Cannon-class destroyer escort
The Cannon class was a class of destroyer escorts built by the United States primarily for ocean antisubmarine warfare 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 the vulnerable cargo ships.
![]() USS Cannon (DE-99) | |
Class overview | |
---|---|
Name: | Cannon class |
Operators: | |
Preceded by: | Buckley class |
Succeeded by: | Edsall class |
Planned: | 116 |
Completed: | 72 |
Cancelled: | 44 |
Active: | 1 (Royal Thai Navy) |
Preserved: | 3 |
General characteristics | |
Type: | Destroyer Escort |
Displacement: |
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Length: | 93.3 m (306 ft) |
Beam: | 11 m (36 ft) |
Draft: | 3.5 m (11 ft) full load |
Propulsion: |
|
Speed: | 21 knots (39 km/h) |
Range: | 10,800 nautical miles (20,000 km; 12,400 mi) at 12 knots (22 km/h) |
Complement: |
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Armament: |
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With the decommissioning of the Philippine Navy's BRP Rajah Humabon (PS-11) in March 2018, and that of HTMS Pin Klao (DE-1) of the Royal Thai Navy, in September 2008 no ship of this class is in commission.
Propulsion
The class was also known as the DET type from their diesel electric tandem drives.[1] The DET's substitution for a turboelectric propulsion plant was the primary difference with the predecessor Buckley ("TE") class.[2] The DET was, in turn, replaced with a direct-drive diesel plant to yield the design of the successor Edsall ("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
- 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
Transferred to Brazil
- USS Alger (DE-101) as Babitonga
- 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
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
- 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
Transferred to Greece
- USS Eldridge (DE-173) as Leon; served 1951–1992
- USS Slater (DE-766) as Aetos; served 1951–1991; now a museum ship in Albany, New York, the only destroyer escort afloat in the United States
- USS Ebert (DE-768) as Ierax ; served 1951–1991
- USS Garfield Thomas (DE-193) as Panthir; served 1951–1992
Transferred to Italy
- 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
Transferred to Japan
- 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)
Transferred to the Netherlands
- 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
Transferred to Peru
- USS Bangust (DE-739) as BAP Castilla; served 1951–1979
- USS Waterman (DE-740) as BAP Aguirre; served 1951–1974
- USS Weaver (DE-741) as BAP Rodríguez; served 1951–1979
Transferred to the Philippines
![](../I/m/BRP_Rajah_Humabon_(PF_11).jpg)
- 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
- 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
Transferred to South Korea
- 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)
Transferred to the Republic of China (Taiwan)
- 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)
Transferred to Thailand
- USS Hemminger (DE-746) as HTMS Pin Klao (413)
Transferred to Uruguay
- USS Baron (DE-166) as Uruguay (DE-1); served 1952–1990
- USS Bronstein (DE-189) as Artigas (DE-2); served 1952–1988
Ships in Class
Ship Name | Hull No. | Builder | Laid down | Launched | Commissioned | Decommissioned | Fate |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cannon | 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 |
Christopher | DE-100 | 7 December 1942 | 19 June 1943 | 23 October 1943 | 19 December 1944 | to Brazil 19 December 1944 as Benevente; scrapped 1964 | |
Alger | DE-101 | 2 January 1943 | 8 July 1943 | 12 November 1943 | 10 March 1945 | to Brazil 10 March 1945 as Babitonga; scrapped 1964 | |
Thomas | 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 | |
Bostwick | 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 | |
Breeman | 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 | |
Burrows | 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 | |
Carter | DE-112 | 19 November 1943 | 29 February 1944 | 3 May 1944 | 10 April 1946 | to Taiwan Taizhao (DE-26) 14 December 1948; scrapped 1973 | |
Clarence L. Evans | 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 | |
Levy | 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 |
McConnell | 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 | |
Osterhaus | 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 | |
Parks | 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 | |
Baron | 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 | |
Acree | 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 | |
Amick | 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 | |
Atherton | 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 | |
Booth | 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 | |
Carroll | 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 | |
Cooner | 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 | |
Eldridge | 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 | |
Marts | 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 | |
Pennewill | 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 | |
Micka | 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 | |
Reybold | 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 | |
Herzog | 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 | |
McAnn | 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 | |
Trumpeter | 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 | |
Straub | 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 | |
Gustafson | 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 | |
Samuel S. Miles (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 | |
Wesson | DE-184 | 29 July 1943 | 17 October 1943 | 11 November 1943 | 25 July 1946 | to Italy as Andromeda (F592) 10 January 1951; scrapped 1972 | |
Riddle | DE-185 | 29 July 1943 | 17 October 1943 | 17 November 1943 | 8 June 1946 | to France as Kabyle (F718) 12 August 1950; scrapped 1959 | |
Swearer | DE-186 | 12 August 1943 | 31 October 1943 | 24 November 1943 | 25 February 1946 | to France as Bambara (F719) 16 September 1950; scrapped 1959 | |
Stern | 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 | |
O'Neill | 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 | |
Bronstein | 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 | |
Baker (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 | |
Coffman | 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 | |
Eisner | 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 | |
Garfield Thomas (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 | |
Wingfield | DE-194 | 7 October 1943 | 30 December 1943 | 28 January 1944 | 26 August 1947 | to France as Sakalave (F720) 15 September 1950; scrapped 1960 | |
Thornhill | DE-195 | 7 October 1943 | 30 December 1943 | 1 February 1944 | 17 June 1947 | to Italy as Aldebaran (F590) 10 January 1951; scrapped 1976 | |
Rinehart | 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 | |
Roche | DE-197 | 21 October 1943 | 9 January 1944 | 21 February 1944 | N/A | Damaged by sea mine northwest of Eniwetok 22 August 1945; not repaired and sunk off Yokosuka 11 March 1946. | |
Bangust | 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 |
Waterman | 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 | |
Weaver | DE-741 | 13 March 1943 | 4 July 1943 | 31 December 1943 | 29 May 1947 | to Peru as Rodriguez 21 February 1952; scrapped 1979 | |
Hilbert | 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 | |
Lamons | 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 | |
Kyne | 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 | ||||||
Snyder | 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 | |
Hemminger | 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 | ||||||
Bright | 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 | |
Tills | 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 | ||||||
Roberts | 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 | |
McClelland | 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 | ||||||
Cates | 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 |
Gandy | 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 | |
Earl K. Olsen | 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 | ||||||
Slater | 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 | |
Oswald | 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 | |
Ebert | 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 | |
Neal A. Scott | 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 | |
Muir | 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 | |
Sutton | 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 |
See also
- List of Escorteurs of the French Navy
- List of ships of the Second World War
- List of ship classes of the Second World War
- List of naval ship classes in service
References
- U.S. Destroyers: an illustrated design history by Norman Friedman. Chapter 7. ISBN 1-55750-442-3.
- Rivet, Eric; Stenzel, Michael (April 22, 2011). "Classes of Destroyer Escorts". History of Destroyer Escorts. Destroyer Escort Historical Museum. Retrieved 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.
- Rivet, Eric; Stenzel, Michael (April 22, 2011). "Classes of Destroyer Escorts". History of Destroyer Escorts. Destroyer Escort Historical Museum. Retrieved 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.
External links
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