U.S.S. Wesson
DE-184
1945
(Neptun 1352a)
- Class: Cannon (DET) - 66 destroyer escorts of 1942-43
- Displacement: 1,240 tons standard / 1,620 tons full load
- Dimensions: 300'(wl) 306'(oa) x 36'10" x 11'8"
- Machinery: 2-shaft diesel-electric drive, S.H.P. 6,000 = 21 knots
- Armament: 3-3"/50 (3x1), 6-40mm (3x2), 10-20mm AA guns, 2 DCT, 8 DCP, 1 hedgehog
- Complement: 200
- Builder: Federal Shipbuilding & Drydock Co, Newark, New Jersey
- Keel Laid: 29 Jul 1943
- Launched: 17 Oct 1943
- Commissioned: 11 Nov 1943
- Decommissioned: 25 Jul 1946
- Notes: A representative of the "long hull" or DET (Diesel Electric Tandem drive) class. A total of 116 were planned, of which 66 were completed for the U.S. Navy and 6 were commissioned directly into the Free French forces. Many were modified during overhauls in 1945 to upgrade their AA defense, trading in their triple 21" torpedo tubes for an extra pair of twin 40mm mounts plus two extra 20mm mounts on the fantail.
- Service: Arriving at Roi, Kwajalein Atoll in Feb 1944, Wesson engaged a Japanese cutter, killing six and taking five prisoners. From that time forward she conducted convoying, screening and plane guard operations for TF 38. On 26 Mar 1945, attacked a submarine without conclusive evidence of a kill. On 27 Mar at Okinawa, splashed a kamikaze. On 7 Apr, under heavy attack, she was hit by a kamikaze on the torpedo mount, killing five, wounding 25, with one missing. Weathered further heavy attacks on 14 Apr. Returned to Mare Island for repairs and AA upgrade as shown here. Earned seven battle stars.
Postwar sent to Italy 10 Jan 1951 as frigate Andromeda. Stricken 1972 and broken up.
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