USS Dempsey (DE-26)
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| Career |  |
|---|---|
| Built as: | BDE-26 for the United Kingdom |
| Laid down: | 1 October 1942 |
| Launched: | 19 February 1943 |
| Redesignated: | USS Dempsey |
| Commissioned: | 24 July 1943 |
| Battle Stars: | 3 for World War II |
| Decommissioned: | 22 November 1945 |
| Struck: | 28 November 1945 |
| Fate: | Sold for scrapping 16 June 1947 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class: | Evarts class destroyer escort |
| Type: | GMT (diesel-electric tandem motor drive, short hull, 3" guns) |
| Displacement: | 1,140 (std), 1,430 tons (full) |
| Length: | 289 ft 5 in (88.2 m) overall 283 ft 6 in (86.4 m) waterline |
| Beam: | 35 ft 0 in (10.7 m) |
| Draft: | 11 ft 0 in (3.4 m) maximum |
| Range: | 4,150 nm |
| Speed: | 19 knots (35 km/h) |
| Complement: | 15 officers / 183 enlisted |
| Armament: | 3 × 3"/50 Mk 22 (1 × 3), 1 × 1.1"/75 Mk 2 quad AA (4 × 1), 9 × 20 mm Mk 4 AA, 1 Hedgehog Projector, Mk 10 (144 rounds), 8 Mk 6 depth charge projectors, 2 Mk 9 depth charge tracks |
| Propulsion: | 4 GM Model 16-278A diesel engines with electric drive, 6,000 shp, 2 screws |
USS Dempsey (DE-26) was an Evarts class destroyer escort constructed for the U.S. Navy during World War II. It was promptly sent off into the Pacific Ocean to protect convoys and other ships from Japanese submarines and fighter aircraft. By the end of the war, when she returned to the United States, she had proudly accumulated three battle stars.
Originally intended for transfer to Great Britain, Dempsey was launched as BDE-26 on 19 February 1943 by Mare Island Navy Yard; retained for use by the United States Navy and assigned the name Dempsey 14 June 1943; and commissioned 24 July 1943, Lieutenant Commander H. A. Barnard, Jr., in command.
Contents |
[edit] World War II Pacific Theatre operations
From 23 September to 25 October 1943 Dempsey escorted convoys between San Francisco, California, and Pearl Harbor. On 27 October she departed Pearl Harbor screening USS Tangier (AV-8) to Espiritu Santo, and on 8 November she arrived at Viti Levu, Fiji Islands off which she rescued 45 survivors of the torpedoed merchantman SS San Juan 13 November. She screened oilers fueling various task units at sea during the invasion of the Gilberts, then arrived at Pearl Harbor 2 December for repairs and training.
Dempsey sailed from Pearl Harbor 25 January 1944 escorting a convoy of transports and cargo ships to newly captured Majuro, arriving 3 February. She escorted USS White Plains (CVE-66) to Kwajalein, then returned to Pearl Harbor 24 February. The next day she got underway for Noumea, arriving 8 March, and from 14 March to 22 September served in the Solomons and adjacent islands on local escort and patrol.
[edit] Transferred to the U.S 3rd Fleet
Transferred to the U.S. 3rd Fleet Dempsey arrived at Manus 27 September 1944 and sailed 2 October to screen transports to the Palaus. She patrolled and served as harbor entrance control vessel off Peleliu, on 28 October sinking a Japanese patrol craft and capturing one prisoner.
From 20 November 1944 Dempsey sailed on convoy duty from Guam to Eniwetok, Ulithi, and Leyte. On 15 April 1945 her base became Eniwetok, and she continued her convoy duty to Ulithi and Kwajalein, serving also on air-sea rescue patrols until 5 July when she departed for the west coast.
[edit] End-of-War Decommissioning
Arriving at San Francisco, California, 18 July, Dempsey was decommissioned 22 November 1945 and sold 18 April 1947.
[edit] Awards
 |
Combat Action Ribbon (retroactive) |
 |
American Campaign Medal |
  |
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (with three service stars) |
 |
World War II Victory Medal |
[edit] References
This article includes text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.
[edit] External links
- Photo gallery of Dempsey at NavSource Naval History
