USS Peiffer (DE-588)

USS Peiffer (DE-588) was a Rudderow-class destroyer escort in service with the United States Navy from 1944 to 1946. She was sold for scrapping in 1967.

History
United States
Name: USS Peiffer
Namesake: Carl David Peiffer
Builder: Bethlehem-Hingham Shipyard
Laid down: 21 December 1943
Launched: 26 January 1944
Sponsored by: Mrs. Frank W. Peiffer, mother of Ensign Peiffer
Commissioned: 15 June 1944
Decommissioned: 1 June 1946
Stricken: 1 December 1966
Honors and
awards:
One battle star
Fate: Destroyed as a target, 16 May 1967
General characteristics
Class and type: Rudderow
Type: Destroyer escort
Displacement: 1,450 tons
Length: 306 feet
Beam: 36 feet, 10 inches
Draft: 9 feet 8 inches
Speed: 24 knots
Complement: 186
Armament:

Construction and service

Peiffer was laid down 21 December 1943 by the Bethlehem-Hingham Shipyard, Inc., Hingham, Mass.; launched 26 January 1944; sponsored by Mrs. Frank W. Peiffer, mother of Ensign Peiffer, a Navy pilot killed at the battle of Midway; and commissioned 15 June 1944, Lieutenant Commander W. F. Jones in command.

Following shakedown off Bermuda, Peiffer trained with submarines off southern New England and on 30 September 1944 got underway, with Escort Division 71, for the Panama Canal. She arrived Seeadler Harbor, Manus, 7 November. Steaming then to Hollandia, she escorted a convoy to Leyte and back, and, on 28 December, joined Task Group 78.5 for the invasion of Luzon. Sailing northwest 30 December, she screened the Blue Beach attack group to the San Fabian assault area, then continued to provide anti-submarine arid anti-aircraft protection for the group during the initial landings, 9 January 1945. The following day she retired and on the 13th arrived in Leyte Gulf, whence she escorted LST’s carrying supplies and reinforcements to Luzon.

Detached from the 7th Amphibious Force 20 February, Peiffer reported for duty with the Philippine Sea Frontier, with which she remained for the final months of World War II. During that time she interrupted inter-island escort of convoy and anti-submarine patrol duties only once, in late July, to escort USS Block Island (CVE-106) to Guam. Returning to Leyte 10 August, she remained in the Far East after the Japanese surrender and during the next few months patrolled in Philippine waters, escorted convoys to Okinawa, and, prior to sailing for the United States, carried personnel to Shanghai. On 24 November departed the China coast, and after a brief return to the Philippines, steamed east.

Peiffer arrived at San Pedro, California, 4 January 1946. In March she shifted to San Diego where she decommissioned, 1 June 1946, and entered the Pacific Reserve Fleet. She was struck from the Navy List 1 December 1966 and her hulk was destroyed as a target 16 May 1967.

Peiffer earned one battle star during World War II.

See also

References

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