Ocean escort

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Ocean escort was a type of United States Navy warship.

Ocean Escorts were an evolution of the World War II destroyer escort types. They were intended as convoy escorts and were designed for mobilization production in wartime or low-cost mass production in peacetime.

Their hull classification symbol was DE, a carryover from WWII era when the vessels were classified as Destroyer Escorts. DEs were ASW vessels; DEGs were AAW vessels with the short-range Tartar guided missile.

The Ocean Escort type corresponded to other nations' frigates (convoy escorts).

The 1975 ship reclassification changed the Ocean Escorts (DE/DEG) to Frigates (FF/FFG) to be in line with other nations' classifications.

The US Navy intends to replace all existing frigates with the littoral combat ship.