Samuel B. Roberts

U.S.S. Samuel B. Roberts

(Neptun 1353)

Class: John C. Butler (WGT) - 83 destroyer escorts of 1942-43
Displacement: 1,350 tons
Dimensions: 300(wl) 306(oa) x 36.75 x 9.5 ft.
Machinery: 2-shaft geared turbines, S.H.P. 12,000 = 24 knots
Armament: 2-5"/38 (2x1), 6-40mm (1x4,1x2), 10-20mm AA guns, 3-21"(1x3) TT, 2 DCT, 8 DCP, 1 hedgehog
Complement: 200

Notes: Also known as the "long hull" WGT (Westinghouse geared steam turbine drive) class. A total of 283 were planned, of which only 83 completed during the war, with 2 more completing in the 1950s as radar pickets. (See USS Vandivier DER-540.) Essentially the same hull and armament as the Rudderow (TEV) class but with a different power plant.
Service: Arrived Pearl Harbor Aug 1944. In Oct assigned to 7th Fleet and proceeded to Leyte in screen of escort carrier group Taffy 3 off Samar. Surprised 25 Oct by Japanese Center Force including four battleships and six cruisers. Taffy 3's screen of three DD's and 4 DE's fought heroically to protect the six CVE's. Samuel B. Roberts was sunk along with DD's Hoel and Johnston while attacking the big Japanese ships. CVE Gambier Bay was sunk by cruiser gunfire, while CVE St. Lo was sunk by kamikaze. Received Presidential Unit Citation and one battle star for her service.