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NavSource Online: Destroyer Escort Photo Archive

DE- 102 USS THOMAS

CLASS: Cannon TYPE: DET (diesel-electric tandem motor drive, long hull, 3" guns)
Displacement: 1,240 tons (std) 1,620 tons (full) Dimensions: 306' (oa), 300' (wl) x 36' 10" x 11' 8" (max)
Armament: 3 x 3"/50 Mk22 (1x3), 1 twin 40mm Mk1 AA, 8 x 20mm Mk 4 AA, 3 x 21" Mk15 TT (3x1),
1 Hedgehog Projector Mk10 (144 rounds), 8 Mk6 depth charge projectors, 2 Mk9 depth charge tracks
Machinery: 4 GM Mod. 16-278A diesel engines with electric drive, 6000 shp, 2 screws
Speed: 21 knots Range: 10,800 nm @ 12 knots Crew: 15 / 201

Operational and Building Data
Laid down by Dravo, Wilmington DE on 16 January 1943, Launched 31 July 1943
Commissioned 21 November 1943, Decommissioned 13 March 1947
Stricken 22 December 1948
Fate: To China 14 December 1948, renamed Tai Ho (F-23)
Escaped to Taiwan with Nationalist forces in 1949, stricken in 1972, scrapped

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Size Image Description Contributed
By And/Or Copyright
Thomas 270k Painting depicting the ramming of U-233 on July 5 1944. This painting was done for Mr. Buring. © Robert M. Buring
Thomas 150k Photo taken just an "instant" before ramming U-233 on July 5 1944! Notice bow of USS Thomas DE-102 at bottom of photo. © Robert M. Buring
Thomas 156k Photo showing damage to bow of Thomas after ramming of U-233. Taken July 8 1944 in Boston Navy Dry Dock. © Robert M. Buring
Thomas 96k Trip to Iceland, February 1945. © Robert M. Buring
Thomas 141k Thomas preparing to go along side USS Croatan CVE-25 for mail pass. Somewhere in the North Atlantic, 1944 or 1945. © Robert M. Buring
Thomas 121k Thomas pulling away from USS Croatan CVE-25 after mail pass. © Robert M. Buring
Thomas 131k After WWII, Thomas escorted captured German Sub U-530 on Victory Bond Tours. Shown here in Port Arthur, Texas 11 November 1945. © Robert M. Buring
Thomas 84k Thomas conducting depth charge attack. Atlantic, 1945. © Robert M. Buring
Thomas 46k undated © Robert M. Buring
Thomas 99k undated © Robert M. Buring
Thomas 98k undated © Robert M. Buring
Thomas 39k undated © Robert M. Buring

USS THOMAS DE- 102 History
View This Vessels DANFS History Entry
(Located On The Hazegray & Underway Web Site, This Is The Main Archive For The DANFS Online Project.)

Crew Contact And Reunion Information

Contact Name: Bob Buring
Address: 1280 G. Tamarack Circle / Florence KY 41042
Phone: (859) 371-7373
E-mail: rburing76@aol.com


Note About Contacts.

The contact listed, Was the contact at the time for this ship when located. If another person now is the contact, E-mail me and I will update this entry. These contacts are compiled from various sources over a long period of time and may or may not be correct. Every effort has been made to list the newest contact if more than one contact was found.


Additional Resources
DE-102 USS Thomas Crew Photos
Destroyer Escort Sailors Association

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