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USS Borum (DE-790)
Encyclopedia
USS Borum (DE-790) was a Buckley-class
destroyer escort
of the United States Navy
, named in honor of Lieutenant (junior grade) John R. Borum
(1907–1943).
Borum was launched
on 14 August 1943 by Consolidated Steel Corp., Ltd., Orange, Texas
; sponsored by Mrs. W. H. Ferguson, wife of Commander Ferguson; and commissioned
on 30 November 1943, Lieutenant Commander J. K. Davis, USNR, in command.
Borum spent her entire World War II
service in the U.S. Atlantic Fleet
. Until March 1944 she served as an escort vessel along the east coast and in the Caribbean
, as well as a training vessel in Chesapeake Bay
. She departed New York
8 March 1944 for the British Isles
to train for the coming invasion of Europe and to escort convoy
s between British ports. From 6 June to 22 June 1944 she screened the convoys carrying troops and supplies from Britain
to the Normandy
beachhead.
For most of the next year Borum helped blockade
the Channel Islands
and protect the shipping headed for Cherbourg and Le Havre
, France
. She assisted British forces in their occupation of the Channel Islands (11–12 May 1945). Borum departed Europe
in June 1945 and, after a short period as a training vessel in Chesapeake Bay during July, she prepared to join the U.S. Pacific Fleet as a high-speed transport (APD-82).
Following the Japanese surrender
her orders were canceled and she reverted to training duty with submarine
s operating out of New London, Conn.
, and then acted as plane guard for Croatan
(CVE-25) and Solomons
(CVE-67). In January 1946 she joined Escort Division 4, but on 28 March began inactivation at Charleston Naval Shipyard
. She arrived at Green Cove Springs, Florida
, on 29 April and was placed out of commission 15 June 1946.
Borum received one battle star for her participation in the invasion of Normandy.
Buckley class destroyer escort
The Buckley class destroyer escorts were 102 destroyer escorts launched in the United States in 1943 - 1944. They served in World War II as convoy escorts and anti-submarine warfare ships. The lead ship was USS Buckley which was launched on 9 January 1943. The ships had General Electric steam...
destroyer escort
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...
of the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
, named in honor of Lieutenant (junior grade) John R. Borum
John R. Borum
John Randolph Borum was born in Norfolk, Virginia, on 8 December 1907. Borum was appointed a Lieutenant in the United States Naval Reserve in 1942...
(1907–1943).
Borum was launched
Ship naming and launching
The ceremonies involved in naming and launching naval ships are based in traditions thousands of years old.-Methods of launch:There are three principal methods of conveying a new ship from building site to water, only two of which are called "launching." The oldest, most familiar, and most widely...
on 14 August 1943 by Consolidated Steel Corp., Ltd., Orange, Texas
Orange, Texas
Orange is a city in Orange County, Texas, United States. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 18,643. It is the county seat of Orange County, and is the easternmost city in Texas. Located on the Sabine River at the border with Louisiana, it is part of the Beaumont–Port Arthur...
; sponsored by Mrs. W. H. Ferguson, wife of Commander Ferguson; and commissioned
Ship commissioning
Ship commissioning is the act or ceremony of placing a ship in active service, and may be regarded as a particular application of the general concepts and practices of project commissioning. The term is most commonly applied to the placing of a warship in active duty with its country's military...
on 30 November 1943, Lieutenant Commander J. K. Davis, USNR, in command.
Borum spent her entire 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...
service in the U.S. Atlantic Fleet
U.S. Atlantic Fleet
The United States Fleet Forces Command is an Atlantic Ocean theater-level component command of the United States Navy that provides naval resources that are under the operational control of the United States Northern Command...
. Until March 1944 she served as an escort vessel along the east coast and in the Caribbean
Caribbean
The Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...
, as well as a training vessel in Chesapeake Bay
Chesapeake Bay
The Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the United States. It lies off the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by Maryland and Virginia. The Chesapeake Bay's drainage basin covers in the District of Columbia and parts of six states: New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and West...
. She departed New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
8 March 1944 for the British Isles
British Isles
The British Isles are a group of islands off the northwest coast of continental Europe that include the islands of Great Britain and Ireland and over six thousand smaller isles. There are two sovereign states located on the islands: the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and...
to train for the coming invasion of Europe and to escort convoy
Convoy
A convoy is a group of vehicles, typically motor vehicles or ships, traveling together for mutual support and protection. Often, a convoy is organized with armed defensive support, though it may also be used in a non-military sense, for example when driving through remote areas.-Age of Sail:Naval...
s between British ports. From 6 June to 22 June 1944 she screened the convoys carrying troops and supplies from Britain
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
to the Normandy
Normandy
Normandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
beachhead.
For most of the next year Borum helped blockade
Blockade
A blockade is an effort to cut off food, supplies, war material or communications from a particular area by force, either in part or totally. A blockade should not be confused with an embargo or sanctions, which are legal barriers to trade, and is distinct from a siege in that a blockade is usually...
the Channel Islands
Channel Islands
The Channel Islands are an archipelago of British Crown Dependencies in the English Channel, off the French coast of Normandy. They include two separate bailiwicks: the Bailiwick of Guernsey and the Bailiwick of Jersey...
and protect the shipping headed for Cherbourg and Le Havre
Le Havre
Le Havre is a city in the Seine-Maritime department of the Haute-Normandie region in France. It is situated in north-western France, on the right bank of the mouth of the river Seine on the English Channel. Le Havre is the most populous commune in the Haute-Normandie region, although the total...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. She assisted British forces in their occupation of the Channel Islands (11–12 May 1945). Borum departed Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
in June 1945 and, after a short period as a training vessel in Chesapeake Bay during July, she prepared to join the U.S. Pacific Fleet as a high-speed transport (APD-82).
Following the Japanese surrender
Surrender of Japan
The surrender of Japan in 1945 brought hostilities of World War II to a close. By the end of July 1945, the Imperial Japanese Navy was incapable of conducting operations and an Allied invasion of Japan was imminent...
her orders were canceled and she reverted to training duty with submarine
Submarine
A submarine is a watercraft capable of independent operation below the surface of the water. It differs from a submersible, which has more limited underwater capability...
s operating out of New London, Conn.
Naval Submarine Base New London
Naval Submarine Base New London is the United States Navy's primary submarine base, the "Home of the Submarine Force", and "the Submarine Capital of the World".-History:...
, and then acted as plane guard for Croatan
USS Croatan (CVE-25)
USS Croatan was an escort carrier launched on 1 August 1942 by the Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corporation of Seattle, Washington, under a Maritime Commission contract; sponsored by Mrs. J. S. Russell; and commissioned on 28 April 1943, Captain J. B...
(CVE-25) and Solomons
USS Solomons (CVE-67)
USS Solomons was a Casablanca class escort carrier of the United States Navy, the second ship to carry the name.She was converted from a Maritime Commission hull built by the Kaiser Shipbuilding Company of Vancouver, Washington. Her keel was laid on 19 March 1943. Soon thereafter, she was...
(CVE-67). In January 1946 she joined Escort Division 4, but on 28 March began inactivation at Charleston Naval Shipyard
Charleston Naval Shipyard
Charleston Naval Shipyard was a U.S. Navy ship building and repair facility located along the west bank of the Cooper River, in North Charleston, South Carolina and part of Naval Base Charleston...
. She arrived at Green Cove Springs, Florida
Green Cove Springs, Florida
Green Cove Springs is a city in Clay County, Florida, United States. The population was 5,378 at the 2000 census. As of 2010, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 6,908. It is the county seat of Clay County....
, on 29 April and was placed out of commission 15 June 1946.
Borum received one battle star for her participation in the invasion of Normandy.