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Navsource Online: Destroyer Escort Photo Archive

ex-HMS Surges (BDE-16)

USS Edgar G. Chase (DE 16)


Flag Hoist / Radio Call Sign:
N - Q - A - C
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
American Campaign Medal - European-Africa-Middle East Campaign Medal - WWII Victory Medal
Specifications:
Class: Evarts
Type: GMT (diesel-electric tandem motor drive, short hull, 3" guns)
Displacement: 1,140 tons (light), 1,430 tons (full)
Length: 283' 6" (wl), 289' 5" (oa)
Beam: 35' 0" (extreme)
Draft: 11' 0" (draft limit)
Propulsion: 4 GM Model 16-278A diesel engines with electric drive, 6000 shp, 2 screws
Speed: 19 kts
Range: 4,150 nm @ 12 knots
Armament: 3 - 3"/50 Mk22 (1x3), 1 - 1.1"/75 cal. Mk2 quad AA (4x1), 9 x 20mm Mk 4 AA, 1 Hedgehog Projector Mk10 (144 rounds), 8 Mk6 depth charge projectors, 2 Mk9 depth charge tracks
Complement: 15 / 183
Edgar G. Chase (DE 16) Building and Operational Data:
  • 14 March 1942: Keel laid as BDE-16 by the Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, Cal.
  • 26 September 1942: Launched as Surges (BDE-16) and christened, sponsored for the British lend lease by Mrs. Ernest H. Wichels
  • 19 February 1943: Retained by the U.S. Navy and assigned the name Edgar G. Chase
  • 20 March 1943: Commissioned, Lcdr J. J. Morony, USNR, in command
  • 16 October 1945: Decommissioned at Charleston, S.C.
  • 1 November 1945: Stricken
  • 18 March 1947: Sold for scrapping
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By And/Or Copyright
    Edgar G. Chase 14k Edgar Griffith Chase born 12 September 1910 in Washington DC, and graduated from the Naval Academy in 1932. Lieutenant Commander Chase was executive officer of USS Meredith (DD 434) when she was sunk off Gaudalcanal by Japanese dive bombers on 15 October 1942. He died 2 days later, one day before the survivors of Meredith were rescued. DE 16 was named in honor of Kimberly's father, Edgar Griffith Chase, pictured here. Kimberley B. Chase-Carter
    Edgar G. Chase 186k News clipping of the christening of Edgar G. Chase (DE 16) at Mare Island NSY on 26 Sep 1942. Caption on the article reads: Capt. Frederick Crisp, left and Radm W. L. Friedell, right, look on as Mrs. Ernest Wichels, center smashes bottle of champagne against bow of HMS Burges, British escort vessel launched yesterday afternoon at Mare Island Navy Yard. Mrs. Clarence Knott, matron of honor, looks on at extreme left. Darryl L. Baker
    Edgar G. Chase 119k Actual photo used in above newspaper article.
    Edgar G. Chase 220k 20 March 1943: The commissioning crew of USS Edgar G. Chase (DE 16) taken at Mare Island. Lcdr J. J. Morony, CO, and Mrs. Ernest H. Wichels, Sponsor, are seen in the middle of the second row. (U.S. Navy Photo #DE-16-1900-43)
    Edgar G. Chase 130k 20 March 1943: The ships' officer and civilian guests salute at the commissioning ceremonies aboard USS Edgar G. Chase (DE 16) at Mare Island. I can only identify Mr. & Mrs. Ernest H. Wichels, right foreground in the photo. Mrs. Wichels was ship's sponsor. (U.S. Navy Photo #DE-16-1907-43)
    Edgar G. Chase 157k 20 March 1943: The flag is raised for the first time aboard Edgar G. Chase during her commissioning ceremonies at Mare Island. Shipyard records indicate that Edward C. Daly (DE 17), inboard (only mast visible), and Gilmore (DE 18), outboard (without mast) are forward of the Chase. (U.S. Navy Photo #DE-16-1903-43)
    Edgar G. Chase 77k 20 March 1943: Photo of the commissioning ceremonies aboard Edgar G. Chase at Mare Island. (U.S. Navy Photo #DE-16-1902-43)
    Edgar G. Chase 74k 2 April 1943: Degaussing Range, San Francisco Bay William H. Roberts, M.D., Commissioning crew, First Lieutenant / USNR
    View the USS Edgar G. Chase (DE 16), DANFS history entry
    located on the US Naval Historical Center web site.
    View a short article on the design and development of the Evarts Class DE submitted by Bob Sables.
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    None
    Note About Contacts

    Contact information is compiled from various sources over a period of time and may, or may not, be correct. Every effort has been
    made to list the newest contact. However, our entry is only as good as the latest information that's been sent to us. We list only
    a contact for the ship if one has been sent to us. We do NOT have crew lists or rosters available. Please see the Frequently Asked
    Questions section on Navsource's Main Page for that information.

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    Page Last Updated 13 May 2009