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ex-HMS Duff (BDE-20)
----------------------------
USS LeHardy (DE 20)


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


Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row: Combat Action Ribbon (retroactive)
Second Row: American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal w/ 3 stars - 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
LeHardy (DE 20) Building and Operational Data:
  • 15 April 1942: Keel laid by the Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, Cal.
  • 21 November 1942: Launched as HMS Duff (BDE 20), sponsored by Mrs. Bert A. Barr
  • 19 February 1943: Retained by U.S. Navy, renamed USS LeHardy
  • 15 May 1943: Commissioned, Lcdr J. H. Prause in command
  • 25 October 1945: Decommissioned at San Pedro, Cal.
  • 13 November 1945: Stricken from the NVR
  • 26 December 1946: Sold for scrapping to the National Metal & Steel Corp., Terminal Island, Cal.
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By And/Or Copyright
    LeHardy 189k 21 November 1942: Mare Island Navy Yard - Bow of the USS Lehardy (DE 20) just prior to her launching. (U.S. Navy photo #DE-20-7155-42) Candi L. Barr (Parker),
    granddaughter of the sponsor,
    in honor of her grandparents
    LeHardy 128k 21 November 1942: The distinguished guests at the launching of the HMS Duff (BDE 20) at Mare Island. From left to right: Mrs. Virginia Connell, Mrs. W. L. Friedell, Capt. F. G. Crisp USN, Mrs. F. G. Crisp, Mr. Bert A. Barr, Mrs. Lena Guernsey, Capt G. P. Shamer, SC USN, Mrs. Bert A. Barr (Sponsor), Radm W. L. Friedell, Shipyard Commandant, and Mrs. A. Barr (Matron of Honor). (U.S. Navy photo #DE-20-7170-42) Darryl Baker
    LeHardy 89k 21 November 1942: The Christening Party for the HMS Duff. From left to right: Capt. F. G. Crisp, Mr. Bert A. Barr, Mrs. Bert A. Barr (Sponsor), Radm W. L. Friedell, Shipyard Commandant, and Mrs. A. Barr (Matron of Honor). (U.S. Navy photo #DE-20-7161-42)
    LeHardy 89k 21 November 1942: Mare Island NSY - Mrs. Bert A. Barr, Sponsor of the launching of the USS Lehardy (DE 20), receives the christening bottle from RADM W. L. Friedell Commandant of Mare Island Navy Yard prior to her launching. Left to right: Mrs. Bert A. Barr (Sponsor), Mrs. A. Barr (Matron of Honor), Mr. Bert A. Barr, Radm Friedell and Capt. F. G. Crisp. (U.S. Navy photo #DE-20-7167-42) Candi L. Barr (Parker),
    granddaughter of the sponsor,
    in honor of her grandparents
    LeHardy 95k 21 November 1942: Mare Island NSY - Mrs. Bert A. Barr (Sponsor) and Mrs. A. Barr (Matron of Honor) are pictured at the bow of the USS Lehardy (DE 20) prior to the launching of ship. (U.S. Navy photo #DE-20-7168-42)
    LeHardy 114k 21 November 1942: Mare Island NSY - Mrs. Bert A. Barr (Sponsor) is pictured at the bow of the USS Lehardy (DE 20) prior to the launching of ship. (U.S. Navy photo #DE-20-7169-42)
    LeHardy 119k 21 November 1942: Mrs. Bert A. Barr, Sponsor is seen christening the HMS Duff. Others pictured are from left to right: Capt. F. G. Crisp, Mrs. Bert A. Barr (Sponsor), Radm W. L. Friedell, Shipyard Commandant, and Mrs. A. Barr (Matron of Honor). (U.S. Navy photo #DE-20-7160-42) Darryl Baker
    LeHardy 149k 21 November 1942: Mare Island NSY - USS Lehardy (DE20) is halfway down the building ways. (U.S. Navy photo #DE-20-7170-42) Candi L. Barr (Parker),
    granddaughter of the sponsor,
    in honor of her grandparents
    LeHardy 157k 21 November 1942: Mare Island NSY - Lehardy at the end of the building ways. (U.S. Navy photo #DE-20-7177-42)
    LeHardy 71k 21 November 1942: Broadside view of the HMS Duff after her launching. (U.S. Navy photo #DE-20-7178-42) Darryl Baker
    LeHardy 168k 7 July 1943: at Mare Island Naval Shipyard Pieter Bakels
    Wehl, The Netherlands
    LeHardy 101k 7 July 1943: Lehardy underway off Mare Island. (U.S. Navy photo #DE-20-4951-43) Darryl Baker
    LeHardy 505k 7 July 1943: Lehardy underway in the Mare Island Channel. (U.S. Navy photo #DE-20-4955-43)
    LeHardy 103k 5 April 1945 Jody Gibian-Miles,
    daughter of crewmember
    Sanford N. Gibian
    LeHardy 95k
    LeHardy 118k 5 April 1945: Bremerton, Wash. - USS LeHardy (DE 20) underway in Puget Sound. (U.S. Navy Photograph #NH 81340, courtesy of Donald M. McPherson, 1974, from the collections of the U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command) Robert Hurst
    View the USS LeHardy (DE 20) DANFS history entry
    located on the Naval History and Heritage Command web site.
    Crewmember submitted change to LeHardy's WWII awards
    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 20 February 2011