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USS Durant (DER-389)
Encyclopedia
USS Durant (DE-389/WDE-489/DER-389) was an Edsall-class
destroyer escort
in the United States Navy
, which served briefly in the United States Coast Guard
. She was named for Pharmacist's Mate Third Class Kenneth W. Durant.
, Houston, Texas
; sponsored by Mrs. S. R. Durant, mother of Pharmacist's Mate Durant; and commissioned 16 November 1943, Lieutenant Commander C. C. Knapp, USCG, in command.
From 21 January to 7 February 1944 Durant served as schoolship at Norfolk, Virginia
for the training of prospective crews for escort vessels. She made eight voyages as a convoy escort to north Africa
n ports between 10 February 1944 and 12 June 1945, guarding men and supplies essential to victory in the Europe
an theater of war. On her last crossing the German
submarine
U-873 surrendered to the escorts.
Durant sailed from Boston, Massachusetts 9 July 1945 and conducted refresher training at Guantanamo Bay
, Cuba
, on her way to San Diego, California
where she arrived 7 August. Four days later she got underway for Pearl Harbor
but with the end of the war in the Pacific, her stay there was brief and she returned to the east coast, arriving at New York 26 September. On 22 October she reported to Jacksonville, Florida
, to undergo inactivation. Durant was placed out of commission in reserve 27 February 1946.
Loaned to the Coast Guard 15 May 1952 Durant was commissioned as WDE-489, 9 May 1952 and served on various Pacific weather stations until placed out of commission in reserve at San Diego 10 'April 1954. She was returned to the Navy 16 June 1954, and reclassified DER-389, 7 December 1955. After conversion to a radar picket escort Durant was recommissioned 8 December 1956 and reported to San Diego for shakedown training. Sailing from San Francisco, California
27 May 1957, she arrived at Pearl Harbor 2 June to begin picket duty on the Pacific barrier line. Through 1962, she has alternated periods of service on early warning duty with participation in exercises, air-sea rescue operations, and necessary maintenance periods.
As of 2007, no other ship has been named Durant.
Edsall class destroyer escort
The Edsall class destroyer escorts were built primarily for ocean anti-submarine escort service during World War II. The lead ship, USS Edsall was commissioned on 10 April 1943 at Orange, Texas. The class was also known as the FMR type from their Fairbanks-Morse Reduction-geared diesel drive...
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...
in 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...
, which served briefly in the United States Coast Guard
United States Coast Guard
The United States Coast Guard is a branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven U.S. uniformed services. The Coast Guard is a maritime, military, multi-mission service unique among the military branches for having a maritime law enforcement mission and a federal regulatory agency...
. She was named for Pharmacist's Mate Third Class Kenneth W. Durant.
History
Durant was launched 3 August 1943 by Brown ShipbuildingBrown Shipbuilding
The Brown Shipbuilding Company was founded in Houston, Texas in 1942 as a subsidiary of Brown and Root by brothers Herman and George R. Brown to build ships for the US Navy during World War II....
, Houston, Texas
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
; sponsored by Mrs. S. R. Durant, mother of Pharmacist's Mate Durant; and commissioned 16 November 1943, Lieutenant Commander C. C. Knapp, USCG, in command.
From 21 January to 7 February 1944 Durant served as schoolship at Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. With a population of 242,803 as of the 2010 Census, it is Virginia's second-largest city behind neighboring Virginia Beach....
for the training of prospective crews for escort vessels. She made eight voyages as a convoy escort to north Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
n ports between 10 February 1944 and 12 June 1945, guarding men and supplies essential to victory in the 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...
an theater of war. On her last crossing the German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
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...
U-873 surrendered to the escorts.
Durant sailed from Boston, Massachusetts 9 July 1945 and conducted refresher training at Guantanamo Bay
Guantánamo Bay (Cuba)
Guantánamo Bay is a bay located in Guantánamo Province at the southeastern end of Cuba . It is the largest harbor on the south side of the island and is surrounded by steep hills creating an enclave cut off from its immediate hinterland....
, Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
, on her way to San Diego, California
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
where she arrived 7 August. Four days later she got underway for Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor, known to Hawaiians as Puuloa, is a lagoon harbor on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, west of Honolulu. Much of the harbor and surrounding lands is a United States Navy deep-water naval base. It is also the headquarters of the U.S. Pacific Fleet...
but with the end of the war in the Pacific, her stay there was brief and she returned to the east coast, arriving at New York 26 September. On 22 October she reported to Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Florida in terms of both population and land area, and the largest city by area in the contiguous United States. It is the county seat of Duval County, with which the city government consolidated in 1968...
, to undergo inactivation. Durant was placed out of commission in reserve 27 February 1946.
Loaned to the Coast Guard 15 May 1952 Durant was commissioned as WDE-489, 9 May 1952 and served on various Pacific weather stations until placed out of commission in reserve at San Diego 10 'April 1954. She was returned to the Navy 16 June 1954, and reclassified DER-389, 7 December 1955. After conversion to a radar picket escort Durant was recommissioned 8 December 1956 and reported to San Diego for shakedown training. Sailing from San Francisco, California
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
27 May 1957, she arrived at Pearl Harbor 2 June to begin picket duty on the Pacific barrier line. Through 1962, she has alternated periods of service on early warning duty with participation in exercises, air-sea rescue operations, and necessary maintenance periods.
Fate
Durant was decommissioned in June 1964 and sold for scrapping on 1 September 1974.As of 2007, no other ship has been named Durant.