USS Samuel S. Miles (DE-183)

Career (United States)
Name:	USS Samuel S. Miles (DE-183)
Namesake:	Samuel Stockton Miles
Builder:	Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Company, Newark, New Jersey
Laid down:	5 July 1943
Launched:	3 October 1943
Commissioned:	4 November 1943
Decommissioned:	28 March 1946
Struck:	26 September 1950
Honors and awards:	8 battle stars (World War II)
Fate:	Transferred to France, 12 August 1950
Career (France)
Name:	Arabe (F717)
Acquired:	12 August 1950
Struck:	1968
Fate:	Broken up, 1968
General characteristics
Class and type:	Cannon-class destroyer escort
Displacement:	1,240 long tons (1,260 t) standard 1,620 long tons (1,646 t) full
Length:	306 ft (93 m) o/a 300 ft (91 m) w/l
Beam:	36 ft 10 in (11.23 m)
Draft:	11 ft 8 in (3.56 m)
Propulsion:	4 × GM Mod. 16-278A diesel engines with electric drive, 6,000 shp (4,474 kW), 2 screws
Speed:	21 knots (39 km/h; 24 mph)
Range:	10,800 nmi (20,000 km) at 12 kn (22 km/h; 14 mph)
Complement:	15 officers and 201 enlisted
Armament:	• 3 × single Mk.22 3"/50 caliber guns • 1 × twin 40 mm Mk.1 AA gun • 8 × 20 mm Mk.4 AA guns • 3 × 21 in (533 mm) torpedo tubes • 1 × Hedgehog Mk.10 anti-submarine mortar (144 rounds) • 8 × Mk.6 depth charge projectors • 2 × Mk.9 depth charge tracks

USS Samuel S. Miles (DE-183) was a Cannon-class destroyer escort built for the United States Navy during World War II. She served in the Pacific Ocean and provided escort service against submarine and air attack for Navy vessels and convoys. She returned home at war's end with a remarkable eight battle stars to her credit.

She was laid down on 5 July 1943 by the Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Co., Newark, New Jersey; launched on 3 October 1943; sponsored by Mrs. Samuel S. Miles; and commissioned on 4 November 1943, Lt. Comdr. George B. Coale in command.

World War II Pacific Theatre operations

Following shakedown off Bermuda, Samuel S. Miles departed New York City, on 30 December 1943, and steamed via the Panama Canal to the Marshall Islands, arriving on 19 February 1944.

Serving as an escort ship in the Marshall Islands area, she protected fleet oilers during fast carrier air strikes against the Caroline Islands and the Hollandia, New Guinea, area in April.

Shoots down 3 Japanese planes, sinks 1 submarine

Next she guarded oilers during the capture of Saipan and Tinian, and splashed two enemy planes on 18 June. She supported the Leyte and Luzon, Philippine Islands, campaigns in late 1944 and early 1945. Samuel S. Miles sank Japanese submarine I-177 near the Palau Islands on 3 October. After guarding the invasion force at Iwo Jima in February, she screened the bombardment group that pounded Okinawa, where she splashed one enemy plane on 27 March.

Targeted by a Kamikaze

A kamikaze near-miss killed one of her crew members (Robert Cecil Allen) on 11 April, and damaged some of her equipment. After screening escort carriers operating north of Okinawa, she sailed to the west coast in July.

Post-War decommissioning

After overhaul, she voyaged via the Panama Canal to Norfolk, Virginia, arriving on 21 October. Reaching St. Johns River, Florida, on 8 November 1945, she decommissioned and entered the Reserve Fleet on 28 March 1946. Struck from the Navy List on 26 September 1950, she was transferred to France on 12 August 1950 and renamed Arabe (F-717), she was stricken and broken up in 1968.

Awards

Samuel S, Miles received eight battle stars for World War II service.

References

This article includes text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.

http://cfswbiz.web.siteprotect.net/miles/images-cgi/Plaque_on_the_Wall%20_at_the_Admiral_Nimitz_Museum_in_Fredricksburg,_Texas.jpg

External links

• Photo gallery of USS Samuel S. Miles (DE-183) at NavSource Naval History
• USS Samuel S. Miles home page