| Navy | The US Navy |
| Type | Destroyer Escort |
| Class | Cannon |
| Pennant | DE 766 |
| Built by | Tampa Shipbuilding Co. Inc. (Tampa, Florida, U.S.A.) |
| Ordered | 8 Nov 1942 |
| Laid down | 9 Mar 1943 |
| Launched | 13 Feb 1944 |
| Commissioned | 1 May 1944 |
| End service | 26 Sep 1947 |
| History | USS Slater is the only floating destroyer escort on display in North America. Out of 563 DEs built during World War II, three survive as memorial ships. Nine more remain on duty in foreign navies in various modified configurations. USS Slater was initially assigned to convoy and antisubmarine duties in the Atlantic. In May 1945, her torpedo tubes were removed and additional anti-aircraft weapons were added at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. She was then assigned to the Pacific theater. She was decommissioned on 26 September 1947. While in reserve, Slater was transferred on 1 March 1951 to the Royal Hellenic Navy where she served with distinction for more than 40 years. Through the efforts of the Destroyer Escort Sailors Association, she was donated to that organization by the Greek government and was towed from Crete to New York City's Intrepid Museum in 1993. In October 1997, Slater was moved to her permanent location in Albany, New York on the Hudson River. Volunteers are restoring the vessel to her 1945 configuration. The ship is playing a significant role in the City of Albany's Hudson Riverfront Development Plan. See also this website (offsite link). |
Commands listed for USS Slater (DE 766)
Please note that we're still working on this section
and that we only list Commanding Officers for the duration of the Second World War.
| Commander | From | To | |
| 1 | Lt.Cdr. Marcel Joseph Blancq, USNR | 1 May 1944 | 24 Nov 1945 |
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Notable events involving Slater include:
11 Dec 1944
Convoy UC 48A.
This convoy was assembled to the south of Ireland on 11 December 1944.
It was made up of the following (troop) transports / tankers; Brandywine (American (tanker), 11401 GRT, built 1943), Brazil (American, 20614 GRT, built 1929), Bulkfuel (American (tanker), 11016 GRT, built 1944), Bulklube American (tanker), 11016 GRT, built 1943(), City of Capetown (British, 8046 GRT, built 1937), Condesa (British, 10367 GRT, built 1944), Cross Keys (American (tanker), 10195 GRT, built 1943), Duquesne (American (tanker), 9933 GRT, built 1944), Empire Might (British, 9209 GRT, built 1942), Empire Protector (British (tanker), 8148 GRT, built 1944), Empire Regent (British, 9904 GRT, built 1943), Fisher's Hill (American (tanker), 10195 GRT, built 1943), Four Lakes (American (tanker), 10172 GRT, built 1943), Glorieta (American (tanker), 10297 GRT, built 1944), Groveton (American (tanker), 10296 GRT, built 1944), Lightning (American, 8591 GRT, built 1942), Lone Jack (American (tanker), 10296 GRT, built 1944), Marine Raven (American, 11757 GRT, built 1943), Martin Bakke (Norwegian, 5484 GRT, built 1936), Mauvilla (American (tanker), 10296 GRT, built 1944), Mormacswan (American, 7194 GRT, built 1939), Nordahl Grieg (Norwegian (tanker), 10172 GRT, built 1944), Perthshire (British, 10496 GRT, built 1936), Powder River (American (tanker), 10172 GRT, built 1943), Santa Leonor (American, 8258 GRT, built 1944), Santiago (American (tanker), 10318 GRT, built 1944), Sea Owl (American, 7886 GRT, built 1944), Seatrain Lakehurst (American, 8108 GRT, built 1940), South Mountain (American (tanker), 10296 GRT, built 1944), Surprise (American, 8591 GRT, built 1942), Talisman (American, 8258 GRT, built 1944), Tampico (American (tanker), 10296 GRT, built 1944) and White Bird Canyon (American (tanker), 10172 GRT, built 1944).
The escort carriers (fitted out as aircraft ferries), HMS Tracker (A/Capt. J.H. Huntley, RN) and HMS Trouncer (Capt. B.J. Fisher, DSO, RN) were also part of the convoy.
The convoy was escorted by the destroyer USS Somers (T/Lt.Cdr. E.M. Luby, USN, with ComTaskGr 21.5, T/Cdr. J.F. Gallaher, USN, on board) and the destroyer escorts USS Burrows (Lt.Cdr. J. Parkinson, Jr., USNR), USS Kirkpatrick (Lt.Cdr. V.E. Bakanas, USCG), USS Slater (Lt.Cdr. M.J. Blancq, USNR), USS Oswald (Lt.Cdr. E.L. Patton, Jr., USNR) and USS Ebert (Lt.Cdr. F. Gibbs, USNR).
Before final assembly on the 11th, the convoy had departed various English ports on 9 and 10 December 1944.
The English Channel section, which was escorted by USS Somers, USS Kirkpatrick and USS Slater was temporarily reinforced from 1730A/10 until 0320A/11 by the frigates HMS Affleck (Cdr.(Retd.) C. Gwinner, DSO and Bar, DSC, RN), HMS Bentley ( Lt. F.L. Boyer, RN), HMS Capel (Lt. B.G. Heslop, DSC, RN), HMS Garlies (T/A/Lt.Cdr. L.M.M. Stamp, RNVR) and HMS Gore (Lt. J.V. Reeves-Brown, DSC, RN).
Late on 11 December 1944, the City of Capetown and Condesa were detached to proceed independently.
On 12 december 1944, HMS Trouncer reported having a flooded compartment. She requised an escort to proceed to the Azores to effect repairs there. The requist was declined and she was ordered to remain with the convoy and try to make repairs. Early on the 14th she reported that repairs had been succesfully made.
Late on the 14th, the Lightning was ordered to be detached to proceed independently to New York. Due to the weather and the reported enemy submarine situation it was decided that she would remain with the convoy for the moment. She was eventually detached on the 19th.
On 18 December 1944, USS Somers and USS Slater sustained weather damage due to the heavy seas encountered.
On 20 December 1944, USS Somers sustained further weather damage. Also early on this day the Mormacswan was detached.
The convoy arrived at New York on 22 December 1944.
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