USS Raymond (DE-341)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Career |  |
|---|---|
| Built: | Orange, Texas |
| Laid down: | 3 November 1943 |
| Launched: | 8 January 1944 |
| Commissioned: | 15 April 1944 |
| Battle Stars: | 5 for World War II |
| Out of service: | 31 May 1960 |
| Struck: | 1 July 1972 |
| Fate: | sunk as target off Florida 22 January 1974 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class: | John C. Butler-class destroyer escort |
| Type: | WGT (geared-turbine drive, 5" guns) |
| Displacement: | 1,350/1745 tons |
| Length: | 306' (oa) |
| Beam: | 36' 10" |
| Draft: | 13'4" (max) |
| Speed: | 24 knots |
| Range: | 6000 nm@12 knots |
| Complement: | 14 officers, 201 enlisted |
| Armament: | 2-5"/38, 4 (2x2) 40mmAA, 10-20mm AA, 3-21" TT, 1 Hedgehog, 8 DCT's, 2 DC tracks |
| Propulsion: | 2 boilers, 2 geared turbine engines, 12,000 shp, 2 screws |
USS Raymond (DE-341) was a John C. Butler-class destroyer escort acquired by the U.S. Navy during World War II. The purpose of the destroyer escort was primarily to escort and protect ships in convoy, in addition to other tasks as assigned, such as patrol or radar picket. Post-war, she returned home proudly with five battle stars to her credit, including credit for her striking a Japanese cruiser with her 5" gun during the Battle off Samar.
The second Navy ship to be named Raymond, she was laid down by Consolidated Steel Corp., Orange, Texas, 3 November 1943; launched 8 January 1944; sponsored by Mrs. Helen Raymond; and commissioned 15 April 1944, Lt. Comdr. A. F. Beyer, Jr., in command.
[edit] World War II Pacific Theatre operations
Following shakedown off Bermuda, Raymond served as training ship for the Norfolk Training Station, then steamed, 1 July, for the Panama Canal. She arrived at Pearl Harbor 23 July, and got underway 12 August for Guadalcanal and Manus. Arriving at the latter 28 August, she joined the escort carrier group staging for the Morotai assault. On 15 September she screened the CVE's attacking Morotai in the Netherlands East Indies. After returning to Manus, she supported air operations 16 October against Leyte, Philippine Islands.
[edit] Damaging a Japanese cruiser in the Battle off Samar
On 25 October she participated in the Battle off Samar during which she attacked Japanese ships, inflicting damage to a Japanese cruiser with 5" gunfire, and picked up survivors from stricken escort carrier USS St. Lo (CVE-63).
[edit] Supporting Iwo Jima invasion operations
Returning to Manus and Pearl Harbor, she left the latter port 29 December and arrived at Eniwetok 7 January 1945. She then performed escort duty to Saipan and Tinian and on 9 February was underway with Task Unit 50.8.24 to refuel Task Force 58 prior to the Iwo Jima assault. As a unit of the antisubmarine screen for Task Unit 50.8.24, Raymond supported the Iwo Jima campaign, arriving off Guam en route to Ulithi 3 March.
[edit] Supporting the invasion of Okinawa
On 21 March, she sortied with Task Unit 50.18.34, bound for Kerama Retto, Okinawa. During Operation Iceberg, Raymond performed escort and screening duties until mid-May 1945. She then resumed convoy escort duties and for the remainder of the war steamed between the Western Carolines and the Ryukyus.
[edit] Shooting down five Japanese planes
By 15 August she had shot down five enemy planes. She served in occupied Japanese waters 2-6 September, then returned to the United States and in November entered the Pacific Reserve Fleet.
[edit] Post-war operations
Decommissioned 24 January 1947, Raymond was berthed at San Diego, California, until recommissioned 27 April 1951. She transited the Panama Canal and arrived Newport, Rhode Island, 11 August 1951. Local operations along the New England coast, exercises in the Caribbean and duty with the Fleet Sonar School at Key West, Florida, kept her in the western Atlantic until the summer of 1953 when she conducted a midshipman training cruise to Scandinavia.
Returning to Newport for local operations 1 September, she resumed her previous schedule and, interrupting them only for a second midshipman cruise, in the summer of 1954, continued operations off the eastern seaboard and in the Caribbean until 22 September 1958.
[edit] Final decommissioning
She was then decommissioned and placed in service. She continued her operations off the east coast during 1959. Placed out of service, in reserve, 31 May 1960 and berthed at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, she was struck from the Navy list, 1 July 1972.
[edit] Awards
Raymond earned five battle stars for World War II service and the Presidential Unit Citation for heroism in the Battle of Samar.
[edit] References
This article includes text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships
- NavSource Online: Destroyer Escort Photo Archive - USS Raymond (DE 341)
