Cannon-class destroyer escort explained

The Cannon class was a class of destroyer escorts built by the United States primarily for antisubmarine warfare and convoy escort service during World War II. The lead ship, USS Cannon, was commissioned on 26 September 1943 at Wilmington, Delaware. Of the 116 ships ordered, 44 were cancelled and six were commissioned directly into the Free French Forces. Destroyer escorts were regular companions escorting vulnerable cargo ships.

With the decommissioning of the Philippine Navy's BRP Rajah Humabon (PS-11) in March 2018; HTMS Pin Klao (DE-413) of the Royal Thai Navy is the only ship of the class in commission.

Propulsion

The class was also known as the DET type from their diesel electric tandem drives.^[1] The propulsion system of the (GMT = General Motors Tandem) was identical. The DET's substitution for a turboelectric propulsion plant was the primary difference with the predecessor ("TE") class.^[2] The DET was, in turn, replaced with a direct-drive diesel plant to yield the design of the successor ("FMR") class.^[3]

Hull numbers

A total of 72 ships of the Cannon class were built.

DE-99 through DE-113 (six are French)
DE-162 through DE-197
DE-739 through DE-750
DE-763 through DE-771

Wartime transfers

During World War II, six ships of the class were earmarked for the Free French Naval Forces and a further eight were transferred the Brazilian Navy.

Free French ships

as Sénégalais
as Algérien
as Tunisien
as Marocain
as Hova
as Somali

Transferred to Brazil

as Babitonga
as Baependi
as Benevente
as Beberibe
as Bocaina
as Bauru - now a museum ship in Rio de Janeiro
as Bertioga
as Bracui

Postwar dispersal

After the end of World War II, the United States Navy transferred many ships of the Cannon class to other navies.

Transferred to France

as Malgache (F724); served 1952-1969
as Touareg (F721); served 1950-1960
as Soudanais (F722); served 1950-1959
as Berbère (F723); served 1952-1960
as Kabyle (F718); served 1950-1959
as Arabe (F717); served 1950-1968
as Bambara (F719); served 1950-1959
as Sakalave (F720); served 1950-1960

Transferred to Greece

as Leon; served 1951–1992
as Aetos; served 1951–1991; now a museum ship in Albany, New York, the only destroyer escort afloat in the United States
as Ierax ; served 1951–1991
as Panthir; served 1951–1992

Transferred to Italy

See main article: Aldebaran-class frigate.

as Andromeda (F 592) 1951; scrapped in 1972
as Aldebaran (F 590) 1951; scrapped in 1976
as Altair (F 591) 1951; stricken and sunk as target in 1971

Transferred to Japan

See main article: Asahi-class destroyer escort.

as Asahi (DE-262) 1955–75 (then to the Philippines)
as Hatsuhi (DE-263) 1955–75 (then to the Philippines)

Transferred to the Netherlands

See main article: Van Amstel-class frigate.

as Van Amstel (F806) 1950
as Bitter (F807) 1950
as Van Ewijck (F808) 1950
as Dubois (F809) 1950
as Zeeuw (F810) 1950
as van Zijll (F811) 1950

Transferred to Peru

as BAP Castilla; served 1951–1979
as BAP Aguirre; served 1951–1974
as BAP Rodríguez; served 1951–1979

Transferred to the Philippines

as BRP Datu Sikatuna (PF-5); scrapped in 1989
as BRP Rajah Humabon (PF-11); retired in 2018
as BRP Datu Kalantiaw (PS-76); sunk during a typhoon in 1981
—cannibalized for parts
—cannibalized for parts

Transferred to South Korea

as ROKN Kyong Ki (F-71); served 1956–1977 (then to the Philippines)
as ROKN Kang Won (F-72); served 1956–1977 (then to the Philippines)

Transferred to the Republic of China (Taiwan)

as ROCN Taihe (太和)
as ROCN Taicang (太倉)
as ROCN Taihu (太湖)
as ROCN Taizhao (太昭)

Transferred to Thailand

as HTMS Pin Klao (413)

Transferred to Uruguay

as Uruguay (DE-1); served 1952–1990
as Artigas (DE-2); served 1952–1988

Ships in Class

Construction data
Ship name		Builder	Laid down	Launched	Commissioned	Decommissioned	Fate
	DE-99	Dravo Corporation, Wilmington, Delaware	14 November 1942	25 May 1943	26 September 1943	19 December 1944	to Brazil 19 December 1944 as Baependi; scrapped 1975
	DE-100		7 December 1942	19 June 1943	23 October 1943	19 December 1944	to Brazil 19 December 1944 as Benevente; scrapped 1964
	DE-101		2 January 1943	8 July 1943	12 November 1943	10 March 1945	to Brazil 10 March 1945 as Babitonga; scrapped 1964
	DE-102		16 January 1943	31 July 1943	21 November 1943	13 March 1946	Completed at Norfolk Navy Yard. To Taiwan as Taihe (DE-23) 29 October 1948; scrapped 1972
	DE-103		6 February 1943	30 August 1943	1 December 1943	30 April 1946	to Taiwan as Taicang (DE-25) 14 December 1948; scrapped 1972
	DE-104		20 March 1943	4 September 1943	12 December 1943	26 April 1946	Completed at Norfolk Navy Yard. To Taiwan as Taihu (DE-24) 29 October 1948; scrapped 1972
	DE-105		24 March 1943	2 October 1943	19 December 1943	14 June 1946	to the Netherlands as Van Amstel (F806) 1 June 1950; scrapped 1968
	DE-112		19 November 1943	29 February 1944	3 May 1944	10 April 1946	to Taiwan Taizhao (DE-26) 14 December 1948; scrapped 1973
	DE-113		23 December 1943	22 March 1944	25 June 1944	29 May 1947	Transferred to France as Berbère (F723) 29 March 1952; scrapped 1960
	DE-162	Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Company, Port Newark, New Jersey	19 October 1942	28 March 1943	13 May 1943	4 April 1947	Struck from Navy List 2 August 1973, sold for scrap 17 July 1974
	DE-163		19 October 1942	28 March 1943	28 May 1943	29 June 1946	Struck from Navy List 1 October 1972, sold for scrap 21 March 1974
	DE-164		11 November 1942	18 April 1943	12 June 1943	26 June 1946	Struck from Navy List 1 November 1972, sold for scrap 30 May 1974
	DE-165		11 November 1942	18 April 1943	22 June 1943	March 1946	Struck from Navy List 1 July 1972, sold for scrap 15 October 1973
	DE-166		30 November 1942	9 May 1943	5 July 1943	26 April 1946	to Uruguay as Uruguay (DE-1) 3 May 1952; scrapped 1990
	DE-167		30 November 1942	9 May 1943	19 July 1943	1 April 1946	Struck from Navy List 1 July 1972, sold for scrap 19 July 1973
	DE-168		30 November 1942	27 May 1943	26 July 1943	16 May 1947	to Japan as Asahi (DE-262) 14 June 1955; returned 1975. Transferred to the Philippines as Datu Sikatuna (PF-5); scrapped 1989
	DE-169		14 January 1943	27 May 1943	29 August 1943	10 December 1945	to Japan as Hatsuhi (DE-263) 14 June 1955; returned 1975. Transferred to the Philippines as Rajah Humabon (PF-11); retired in 2018
	DE-170		30 January 1943	21 June 1943	19 September 1943	14 June 1946	to the Philippines as Datu Kalantiaw (PF-76/FF-170) 15 December 1967. Lost during Typhoon Clara 21 September 1981
	DE-171		30 January 1943	21 June 1943	24 October 1943	19 June 1946	Struck from Navy List 1 August 1965, sold for scrap 29 December 1966
	DE-172		22 February 1943	25 July 1943	21 August 1943	25 June 1946	Struck from Navy List 1 July 1972, sold for scrap 1 November 1973
	DE-173		22 February 1943	25 July 1943	27 August 1943	17 June 1946	to Greece 15 January 1951, renamed Leon (D-54); scrapped 1999
	DE-174		26 April 1943	8 August 1943	3 September 1943	20 March 1945	to Brazil 20 March 1945 as Bocaina (D-22); scrapped 1975
	DE-175		26 April 1943	8 August 1943	15 September 1943	1 August 1944	to Brazil 1 August 1944 as Bertioga (D-21); scrapped 1975
	DE-176		3 May 1943	22 August 1943	23 September 1943	14 June 1946	Struck from Navy List 1 August 1965, sold for scrap 15 May 1967
	DE-177		3 May 1943	22 August 1943	29 September 1943	15 August 1944	to Brazil 15 August 1944 as Bracui (D-18); scrapped 1972
	DE-178		17 May 1943	5 September 1943	6 October 1943	1 August 1944	to Brazil 1 August 1944 as Beberibe (D-23); scrapped 1968
	DE-179		17 May 1943	5 September 1943	11 October 1943	15 August 1944	to Brazil 15 August 1944 as Bauru; museum ship in Rio de Janeiro
	DE-180		7 June 1943	19 September 1943	16 October 1943	5 December 1947	Struck from Navy List 1 August 1973, sold for scrap 18 June 1974
	DE-181		7 June 1943	19 September 1943	25 October 1943	17 October 1947	Struck from Navy List 1 August 1973, sold for scrap 17 July 1974
	DE-182		5 July 1943	3 October 1943	1 November 1943	26 June 1946	to the Netherlands as Van Ewijk (F808) 23 October 1950; scrapped 1968
(ex-Miles)			DE-183	5 July 1943	3 October 1943	4 November 1943	28 March 1946	to France as Arabe (F717) 12 August 1950; scrapped 1968
	DE-184		29 July 1943	17 October 1943	11 November 1943	25 July 1946	to Italy as Andromeda (F592) 10 January 1951; scrapped 1972
	DE-185		29 July 1943	17 October 1943	17 November 1943	8 June 1946	to France as Kabyle (F718) 12 August 1950; scrapped 1959
	DE-186		12 August 1943	31 October 1943	24 November 1943	25 February 1946	to France as Bambara (F719) 16 September 1950; scrapped 1959
	DE-187		12 August 1943	31 October 1943	1 December 1943	16 April 1946	to the Netherlands as Van Zijll (F811) 1 March 1951; scrapped 1968
	DE-188		26 August 1943	14 November 1943	6 December 1943	2 May 1946	to the Netherlands as Du Bois (F809) 23 October 1950; scrapped 1968
	DE-189		26 August 1943	14 November 1943	13 December 1943	5 November 1945	to Uruguay as Artigas (DE-2) 3 May 1952; scrapped 1988
(ex-Raby)	DE-190		9 September 1943	28 November 1943	23 December 1943	4 March 1946	to France as Malgache (F724) 29 March 1952; sunk as target 1970
	DE-191		9 September 1943	28 November 1943	27 December 1943	30 April 1946	Struck from Navy List 1 July 1972, sold for scrap 17 August 1973
	DE-192		23 September 1943	12 December 1943	1 January 1944	15 July 1946	to the Netherlands as De Zeeuw (F810) 1 March 1951; scrapped 1968
(ex–William G. Thomas)	DE-193		23 September 1943	12 December 1943	24 January 1944	27 March 1947	to Greece as Panthir (D-67) 15 January 1951; out of service 1991, scrapped
	DE-194		7 October 1943	30 December 1943	28 January 1944	26 August 1947	to France as Sakalave (F720) 15 September 1950; scrapped 1960
	DE-195		7 October 1943	30 December 1943	1 February 1944	17 June 1947	to Italy as Aldebaran (F590) 10 January 1951; scrapped 1976
	DE-196		21 October 1943	9 January 1944	12 February 1944	17 July 1946	to the Netherlands as De Bitter (F807) 1 June 1950; scrapped 1968
	DE-197		21 October 1943	9 January 1944	21 February 1944		Damaged by sea mine northwest of Eniwetok 22 August 1945; not repaired and sunk off Yokosuka 11 March 1946.
	DE-739	Western Pipe and Steel Company, San Pedro, California	11 February 1943	6 June 1943	30 October 1943	17 November 1946	Transferred to Peru as Castilla (F-61) 21 February 1952; scrapped 1979
	DE-740		24 February 1943	20 June 1943	30 November 1943	31 May 1946	to Peru as Aguirre (DE-62) 21 February 1952; sunk as target 1974
	DE-741		13 March 1943	4 July 1943	31 December 1943	29 May 1947	to Peru as Rodriguez 21 February 1952; scrapped 1979
	DE-742		23 March 1943	18 July 1943	4 February 1944	19 June 1946	Struck from Navy List 1 August 1972, sold for scrap 15 October 1973
	DE-743		10 April 1943	1 August 1943	29 February 1944	14 June 1946	Struck from Navy List 1 August 1972, sold for scrap 15 October 1973
	DE-744		16 April 1943	15 August 1943	4 April 1944	14 June 1946	Struck from Navy List 1 August 1972, sold for scrap 1 November 1973
21 November 1950	17 June 1960		16 April 1943	15 August 1943
	DE-745		28 April 1943	29 August 1943	5 May 1944	5 May 1960	Struck from Navy List 1 August 1972, sold for scrap 1 November 1973
	DE-746		5 May 1943	12 September 1943	30 May 1944	17 June 1946	Transferred to Thailand as Pin Klao (DE-1) 22 July 1959.
1 December 1950	21 February 1958		5 May 1943	12 September 1943			Transferred to Thailand as Pin Klao (DE-1) 22 July 1959.
	DE-747		9 June 1943	26 September 1943	30 June 1944	19 April 1946	Transferred to France as Touareg (F721) 11 November 1950; scrapped 1965
	DE-748		23 June 1943	3 October 1943	8 August 1944	14 June 1946	Struck from Navy List 23 September 1968. Sunk as target on 3 April 1969
21 November 1950	18 October 1959
1 October 1961	23 September 1968
	DE-749		7 July 1943	14 November 1943	2 September 1944	21 September 1968	Struck from Navy List 23 September 1968, sunk as target in November 1971
	DE-750		21 July 1943	28 November 1943	19 September 1944	15 May 1946	Struck from Navy List 1 August 1972, sold for scrap 1 November 1973
14 July 1950	12 September 1960		21 July 1943	28 November 1943
	DE-763	Tampa Shipbuilding Company, Tampa, Florida	1 March 1943	10 October 1943	15 December 1943	28 March 1947	to France as Soudanais (F722) 11 November 1950; scrapped 1959
	DE-764		1 March 1943	12 December 1943	7 February 1944	17 June 1946	to Italy as Altair (F591) 10 January 1951; sunk as target 1971
	DE-765		9 March 1943	13 February 1944	10 April 1944	17 June 1946	Struck from Navy List 1 August 1972, sold for scrap 15 October 1973
21 November 1950	25 February 1958		9 March 1943	13 February 1944
	DE-766		9 March 1943	13 February 1944	1 May 1944	26 September 1947	to Greece as Aetos (D-01) 1 March 1951; retired 1991. Since 1993 museum ship in Albany, New York
	DE-767		1 April 1943	25 April 1944	12 June 1944	30 April 1946	Struck from Navy List 1 August 1972, sold for scrap 15 October 1973
	DE-768		1 April 1943	11 May 1944	12 July 1944	14 June 1946	to Greece as Ierax (D-31) 1 March 1951; sunk as target 2002
	DE-769		1 June 1943	4 June 1944	31 July 1944	30 April 1946	Struck from Navy List 1 June 1968, sold for scrap in July 1969
	DE-770		1 June 1943	4 June 1944	30 August 1944	September 1947	to South Korean as Kyongki (F-71) 2 February 1956; to the Philippines for spare parts 1977
	DE-771		23 August 1943	6 August 1944	22 December 1944	19 March 1948	to South Korean as Kang Won (F-72) 2 February 1956; to the Philippines for spare parts 1977

External links

Notes and References

U.S. Destroyers: an illustrated design history by Norman Friedman. Chapter 7. .
Web site: Classes of Destroyer Escorts . Eric . Rivet . Michael . Stenzel . April 22, 2011 . History of Destroyer Escorts . Destroyer Escort Historical Museum . July 8, 2012 . The Cannon class was very similar in design to the Buckley class, the primary difference being a diesel-electric power plant instead of the Buckley class's turboelectric design. The fuel-efficient diesel-electric plant greatly improved the range of the Cannon class, but at the cost of speed. . December 29, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191229164511/http://www.ussslater.org/history/dehistory/history_classes.html . dead .
Web site: Classes of Destroyer Escorts . Eric . Rivet . Michael . Stenzel . April 22, 2011 . History of Destroyer Escorts . Destroyer Escort Historical Museum . July 8, 2012 . Except for the propulsion, the EDSALL class was nearly identical to the CANNON class in every respect. This fourth class of destroyer escorts mounted a direct-drive diesel configuration that proved to be extremely reliable. . December 29, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191229164511/http://www.ussslater.org/history/dehistory/history_classes.html . dead .