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USS Pope (DE-134)
Encyclopedia
USS Pope (DE-134) was an Edsall-class destroyer escort
built for the U.S. Navy during World War II
. She served in the Atlantic Ocean
and provided destroyer escort protection against submarine
and air attack for Navy vessels and convoys.
She was named after commodore John Pope
, born 17 December 1798 in Sandwich, Massachusetts
. This ship also commemorated the destroyer USS Pope (DD-225)
that had been sunk in the Battle of the Java Sea
in 1942. She was laid down by Consolidated Steel Co., Orange, Texas
, 14 July 1942; launched 12 January 1943; sponsored by Mrs. Rae W. Fabens; and commissioned 25 June 1943, Comdr. Frederick Sherman Hall in command.
, the USS Pope escorted her first convoy eastwards to Casablanca
, arriving on 23 September 1943. Subsequently, she escorted two more convoys into to the Mediterranean Sea. She then began work with Task Group
TG 22.3, an antisubmarine task group centered on the aircraft carrier USS Guadalcanal (CVE-60)
. On 9 April 1944, the Pope’s task group sank the U-515 off French Morocco
, and on 4 June, she participated in the capture of the German U-boat U-505 west of Cape Blanche. For her part in that action, the USS Pope received the US Presidential Unit Citation. The Pope continued operations with the USS Guadalcanal in the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea until the end of the war in the Atlantic and Europe. She assisted in the sinking of the U-boat U-546 on 24 April 1945.
, escorted the Kriegsmarine U-boat U-858, that had surrendered in the North Atlantic, to Cape May, New Jersey
; then the Pope escorted another convoy across the Atlantic. After returning to the U.S., the Pope performed plane guard duties for the aircraft carrier USS Solomons (CVE-67)
off Norfolk, Virginia
and Mayport, Florida, and then she began withdrawal from service.
, and then she entered the Atlantic Reserve Fleet where she remained into 1970, when she was scrapped.
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...
built for the U.S. Navy 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...
. She served in the Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
and provided destroyer escort protection against 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...
and air attack for Navy vessels and convoys.
She was named after commodore John Pope
John Pope (naval officer)
John Pope was an officer in the United States Navy during the American Civil War.-Biography:Born in Sandwich, Massachusetts, Pope was appointed midshipman from Maine 30 May 1816...
, born 17 December 1798 in Sandwich, Massachusetts
Sandwich, Massachusetts
Sandwich is a town in Barnstable County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 20,675 at the 2010 census. The Town Hall is located right next to the Dexter Grist Mill, in the historic district of town....
. This ship also commemorated the destroyer USS Pope (DD-225)
USS Pope (DD-225)
USS Pope was a Clemson-class destroyer in the United States Navy during World War II. She was the first ship named for John Pope....
that had been sunk in the Battle of the Java Sea
Battle of the Java Sea
The Battle of the Java Sea was a decisive naval battle of the Pacific campaign of World War II, that sealed the fate of the Netherlands East Indies....
in 1942. She was laid down by Consolidated Steel Co., 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...
, 14 July 1942; launched 12 January 1943; sponsored by Mrs. Rae W. Fabens; and commissioned 25 June 1943, Comdr. Frederick Sherman Hall in command.
World War II North Atlantic operations
After a shakedown cruise off BermudaBermuda
Bermuda is a British overseas territory in the North Atlantic Ocean. Located off the east coast of the United States, its nearest landmass is Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, about to the west-northwest. It is about south of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, and northeast of Miami, Florida...
, the USS Pope escorted her first convoy eastwards to Casablanca
Casablanca
Casablanca is a city in western Morocco, located on the Atlantic Ocean. It is the capital of the Grand Casablanca region.Casablanca is Morocco's largest city as well as its chief port. It is also the biggest city in the Maghreb. The 2004 census recorded a population of 2,949,805 in the prefecture...
, arriving on 23 September 1943. Subsequently, she escorted two more convoys into to the Mediterranean Sea. She then began work with Task Group
Task force
A task force is a unit or formation established to work on a single defined task or activity. Originally introduced by the United States Navy, the term has now caught on for general usage and is a standard part of NATO terminology...
TG 22.3, an antisubmarine task group centered on the aircraft carrier USS Guadalcanal (CVE-60)
USS Guadalcanal (CVE-60)
USS Guadalcanal was a Casablanca class escort carrier of the United States Navy. She was the first ship to carry her name.She was converted from a Maritime Commission hull by Kaiser Co., Inc., of Vancouver, Washington...
. On 9 April 1944, the Pope’s task group sank the U-515 off French Morocco
French Morocco
French Protectorate of Morocco was a French protectorate in Morocco, established by the Treaty of Fez. French Morocco did not include the north of the country, which was a Spanish protectorate...
, and on 4 June, she participated in the capture of the German U-boat U-505 west of Cape Blanche. For her part in that action, the USS Pope received the US Presidential Unit Citation. The Pope continued operations with the USS Guadalcanal in the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea until the end of the war in the Atlantic and Europe. She assisted in the sinking of the U-boat U-546 on 24 April 1945.
End-of-War and Post-War operations
Shortly after World War II hostilities ceased, the Pope, with the USS Pillsbury (DE-133)USS Pillsbury (DE-133)
USS Pillsbury was an Edsall-class destroyer escort built for the U.S. Navy during World War II. She served in the Atlantic Ocean and provided destroyer escort protection against submarine and air attack for Navy vessels and convoys. She returned at war's end with five battle stars and a...
, escorted the Kriegsmarine U-boat U-858, that had surrendered in the North Atlantic, to Cape May, New Jersey
Cape May, New Jersey
Cape May is a city at the southern tip of Cape May Peninsula in Cape May County, New Jersey, where the Delaware Bay meets the Atlantic Ocean and is one of the country's oldest vacation resort destinations. It is part of the Ocean City Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2010 United States...
; then the Pope escorted another convoy across the Atlantic. After returning to the U.S., the Pope performed plane guard duties for the aircraft carrier USS Solomons (CVE-67)
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...
off 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....
and Mayport, Florida, and then she began withdrawal from service.
Post-War Decommissioning
The USS Pope was decommissioned on 17 May 1946 at Green Cove Springs, FloridaGreen 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....
, and then she entered the Atlantic Reserve Fleet where she remained into 1970, when she was scrapped.
Awards
Pope received three battle stars for World War II service in addition to the Presidential Unit Citation.See also
- List of United States Navy ships
- World War IIWorld War IIWorld 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...
- Destroyer escortDestroyer escortA 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...
- Martin GardnerMartin GardnerMartin Gardner was an American mathematics and science writer specializing in recreational mathematics, but with interests encompassing micromagic, stage magic, literature , philosophy, scientific skepticism, and religion...