USS Gentry

Last updated

USS Gentry (DE-349) underway at sea on 15 October 1944 (80-G-260626).jpg
History
US flag 48 stars.svgUnited States
NameGentry
NamesakeWayne Roy Gentry
Builder Consolidated Steel Corporation, Orange, Texas
Laid down13 December 1943
Launched15 February 1944
Commissioned14 June 1944
Decommissioned2 July 1946
Stricken15 January 1972
FateSold for scrapping 15 January 1973
General characteristics
Class and type John C. Butler-class destroyer escort
Displacement1,350 long tons (1,372  t)
Length306 ft (93 m)
Beam36 ft 8 in (11.18 m)
Draft9 ft 5 in (2.87 m)
Propulsion2 boilers, 2 geared turbine engines, 12,000 shp (8,900 kW); 2 propellers
Speed24 knots (44 km/h; 28 mph)
Range6,000 nmi (11,000 km; 6,900 mi) at 12 kn (22 km/h; 14 mph)
Complement14 officers, 201 enlisted
Armament

USS Gentry (DE-349) 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.

Contents

Gentry was named after Wayne Roy Gentry who was killed in action 2 November 1942 in the Solomon Islands area while serving as a pilot in a Marine Scout-Bombing Squadron and was posthumously awarded the Air Medal. The destroyer escort's keel was laid down 13 December 1943 by the Consolidated Steel Corporation at their yard in Orange, Texas. Gentry was launched on 15 February 1944, sponsored by Miss Jean Maxine Gentry, Lt. Gentry's sister and commissioned on 14 June 1944.

Operational history

World War II North Atlantic operations

Following shakedown off Bermuda and duty as a school ship at Norfolk, Virginia, Gentry arrived at New York on 25 September 1944. Between 6 October and 23 December, she made two round-trip, convoy-escort voyages out of New York to Marseilles, France, and Oran, Algeria. Gentry then sailed from New London, Connecticut on 9 January 1945 escorting the submarines Bullhead and Lionfish to Key West, Florida.

Transfer to the Pacific Fleet

The destroyer escort then continued via the Panama Canal to the Western Pacific, arriving at Manus, Admiralty Islands on 20 February. During the next four months Gentry escorted convoys between New Guinea and the Philippines, throughout the Philippine Archipelago, and from Manila Bay and Leyte Gulf to the Palaus and Western Carolines. In July she escorted a convoy to Okinawa and served on picket duty before returning Leyte late in the month.

End-of-war activity

After the Japanese capitulation 15 August, Gentry continued escorting convoys out of Leyte Gulf to New Guinea, Manila Bay, and Okinawa. In addition, she served on air-sea rescue patrol in Leyte Gulf until 27 November when she departed Leyte for the United States. Arriving at Los Angeles, California on 18 December, she was towed to San Diego, California on 6 April 1946.

Post-war decommissioning

Gentry decommissioned there on 2 July 1946 and entered the Pacific Reserve Fleet at Stockton, California. She was later transferred to Mare Island, California. The destroyer escort was stricken 15 January 1972 and sold for scrap on 15 January 1973.

Related Research Articles

USS <i>Abercrombie</i>

USS Abercrombie (DE-343) was a John C. Butler-class destroyer escort in the service of the United States Navy from 1944 to 1946. She was finally sunk as a target in 1968.

USS <i>Stevens</i> (DD-479) Fletcher-class destroyer

USS Stevens (DD-479) was a Fletcher-class destroyer in service with the United States Navy from 1943 to 1946. She was finally sold for scrap in 1973.

USS <i>Macdonough</i> (DD-351) Farragut-class destroyer

The third USS Macdonough (DD-351) was a Farragut-class destroyer in the United States Navy during World War II. She was named for Thomas Macdonough.

USS <i>Flusser</i> (DD-368) Mahan-class destroyer

The fourth USS Flusser (DD-368) was a Mahan-class destroyer in the United States Navy before and during World War II. She was named for Charles W. Flusser.

USS <i>Weeden</i> Buckley-class destroyer escort

USS Weeden (DE-797) was a Buckley-class destroyer escort in service with the United States Navy from 1944 to 1946 and from 1950 to 1958. She was scrapped in 1969.

USS <i>James E. Craig</i> Buckley-class destroyer escort

USS James E. Craig (DE-201) was a Buckley-class destroyer escort in service with the United States Navy from 1943 to 1946. She was sunk as a target in 1969.

USS <i>Major</i> Buckley-class destroyer escort

USS Major (DE-796) was a Buckley-class destroyer escort in service with the United States Navy from 1944 to 1948. She was scrapped in 1973.

USS <i>Edwin A. Howard</i>

USS Edwin A. Howard (DE-346) was a John C. Butler-class destroyer escort acquired by the United States 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 returned home with one battle star to her credit.

USS <i>Jesse Rutherford</i> USS Jesse Rutherford played a role in the 1958 movie Crash Landing

USS Jesse Rutherford (DE-347) was a John C. Butler-class destroyer escort acquired by the United States Navy during World War II and named in honor of Private Jesse Rutherford Jr., USMC. Her primary purpose was to escort and protect ships in convoys; other tasks assigned included patrol and radar picket. Post-war, she returned home with one battle star to her credit.

USS <i>Key</i>

USS Key (DE-348) was a John C. Butler-class destroyer escort in service with the United States Navy from 1944 to 1946. She was scrapped in 1972.

USS <i>Maurice J. Manuel</i>

USS Maurice J. Manuel (DE-351) 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.

USS <i>Kenneth M. Willett</i> John C. Butler-class destroyer escort

USS Kenneth M. Willett (DE-354) 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.

USS <i>Jaccard</i>

USS Jaccard (DE-355) 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 returned home with one battle star to her credit.

USS <i>Lloyd E. Acree</i>

USS Lloyd E. Acree (DE-356) 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.

USS <i>George E. Davis</i>

USS George E. Davis (DE-357) 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.

USS <i>Mack</i>

USS Mack (DE-358) was a John C. Butler-class destroyer escort in service with the United States Navy from 1944 to 1946. The ship was scrapped in 1973.

USS Johnnie Hutchins (DE-360) 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. She served in the Pacific Ocean, and, post-war, she returned home with a Navy Unit Commendation awarded to her for her battle with Japanese midget submarines on 9 August 1945.

USS <i>Rombach</i> American military seaship

USS Rombach (DE-364) 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.

USS <i>Formoe</i>

USS Formoe (DE-509) was a John C. Butler-class destroyer escort in service with the United States Navy from 1944 to 1946 and from 1951 to 1957. She was then transferred to Portugal, where she served as NRP Diogo-Cão (F-333) until 1968. She was scrapped in 1970.

USS <i>McNulty</i> Rudderow-class destroyer escort

USS McNulty (DE-581) was a Rudderow-class destroyer escort in the United States Navy during World War II.

References