Allied Warships

USS Pettit (DE 253)

Destroyer Escort of the Edsall class

NavyThe US Navy
TypeDestroyer Escort
ClassEdsall 
PennantDE 253 
Built byBrown Shipbuilding Co. (Houston, Texas, U.S.A.) 
Ordered18 Jan 1942 
Laid down6 Feb 1943 
Launched28 Apr 1943 
Commissioned23 Sep 1943 
End service6 May 1946 
History

Decommissioned 6 May 1946.
Stricken 1 August 1973.
Sunk as target a off the coast of Puerto Rico 30 September 1974.

 

Commands listed for USS Pettit (DE 253)

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.

CommanderFromTo
1Lt.Cdr. William Bromfield Ellis, USCG23 Sep 194326 Jan 1945
2Lt Woodward Baldwin Rich, USCGR26 Jan 194530 Oct 1945

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Notable events involving Pettit include:


11 Aug 1944

Convoy TCU 35.

This convoy departed New York on 22 October 1944.

It was made up of the following (troop) transports / tankers; Alcoa Pointer (American, 6711 GRT, built 1943), Appomattox (American (tanker), 10195 GRT, built 1943), Athlone Castle (British, 25565 GRT, built 1936), Bantam (Dutch, 9312 GRT, built 1939), Bienville (American, 7626 GRT, built 1943), Black Warrior (American, 8271 GRT, built 1944), Brazil (American, 20614 GRT, built 1929), Brookfield (American, 10448 GRT, built 1943), Bunker Hill (American, 10410 GRT, built 1942), California Express (Norwegian, 3649 GRT, built 1934), China Mail (American, 8616 GRT, built 1942), Churubusco (American (tanker), 10195 GRT, built 1943), Colombie (French, 13391 GRT, built 1931), Cross Keys (American (tanker), 10195 GRT, built 1943), Edmund B. Alexander (American, 22225 GRT, built 1905), Elisabeth Bakke (Norwegian, 5450 GRT, built 1937), Eros (British, 5888 GRT, built 1936), Esso Scranton (American (tanker), 10297 GRT, built 1944), Excelsior (American, 6737 GRT, built 1943), Exchequer (American, 6683 GRT, built 1943), Four Lakes (American (tanker), 10172 GRT, built 1943), Glorieta (American (tanker), 10297 GRT, built 1944), Harpers Ferry (American (tanker), 10195 GRT, built 1943), Hermitage (American, 23254 GRT, built 1925), John Ericsson (American, 16552 GRT, built 1928), Kernstown (American (tanker), 10317 GRT, built 1944), Lake Erie (American (tanker), 10296 GRT, built 1944), Malvern Hill (American (tanker), 10296 GRT, built 1944), Marine Raven (American, 11757 GRT, built 1943), Monocacy (American (tanker), 10195 GRT, built 1944), Musgroves Mills (American (tanker), 10297 GRT, built 1944), Parima (British, 7543 GRT, built 1944), Petersburg (American (tanker), 10195 GRT, built 1943), Port Alma (British, 8400 GRT, built 1928), Rangitiki (British, 16698 GRT, built 1928), Ridgefield (American (tanker), 10297 GRT, built 1944), Rosebud (American (tanker), 10172 GRT, built 1943), Sachem (American (tanker), 9910 GRT, built 1943), San Juan Hill (American (tanker), 10172 GRT, built 1944), Santiago (American (tanker), 10318 GRT, built 1944), Sea Serpent (American, 8591 GRT, built 1942), South Mountain (American (tanker), 10296 GRT, built 1944), Talisman (American, 8258 GRT, built 1944), Uruguay (American, 20183 GRT, built 1928), Wagon Box (American (tanker), 10172 GRT, built 1943), White Bird Canyon (American (tanker), 10172 GRT, built 1944), White Squall (American, 8258 GRT, built 1943), Wilson's Creek (American (tanker), 10172 GRT, built 1944) and Winchester (American (tanker), 10198 GRT, built 1943).

The escort carrier HMS Trouncer (Capt. B.J. Fisher, DSO, RN) was also part of the convoy. She served in an aircraft ferry role.

The convoy was escorted by Task Group 21.9 which was made up of the destroyer USS Winslow (T/Cdr. W.T. Samuels, USN, with ComTaskGr 21.9, T/Capt. J.M.P. Wright, USN, on board) and the destroyer escorts USS Marchand (Cdr. G.I. Lynch, USCG, with ComCortDiv20, Cdr. P.B. Mavor, USCG, on board), USS Hurst (Cdr. B.H. Brallier, USCG), USS Camp (Lt.Cdr. R.R. Waesche, Jr., USCG), USS Howard D. Crow (Lt.Cdr. R.E. Bacchus, Jr., USCGR), USS Pettit (Lt.Cdr. W.B. Ellis, USCG), USS Ricketts (Lt. L.F. Sudnik, USCG), USS Rhodes (Cdr. E.A. Coffin, Jr., USCG), USS Richey (Cdr. John H. Forney, USCG) and USS Savage (Lt.Cdr. R. Ridgely, 3rd, USCG).

On 12 August 1944, the Boston section of the convoy departed that place to make rendezvous with and then join the convoy the following morning. This section was made up of the following ships; Explorer (American, 6736 GRT, built 1939), General George W. Goethals (American, 12093 GRT, built 1942) and Thomas H. Barry (American, 11250 GRT, built 1930). They were escorted by the destroyer escorts USS Sellstrom (Cdr. W.L. Maloney, USCG, with COMCORTDIV 23, Cdr. F.P. Vetterick, USNR, on board), USS Ramsden (Lt.Cdr. S.T. Baketel, USCGR) and USS Mills (Lt.Cdr. V. Pfeiffer, USCG).

Around 1200Z/20, Twenty-one of the ships of the convoy parted company to proceed via the west of Ireland to Loch Ewe and the Clyde. They were escorted by USS Sellstrom and USS Mills. At 1545Z/21, the Loch Ewe section broke off and then proceeded unescorted. Both sections arrived at their destinations on 22 August. The two destroyer escorts then proceeded to Lough Foyle.

Around 0645A/21, HMS Trouncer parted company with the Irish Sea section of the convoy to proceed to Liverpool ahead of the main convoy. USS Pettitt went with her as escort. The orders were however cancelled later and they rejoin the Irish Sea section of the convoy around 1100A/21.

Around 1900A/21, sixteen of the ships in the convoy parted company to proceed towards the Bristol Channel. They were escorted by USS Marchand and USS Ramsden. After having delivered these ships in the Bristol Channel the destroyer escorts proceeded to Lough Foyle.

The remainder of the convoy proceeded to Liverpool arriving on 22 August. All the remaining escorts subsequently proceeded to Lough Foyle.

26 Feb 1945

Convoy UC 58A.

The Channel section of this convoy departed St. Helens Roads around 1015A/26.

This section was made up of seven merchant vessels;
Excelsior (American, 6737 GRT, built 1943), Hegra (Norwegian (tanker), 10297 GRT, built 1944), Marine Panther (American, 11758 GRT, built 1944) and four, so far not identified merchant vessels which were later to be detached to the Bristol Channel (Mumbles Roads).

On departure from St. Helens Roads the convoy was escorted by the destroyer USS Davis (T/Lt.Cdr. T.D. Cunningham, USN, with COMTASKGR 61.6, T/Capt. J.A. Glick, USN on board) and the destroyer escorts USS Hurst (Lt. E.B. Winslow, USCG), USS Howard D. Crow (Lt. J.M. Nixon, USCG), USS Pettit (Lt. W.B. Rich, USCGR) and USS Koiner (Lt.Cdr. C.S. Judson, Jr., USN).

Around 1400A/26, they were joined by the following merchant vessels which came from Southend;
Bemis Heights (American (tanker), 10172 GRT, built 1944), Chesapeake Capes (American (tanker), 10297 GRT, built 1944), Markay (American (tanker), 10342 GRT, built 1942) and North Point (American (tanker), 10172 GRT, built 1944).
[Their escort, identity currently not known to us, did not the convoy.]

Around 1425A/26, the destroyers HMCS Iroquois (Capt. K.F. Adams, RCN) and HMCS Huron (Lt.Cdr. H.V.W. Groos, RCN) joined.

Around 0235A/27, HMCS Iroquois and HMCS Huron parted company. They took the four, so far unidentified merchant vessels with them to escort them to the Bristol Channel (Mumbles Roads).

Around 0820A/27, USS Hurst and USS Koiner parted company to proceed to Southampton.

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The Irish Sea Section of the convoy was made up of three sections, coming from the Clyde, Liverpool and the Bristol Channel.

The Clyde Section of the convoy departed on 26 February and was made up of only one merchant vessel, the Cottonwood Creek (American (tanker), 10172 GRT, built 1944). She was escorted by the destroyer escort USS Kretchmer (Lt.Cdr. R.C. Wing, USNR).

The Liverpool Section of the convoy departed on 26 February and was made up of the following merchant vessels;
Clan Chattan (British, 9545 GRT, built 1944), Durham (British, 10893 GRT, built 1934), Fort Robinson (American (tanker, 10172 GRT, built 1945), Fort Schuyler (Dutch (tanker), 10297, built 1944) and Idaho Falls (American (tanker, 10448 GRT, built 1944). They were escorted by the destroyer escort USS Marchand (Maynard F. Young, USCG, with COMCORTDIV 20, Lt.Cdr. W.B. Ellis, USCG, on board).

Around 1700A/26, the Clyde section joined the Liverpool section.

Around 2145A/26, the Fort Schuyler was detached to Milford Haven with engine trouble.

Around 2230A/26, two British escort vessels joined, this were the frigates HMS Montserrat (Cdr. G.W. Gregorie, RD, RNR) and HMS Papua (A/Lt.Cdr. C.W. Leadbetter, RNR) from the 23rd Escort Group.

Around 0300A/27, the Bristol Channel Section of the convoy joined but did immediately merged with the convoy due to the thick fog. By 1035A/27, the Sections had fully merged.

The British Channel Section had departed on 26 February and was made up of the following merchant vessels;
Alcoa Pointer (American, 6711 GRT, built 1943), Black Warrior (American, 8271 GRT, built 1944), Bulkfuel (American (tanker), 11016 GRT, built 1944), Finnmark (Norwegian (tanker) 10297 GRT, built 1945), Memnon (American, 8258 GRT, built 1944), Mesa Verde (American (tanker) 10448 GRT, built 1944) and Prairie Grove (American (tanker) 10297 GRT, built 1944). They were escorted by the destroyer escorts USS Ricketts (Lt. L.F. Sudnik, USCG) and USS O'Reilly (Donald R. Shaul, USNR).

Around 0800A/27, HMS Montserrat and HMS Papua parted company.

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Around 1700A/27, the Channel Section and Irish Sea Section joined company.

Around 1820A/27, USS Marchand and USS O'Reilly parted company to proceed to Liverpool.

Around 1230N/3, the Clan Chattan and Durham were detached to proceed independently to their destination, Christobal, Panama Canal Zone where they arrived on 11 March.

Around 2025P/7, the Idaho Falls was detached to Port Arhur where she arrived on 14 March.

Around 1415Q/8, the Bemis Heights was detached to Baltimore where she arrived on 10 March.

Around 1430Q/8, the Alcoa Pointer was detached to Hampton Roads where she arrived on 9 March.

Around 0530Q/9, the Fort Robinson, Hegra, Mackay, Prairie Grove were detached to Philadelphia where they arrived later the same day.

The remainder of the convoy arrived at New York in the morning of 9 March. (1)

28 Jun 1945
USS Sailfish (T/Lt.Cdr. L. Marcy, USN) conducted exercises off Guantanamo Bay with USS Pettit (Lt. W.B. Rich, USCGR) and USS Ricketts (Lt. L.F. Sudnik, USCG). (2)

Media links


Destroyers of World War Two

Whitley, M. J.

Sources

  1. War diaries of several USS warships + ADM 217/764 + File RG24-D-2 / Vol. 7419 (Library and Archives Canada)
  2. War diary Naval Operating Base Guantanamo Bay for June 1945 + War diary of USS Ricketts for June 1945

ADM numbers indicate documents at the British National Archives at Kew, London.


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