| Career (US) | |
|---|---|
| Namesake: | Neldon Theo French |
| Builder: | Consolidated Steel Corporation, Orange, Texas |
| Laid down: | 1 May 1944 |
| Launched: | 17 June 1944 |
| Commissioned: | 9 October 1944 |
| Decommissioned: | 29 May 1946 |
| Struck: | 15 May 1972 |
| Fate: | sold for scrapping 20 September 1973 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | John C. Butler-class destroyer escort |
| Displacement: | 1,350 tons |
| Length: | 306 ft (93 m) |
| Beam: | 36 ft 8 in (11 m) |
| Draft: | 9 ft 5 in (3 m) |
| Propulsion: | 2 boilers, 2 geared turbine engines, 12,000 shp; 2 propellers |
| Speed: | 24 knots (44 km/h) |
| Range: | 6,000 nmi. (12,000 km) @ 12 kt |
| Complement: | 14 officers, 201 enlisted |
| Armament: | 2 × 5 in (127 mm)/38 guns (2×1) • 4 × 40 mm AA guns (2×2) • 10 × 20 mm AA guns (10×1) • 3 × 21 in. torpedo tubes (1×3) • 8 × depth charge projectors • 1 × depth charge projector (hedgehog) • 2 × depth charge tracks |
USS French (DE-367) was a John C. Butler-class destroyer escort acquired by the U.S. Navy during World War II. The primary purpose of the destroyer escort was to escort and protect ships in convoy, in addition to other tasks as assigned, such as patrol or radar picket.
USS French was named in honor of Neldon Theo French who was awarded the Navy Cross for his brave actions in Guadalcanal. She was launched 17 June 1944 by Consolidated Steel Corp., Orange, Texas; sponsored by Mrs. Alma M. French, mother of Corporal French; and commissioned 9 October 1944, Lieutenant Commander T. K. Dunstan, USNR, in command.
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French arrived at San Diego, California, 2 January 1945 for escort duty in the Pacific Ocean, ranging primarily between Ulithi and Eniwetok through April. Other ports of call during this period were Pearl Harbor, Kossol Roads, Saipan, and Iwo Jima. Arriving in Kossol Roads 6 May, French was assigned to patrol and air-sea rescue duty, as well as local screening. On 5 June she bombarded enemy-held Malakal and Arakabesan Islands, then left Peleliu to return to escort duty out of Ulithi. She called at Okinawa on this assignment on 8 July and 9 July.
From 24 July to 27 July 1945, French was in charge of rescue operations on a grounded U.S. Army freighter at Helen Reef off the Palaus. She lightened the grounded ship by removing some of her cargo so that USS Tonkawa (ATA-176) could get her off. Escorting the tug and her tow, French returned to Hollandia 31 July, then sailed back to Peleliu. Between 4 August and 7 August she took part in the search for survivors of USS Indianapolis (CA-35), returning to Peleliu.
On 26 August 1945, French arrived at Okinawa, from which she sailed 9 September to cover landings in Japan. After voyaging to Guam to bring occupation troops to Japan, she screened carriers flying patrols over Japan until 2 January 1946 when she sailed for the U.S. West Coast.
French was decommissioned and placed in reserve at San Diego, California, 29 May 1946. On 15 May 1972 she was struck from the Navy list and, on 20 September 1973, she was sold for scrapping.
This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.