USS Slater (DE-766)

USS "Slater" (DE-766) is a Cannon-class destroyer escort of the United States Navy. The ship was named for Frank O. Slater of Alabama, a sailor killed aboard the USS San Francisco during the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal in 1942 and awarded the Navy Cross posthumously. The USS "Slater" is currently the only memorial/museum Destroyer Escort ship still afloat. It now is a museum ship on the Hudson River in Albany, New York

Construction

The USS "Slater" was laid down on March 9, 1943; launched on February 13, 1944; and commissioned on May 1, 1944. She was built at the Tampa Shipbuilding Company in Tampa, Florida. [ [http://www.ussslater.org/history.html USS Slater ] ]

War record

After a shakedown cruise near Bermuda in June 1944, the "Slater" headed for Key West where she served as a target ship and a sonar school ship. In the latter part of 1944, the "Slater" escorted two convoys to England. She continued serving in this capacity from January 1945 until May 1945.

With the war won in Europe, the "Slater" headed to the Pacific, stopping at Guantanamo Bay and Panama. She went through the Panama Canal on June 28, 1945 and stopped at San Diego before sailing to Pearl Harbor. From there she joined Task Unit 33.2.4 at Manila in September and escorted it to Yokohama. The "Slater" engaged in support operations in the Pacific through the remainder of the year. Slater made another pass through the Canal on her way to Norfolk for deactivation. She was placed in the reserve fleet at Green Cove Springs, Florida in 1947.

Later service

On March 1, 1951, the "Slater" was transferred to the Hellenic (Greek) Navy under the Truman Doctrine. Renamed "Aetos D-01", the ship served as a Hellenic Navy Officer Training Vessel until 1991 when Greece donated the ship to the Destroyer Escort Sailors Association.

Destroyer escort sailors from around the nation donated more than one-quarter million dollars to bring the ship back to the United States. A Russian ocean-going tugboat towed the ship from Crete to New York City in 1993, where it was docked next to the USS Intrepid. Volunteers began restoring the ship and seeking a permanent home for her. In 1997, a meeting of the minds was reached and Albany, New York became the "Slater"'s permanent home. On Sunday, October 26, 1997, the Slater arrived at the Port of Albany. In January 2006, a welder accidentally started a fire aboard the Slater which caused some minor damage to the ship. Repairs were completed within a few months.

USS "Slater" is currently serving as a museum ship in the Hudson River at Albany, New York. Restoration of the ship remains an on-going project. The only other Destroyer Escort memorial/museum in the United States is the USS Stewart (DE-238) at Seawolf Park in Galveston, Texas. This ship, however, is exhibited on dry land – not floating in the water like the Slater.

The "Slater" was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on May 7, 1998.

The Slater was refitted during her service with the U.S. navy as she sits now there is only one depth charge rack on her fan tail. Along with all of her single 50 mounts being replaced with twin 20mm. Also she currently has three twin forty milimeter bofours batteries not one.

Hours and fees

The "Slater" is open to the public from April through November. Tours are given on Wednesday through Sunday from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Admission is $7.00 for adults, $6.00 for senior citizens, and $5.00 for children aged six to fourteen (those under six are free). [ [http://www.ussslater.org/visitors.html USS Slater ] ]

ee also

* List of museum ships

References

External links

* [http://www.ussslater.org USS "Slater" website]
* [http://www.williammaloney.com/Dad/WWII/DestroyerEscortSlater/index.htm USS "Slater" Photos]
* [http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/s14/slater.htm "Slater"]
* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/06/766.htm NavSource Online: Destroyer Escort Photo Archive - USS "Slater" (DE 766)]
* [http://www.hnsa.org/ships/slater.htm HNSA Ship Page: USS "Slater"]