

SL Radar

Typical small 150 kW, 1300 lbs (590 kg) surface search radar designed for destroyer escorts.
The 300 lbs (136 kg)antenna was 45″ by 48″ (1.14m by 1.22m) parabolic in radome and PPi scope, 20 rpm and 100 feet/1 degrees accuracy.
Resolution 600 feet/6 degrees or 200 meters/25 degrees, 30 meters/1 degrees
Specs: Wavelength 10 cm, pulse Width 1.5 microsecond, Pulse Repetition Frequency 800 Hz
Range: 15 nm (30 km) low-flying bomber, 20 nm (35 km) cruiser, 13 nm (24 km) destroyer, 10 nm (20 km) submarine
829 SLs were manufactured in 1943-10, 480 SL-1 by 1944-7. They equipped the present destroyers and their successors. British crews were trained on them at first.

SA Radar

Standard small air search radar and first warning detector. Tailored for destroyers escorts and frigates, some were also found on destroyers. They were of the bed frame type, and relatively small. The SA-1 equipped rather destroyers.
Specs:
SA had an estimated reliable range of 40 miles on medium bombers at 10,000′, with antenna at 100′. Range accuracy is ± 100 yds. Bearing accuracy, ± 1° (lobe switching). No elevation.
The SA has 12 components and weighs a total of approximately 1500 lbs. The SA antenna measures 5′ x 8’8″. Including pedestal, it weighs 500 lbs.
The antenna should be mounted as high as possible, preferably 100 feet or more above the water, thus, on top of the mainmast of the GMT.
To operate, one operator per shift is required. PP required is 1950 watts at 115 volts, 60 cycles.
They were small enough to be fitted on sub-chasers and minesweepers as well.
See also

SC Radar

Possibly installed on early 1943 ships in case of shortages. This was an early surface-search and air-search radar introduced in 1941 and used throughout the war, often passed onto minesweepers and sub-hunters. It was developed as an air and surface search radar to provide early warning of aircraft and ships approaching naval vessels. It was one of the Navy’s first operational long-range search radars for destroyers escorts. Frequency 106 MHz (VHF band), Wavelength 2.8 meters PRF 60–620 pulses per second (varied by model), Pulse Width 10 microseconds. Peak Power Output 80–100 kW, AA detection 75 miles (120 km) under ideal conditions, detection Range surface 8–15 miles. The antenna was either of a Yagi or dipole array type (later parabolic reflectors on upgrades). Display A-scope initially; later models had PPI (plan position indicator) displays.

SF Radar

A small radar used as complement. This Surface-search radar was introduced 1941–1942 replaced and complemented Older SC radars. It was replaced by the SG radar (microwave surface-search radar). The SF was used to detect ships and coastlines, especially in poor visibility or night operations, providing navigation assistance and supplementing the SC air-search radar.
It was an early metric-wavelength system (longer wavelength than the later SG radars) and was used on smaller vessels where space or power limits precluded larger radar systems.
FRQ 200 MHz (VHF band), Wavelength 1.5 m, PRF 60–620 pulses per second (varied) with a pulse Width of 10 microseconds, Peak Power Output (PPO) of 15–30 kW.
Detection Range (Surface Targets) was to 15 miles (24 km) on large ships, and for aircraft just 30 miles under ideal conditions. The Antenna was a directional dipole array, trainable manually and it had display Type A-scope, amplitude vs. range, later with range markers.

QGA SONAR

QGA, often written as “QGA Sound Gear” was an active echo-ranging sonar (ASDIC-type) intorduced in 1942 for Submarine detection and tracking for destroyers, destroyer escorts, and subchasers. It was was part of the Navy’s “Q” series of sonars (which included the early QC, QD, QDA, QGB, QHB, etc.). Each letter increment generally denoted improvements in range accuracy, beam control, and reliability. This was an ealry type of forward-looking active sonar, sending out a ping with listening for the returning echo reflected from a submarine’s hull or in short an “active sonar”, rarely if never used today. It displays the range and bearing of the contact to the sonar operator. Depth charge or “hedgehog” fire control in destroyer escorts and small ASW ships. Operating frequency 14–25 kHz (depending on variant and transducer) with a pulse type that was a short acoustic pulse. Maximum detection range was typically 1,500–3,000 yards (1.4–2.7 km) on a submarine-sized target, with a beam width of 10–20 degrees. The Transducer mount was a retractable dome or a fixed under-keel mount and bearing accuracy was within a few degrees depending on sea state. The Display was Audio via headphones and visual range indicator (oscilloscope or mechanical range clock).

HF/DF

To detect enemy radar or radio emission and triangulate positions, the mast was topped by the characteristic cross-style antenna of the “Huff-Duff”, a British model built in the US as the FH 4 antenna. It was used as a MF Direction Finding array.

⚙ DET Destroyer Escort specifications
Displacement	1240t standard, 1620 tons (fully loaded)
Dimensions	306 in x 35 ft x 11 ft (93.3 x 11 x 3.5 m)
Propulsion	2 shafts, 4× GM Model 16-278A diesels, electric drive
Speed	21 knots (39 km/h; 25 mph)
Range	10,800 nm (20,000 km; 12,400 mi) at 12 knots (22 km/h)
Armament	3× 3-in/50, 2x 40mm, 8× 20 mm AA, 1×3 21-in TTs, Hedgehog, 8DCT, 2DCR, 160 DCs
Sensors	SL, SA radars, Type 128D/Type 144 ASDIC, HF/DF FH 4a
Crew	15 officers, 201 ratings

Misc. aspects on the GMT class

Naming

The DET/FMR class were named after recently died USN servicemen, not only to honour their families, and for maintaining esprit the corps. Only those awarded a special decoration posthumously or citation, such as the Navy cross, were considered. The lead ship USS Cannon DE99 was named after George H. Cannon, a Medal of Honor recipient. In 1938 her was in the Engineer Reserve, U.S. Army as 2nd Lietenantn in his last yeat of university and entered the USMC in June 1938. He served on USS Boise, joined the 6th Defense Battalion and in July the unit sailed for Pearl Harbor. On September 7, 1941, 1st Lt. Cannon was on Midway as platoon leader, Battalion Coding Board. He was killed during the attack on Midway.

USS Christopher was named for a Navy Cross recipient, Harold Jensen Christopher, who was killed at Pearl Harbor aboard USS Nevada (BB-36) on 7 December 1941. More to come.

General Evaluation

(In redaction)

Wartime and Cold War Transfer and exports

Sénégalais in the Cold War
In 1945 already, the US Navy transferred to the Marine Nationale the following:

• USS Corbesier (DE-106) as Sénégalais
• USS Cronin (DE-107) as Algérien
• USS Crosley (DE-108) as Tunisien
• USS Marocain (DE-109) as Marocain
• USS Hova (DE-110) as Hova
• USS Somali (DE-111) as Somali

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In 1950 an additional eight ships were transferred through MDAP:

• USS Baker (DE-190) as Malgache (F724); served 1952-1969
• USS Bright (DE-747) as Touareg (F721); served 1950-1960
• USS Cates (DE-763) as Soudanais (F722); served 1950-1959
• USS Clarence L. Evans (DE-113) as Berbère (F723); served 1952-1960
• USS Riddle (DE-185) as Kabyle (F718); served 1950-1959
• USS Samuel S. Miles (DE-183) as Arabe (F717); served 1950-1968
• USS Swearer (DE-186) as Bambara (F719); served 1950-1959
• USS Wingfield (DE-194) as Sakalave (F720); served 1950-1960

In French service, they were part of 1944 allied transfers. Depending on the sources and authors they were called the Sénégalais class, transferred to France under lend-lease still before commission. Formal transfer was simultaneous with their commission in January to April 1944. They took part in FNFL operations in the the Mediterranean and notably Operation Dragoon in southern France after the Campaign of Italy. They were Provided by triple 533mm torpedo tubes but in service the French removed them and replaced them with two 40mm Bofors. Fortunately their WW2 service in French hands is known. There are a few sources:
u-boote.fr: sénégalais
Wiki EN sénégalais
uboat.net
navsource.net/
anciens-cols-bleus.net
alamer.fr/
Navypedia

The Career of FS Sénégalais:

On April 3, 1944, she left the US after commission with convoy UGS 38 from Hampton Roads (105 merchant ships escorted by 21 warships) to Port Said. Sénégalais left for Algiers and arrived on April 23, 1944. She took part in several FNFL convoys to Corsica, in preparation for the Corsican landings. She was back at Algiers on May 2, 1944 an a day later at 3:15 a.m. she was alerted by Alger Command to depart at 6:30 a.m. with Alcyon and join the US Hunter Killer Group in search of an U-Boat off Djidjelli.

At 1:18 a.m. U-371 was damaged by USS Menges (convoy GUS 38 with) a T-5 ‘Gnat’ acoustic torpedo, the return convoy of UGS 38 that departed Port Said on April 24, 1944 back to Hampton Roads. Senegalese had part of the crew unable to reach the ship in time and at 13:00, with Alcyon she joined USS Joseph E. Campbell, USS Pride (DE 323) and minesweeper USS Sustain (AM 119). At 17:15 battle stations is signalled as there was a new sonar pick, and from 5:42 p.m. to 5:53 p.m. she uses her Hedgehog until bubbles appear on the second pass but this went on for several more hours.

On May 4, 1944 at 3:15 a.m. CIC reports a radar echo the the French DE under command of Lieutenant Guérin as watch commander and later Lt.Cdr Petit. By 3:33 a.m. illumination shells revealed the surfaced U-boat and she is hit on her starboard. By 3:53 a.m. the 40mm joined in as she closed on, but loose contact. At 03:58 her stern is hit by a torpedo, lost her propellers and steering, Grenades on the quarterdeck fell and explode, smoke bombs went off and at 04:35 she is beached. There are 14 killed, all at the stern, and about 50 wounded. She is then towed by Alcyon to Djidjelli while her whaleboat rescues four German submariners adrift on rafts as their submarine had been also sunk. An Alsatian sailor informed the Commander U-371 had been wrecked by her Hedgehog and she was scuttled with few diehards remaining on board.

Sénégalais was towed to Oran and repaired, with her stern cut away and reinforced, temporary rudder fitted until she departed on August 2, 1944 for the US, with an ocean-going tug, to Charleston. There she was fitted with a brand-new stern and by november 1944, work was completed and she had a shakedown off Portland, Maine, later leaving Hampton Roads with convoy UGS 61 (82 merchant ships, 11 warships)on November 21, 1944, for Gibraltar. Sénégalais left for Casablanca on December 6, 1944. She resumed convoy escorts between North Africa and France (Marseille and Toulon).

She saw service in Indochina postwar, arriving in Saigon on October 31, 1945. She then supplied several posts and provided support during the Viet Minh attack on Sha-Pak-Wan and by January 1946 patrolled South Annam, leaving for home on March 29, 1946, in Toulon on April 28, 1946. From June 1947, under Lt.Cdr. E.SCHLUMBERGER she took part in many exercises. By April 1952 her ownership is granted under MDAP and on May 14, 1952, she is struck from U.S. lists. After another decade service on June 28, 1963, renamed “Yser”, she is converted as training ship until decommissioned on June 1964, stricken, returned to the U.S. Navy which ordered instead to have her BU in Germany on October 1965.

The “Arabe class” (second group)

The 2nd group was transferred in the 1950s this time directly under MDAP to help France rebuilt its ASW ships arsenal after the losses of WW2. There are sometimes named the Arabe class, but since they were identical to the ealier ships in FNFL service, there is no point. One was transferred in August, two in September, two in November 1950, and the last twp, Berbère and Malgache, in March 1952. This second series differed by their armament and sensors. The main guns were now 3-in/50 Mk 22, they had a twin 40mm/60 Bofors Mk 1, up to twelve 20mm/70 Mk 10 AA guns, the same Hedgehog ASWRL and same eight DCT, two DCR with 120 depth charges. The earlier F01 (Sénégalais) class had instead three 3-/50 Mk 20/21 main guns, three single 40mm Bofors and ten 20mm Oerlikon.

The Arabe had the latest sensors suite, with a SPS-5 and SPS-6 radars replacing the ww2 SC/SC/SF radars of the Sénégalais class, but the QGA sonar remained the same. In 1960, the Sénégalais also were updated to the SPS-5 and SPS-6 radars. By the mid-1960s, Malgache of the second series became a command ship of amphibious training centre, loosing its Hedgehog ASWRL and DCT, DCR.

Sometimes called Beberibe class, these were the only wartime transfers of these ships apart for France, taking part in ASW operations in the Southern Atlantic. In 1943 the Americans decided to rent to the Brazilian navy ill-equipped escort units so that she could take charge of these missions in the South Atlantic. No less than eight “DET” diesel-electric ships were transferred in late 1944 and early 1945, the Beberibe, Babitonga, Baependi, Bauru, Benevento, Bertioga, Bocaina and Bracui. The first four in Augtst, two in December 1944 and two in March 1945. They played their part zealously, with rare U-Bootes encounters, until transferred back to the Pacific. Postwar they were and retired from 1968 to 1975.

• USS Alger (DE-101) as Babitonga: Decom. USN 10 March 1945, to Brazil. Struck 20 July 1953, transferred MDAP as D-16. Stricken 1964.
• USS Cannon (DE-99) as Baependi
• USS Christopher (DE-100) as Benevente
• USS Herzog (DE-178) as Beberibe
• USS Marts (DE-174) as Bocaina
• USS McAnn (DE-179) as Bauru – now a museum ship in Rio de Janeiro
• USS Pennewill (DE-175) as Bertioga
• USS Reybold (DE-177) as Bracui

Originally they had the hull numbers Be1-8, but in 1955 this was changed to D16-23, and in 1965 they were were re-rated as “ocean avizos” (patrol ships). They had very long careers. Bauru for example was rebuil in 1981-1982 and changed appearance back to her WW2 style before being turned and open on 21.7.1982 was opened as naval museum, kept till now. She is the second DET class that can be visited.

As part of the countries that benefited from MDAP, Greece obtained four DET class ships:

• USS Eldridge (DE-173): Leon, in service 1951–1992
• USS Slater (DE-766): Aetos, in serving 1951–1991, returned to the US, museum ship in Albany, New York
• USS Ebert (DE-768): Ierax, active 1951–1991
• USS Garfield Thomas (DE-193): Panthir: active 1951–1992

The Aldebaran class was a class of three frigates/corvettes/destroyer escorts of the Italian Navy transferred in 1951 under the Mutual Defense Assistance Program.
They arrived together with the Artigliere-class ships as part of a major upgrade program started in 1950, first used as escorts but from 1957 as frigates (F-numbers given) and from 1962 as corvettes, until decommissioning. Their names came from three WW2 Spica-class torpedo boats, lost in action.

• USS Wesson (DE-184) as Andromeda (F 592) 1951; scrapped in 1972
• USS Thornhill (DE-195) as Aldebaran (F 590) 1951; scrapped in 1976
• USS Gandy (DE-764) as Altair (F 591) 1951; stricken and sunk as target in 1971

Both originally came from Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Company, New Jersey, and had a wartime career. In 1951, General Matthew Ridgway as Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces, proposed to lend a single patrol frigate and landing support boat to Japan under Allied occupation and by April 26, 1952, the Coastal Safety Force was established (Coast Guard) to operate these warships. Eventually the two ships were commissioned on 14 June 1955 as the Asahi class following the US-Japan Ship Loan Agreement signed on May 14, 1954. They were active with the same armament but also their WW2 sensors SC, SL radars, QGA sonar and no upgrade is recorded until their transfer to the Phlippines Navy in 1975, in addition to the ex-ROCN Kang Won.

• USS Amick (DE-168) as Asahi (DE-262) 1955–75 (then to the Philippines)
• USS Atherton (DE-169) as Hatsuhi (DE-263) 1955–75 (then to the Philippines)

The first Dutch ASW Frigates were six long-range (mid-atlantic) stock DET type (Cannon class) destroyer escorts of 1942-43 purchased for the first four in June 1950, and May 1951 for the last two. Most has been built at Federal, Newark NyD. Their armament was kept intact, but with some minor changes, notably between De Bitter & Van Amstel and the rest. However all other specs were identical to the US ships. The triple 21-in TTs was removed from Van Amstel and De Bitter and later from all ships. In 1959-61, most of the 20 mm were also removed. In December 1967, they were all returned to the USA and scrapped on arrival.

• USS Burrows (DE-105) as Van Amstel (F806) 1950
• USS Rinehart (DE-196) as Bitter (F807) 1950
• USS Gustafson (DE-182) as Van Ewijck (F808) 1950
• USS O’Neill (DE-188) as Dubois (F809) 1950
• USS Eisner (DE-192) as Zeeuw (F810) 1950
• USS Stern (DE-187) as van Zijll (F811) 1950

BRP Rajah Humabon (F11) in Philippines service. Three were transferred in 1976 and three more in 1978, the last two kept for spares. They were modernized in South Korea after being towed there by October 1978. Datu Kalantian, was lost in the cyclone “clara” in 1941, stricken in 1984 and her sister ship Rajah Humabon served until 1995 (circa), BU afterwards.

• USS Amick (DE-168) as BRP Datu Sikatuna (PF-5), scrapped in 1989
• USS Atherton (DE-169) as BRP Rajah Humabon (PF-11), retired in 2018, scrapped after capsizing in a typhoon in 2022
• USS Booth (DE-170) as BRP Datu Kalantiaw (PS-76), sunk during a typhoon in 1981
• USS Muir (DE-770), cannibalized for parts
• USS Sutton (DE-771), cannibalized for parts

USS Muir (DE-770) as ROKN Kyong Ki (F-71); served 1956–1977 (then to the Philippines)
USS Sutton (DE-771) as ROKN Kang Won (F-72); served 1956–1977 (then to the Philippines)

Ex-USN Cannon-class destroyer escorts, transferred from Boston in 1956. Note that China also acquired former GMT (Evarts) class in leasing (Tai Ping class). The Cannon clas vessels were transferred in 1949 to the Nationalists, and all four escaped to Taiwan. Armament was strengthened before commission. They remained active until 1973. They had four of the new 76mm/50 Mk 22 and two twin Bofors Mark 1. In the 1960s their main guns and 20mm Oerlikon AA as well as all their DCT/DCR were removed. They had two 5-in/38 Mk 30 turrets installed on deck fore and aft instead and four single radar-assisted 40mm/60 Mk 3, and two triple 324mm TT, plus the Hedgehog Mk 11 ASWRL. They were amon gthe most relevant of all Cannon class modernizations. They remained in service thanks to this until 1972-73.

• USS Thomas (DE-102) as ROCN Taihe (太和)
• USS Bostwick (DE-103) as ROCN Taicang (太倉)
• USS Breeman (DE-104) as ROCN Taihu (太湖)
• USS Carter (DE-112) as ROCN Taizhao (太昭)

USS Hemminger (DE-746) was transferred as HTMS Pin Klao (DE-413), recommissoned in 1959. Amazingly she was still in service until 2025, making for a hull 82 years old, and a service time of 81 years, a record for a Cannon class destroyer escort or for any destroyer escort anywhere, anytime.

Artigas in the Panama canal zone, from Richard J. Dillon, Machine Shop 38, Industrial Division Panama Canal Zone (RIP) via navsource.net
USS Baron (DE-166) as Uruguay (DE-1); served 1952–1990
USS Bronstein (DE-189) as Artigas (DE-2); served 1952–1988.

They were modernized extensively. In the late 1960s, they lost their TTs and four 20mm/70 AA guns. They received the SPS-5, SPS-6C radars and SQS-4 sonar. In the early 1980s they lost one more 20mm/70 AA and all their 8 DCT, 2 DCR as well as SQS-4 sonar to become patrol ships. Uruguay had her SPS-6C radar ramoved.

Appearance

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In terms of camouflage, measures consisted in the following:
Order 1943: MS22 external for the Canon class, but MS31/3D for the details and decks (vertical surfaces) and MS32/3d also signalled
Order 1944: MS22, MS32/3D, MS32/14D, or 10D, 11D for some ships, and MS31/3D depending on ships.
Order 1945: MS32/3D and MS21 for most ships completed in 1945, MS22 for some exceptions
See more
USS Alger for example was applied MS 22 as completed, all Navy blue. It was colourful mix of patterns and styles with MS 31/3D from 1944.

MS 21:

Navy Blue 5-N Vertical surfaces, Deck Blue 20-B horizontal, wood decks in Deck Blue. Canvas covers Deck Blue.

MS 22:

Navy Blue 5-N for all Vertical surfaces without exception. Horizontal Surfaces Deck Blue, 20-B. Wood decks be darkened to the colour Deck Blue. Deck Blue paint shall be used in lieu of stain.

MS 31/3D:

Paint all exposed vertical surfaces a pattern of Haze Gray 5-H, Ocean Gray 5-O, Black. Horizontal Surfaces, all decks and horizontal surfaces with Deck Blue, 20-B and Ocean Gray 5-O. Canvas covers visible from the outside vessel dyed to Deck Blue.

MS 32/3D:

Camo Light Gray 5-L, Ocean Gray 5-O Black vertical and Deck Blue 20-Bn Ocean Gray 5-O horizontal, canvas Deck Blue.

MS 32/10D:

Sub-variation for USS Stern DDE187, O’Neil DDE188, Hilbert DDE742, Tills DDE748

MS 32/11D:

Sub-variation for USS Lamons DDE743

MS 32/14D:

Sub-variation for DDE 113 Clarence L Evans, DDE 741 Weaver, DDE 749 Roberts

Preserved: USS Slater

A single DE in the US symbolizes all 500+ masses of these: USS Slater, ex US, sx-Greek and back. It is a valuable source of knowledge because all of these ships have a lot in common. The museum ship USS Slater (DE-766) is a Cannon-class destroyer escort that has undergone extensive restoration. It is a poignant homage to the sailors who served on similar ships during World War II and is one of the last surviving destroyer escorts in the United States. May 1944 saw the commissioning, and the name This Cannon-class, which was active in the Atlantic Ocean during WWII and is now preserved in Albany, New York, anchored on the Hudson River close to downtown, was named for Frank O. Slater, a sailor who was killed during the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal.

The Destroyer Escort Historical Museum presently operates it, and it has been completely restored to her WWII look, including accurate interior features, paint jobs, and weapons. Of the more than 500 neglected naval boats, it actually underwent one of the most extensive restorations in the nation, thanks in large part to the efforts of committed volunteers and veterans of the Navy (in contrast, more destroyers of WWII had been maintained). Seasonally, guided tours are available, giving visitors access to the ship’s bridge, gun positions, crew quarters, engine room, and other areas.
Visit the website

Career of the Cannon (DET class)

USS Cannon was laid down at Dravo, Wilmington on 11.1942, launched on 25.5.1943 and decommissioned on 9/1943. On 30 November 1943, Cannon cleared Philadelphia for Trinidad, where she arrived on 5 December to begin a year of duty escorting convoys from that oil rich island to Recife and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. During this time, she made one voyage from Brazil to Gibraltar, guarding convoys whose tankers carried the fuel essential to the operations in the Mediterranean. Cannon’s protection of the Allied fuel supply through the sea lanes of the Caribbean and the Atlantic Narrows ended on 4 December 1944, when she arrived at Natal, Brazil to begin training a Brazilian crew in the operation of the ship. Transferred at Natal to Brazil in December 1944 as Baependi.

USS Christopher was laid down at Dravo, Wilmington on 12.1942, launched 19.6.1943, and commissioned on 10/1943. Christopher sailed from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 25 December 1943 for duty off Brazil and Trinidad, training exercises but also convoy duty and screening cruisers during their shakedown training. From 16 January and 11 February she was off Montevideo screening the British cable ship Cambria repairing broken cables. She was transferred to the Brazilian Navy (in service until1964) as Benevente (D-20) and active in the same missions after recommission at Natal, in December 1944.

USS Alger was laid down at Dravo, Wilmington on January 1943, launched on 8 July and commissioned in November the same year. On 30 November, she sailed to Bermuda for her shakedown, and to Philadelphia for post-shakedown availability, and back to the Caribbean on 15 January 1944, Trinidad. There, she was assigned to Task Group (TG) 42.5, for a convoy bound for Recife in Brazil. En route she collided with a merchantman, sustaining damage to her bow but went on to Recife on 14 February. She joined Task Group 41.5 to patrol off the Brazilian coast until 1 June. Next she escorted a convoy to Trinidad, arrived on 8 June, sailed back to Recife. On 17 July she screened the escort carrier USS Solomons for hunter-killer group drills off Brazil. She resumed patrols in November and ended the year with Task Group 42.3, escorting a convoy to Rio de Janeiro. On 28 December she escorted another convoy to Trinidad and back to Recife on 30 January 1945, relieved in preparation for her transfer to Brazil on loan. She was transferred in Natal on March 1945 as Babitonga.

USS Thomas was laid down at Dravo, Wilmington on 1.1943, launched on 31.7.1943 and commissioned on 11/1943. She operated off the east coast, involved in the sinking of three German submarines: U-709, U-233, and U-879. U-233 was rammed by her after being forced to the surface by depth charges. She rescued 29 survivors, including the Captain. After being decommissioned at Green Cove Springs, Florida in March 1946, she was transferred to China in December 1948 renamed 太和 Tai Ho. For her wartime servive she won 4 battle stars. ROCS Tai Ho (DE-23) remained active until 1973, making for a career of 30 years under two flags.

Bostwick was laid down at Dravo, Wilmington on 2.1943, launched on 30 August 1943 and commissioned in December. She had her shakedown training off Bermuda by late December until January 1944, joined the Atlantic Fleet as school ship for training Destroyer Escort class crews under construction. On 15 February she joined USS Thomas, Bronstein, Breeman and Corry for patrols across the Atlantic to Casablanca with USS Block Island Task Group 21.16 (TG 21.16), notably later in the North Atlantic. Late on 29 February her sister Bronstein made radar contact, Bostwick and Thomas “boxed” the target revealed by flares, U-709. After she was fired upon and dived, all three unleashed a barrage of depth charges but the kill was attributed at 0324 to USS Thomas after a huge underwater explosion.

TG 21.16 was in Casablanca on 8 March for R&R and resumed the patrol. Bostwick was back home on 31 March to prepare for a new transtlantic convoy to Bizerte (Tunisia)on 4 May and back with the return convoy on 11 May to New York on the 30th. She had refresher training at Casco Bay in Maine and on 25 June, joined USS Card hunter-killer group. She investigated a reported U-boat south of Newfoundland, spotted and sank by ramming U-233 on 5 July. TG 22.10 returned to Boston to land prisoners and make repairs and departed for the West Indies search for a U-boat that sunk or damaged ships in the area. On 16 July, she was spotted by an aircraft 60 miles from the group. Bostwick and Bronstein rushed night-long in search but found nil and were back at TG 22.10, San Juan, on 18 July. In September, she was in Casco Bay for refresher training after maintenance at NyC, and back at TG 22.2 for training near Bermuda, and a new hunting patrol from the 25th. North of the Azores underway to Casablanca, Bostwick detected and attacked an U-Boat, no kill. TG 22.2 in October was in Casablanca, and returned to New York (5 November). After availability at NyC Nyd she returned in hunt with Card off Bermuda and back to New York in December.

By January 1945, Bostwick was in Narragansett Bay to screen USS Prince William (HMS Striker) in pilot qualifications and back to NyC on 22 January, then back to USS Core, TG 22.4 south of Iceland on 16 February (12 destroyer escorts, one carrier). Changing tactic they formed a scouting line 90 miles long. It was later struck by a hurricane force game. Bostwick refuelled at Hvalfjordür on 25 February. TG 22.4 tracked U-Boats reported off Flemish Cap. In March she was in maintenance at New York and returned to planeguard duty for USS Card. On 14 April she was in patrol on the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay. On 29 April Natchez spotted and reported a U-boat. Bostwick, Thomas, Coffman joined Natchez, sharing the kill after a large oil slick after an underwater explosion, killing U-879.

Bostwick remained in January 1945 in New York and was sent to New London, England and Quonset Point, Rhode Island for training. By mid-July she was back at New York for a three-day demonstration cruise for civilian observers and back to planeguard duty, USS Mission Bay and USS Croatan and maintenance in NyC on 24 September–15 October, then in peacetime postwar New York for Navy Day. On 15 November she was sent to Green Cove Springs, decommissioned on 30 April 1946, berthed and mothballed, Atlantic Reserve Fleet. Stricken, she was transferred to China in December 1948 as 太仓 Tai Tsang.

USS Breeman was laid down at Dravo, Wilmington on 3.1943, launched on 4.9.1943 and commissioned on 12/1943. Her outfitting was completed in ealry 1944 at Norfolk and on 11 she started her shakedown cruise in Bermuda. Back to Norfolk on 5 February for post-shakedown fixes, from 16 February she sailed to Chesapeake Bay to joing CortDiv 48, Task Group (TG) 21.16 hunter-killer group (USS Block Island) patrolling alongside the transatlantic convoy routes. At least two U-boats were attacked off Casablanca before 8 March. On the 19th Block Island aviation sank U-1059, Breeman assisted in the rescue. Breeman and Bronstein left TG 21.16 on 23 March to sail to Dakar to load 60 million dollars in gold from the Bank of Poland to the US, leaving on 26 March to New York on 3 April. Later she joined another hunter-killer force screening Convoy UGS-39 to Bizerte on 3 May. Back she helped Convoy GUS 39 to Norfolk on 29 May. She had maintenance and refresher at Casco Bay.

On 21 June she joined TG 22.10 around USS Card (CVE-11), same as above. Aftr another Bermuda training, USS Breeman suffered propeller damage, repaired in NyC. On 23 October she was transferred to New London and Casco Bay for training. On 24 November she joined CortDiv 48 and TG 22.2. In January 1945 she acted as plane guard and escort off Quonset Point. On 22 January her and CortDiv 48 joined USS Bogue (CVE-9) to patrol south of Iceland. She was back for maintenance and R&R at New York on 17 March. In April she trained off New London for hunter-killer group operations, joining USS Card and patrolling from 15 April to 5 May off the Virginia capes. In May she was stationed north to Quonset Point as plane guard for carrier qualifications. Next she patrolled with USS Mission Bay (CVE-59) off Port Everglades and as plane guard. On 2 October she sailed for New York Navy Yard and started inactivation until 13 November, sent to Florida, Green Cove Springs for decommissioning on 26 April 1946, berthed wit the Atlantic Reserve Fleet until transferred to China in October 1948 as 太湖 Tai Hu]

Burrows was laid down at Dravo, Wilmington on 20 March 1943, launched on 2 October and commissioned on 19 December. She left Philadelphia on 30 December for shakedown training off Bermuda, back on 9 February 1944 for post-shakedown fixes and TS at Norfolk for three weeks. She then proceeded to New York City for her first convoy escort, on 27 February, first of 16 transatlantic runs. The first was with the cruisers Marblehead and Milwaukee, 4 destroyers, and 7 destroyer escorts through the North Atlantic to Belfast. She was assigned to Escort Division 28 (CortDiv22) and made her return run on 17 March to New York on the 28th followed by an overhaul.

The routine continued interrupted by experiments at Quonset Point in Rhode Island with the Navy’s FXR (foxer) gear (new underwater noise-making device to defeat German acoustic torpedoes). Her largest convoy was more than 100 ships bound for Bizerte in Tunisia by July 1944 via Gibraltar, with reported Luftwaffe attacks forcing her to lay smoke screens twice daily. At Casco Bay, she had extended training in torpedo evasion techniques. By late August she was at New London as target for US submarines for 34 days, evading dummy torpedoes. Her 4th convoy started on 6 October, arriving on the 17th without incident. Three more followed until March 1945. She assisted the collided SS Lone Jack and SS Frontenac Victory after a storm. She arrived at Liverpool on 11 March but heavy weather crippled the return convoy. On 23 March she took a huge wave tearing off her forward 3-inch gun shield and holing the forecastle deck. Her last eastbound convoy from NYC was on 16 April to Le Havre, France and Southampton and last crossing on 8 May. In 16 transatlantic runs she escorted 500 ships without a single loss.

She was reassigned to the Pacific and proceeded on 8 June to Culebra, Puerto Rico for shore bombardment exercises, Guantanamo Bay and depth charge exercises in Gonaïves Bay in Haiti, then crossed the Panama Canal on 28 June, had maintenance at San Diego, arrived at Pearl Harbor on 19 July but and after training proceeded on 6 August to Eniwetok, Marshall but arrived on the lagoon on 15 August, learning about V-Day. She made ASW sweep around Truk, and moved to Leyte, Cebu to pick up a convoy with occupation troops to Japan, arriving in Tokyo Bay on 8 September and joining the 3rd Fleet, seeing the formal surrender ceremony. She escorted LSTs to Okinawa and starting to search for floating mines. On 15 September she narrowly escaped Typhoon Ida. She later escorted LSTs to Honshū and had maintenance with USS Telamon. On 8 October she proceeded to Leyte for a third LST escort to Japan and another typhoon evasion. She left the southern Philippines on 28 October to Aomori, Honshū, then Otaru, southern Hokkaidō and LST Flotilla 29 back to Yokohama.

Next she was sent to Guiuan, Samar to embark five officers and 58 men of the Philippine Army, to Borongan, forcing the surrender of Japanese soldiers here on 12 December. She landed them back at Tacloban. In December 1945-January 1946 she remained at Guiuan Harbor and ran weather patrols. She joined CortDiv 16, proceeded back home via Pearl Harbor on 13 February, arrived at San Pedro on the 23d, prepared for inactivation in March, mothballed at Green Cove Springs in Florida, decommissioned on 14 June 1946. She was designated for transfer to the Netherlands under MDAP, towed to Boston for overhaul, transferred in June 1950 as Van Amstel.

Corbesier was laid down at Dravo, Wilmington on 4.1943, launched on 11.11.1943 and commissioned the same day she was transferred to the FNFL on 1.1944, renamed Sénégalais.

To be completed at a later date like the ones below.

Cronin was laid down at Dravo, Wilmington on 5.1943, launched on 27.11.1943, and commissioned on 1.1944, transferred the same day to France as Algérien.

Crosely was laid down at Dravo, Wilmington on June 1943 and launched on 17 December 1943, transferred in February 1944 to France as Tunisien.

DE109 was laid down at Dravo, Wilmington on 9.1943 launched on 1.1.1944 and transferred 2.1944 to France as Marocain.

DE110 was laid down at Dravo, Wilmington on 9.1943, launched 22.1.1944 and transferred on 3.1944 to France renamed Hova.

DE111 was laid down at Dravo, Wilmington on October 1943, launched on 12.2.1944 and transferred on 4.1944 to France as Somali.

Carter was laid down at Dravo, Wilmington on 11.1943, launched on 29.2.1944 and transferred on 5/1944. She was decommissioned and transferred to China in December 1948 as 太昭 [Tai Chao].

Clarence L. Evans was laid down at Dravo, Wilmington on 12.1943, launched on 22.3.1944 and commissioned in June 1944. She was postwar transferred to France in March 1952 as Berbère.

Levy was laid down as N°278 at Federal, Newark on 10.1942, launched on 28.3.1943 and commissioned in May 1943. She was stricken 8.1973.

McConnell was laid down as N°279 at Federal, Newark on 10.1942, launched on 28.3.1943 and comissioned on 5/1943. She was stricken on 10.1972.

USS Osterhaus was laid down as N°280 at Federal, Newark on 11.1942, she was launched on 18.4.1943 and commissioned on June 1943. stricken 11.1972

USS Parks was laid down N°281 at Federal, Newark on 11.1942 and launched on 18.4.1943, stricken in June 1943. She was stricken 7.1972

Baron was laid down as N°282 at Federal, Newark on November 1942 and launched 9 May 1943 and commissioned by July 1943. To Uruguay 5.1952 as “Uruguay”.

Acree was laid down as N°283 at Federal, Newark on 11.1942, launched on 9.5.1943 and in July 1943. She was stricken July 1972.

Amick was laid down as N°284 at Federal, Newark on 1.1943, launched 27.5.1943 and in July 1943. She was transferred to Japan in June 1955 as Asahi.

Atherton was laid down as N°285 at Federal, Newark on January 1943, launched 27 May 1943, commissioned in August 1943. To Japan in June 1955.

Booth was laid down as N°286 at Federal, Newark on January 1943, launched on 21 June 1943, commissioned in September 1943. Transferred to the Philippines in December 1967 as Datu Kalantiaw.

Carroll was laid down as N°287 at Federal, Newark in January 1943, launched on 21 June 1943, commissioned in October 1943. She was stricken in August 1965.

Cooner was laid down as N°288 at Federal, Newark in February 1943, launched on 25 July 1943, commissioned August 1943. She was stricken in July 1972.

USS Eldridge was laid down as N°289 at Federal, Newark on February 1943, launched on 25 July 1943 and commissioned in August. She was transferred to Greece in January 1951 as Leon.

Marts was laid down at Federal, Newark as N°290 in April 1943, launched on August 1943 and commissioned in September. She was transferred to Brazil in March 1945 as Bocaina.

Pennewill was laid down as N°291 at Federal, Newark in April 1943, launched in August 1943 and commissioned in September. Transferred to Brazil in August 1944 as Bertioga.

Micka was laid down as N°292 at Federal, Newark in May 1943, launched on 22 August 1943 and commissioned on September 1943. She was stricken in August 1965.

Reybold was laid down as N°293 at Federal, Newark in May 1943, launched on 22 August 1943 and commissioned September 1943. She was transferred to Brazil in August 1944 as racuí.

Herzog was laid down as N°294 at Federal, Newark in May 1943, launched on 5 September 1943 and commissioned in October 1943. She was transferred to Brazil in August 1944 as Beberibe.

McAnn was laid down as N°295 at Federal, Newark in May 1943, launched on 5 September 1943, commissioned on October 1943. She was transferred to Brazil in August 1944 as Bauru.

Trumpeter was laid down as N°296 at Federal, Newark, laid down in June 1943, launched on 19 September 1943, and commissioned in Octpber 1943. She was stricken in August 1973.

Straub was laid down as N°297 at Federal, Newark in June 1943, launched on 19 September 1943, commissioned in October 1943. She was stricken August 1973.

Gustafson was laid down as N°298 at Federal, Newark in July 1943, launched 3 October 1943 and commissioned on November /1943. Transferred to the Netherlands in October 1950 as Van Ewijck.

Samuel S. Miles N°299 was laid down at Federal, Newark in July 1943, launched on 3 October 1943 and commissioned on November 1943. She was trasnferred to France in August 1950 as Arabe.

Wesson was laid down as N°300 at Federal, Newark on July 1943, launched 17 October 1943 and commissioned on November 1943. To Italy 1.1951 as Andromeda.

Riddle was laid down as N°301 at Federal, Newark in July 1943, launched on 17 October 1943 and commissioned in November. Transferred to France in August 1950 as Kabyle.

Swearer was laid down as N°302 at Federal, Newark in August 1943, launched on 31 October 1943 and November 1943. Transferred to France in September 1950 as Bambara.

Stern was laid down as N°303 at Federal, Newark in August 1943 and 31 October 1943 in December 1943. Transferred to the Netherlands in March 1951 as Van Zijll.

O`Neill was laid down as N°304 at Federal, Newark in August 1943, launched on 14 November 1943 and commissioned in December 1943. Transferred to the Netherlands on October 1950 as Dubois.

Bronstein was laid down as N°305 at Federal, Newark in August 1943, launched on 14 November 1943 and commissioned in December 1943. She was transferred to Uruguay in May 1952 as Artigas.

Baker was N°306 when laid down at Federal, Newark in September 1943, launched on 28 November 1943 and commissioned in December 1943. Transferred to France in March 1952, renamed Malgache.

Coffman was N°307 when ordered from Federal, Newark, laid down in September 1943, launched 28 November 1943 and commissioned in December 1943. She was stricken in July 1972.

USS Eisner was ordered as N°308 at Federal, Newark and laid down in September 1943, launched on 12 December 1943 and commissioned in Juanury 1944. She was transferred to the Netherlands in May 1951 renamed De Zeeuw.

Garfield Thomas, ex-William G. Thomas was ordered as N°309 and laid down at Federal, Newark on September 1943. She wa slaunched on 12 December 1943 and commissioned in 1944. She was transferred to Greece in January 1951 and renamed Πάνθηρ [Panthir].

Wingfield was laid down as N°310 at Federal, Newark, in October 1943, launched on 30 December 1943 and commissioned in January 1944. She was transferred to France in September 1950 as “Sakalave”.

Thornhill was laid down as N°311 at Federal, Newark in October 1943, launched on 30 December 1943 and commissioned in February 1944. She was transferred to Italy in January 1951 and renamed Aldebaran.

Rinehart was laid down as N°312 at Federal, Newark in October 1943, launched on 9 January 1944 and commissioned in February. She was transferred to the Netherlands in June 1950 as De Bitter.

Roche was laid down as N°313 at Federal, Newark in October 1943, launched on 9 January 1944 and commissioned in February. She was badly damaged on 22 September 1945 and never repaired.

Bangust was laid down as N°139 at Western Pipe & Steel, San Pedro in February 1943, launched on 6 June 1943 and commissioned in October. She was transferred to Peru in February 1952 as Castilla.

Waterman was laid down as N°140 at Western Pipe & Steel at San Pedro in February 1943. She was launched on 20 June 1943 and commissioned in November. She was transferred to Peru in February 1952 as Aguirre.

Weaver was laid down as N°141 at Western Pipe & Steel, San Pedro in March 1943, launched on 4 July 1943 and commissioned in December. Transferred to Peru in February 1952 as Rodríguez.

Hilbert was laid down as N°142 at Western Pipe on March 1943, launched on 18 July and commissioned in February 1944. She was stricken in August 1972.

Lamons was laid down as N°143 at Western Pipe & Steel on April 1943 and launched in August, completed in February 1944. Stricken 8.1972.

Kyne was laid down as N°144 at Western Pipe & Steel, San Pedro on April 1943, launched on 15 August 1943. She was commissioned in April 1944. Stricken in August 1972.

Snyder was laid down as N°145 at Western Pipe in April 1943, launched on 29 August and commissioned in May 1944. She was stricken 8.1972.

Hemminger was laid down as N°146 at Western Pipe, launched on May 1943, launched on 12 September 1943, commissioned in May 1944. She was transferred to Thailand in July 1959 as (ปิ่นเกล้า Pin Clao.

Bright was ordered as N°147 at Western Pipe, laid down on June 1943, launched on 26 September 1943 and commissioned in June 1944. She was transferred to France in November 1950 as Touareg.

Tills was ordered as N°148, laid down at Western Pipe & Steel in June 1943, launched in October and commissione din August 1944. She was stricken in September 1968.

Roberts was laid down as N°149 at Western Pipe and laid down in July 1943, launched on 14 November and commissioned on September 1944. Stricken in September 1968.

McClelland was laid at Western Pipe at San Pedro on July 1943, launched 28 November 1943 and commissioned in September 1944. She was stricken August 1972.

Gaynier was laid down as N°151 at Western Pipe in August 1943 and launched on 30 January 1944 but cancelled in September, BU.

Curtis W. W. Howard was laid down as N°152 at Western Pipe in August 1943 and launched on 26 March 1944, cancelled in September 1944.

John J. van Buren was ordered as N°153 at Western Pipe in August 1943, launched on 16 January 1944 but cancelled in September 1944.

Willard Keith was ordered as N°154 at Western Pipe & Steel in September 1943, never launched and cancelled.

Paul G. Baker was ordered as N°155 at Western Pipe & Steel, San Pedro in September 1943 and cancelled.

Cummings was ordered as N°156, never laid down at Western Pipe and cancelled in 1943.

Cates was ordered as N°96 at Tampa SB in March 1943, launched in 10 October 1943 and commissioned in December 1943, transferred to France in November 1950 as Soudanais.

Gandy was ordered as N°97 at Tampa SB laid down on March 1943 and launched on 12 December 1943 and commissioned in February 1944. She was transferred to Italy in January 1951 as Altair.

Earl K. Olsen was ordered as N°98 at Tampa SB on March 1943 and launched on 13 February 1944 and in April 1944. She was stricken in August 1972.

Slater was ordered as N°99 at Tampa SB on March 1943, launched on 13 February 1944 and commissioned in May 1944. She was transferred to Greece in March 1951 as Αετός “Aetos”.

Oswald was ordered as N°100 at Tampa SB laid down on April 1943 and launched on 25 April 1944 and commissioned June 1944. She was stricken 8.1972.

Ebert was ordered as N°101 at Tampa SB and laid down in April 1943, launched on 11 May 1944 and commissioned in June 1944. She was transferred to Greece in March 1951 as Ιέραξ/Ierax.

Neal A. Scott was ordred as N°102 at Tampa SB, laid down in June 1943, launched on 4 June 1944, and commissioned in July 1944. She was stricken in June 1968.

Muir was ordered as N°103 at Tampa SB, laid down in June 1943, launched 4 June 1944 and August 1944. She was transferred to South Korea in February 1956 as 경기 Gyeonggi.

Sutton was ordered as N°104 at Tampa SB, laid down in August 1943, launched on 6 August 1944, and she was commissioned in 1944. She was transferred to South Korea 2.1956 (강원 Gangwon)

Milton Lewis was ordered as N°105 at Tampa SB, laid down in August 1943, launched on 6 August 1944, and cancelled in September 1944.

George M. Campbell was laid down under the N°106 at Tampa SB in October 1943, launched on 15 October 1944 and cancelled in September.

Russell M. Cox was ordered as N°107 at Tampa SB in October 1943 and cancelled in September 1944.

Read More/Src

Books

Friedman, Norman, U.S. Destroyers: An Illustrated Design History
Conway’s all the world’s fighting ships 1921-47 p.135
Destroyer Escort Sailors. By Destroyer Escort Sailors Assn. 1997, Turner Pub Co.
Destroyer Escorts in Action By Adcock, Al 1997, Squadron/Signal Publications.
Destroyer Escorts of World War Two By Walkowiak, Thomas F. 1996, DE Sailors Assoc. Orlando. Pictorial Histories Pub. Co., Missoula
The Captain Class Frigates under the White Ensign By Collingwood, Donald 1999, USNI.

Links

web.archive.org hazegray.org/
navypedia.org Cannon (DET) class
navypedia.org Edsall FRM class
en.wikipedia.org Cannon-class
web.archive.org plateau.net/ escorts.html
uboat.net allies warships Destroyer+Escort
web.archive.org hazegray.org escorts/
web.archive.org nvr.navy.mil
navsource.net
web.archive.org destroyerescort.com/
web.archive.org navsource.org/
web.archive.org history.navy.mil
web.archive.org floatingdrydock.com camo.htm
web.archive.org desausa.org links.htm
web.archive.org/ desausa.org delinks.htm
web.archive.org plateau.net classevar
en.wikipedia.org Cleveland Diesel Engine Division
shipcamouflage.com buckley_class.htm
en.wikipedia.org/ Buckley-class_destroyer_escort
commons.wikimedia.org Category:Buckley class
web.archive.org hazegray.org escorts/
vintagedieseldesign.com
jproc.ca/
ussslater.org/
usndazzle.com
usautoindustryworldwartwo.com

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