USS Merrill (DE-392)

USS Merrill (DE-392) was an Edsall-class destroyer escort in service with the United States Navy from 1943 to 1946. She was sold for scrapping in 1974.

For other ships with the same name, see USS Merrill.

History
United States
Namesake: Howard Deel Merrill
Builder: Brown Shipbuilding, Houston, Texas
Laid down: 1 July 1943
Launched: 29 August 1943
Commissioned: 27 November 1943
Decommissioned: 1 May 1946
Stricken: 2 April 1971
Fate: Sold for scrapping 30 September 1974
General characteristics
Class and type: Edsall-class destroyer escort
Displacement:
  • 1,253 tons standard
  • 1,590 tons full load
Length: 306 feet (93.27 m)
Beam: 36.58 feet (11.15 m)
Draft: 10.42 full load feet (3.18 m)
Propulsion:
Speed: 21 knots (39 km/h)
Range:
  • 9,100 nmi. at 12 knots
  • (17,000 km at 22 km/h)
Complement: 8 officers, 201 enlisted
Armament:

History

USS Merrill was named in honor of Ensign Howard Deel Merrill who was killed aboard the battleship USS Arizona (BB-39) on 7 December 1941 during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. She was laid down 1 July 1943 by the Brown Shipbuilding Co., Houston, Texas; launched 29 August 1943; sponsored by Miss Dorothy E. Merrill, sister of Ens. H. D. Merrill; and commissioned 27 November 1943, Lt. Comdr. Irvin J. Stephens, USCG, in command.

Battle of the Atlantic

Following Bermuda shakedown, Merrill reported to the Atlantic Fleet at Norfolk, Virginia, 28 January 1944. Assigned to CortDiv 45, she began transatlantic escort duty with a North Africa bound convoy 12 February. The destroyer escort continued this duty between American and Mediterranean ports until war ended, successfully escorting 15 convoys across the Atlantic.

Pacific War

On 6 July 1945, Merrill sailed for Guantánamo Bay for training, thence to Pearl Harbor. En route, she received news of the Japanese capitulation on 14 August.

Decommissioning and fate

On 3 September she sailed for New York, arrived on the 26th, then on 19 October got underway for Jacksonville, Florida, and deactivation. On 1 May 1946 she decommissioned and entered the Atlantic Reserve Fleet and berthed at Green Cove Springs, Florida. Into 1969 she was berthed at the Orange, Texas, branch of the Atlantic Reserve Fleet. On 2 April 1971 she was struck from the Navy list, and, on 30 September 1974, she was sold for scrapping.

References
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