Ocean escort
Ocean escortwas a type ofUnited States Navywarship.They were an evolution of theWorld War IIdestroyer escorttypes. The ocean escorts were intended as convoy escorts and were designed for mobilization production in wartime or low-cost mass production in peacetime. They were commissioned from 1954 through 1974, serving in theCold Warand theVietnam War.[1][2]
Designation
[edit]The ocean escorts'hull classification symbolwas DE, a carryover from the World War II era when vessels of similar size and role were classified as destroyer escorts. DEs wereASWvessels; DEGs were ASW andAAWvessels with the short-rangeTartarguided missile added. Ships similar or identical to the World War II destroyer escorts and the Cold War ocean escorts were called "frigates" in most other navies.
Outside the US Navy, no other navy appears to have used the ship type of "ocean escort". The closest equivalents in type name are the SovietRigaandPetyaclasses, built circa 1954–65. These classes' Russian designation ofstorozhevoi korabitranslates to "escort ship", "sentry ship", or "guard ship".[3][4]These were smaller than any of the US ocean escorts, at 1,416 tons (Riga) and 1,150 tons (Petya) full load, compared withDealeyat 1,877 tons full load.[5]Many USN ocean escorts were transferred to foreign navies following USN service; they receivedpennant numbersbeginning with "D", "DE", "F", or (in theMexican Navy) "E".[6]The "E" designator was also used for ex-USNFletcher-classdestroyersin that navy.[7]
Ocean escort classes
[edit]- (13)Dealey-class
- (4)Claud Jones-class
- (2)Bronstein-class
- (11)Garcia-class
- (6)Brooke-class(DEG)
- (46)Knox-class
- (82) total
1975 reclassification
[edit]The ocean escort type corresponded to other nations'frigates(convoy escorts). Until 1975, the US Navy used the term "frigate" fordestroyer leaders(DL, DLG, DLGN).[1][2]
The1975 ship reclassificationchanged the ocean escorts (DE/DEG) to frigates (FF/FFG) to be in line with other nations' classifications. The DLG-type "frigates" became either destroyers or cruisers, depending on tonnage.[1][2]
See also
[edit]- List of destroyer escorts of the United States Navy
- Frigate
- Destroyer escort
- Corvette- Cold War French Navy term for frigate-type ships
- Escort destroyer
References
[edit]- ^abcGardiner, Robert; Chumbley, Stephen (1995).Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1947-1995.London: Conway Maritime Press. pp. 579–585, 595–599.ISBN1-55750-132-7.
- ^abcBauer, K. Jack;Roberts, Stephen S. (1991).Register of Ships of the U.S. Navy, 1775-1990: Major Combatants.Westport, Connecticut:Greenwood Press. pp. 213–217, 240–245.ISBN0-313-26202-0.
- ^ArchivedRigaclass page at russian-ships.info
- ^ArchivedPetyaclass page at russian-ships.info
- ^Gardiner & Chumbley, pp. 392–392, 595
- ^Various ship pages linked at "Destroyer Escorts, Frigates, and Littoral Warfare Vessels" at NavSource.org
- ^Gardiner & Chumbley, p. 263