USS Coffman (DE-191)

Career
Name: USS Coffman
Namesake: DeWitt Coffman
Builder: Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Company, Newark, New Jersey
Laid down: 9 September 1943
Launched: 28 November 1943
Commissioned: 27 December 1943
Decommissioned: 30 April 1946
Struck: 1 July 1972
Honors and
awards:		 1 battle star (World War II)
Fate: Sold for scrap, 17 August 1973
General characteristics
Class and type:Cannon-class destroyer escort
Displacement:1,240 long tons (1,260 t) standard
1,620 long tons (1,646 t) full
Length:306 ft (93 m) o/a
300 ft (91 m) w/l
Beam:36 ft 10 in (11.23 m)
Draft:11 ft 8 in (3.56 m)
Propulsion:4 × GM Mod. 16-278A diesel engines with electric drive, 6,000 shp (4,474 kW), 2 screws
Speed:21 knots (39 km/h; 24 mph)
Range:10,800 nmi (20,000 km) at 12 kn (22 km/h; 14 mph)
Complement:15 officers and 201 enlisted
Armament:• 3 × single Mk.22 3"/50 caliber guns
• 1 × twin 40 mm Mk.1 AA gun
• 8 × 20 mm Mk.4 AA guns
• 3 × 21 in (533 mm) torpedo tubes
• 1 × Hedgehog Mk.10 anti-submarine mortar (144 rounds)
• 8 × Mk.6 depth charge projectors
• 2 × Mk.9 depth charge tracks

USS Coffman (DE-191) was a Cannon-class destroyer escort built for the United States Navy during World War II. She served in the Atlantic Ocean and provided escort service against submarine and air attack for Navy vessels and convoys. She returned home at war's end with a one battle star.

She was named in honor of DeWitt Coffman, veteran of the Spanish-American War who was awarded the Navy Distinguished Service Medal during World War I. The ship was launched on 28 November 1943 by Federal Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., Newark, New Jersey; sponsored by Miss F. Liggett; and commissioned on 27 December 1943, Lieutenant Commander W. H. Putnam, USNR, in command.

World War II Atlantic Ocean operations

After one convoy escort voyage to Bizerte, Tunisia between 12 April and 3 May 1944, Coffman served between 10 June and 10 July as a target for submarines in training. Assigned to the hunter-killer group formed around the escort carrier Card (CVE-11), Coffman joined in training patrols, and a voyage to Casablanca during which the group covered the movement of several convoys. Alternate periods of exercises and patrols continued until early in February 1945, when Coffman was ordered to join a group searching in stormy waters for a German weather ship reported south of Iceland.

Sinking of German submarine U-548

She returned to screen carriers during air training operations out of Quonset Point, Rhode Island, until April, when the German U-boats made their last great effort of the war, penetrating the eastern Atlantic in strength. Coffman and her division were ordered to a search along the coast of Virginia, and on 30 April, she, with Thomas (DE-102), Bostwick (DE-103) and Natchez (PF-2), sank German submarine U-548 in 36°34′N 74°00′W / 36.567°N 74.000°W.

Post-War decommissioning

After continued service to carriers and submarines in training, Coffman reported to Green Cove Springs, Florida, on 15 November 1945, and was decommissioned there on 30 April 1946 preparatory to disposal. Following the outbreak of the Korean War she was removed from the sale list and placed in reserve. She was sold on 17 August 1973, and scrapped.

Awards

Coffman received one battle star for World War II service.

References

See also

External links