USS Christopher

USS Christopher (DE-100) was a Cannon class destroyer escort built for the United States Navy. She served only a short time in the Atlantic Ocean before being transferred to Brazil, in December 1944. She was renamed NAe Benevente (D-20) and was finally retired and scrapped in 1964.

"DE-100" redirects here. For the road, see Delaware Route 100.

History
United States
Namesake: Harold Jensen Christopher
Builder: Dravo Corporation, Wilmington, Delaware
Laid down: 7 December 1942
Launched: 19 June 1943
Commissioned: 23 October 1943
Decommissioned: 19 December 1944
Stricken: 20 July 1953
Fate: Transferred to Brazil, 19 December 1944
Brazil
Name: NAe Benevente (D-20)
Acquired: 19 December 1944
Out of service: 1964
General characteristics
Class and type: Cannon-class destroyer escort
Displacement: 1,240 tons
Length: 306 ft (93 m)
Beam: 36 ft 8 in (11.2 m)
Draft: 8 ft 9 in (2.7 m)
Propulsion:
Speed: 21 knots (39 km/h; 24 mph)
Range: 10,800 nmi. at 12 knots
Complement: 15 officers, 201 enlisted
Armament:

History

USS Chritopher was named for a Navy Cross recipient, Harold Jensen Christopher, who was killed at Pearl Harbor aboard USS Nevada (BB-36) on 7 December 1941.

She was launched 19 June 1943 by Dravo Corp., Wilmington, Delaware; sponsored by Mrs. Carl Christopher, mother of Ensign Christopher. D100 commissioned 23 October 1943, Lt. A. W. P. Trench in command.

U.S. Navy (1943-1944)

Christopher sailed from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 25 December 1943 for duty off Brazil and to Trinidad on training exercises in convoys and on screening cruisers during their shakedown and training periods. Between 16 January and 11 February, she sailed off Montevideo, screening the British cable ship Cambria[1] as she repaired broken cables.

Brazilian Navy (1944-1964)
Christopher as Benevente (D-20) in Brazilian service.

Similar duty continued until Christopher was decommissioned at Natal, Brazil, 19 December 1944, and loaned to Brazil under lend-lease. She was renamed Benevente (D-20) in Brazilian service. On 30 June 1953, when the loan ended, she was stricken from the U.S Navy List and transferred to Brazil under the Mutual Assistance Program.

She was stricken and scrapped in 1964.

Awards
American Campaign Medal World War II Victory Medal

See also

References
  1. http://atlantic-cable.com/Cableships/Cambria/

This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.

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