- USS Cross (DE-448)
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Career (US) Laid down: 19 March 1944 Launched: 4 July 1944 Commissioned: 8 January 1945 Decommissioned: 14 June 1946 In service: 1st Naval District, 6 June 1951 Out of service: 2 January 1958 Struck: 1 July 1966 Fate: sold for scrapping 5 March 1968 General characteristics Displacement: 1,350/1,745 tons Length: 306 ft (93 m) overall Beam: 36 ft 10 in (11.23 m) Draft: 13 ft 4 in (4.06 m) maximum Propulsion: 2 boilers, 2 geared turbine engines, 12,000 shp, 2 screws Speed: 24 knots (44 km/h) Range: 6,000 nmi at 12 knots (22 km/h) Complement: 14 officers, 201 enlisted Armament: 2 × 5"/38
4 × 40 mm AA (2 × 2)
10 × 20 mm AA
3 × 21" torpedo tubes
1 × Hedgehog
8 × depth charge projectors
2 × depth charge tracksUSS Cross (DE-448) was a John C. Butler-class destroyer escort acquired by the U.S. Navy during World War II. The primary purpose of the destroyer escort was to escort and protect ships in convoy, in addition to other tasks as assigned, such as patrol or radar picket. Post-war she proudly returned home with one battle star to her credit.
Cross (DE-448) was named in honor of Frederick Cushing Cross, Jr. who was awarded the Navy Cross for his attack on an enemy submarine and, mortally wounded, water-landing his plane, which allowed his crew to survive.
Cross was launched 4 July 1944 by Federal Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., Kearny, New Jersey; sponsored by Mrs. D. F. Cross, mother of the late Lieutenant (junior grade) Cross, USNR; and commissioned 8 January 1945, Lieutenant H. L. Minshall, Jr., USNR, in command.
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World War II Pacific Theatre operations
Departing New York 22 March 1945, Cross called at San Diego, California, before arriving at Pearl Harbor for additional training. She sailed on 8 May escorting a convoy for Ulithi, and from 29 May to 11 September Cross continued to escort vital supply-laden convoys from Ulithi to Okinawa. After repairs at Okinawa, she called at San Diego and Boston, Massachusetts, then put in to Green Cove Springs, Florida, where she was placed out of commission in reserve 14 June 1946.
Recommissioned as a training ship
Recommissioned 6 June 1951, Cross was assigned to the 1st Naval District to serve as a training ship for New England Naval Reservists. She remained in this employment until placed in reserve again 2 January 1958. She was struck from the Navy list on 1 July 1966, and, on 5 March 1968, she was sold for scrapping.
Military awards
Cross was awarded one battle star 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.
External links
- Photo gallery of Cross at NavSource Naval History
Categories:- John C. Butler class destroyer escorts
- World War II frigates and destroyer escorts of the United States
- Ships built in New Jersey
- 1944 ships
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