The first USS Kleinsmith (DE-376) would have been a John C. Butler-class

John C. Butler class destroyer escort

The John C. Butler class destroyer escort originated during World War II. The lead ship was the , commissioned on 31 March 1944. The class was also known as the WGT type from their Westinghouse Geared Turbine 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...

 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...

, the first Navy ship named for Chief Watertender Charles Kleinsmith

Charles Kleinsmith

Charles Kleinsmith was a petty officer in the United States Navy who was killed in action during the Battle of Midway in World War II.-Biography:...

 (1904–1942), who was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross

Navy Cross

The Navy Cross is the highest decoration that may be bestowed by the Department of the Navy and the second highest decoration given for valor. It is normally only awarded to members of the United States Navy, United States Marine Corps and United States Coast Guard, but can be awarded to all...

 for his heroism during the Battle of Midway

Battle of Midway

The Battle of Midway is widely regarded as the most important naval battle of the Pacific Campaign of World War II. Between 4 and 7 June 1942, approximately one month after the Battle of the Coral Sea and six months after Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor, the United States Navy decisively defeated...

.

The name Kleinsmith was assigned to DE-376 on 31 May 1944, but construction of the ship was cancelled on 6 June 1944.

Subsequently, the name Kleinsmith was reassigned to a Rudderow-class

Rudderow class destroyer escort

The Rudderow class destroyer escorts were destroyer escorts launched in the United States in 1943 to 1945. Of this class, 22 were completed as destroyer escorts, and 50 were completed as Crosley-class high speed transport and were re-classified as High speed transport APDs. One ship was converted...

 destroyer escort, USS Kleinsmith (DE-718), which was converted during construction into the Crosley-class fast transport USS Kleinsmith (APD-134)

USS Kleinsmith (APD-134)

USS Kleinsmith , ex-DE-718, was a for the United States Navy. She was named for Chief Watertender Charles Kleinsmith , who was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross for his heroism during the Battle of Midway....

.