Cannon class destroyer escort
Encyclopedia
The Cannon class destroyer escort
s were built primarily for ocean Anti-Submarine Warfare
escort service during World War II
. The lead ship, was commissioned on 26 September 1943 at Wilmington, Delaware
. The class was also known as the DET type from their Diesel Electric Tandem drive. Of the 116 ships ordered 44 were cancelled and 6 commissioned directly into the Free French Forces
. Destroyer escorts were regular companions escorting the vulnerable cargo
ships.
BRP Rajah Humabon (PF-11)
of the Philippine Navy, formerly the remains as the only confirmed commissioned ship of this class as of 2010.
and a further eight were transferred the Brazilian Navy
.
; served 1951-1992 - as Aetos II; served 1951-1991 - as Ierax II; served 1951-1991 - as Panthir II; served 1951-1992
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- as BRP Datu Sikatuna (PF-5)
; scrapped in 1989 - as BRP Rajah Humabon (PF-11)
; still in service - as BRP Datu Kalantiaw (PS-76)
; sunk during a typhoon in 1981 - cannibalized for spares - cannibalized for spares
Destroyer escort
A destroyer escort is the classification for a smaller, lightly armed warship designed to be used to escort convoys of merchant marine ships, primarily of the United States Merchant Marine in World War II. It is employed primarily for anti-submarine warfare, but also provides some protection...
s were built primarily for ocean Anti-Submarine Warfare
Anti-submarine warfare
Anti-submarine warfare is a branch of naval warfare that uses surface warships, aircraft, or other submarines to find, track and deter, damage or destroy enemy submarines....
escort service during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. The lead ship, was commissioned on 26 September 1943 at Wilmington, Delaware
Wilmington, Delaware
Wilmington is the largest city in the state of Delaware, United States, and is located at the confluence of the Christina River and Brandywine Creek, near where the Christina flows into the Delaware River. It is the county seat of New Castle County and one of the major cities in the Delaware Valley...
. The class was also known as the DET type from their Diesel Electric Tandem drive. Of the 116 ships ordered 44 were cancelled and 6 commissioned directly into the Free French Forces
Free French Forces
The Free French Forces were French partisans in World War II who decided to continue fighting against the forces of the Axis powers after the surrender of France and subsequent German occupation and, in the case of Vichy France, collaboration with the Germans.-Definition:In many sources, Free...
. Destroyer escorts were regular companions escorting the vulnerable cargo
Cargo
Cargo is goods or produce transported, generally for commercial gain, by ship, aircraft, train, van or truck. In modern times, containers are used in most intermodal long-haul cargo transport.-Marine:...
ships.
BRP Rajah Humabon (PF-11)
BRP Rajah Humabon (PF-11)
The BRP Rajah Humabon is a frigate of the Philippine Navy, and is the last World War II-era destroyer escort/frigate active in its fleet and is one of the oldest active warships in the world...
of the Philippine Navy, formerly the remains as the only confirmed commissioned ship of this class as of 2010.
Hull Numbers
A total of 72 ships of the Cannon class were built.- DE-99 through DE-113 (6 are French)
- DE-162 through DE-197
- DE-739 through DE-750
- DE-763 through DE-771
Wartime transfers
During World War II, six ships of the class were earmarked for the Free French Naval ForcesFree French Naval Forces
Les Forces Navales Françaises Libres were the naval arm of the Free French Forces during the Second World War. They were commanded by Admiral Emile Muselier.- History :...
and a further eight were transferred the Brazilian Navy
Brazilian Navy
The Brazilian Navy is a branch of the Brazilian Armed Forces responsible for conducting naval operations. It is the largest navy in Latin America...
.
Free French Ships
- as Sénégalais - as Algérien - as Tunisien - as Marocain - as Hova - as SomaliTransferred to Brazil
- as Babitonga - as Baependi - as Benevente - as Beberibe - as Bocaina - as Bauru - as Bertioga - as BracuiPostwar dispersal
After the end of World War II the United States Navy transferred many ships of the Cannon class to other naviesTransferred to Uruguay
- as Uruguay (DE-1); served 1952-1990 - as Artigas (DE-2); served 1952-1988Transferred to Greece
- as Leon IIGreek destroyer Leon (D-54)
HS Leon was a destroyer that served with the Greek Navy between 1951-1992. The ship had formerly served with the United States Navy under the name , famous for its alleged role in the Philadelphia Experiment.- Service history :...
; served 1951-1992 - as Aetos II; served 1951-1991 - as Ierax II; served 1951-1991 - as Panthir II; served 1951-1992
Transferred to Italy
- as Andromeda (F-592) 1951; scrapped in 1972 - as Aldebaran (F-590) 1951; scrapped in 1976 - as Altair (F-591) 1951; stricken and sunk as target in 1971Transferred to Japan
- as Asahi (DE-262) 1955-75 (then to Philippines) - as Hatsuhi (DE-263) 1955-75 (then to Philippines)Transferred to the Netherlands
- as Van Amstel (F806) 1950 - as Bitter (F807) 1950 - as Van Ewijck (F808) 1950 - as Dubois (F809) 1950 - as Zeeuw (F810) 1950 - as van Zijill (F811) 1950Transferred to Peru
- as BAP Castilla; served 1951-1979 - as BAP Aguirre; served 1951-1974 - as BAP Rodríguez; served 1951-1979Transferred to the Philippines
BRP Datu Sikatuna (PF-5)
The BRP Datu Sikatuna was one of the three ex-USN that served with the Philippine Navy, the others being BRP Datu Kalantiaw and BRP Rajah Humabon .-History:...
; scrapped in 1989 - as BRP Rajah Humabon (PF-11)
BRP Rajah Humabon (PF-11)
The BRP Rajah Humabon is a frigate of the Philippine Navy, and is the last World War II-era destroyer escort/frigate active in its fleet and is one of the oldest active warships in the world...
; still in service - as BRP Datu Kalantiaw (PS-76)
BRP Datu Kalantiaw (PS-76)
The BRP Datu Kalantiaw was the first of three ex-USN that served with the Philippine Navy, the others being BRP Datu Sikatuna and BRP Rajah Humabon ...
; sunk during a typhoon in 1981 - cannibalized for spares - cannibalized for spares
Transferred to South Korea
- as ROKN Kyong Ki (F-71); served 1956-1977 (then to Philippines) - as ROKN Kang Won (F-72); served 1956-1977 (then to Philippines)Transferred to Taiwan
- USS Thomas (DE-102)USS Thomas (DE-102)USS Thomas was the second United States Navy ship to be named after Clarence Crase Thomas.The second USS Thomas was a Cannon class destroyer escort in the United States Navy during World War II...
- as ROCN Taihe (太和) - USS Bostwick (DE-103)USS Bostwick (DE-103)USS Bostwick 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....
- as ROCN Taicang (太仓) - USS Breeman (DE-104)USS Breeman (DE-104)USS Breeman was a Cannon class destroyer escort in the United States Navy. The ship was named for George Breeman, a Navy seaman who was awarded the Medal of Honor for extraordinary heroism during a turret explosion on USS Kearsarge ....
- as ROCN Taihu (太湖) - USS Carter (DE-112)USS Carter (DE-112)USS Carter was a 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. At war's end, she returned Stateside with one battle star.She was launched on 29 February 1944 by...
- as ROCN Taizhao (太昭)