USS Thomas (DE-102)

Last updated

USSThomasDE102-circa1946-FloridaA.jpg
History
US flag 48 stars.svgUnited States
NameUSS Thomas (DE-102)
Namesake Clarence Crase Thomas
Builder Dravo Corporation, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Laid down16 January 1943
Launched31 July 1943
Commissioned21 November 1943
DecommissionedMarch 1946
Stricken22 December 1948
FateTransferred to China, 14 December 1948
History
Flag of the Republic of China.svgTaiwan
NameROCS Tai Ho (DE-23) [1] [2]
Acquired14 December 1948
Out of service1972
FateStricken and scrapped, 1972
General characteristics
Class and type Cannon-class destroyer escort
Displacement1,240 tons
Length306 ft (93 m)
Beam36 ft 8 in (11.2 m)
Draft8 ft 9 in (2.7 m)
Propulsion
Speed21  knots (39 km/h)
Range10,800  nmi. at 12 knots
Complement15 officers, 201 enlisted
Armament

USS Thomas (DE-102) was a Cannon class destroyer escort in the United States Navy during World War II. She was laid down by Dravo Corp., Pittsburgh, Pa., on 16 January 1943; launched on 31 July 1943; and commissioned on 21 November 1943. [3] [4]

Contents

She was the second United States Navy ship to be named after Clarence Crase Thomas.

History

Thomas operated off the east coast during World War II, and was involved in the sinking of three German submarines: U-709, U-233, and U-879. U-233 was rammed by the Thomas after being forced to the surface by depth charges. Thomas rescued 29 survivors, including the Captain. [3]

After being decommissioned at Green Cove Springs, Florida in March 1946, [5] Thomas was transferred to the Republic of China Navy on 29 October 1948 and renamed Tai Ho (DE-23). [1] [2] Her name was deleted from the US Naval List on 22 December 1948. [3]

"Tai Ho" was involved in a standdown on 30 September 1949 with three American merchant ships of the Isbrandtsen Line off Shanghai. This was part of the port closure actions by ROC government against communist controlled ports since June 1949. One American skipper radioed that an "armed ship was menacing" his vessel. Eventually the ROC vessel pulled away without further action. [6] [7]

Tai Ho escaped to Taiwan in 1949 with Nationalist forces. She was stricken from the Republic of China Naval List in 1972 and broken up for scrap. [8]

Honors

DE-102 received four battle stars for World War II service. [3]

Combat Action Ribbon.svg
American Campaign Medal ribbon.svg
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign ribbon.svg
World War II Victory Medal ribbon.svg
Combat Action Ribbon
American Campaign Medal European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal w/ 4 service stars World War II Victory Medal

Notes

  1. 1 2 Blackman, Raymond V. B., ed. Jane's Fighting Ships 1972–1973. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1973.p. 311.
  2. 1 2 "Thomas (6116709)" . Miramar Ship Index . Retrieved 4 November 2009.
  3. 1 2 3 4 USS Thomas page at hazegray.org
  4. USS Thomas page at ibiblio.net
  5. "Thomas II". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships . Navy Department, Naval History and Heritage Command.
  6. McConaughy to the Secretary of State, September 18, 1949, from FRUS, vol. IX (1949), p. 1134.
  7. Strong to the Secretary of State, October 3, 1949, from FRUS, vol. IX (1949), pp. 1135, 1137, 1142.
  8. USS Thomas page on uboat.net

Related Research Articles

USS <i>Wake</i> Gunboat of the United States Navy

USS Wake (PR-3) was a United States Navy river gunboat operating on the Yangtze River. Originally commissioned as the gunboat Guam (PG-43), she was redesignated river patrol vessel PR-3 in 1928, and renamed Wake 23 January 1941. She was captured by Japan on 8 December 1941 and renamed Tatara. After her recapture in 1945, she was transferred to Chinese nationalists, who renamed her Tai Yuan. Communist forces captured her in 1949. On 1 May, 1949 Tai Yuan was sunk by Nationalist aircraft in the Caishiji River.

USS <i>Abarenda</i> (IX-131)

The second USS Abarenda (IX-131) was a storage tanker, one of many miscellaneous-class Navy vessel crewed by the United States Coast Guard during World War II.

USS <i>Stewart</i> (DD-224) Clemson-class destroyer

USS Stewart (DD-224) was a Clemson-class destroyer in the United States Navy during World War II. She was the second ship named for Rear Admiral Charles Stewart. Scuttled in port at Surabaya, Java, she was later raised by the Japanese and commissioned as Patrol Boat No. 102. She came back under American control in 1945 after the occupation of Japan.

USS <i>Alameda</i> (AO-10)

USS Alameda, was a United States Navy tanker in commission from 1919 to 1922. She was built as the civilian tanker SS Alameda, but transferred to the U.S. Navy after completion in 1919. She was sold for commercial service and operated under the names SS Olean and SS Sweep before she was transferred to the Navy again in World War II as USS Silver Cloud (IX-143).

USS <i>Holder</i> (DE-401)

USS Holder (DE-401) was an Edsall-class destroyer escort built for the United States Navy during World War II. Named for Lieutenant Randolph Mitchell Holder, she was the first of two U.S. Naval vessels to bear the name.

USS <i>Agenor</i>

USS Agenor (ARL-3) was one of 39 Achelous-class repair ship landing craft repair ships built for the United States Navy during World War II. Named for Agenor, she was the only U.S. Naval vessel to bear the name.

USS <i>Decker</i>

USS Decker (DE-47) was an Evarts class destroyer escort constructed for the United States Navy during World War II. She was sent off into dangerous North Atlantic Ocean waters to protect convoys and other ships from German submarines and fighter aircraft. She performed escort and antisubmarine operations in battle areas before sailing home victorious at the end of the conflict.

USS <i>Bostwick</i> Cannon-class destroyer escort

USS Bostwick (DE-103) was a Cannon class destroyer escort in service with the United States Navy from 1943 to 1946. In 1948, she was sold to Taiwan where she served as Taicang (DE-25). She was scrapped in 1973.

USS <i>Baker</i> (DE-190) Cannon-class destroyer escort

USS Baker (DE-190) was a Cannon-class destroyer escort built for the United States Navy during World War II. She served in the Atlantic Ocean and provided escort service against submarine and air attack for Navy vessels and convoys. She returned home at war's end with a one battle star for her assistance in sinking a German submarine.

USS <i>Coffman</i> Cannon-class destroyer escort

USS Coffman (DE-191) was a Cannon-class destroyer escort in service with the United States Navy from 1943 to 1946. She was sold for scrap in 1973.

USS Augury (AM-149) was an Admirable-class minesweeper built for the United States Navy during World War II and in commission from 1943 to 1945. In 1945, she was transferred to the Soviet Navy, in which she served as T-334.

USS Lucid (AM-259) was an Admirable-class minesweeper built for the United States Navy during World War II. It was built to clear minefields in offshore waters, and served the Navy in the Atlantic Ocean.

USS <i>Natchez</i> (PF-2) River-class frigate of the U.S. Navy

USS Natchez (PG-102/PF-2) was a River-class frigate acquired by the U.S. Navy during World War II. She was originally ordered and laid down as HMS Annan for the Royal Navy, and renamed as HMCS Annan for the Royal Canadian Navy before transfer to the U.S. Navy before launch. She was used for anti-submarine patrol work during the war.

USS <i>Etamin</i> Cargo ship of the United States Navy

USS Etamin (AK-93) was the Liberty ship (EC2) Isaac Babbitt constructed for the US Maritime Commission (MARCOM) in 1943, for World War II service at a cost of $959,509. After acquisition by the US Navy, the ship was named Etamin, after the brightest star in the constellation Draco and manned by a US Coast Guard crew. As a Crater-class cargo ship, she served the military in the Pacific Ocean by providing food and material until she was torpedoed and put out of service. After repairs, she served as a non-self-propelled floating warehouse for the rest of the war. The ship ended the war in the Philippines and was among fifteen hulls sold for scrap for a lump sum of $271,000.

USS <i>Ganymede</i> Cargo ship of the United States Navy

USS Ganymede (AK-104) was a Crater-class cargo ship commissioned by the US Navy for service in World War II. She was responsible for delivering troops, goods and equipment to locations in the war zone. Named after the largest of the moons of Jupiter, Ganymede was the only ship of the Navy to bear this name.

USS <i>Majaba</i> Cargo ship of the United States Navy

USS Majaba (AG-43/IX-102) was the Design 1049 cargo ship Meriden built in 1919 by the Albina Engine & Machine Works, Portland, Oregon. All the ships were requisitioned by the United States Shipping Board (USSB) for World War I service. The ship was bought by the E. K. Wood Lumber Co., of San Francisco, California in 1923 and renamed El Capitan. The ship was chartered by the U.S. Navy through the War Shipping Administration (WSA) in April 1942 and commissioned as Majaba.

German submarine <i>U-233</i> German World War II submarine

German submarine U-233 was a Type XB U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. She was laid down on 15 August 1941, launched on 8 May 1943 and commissioned on 22 September of the same year. U-233 was commanded throughout her career by Oberleutnant zur See Hans Steen.

HMS <i>Foley</i> (K474) Frigate of the Royal Navy

The second HMS Foley (K474) was a British Captain-class frigate of the Royal Navy in commission during World War II. Originally constructed as the United States Navy Evarts-class destroyer escort USS Gillette (DE-270), she served in the Royal Navy from 1943 to 1945 and in the U.S. Navy as USS Foley (DE-270) from August to October 1945.

HMS <i>Grindall</i> Frigate of the Royal Navy

HMS Grindall (K477) was a British Captain-class frigate of the Royal Navy in commission during World War II. Originally constructed as the United States Navy Evarts-class destroyer escort USS Sanders (DE-273), she served in the Royal Navy from 1943 to 1945 and then in the U.S. Navy as USS Grindall (DE-273) from August to October 1945.

References