Edsall-class destroyer escort explained

The Edsall-class destroyer escorts were destroyer escorts built primarily for ocean antisubmarine escort service during World War II. The lead ship,, 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, with a type of engine used in the submarines of the time. The FMR's substitution for a diesel-electric power plant was the essential difference from the predecessor ("DET") class.^[1] This was the only World War II destroyer escort class in which all the ships originally ordered were completed as United States Navy destroyer escorts.^[2]

Destroyer escorts were regular companions escorting the vulnerable cargo ships. Late in the war, plans were made to replace the 3adj=onNaNadj=on guns with 5adj=onNaNadj=on guns, but only was refitted (after a collision). In total, all 85 were completed by two shipbuilding companies: Consolidated Steel Corporation, Orange, Texas (47), and Brown Shipbuilding, Houston, Texas (38). Most were en route to the Pacific Theater when Japan surrendered. One of the ships participated in Operation Dragoon and two were attacked by German guided missiles.

Hull numbers

A total of 85 Edsall-class destroyer escorts were built.

• DE-129 through DE-152 Consolidated Steel Corporation, Orange, Texas
• DE-238 through DE-255 Brown Shipbuilding, Houston, Texas
• DE-316 through DE-338 Consolidated Steel Corporation, Orange, Texas
• DE-382 through DE-401 Brown Shipbuilding, Houston, Texas

Destroyed or damaged in combat

• – sunk 24 April 1945 by in the North Atlantic
• – sunk 2 August 1944 by north of the Azores
• – torpedoed 9 March 1944 by south of Iceland
• – torpedoed 20 April 1944 by U-371 off Algiers, damaged
• – damaged 11 April 1944 off Algiers by German aircraft

Transferred to US Coast Guard from 1951 to 1954

• – redesignated WDE-422
• – redesignated WDE-424
• – redesignated WDE-425
• – redesignated WDE-428
• – redesignated WDE-431
• – redesignated WDE-434
• – redesignated WDE-482
• – redesignated WDE-485
• – redesignated WDE-487
• – redesignated WDE-488
• – redesignated WDE-489
• – redesignated WDE-491

Transferred to other countries

• – transferred to the Mexican Navy as Comodoro Manuel Azueta (A06), last of class in active service (decommissioned 2015)
• – transferred to South Vietnam as Tran Hung Dao. Later, to Philippines as
• – transferred to Tunisia
• – transferred to South Vietnam as Tran Khanh Du. Later, captured by North Vietnam 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 .
• Participated in the sinking of U-boat .
• Also participated in the sinking of U-boat .
• 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 Anzio 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.
• won two battle stars in a single engagement sinking two U-boats with the USS Frost (DE-144).

Ships in Class

Construction data

Ship name		Builder	Laid down	Launched	Commissioned	Decommissioned	Fate
	DE-129	Consolidated Steel Corporation, Orange, Texas	2 July 1942	1 November 1942	10 April 1943	11 June 1946	Struck from Navy List 1 June 1968, sold for scrap in July 1969
	DE-130		16 June 1942	29 November 1942	29 April 1943	26 July 1946	Struck from Navy List 2 January 1971, sold for scrap 22 August 1973
) (ex-Langley)	DE-131		10 July 1942	13 December 1942	17 May 1943	24 October 1945	Struck from Navy List 1 October 1972, sold for scrap 18 January 1974
	DE-132		30 June 1942	2 January 1943	31 May 1943	13 June 1947	Struck from Navy List 1 July 1966, sold for scrap 6 September 1967
	DE-133		18 July 1942	10 January 1943	7 June 1943	1 May 1947	Reclassified DER-133 in August 1954. Struck from Navy List 1 July 1965, sold for scrap in 1966
15 March 1955					20 June 1960
	DE-134		14 July 1942	12 January 1943	25 June 1943	17 May 1946	Struck from Navy List 2 January 1971, sold for scrap 22 August 1973
	DE-135		7 November 1942	17 January 1943	26 June 1943	17 June 1946	Struck from Navy List 1 April 1965, sold for scrap 4 November 1966
	DE-136		9 November 1942	24 January 1943	14 July 1943		Torpedoed and sunk by German U-546 in Western Atlantic on 24 April 1945
	DE-137		30 November 1942	19 January 1943	21 July 1943	2 May 1947	Struck from Navy List 1 July 1972, sold for scrap 19 July 1973
	DE-138		8 December 1942	24 January 1943	29 July 1943	17 June 1946	Struck from Navy List 1 October 1972, sold for scrap 14 May 1974
	DE-139		14 December 1942	13 February 1943	5 August 1943	14 June 1946	Struck from Navy List 1 October 1972, sold for scrap 21 March 1974
	DE-140		16 December 1942	7 March 1943	16 August 1943	14 June 1946	Struck from Navy List 2 January 1971, sold for scrap 22 August 1973
	DE-141		21 December 1942	28 February 1943	16 August 1943	7 June 1946	Struck from Navy List 1 October 1972, sold for scrap 18 January 1974
	DE-142		4 January 1943	9 March 1943	25 August 1943	24 June 1946	Reclassified DER-142 1 October 1951. Struck from Navy List 1 September 1966, sunk as a target off Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on 20 December 1967
4 March 1952					30 June 1960
	DE-143		4 January 1943	14 March 1943	25 August 1943		Torpedoed and sunk by German U-804 north of the Azores on 2 August 1944
	DE-144		13 January 1943	21 March 1943	30 August 1943	18 June 1946	Struck from Navy List 1 April 1965, sold for scrap 29 December 1966
	DE-145		11 January 1943	23 March 1943	30 August 1943	27 March 1946	Struck from Navy List 1 August 1973, sold for scrap 24 June 1974
3 August 1951					30 June 1965
	DE-146		19 January 1943	4 April 1943	8 September 1943	17 May 1946	Struck from Navy List 1 October 1972, sold for scrap 21 March 1974
	DE-147		19 January 1943	6 April 1943	13 September 1943	28 June 1946	Reclassified DER-147 1 November 1956. Struck from Navy List 1 December 1972, sold for scrap 20 September 1974
5 October 1951					13 November 1956
2 December 1957					15 June 1960
	DE-148		22 January 1943	10 April 1943	18 September 1943	22 March 1946	Struck from Navy List 1 November 1965, sold for scrap 13 October 1966
7 September 1951					30 June 1965
	DE-149		25 January 1943	21 April 1943	22 September 1943	14 June 1946	Struck from Navy List 1 August 1973, sold for scrap 24 June 1974
	DE-150		29 January 1943	27 April 1943	27 September 1943	January 1947	Struck from Navy List 1 July 1972, sold for scrap 1 November 1973
	DE-151		13 February 1943	8 May 1943	29 September 1943	January 1947	Struck from Navy List 2 January 1971, sold for scrap 30 January 1974
	DE-152		28 February 1943	15 May 1943	29 September 1943	1 May 1946	Struck from Navy List 1 August 1973, sold for scrap in 1974
2 May 1952					June 1965
	DE-238	Brown Shipbuilding, Houston, Texas	15 July 1942	22 November 1942	31 May 1943	January 1947	Struck from Navy List 1 October 1972; Donated as a museum ship in Galveston, Texas on 25 June 1974
	DE-239		15 July 1942	3 December 1942	16 June 1943	24 March 1946	Reclassified DER-239 1 November 1956. Struck from Navy List 1 December 1972, sold for scrap 20 September 1973
3 August 1951					31 October 1956
5 October 1957					June 1960
	DE-240		20 July 1942	21 December 1942	1 July 1943	30 June 1947	Struck from Navy List 1 August 1973, sunk as a target off Virginia on 13 June 1975
(ex-Scott)	DE-241		4 August 1942	21 December 1942	19 July 1943	20 September 1946	Struck from Navy List 1 November 1972, sold for scrap in 1973
	DE-242		15 September 1942	28 December 1942	27 July 1943	20 September 1946	Struck from Navy List 1 November 1972, sold for scrap 20 January 1974
(ex-James R. Ward)	DE-243		30 September 1942	6 January 1943	5 July 1943	13 June 1946	Struck from Navy List 2 January 1971, sold for scrap 10 April 1972
	DE-244		9 November 1942	19 January 1943	6 August 1943	21 September 1946	Reclassified DER-244 in December 1951. Struck from Navy List 1 August 1974, sunk as a target off Puerto Rico on 15 February 1976
6 June 1952					20 June 1960
	DE-245		21 November 1942	21 January 1943	16 August 1943	6 August 1947	Struck from Navy List 2 January 1971, sold for scrap 10 April 1972
	DE-246		7 December 1942	19 February 1943	23 August 1943	29 March 1946	Struck from Navy List 23 September 1968, sunk as a target off Newport, Rhode Island 23 June 1969
6 June 1951					August 1960
2 October 1961					23 September 1968
	DE-247		7 December 1942	21 February 1943	7 August 1943	2 June 1947	Struck from Navy List 1 December 1970
	DE-248		30 December 1942	18 March 1943	31 August 1943	15 January 1946	Struck from Navy List 1 November 1972, sold for scrap 30 January 1974
	DE-249		30 December 1942	20 March 1943	8 September 1943	25 April 1947	Struck from Navy List 2 January 1971, sold for scrap 30 January 1974
	DE-250		27 January 1943	14 April 1943	30 August 1943	1 May 1946	Struck from Navy List 1 December 1972. Transferred to Mexico as Comodoro Manual Azueta on 1 October 1973
	DE-251		27 January 1943	16 April 1943	16 September 1943	1 May 1946	Reclassified DER-251 21 October 1951. Transferred to South Vietnam as Tran Hung Dao 13 February 1971. Struck from Navy List while in South Vietnamese service on 30 December 1975. Escaped to the Philippines and transferred to the Philippine Navy as Rajah Lakandula 5 April 1976
31 July 1956					13 February 1971
	DE-252		6 February 1943	26 April 1943	27 September 1943	22 May 1946	Struck from Navy List 23 September 1968, sold for scrap in October 1970
6 July 1951					23 September 1968
	DE-253		6 February 1943	28 April 1943	23 September 1943	6 May 1946	Struck from Navy List 1 August 1973, sunk as a target off Puerto Rico on 30 September 1974
	DE-254		16 March 1943	10 May 1943	5 October 1943	17 April 1946	Struck from Navy List 1 November 1972, sold for scrap 18 January 1974
	DE-255		16 March 1943	12 May 1943	12 October 1943	13 June 1946	Reclassified DER-255 21 October 1955. Struck from Navy List 1 November 1965, sold for scrap in April 1967
1 October 1956					June 1960
	DE-316	Consolidated Steel Corporation, Orange, Texas	9 March 1943	22 May 1943	12 October 1943	9 May 1947	Reclassified DER-316 13 September 1950. Struck from Navy List 1 December 1966, sunk as a target off California on 10 October 1967
12 February 1951					30 June 1960
	DE-317		8 March 1943	26 May 1943	30 September 1943	1 May 1946	Reclassified DER-317 13 September 1950. Struck from Navy List 1 December 1972, sold for scrap 11 September 1973
28 February 1951					17 June 1960
	DE-318		15 March 1943	5 June 1943	23 October 1943	1 May 1946	Reclassified DER-318 1 October 1951. Struck from Navy List 1 August 1974, sold for scrap 12 March 1975
23 February 1952					24 June 1960
	DE-319		24 March 1943	12 June 1943	18 October 1943		Torpedoed and sunk by German U-255 south of Iceland on 10 March 1944
	DE-320		22 March 1943	15 June 1943	26 October 1943	January 1947	Torpedoed in stern by German U-371 in the Gulf of Bougie on 3 May 1944; stern repaired at Brooklyn Navy Yard using the stern of the damaged and returned to service 26 September 1944. Struck from Navy List 2 January 1971, sold for scrapping 10 April 1972.
	DE-321		6 April 1943	26 June 1943	30 October 1943	15 March 1946	Struck from Navy List 2 January 1971, sold for scrap 22 August 1973
	DE-322		5 April 1943	29 June 1943	30 October 1943	20 November 1945	Commissioned into the United States Coast Guard as USCGC Newell (WDE-422) on 20 July 1951. Decommissioned from the USCG and returned to the US Navy 1 June 1954. Reclassified DER-322 1 November 1956. Struck from Navy List 23 September 1968, sold for scrap 15 December 1971
20 August 1957					21 September 1968
	DE-323		12 April 1943	3 July 1943	13 November 1943	26 April 1946	Commissioned into the United States Coast Guard as USCGC Pride (WDE-423) on 20 July 1951. Decommissioned from the USCG and returned to the US Navy 1 June 1954. Struck from Navy List 2 January 1971, sold for scrap 30 January 1974
	DE-324		26 May 1943	24 July 1943	15 November 1943	18 April 1947	Commissioned into the United States Coast Guard as USCGC Falgout (WDE-424) on 24 August 1951. Decommissioned from the USCG and returned to the US Navy 21 May 1954. Reclassified DER-324 28 October 1954. Struck from Navy List 1 June 1975, sunk as a target off California 12 January 1977
30 June 1955					10 October 1969
	DE-325		24 May 1943	28 July 1943	22 November 1943	1 May 1946	Commissioned into the United States Coast Guard as USCGC Lowe (WDE-425) on 20 July 1951. Decommissioned from the USCG and returned to the US Navy 1 June 1954. Reclassified DER-325 28 October 1954. Struck from Navy List 23 September 1968, sold for scrap 3 September 1969
15 January 1955					23 September 1968
(ex-Gary)	DE-326		15 June 1943	21 August 1943	27 November 1943	7 March 1947	Renamed from Gary 1 January 1945 to free the name for Light Cruiser CL-147. Reclassified DER-326 1 November 1956. Struck from Navy List 22 October 1973. Transferred to Tunisia and renamed President Bourgiba on 22 October 1973
2 August 1957					22 October 1973
(ex-O'Toole)	DE-327		14 June 1943	24 August 1943	30 November 1943	4 October 1946	Reclassified DER-327 21 October 1955. Struck from Navy List 23 September 1968, sold for scrap 3 November 1971
21 July 1956					21 September 1968
	DE-328		29 June 1943	28 August 1943	13 December 1943	4 October 1946	Commissioned into the United States Coast Guard as USCGC Finch (WDE-428) on 21 August 1951. Decommissioned from the USCG and returned to the US Navy 23 April 1954. Reclassified DER-328 21 October 1955. Struck from Navy List 1 February 1974, sold for scrap 27 September 1974
17 September 1956					1 October 1973
	DE-329		28 June 1943	31 August 1943	27 December 1943	20 September 1946	Reclassified DER-329 21 October 1955. Struck from Navy List 30 September 1973, sold for scrap 14 May 1974
22 September 1956					1 October 1973
	DE-330		29 July 1943	2 October 1943	28 December 1943	15 June 1946	Struck from Navy List 15 January 1971, sold for scrap 10 April 1972
	DE-331		26 July 1943	5 October 1943	27 December 1943	4 October 1946	Commissioned into the United States Coast Guard as USCGC Koiner (WDE-431) on 20 June 1951. Decommissioned from the USCG and returned to the US Navy 14 May 1954. Reclassified DER-328 28 October 1954. Struck from Navy List 23 September 1968, sold for scrap 3 September 1969
26 August 1955					23 September 1968
	DE-332		24 August 1943	30 October 1943	12 January 1944	16 May 1947	Reclassified DER-332 21 October 1955. Struck from Navy List 1 August 1974, sold for scrap 12 March 1975
1 August 1956					30 June 1960
	DE-333		23 August 1943	2 November 1943	10 January 1944	15 June 1946	Reclassified DER-333 1 October 1951. Struck from Navy List 1 December 1972, sold for scrap 10 September 1974
2 February 1952					17 June 1960
	DE-334		31 August 1943	13 November 1943	25 January 1944	15 June 1946	Commissioned into the United States Coast Guard as USCGC Forster (WDE-434) on 29 June 1951. Decommissioned from the USCG and returned to the US Navy 25 May 1954. Reclassified DER-334 21 October 1955. Struck from Navy List 25 September 1971. Transferred to South Vietnam and renamed Tran Khanh Du on 25 September 1971. Captured by North Vietnam and renamed Dai Ky 29 April 1975, retained in Vietnamese service after fall of South Vietnam
23 October 1956					25 September 1971
	DE-335		30 August 1943	16 November 1943	24 January 1944	12 April 1946	Struck from Navy List 15 January 1971, sold for scrap 30 January 1974
	DE-336		13 September 1943	20 November 1943	3 February 1944	11 July 1946	Reclassified DER-336 21 October 1955. Struck from Navy List 1 August 1974, sold for scrap 12 March 1975
29 January 1957					15 July 1963
	DE-337		25 October 1943	22 December 1943	17 February 1944	27 March 1946	Struck from Navy List 2 January 1971, sold for scrap 10 April 1972
	DE-338		27 October 1943	29 December 1943	28 February 1944	March 1946	Struck from Navy List 1 May 1966, sold for scrap 30 March 1967
	DE-382	Brown Shipbuilding, Houston, Texas	26 March 1943	24 May 1943	19 October 1943	13 June 1946	Commissioned into the United States Coast Guard as USCGC Ramsden (WDE-482) on 1 April 1952. Decommissioned from the USCG and returned to the US Navy 28 June 1954. Reclassified DER-382 1 November 1956. Struck from Navy List 1 August 1974, later sunk as a target
10 December 1957					23 June 1960
	DE-383		26 March 1943	26 May 1943	12 October 1943	14 June 1946	Reclassified DER-383 on 1 November 1956. Struck from Navy List 1 August 1974, sold for scrap 12 March 1975
3 October 1957					27 October 1970
	DE-384		19 April 1943	29 June 1943	25 October 1943	13 June 1946	Reclassified DER-384 on 28 October 1954. Struck from Navy List 1 August 1974, sold for scrap 12 March 1975
1 August 1955					10 July 1963
	DE-385		19 April 1943	30 June 1943	30 October 1943	January 1947	Commissioned into the United States Coast Guard as USCGC Richey (WDE-485) on 1 April 1952. Decommissioned from the USCG and returned to the US Navy 28 June 1954. Struck from Navy List 30 June 1968, sunk as a target off California in July 1969
	DE-386		30 April 1943	15 July 1943	29 October 1943	13 June 1946	Reclassified DER-386 on 28 October 1954. Struck from Navy List 1 June 1975, sunk as a target off California 25 October 1982
18 February 1955					17 October 1969
	DE-387		30 April 1943	16 July 1943	1 November 1943	27 February 1946	Commissioned into the United States Coast Guard as USCGC Vance (WDE-487) on 9 May 1952. Decommissioned from the USCG and returned to the US Navy 16 June 1954. Reclassified DER-387 21 October 1955. Struck from Navy List 1 June 1975, later sunk as a target in 1985
5 October 1956					10 October 1969
	DE-388		15 May 1943	2 August 1943	10 November 1943	25 April 1946	Commissioned into the United States Coast Guard as USCGC Lansing (WDE-488) on 15 June 1952. Decommissioned from the USCG and returned to the US Navy 29 March 1954. Reclassified DER-388 21 October 1955. Struck from Navy List 1 February 1974, sold for scrap 16 August 1974
18 December 1956					21 May 1965
	DE-389		15 May 1943	3 August 1943	16 November 1943	27 February 1946	Commissioned into the United States Coast Guard as USCGC Durant (WDE-489) on 9 May 1952. Decommissioned from the USCG and returned to the US Navy 16 June 1954. Reclassified DER-389 7 December 1955. Struck from Navy List 1 April 1974, sold for scrap 16 August 1974
7 December 1956					June 1964
	DE-390		28 May 1943	16 August 1943	17 November 1943	1 May 1946	Reclassified DER-390 28 October 1954. Struck from Navy List 2 July 1973, sold for scrap 14 May 1974
12 September 1955					2 July 1973
	DE-391		28 May 1943	17 August 1943	22 November 1943	22 April 1946	Commissioned into the United States Coast Guard as USCGC Chambers (WDE-491) on 11 June 1952. Decommissioned from the USCG and returned to the US Navy 30 July 1954. Reclassified DER-391 28 October 1954. Struck from Navy List 1 March 1975, sold for scrap 24 September 1975
1 June 1955					20 June 1960
	DE-392		1 July 1943	29 August 1943	27 November 1943	1 May 1946	Struck from Navy List 2 April 1971, sold for scrap 30 September 1974
	DE-393		1 July 1943	30 August 1943	29 November 1943	30 June 1947	Reclassified DER-393 2 September 1954. Struck from Navy List 2 June 1969, sold for scrap 15 December 1971
4 January 1955					2 June 1969
	DE-394		17 July 1943	13 September 1943	1 December 1943	18 June 1946	Struck from Navy List 1 July 1972, sold for scrap 17 January 1974
	DE-395		17 July 1943	14 September 1943	10 December 1943	14 June 1946	Struck from Navy List 1 July 1972, sold for scrap later in 1972
	DE-396		4 August 1943	4 October 1943	18 December 1943	19 June 1946	Struck from Navy List 1 July 1972, sold for scrap 15 October 1973
	DE-397		4 August 1943	5 October 1943	16 December 1943	19 June 1946	Reclassified DER-397 2 September 1954. Struck from Navy List 2 July 1969, sold for scrap 19 July 1972
29 January 1955					2 July 1969
	DE-398		31 August 1943	29 October 1943	24 December 1943	21 June 1946	Struck from Navy List 1 August 1973, sunk as a target off Florida on 19 November 1974
	DE-399		31 August 1943	30 October 1943	31 December 1943	15 June 1946	Struck from Navy List 1 July 1972, sunk as a target off Florida on 24 May 1974
	DE-400		6 October 1943	26 December 1943	13 January 1944	15 June 1946	Reclassified DER-400 21 October 1955. Struck from Navy List 1 June 1975, sunk as a target off California on 24 February 1982
31 August 1956					15 May 1970
	DE-401		6 October 1943	27 December 1943	18 January 1944	13 September 1944	Torpedoed by German aircraft northeast of Algiers on 11 April 1944. Struck from Navy List 23 September 1944. Stern used to repair . Remainder of ship sold for scrap 19 June 1947

External links

• List of Edsall Class Destroyer Escorts
• USS Fessenden DE/DER-142
• Destroyers OnLine: The Destroyer Escorts
• Edsall class at Destroyer History Foundation

Notes and References

1. Web site: Classes of Destroyer Escorts . Eric . Rivet . Michael . Stenzel . 22 April 2011 . History of Destroyer Escorts . Destroyer Escort Historical Museum . 8 July 2012 . Except for the propulsion, the EDSALL class was nearly identical to the CANNON class in every respect. This fourth class of destroyer escort mounted a direct drive diesel configuration that proved to be extremely reliable. . 29 December 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191229164511/http://www.ussslater.org/history/dehistory/history_classes.html . dead .
2. U.S. Destroyers, an illustrated design history by Norman Friedman, Chapter 7