USS Dempsey (DE-26)

The second USS Dempsey (DE-26) was an Evarts-class destroyer escort constructed for the United States Navy during World War II. She 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 ship's World War II service career, when she returned to the United States, she had accumulated three battle stars.

For other ships with the same name, see USS Dempsey.

For the World War I tug and patrol vessel, see USS L. A. Dempsey (SP-1231).

History
United States
Name:	USS Dempsey
Namesake:	Lieutenant, junior grade, Richard John Dempsey (1919-1942), killed in action aboard the heavy cruiser USS Vincennes (CA-44) when she was sunk in the Battle of Savo Island
Laid down:	1 October 1942
Launched:	19 February 1943
Commissioned:	24 July 1943
Decommissioned:	22 November 1945
Stricken:	28 November 1945
Honors and awards:	3 battle stars (World War II)
Fate:	Sold for scrapping, 16 June 1947
General characteristics
Type:	Evarts-class destroyer escort
Displacement:	1,140 long tons (1,158 t) standard 1,430 long tons (1,453 t) full
Length:	289 ft 5 in (88.21 m) o/a 283 ft 6 in (86.41 m) w/l
Beam:	35 ft (11 m)
Draft:	11 ft (3.4 m) (max)
Propulsion:	4 × General Motors Model 16-278A diesel engines with electric drive, 6,000 shp (4,474 kW) 2 screws
Speed:	19 knots (35 km/h; 22 mph)
Range:	4,150 nmi (7,690 km)
Complement:	15 officers and 183 enlisted
Armament:	3 × single 3"/50 Mk.22 dual purpose guns 1 × quad 1.1"/75 Mk.2 AA gun 9 × 20 mm Mk.4 AA guns 1 × Hedgehog Projector Mk.10 (144 rounds) 8 × Mk.6 depth charge projectors 2 × Mk.9 depth charge tracks

Originally intended for transfer to the United Kingdom, 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 on 14 June 1943; and commissioned on 24 July 1943, Lieutenant Commander H. A. Barnard, Jr., in command.

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 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 on 13 November. She screened oilers fueling various task units at sea during the invasion of the Gilberts, then arrived at Pearl Harbor on 2 December for repairs and training.

Dempsey sailed from Pearl Harbor on 25 January 1944 escorting a convoy of transports and cargo ships to newly captured Majuro, arriving on 3 February. She escorted White Plains (CVE-66) to Kwajalein, then returned to Pearl Harbor on 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.

Transferred to the U.S 3rd Fleet

Transferred to the 3rd Fleet Dempsey arrived at Manus on 27 September 1944 and sailed on 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.

End-of-War Decommissioning

Arriving at San Francisco, California, on 18 July, Dempsey was decommissioned on 22 November 1945 and sold on 18 April 1947.

Awards

	Combat Action Ribbon (retroactive)
	American Campaign Medal
	Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (with three service stars)
	World War II Victory Medal

References

This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.

External links

• Photo gallery of Dempsey at NavSource Naval History