NavSource Online: Destroyer Escort Photo Archive
USS Blessman (DE 69 / APD 48)
Flag Hoist / Radio Call Sign: N - F - H - W
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/2 stars - Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign Medal w/1 star
Third Row- World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp) - Philippine Liberation Medal w/1 star
CLASS: Buckley TYPE: TE (turbine-electric drive, 3" guns)
Displacement: 1,400 tons (std) 1,740 tons (full) Dimensions: 306' (oa), 300' (wl) x 36' 9" x 13' 6" (max)
Armament: 3 x 3"/50 Mk22 (1x3), 1 x 1.1"/75 Mk2 quad AA (4x1), 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: 2 "D" Express boilers, G.E. turbines with electric drive, 12000 shp, 2 screws
Speed: 24 knots Range: 4,940 nm @ 12 knots Crew: 15 / 198
Operational and Building Data
Laid down by Bethlehem Steel, Hingham MA on 22 March 1943
Launched 19 June 1943, Commissioned 19 September 1943
Converted to a Charles Lawrence Class High-speed Transport by the
Sullivan Drydock and Repair Corp., of Brooklyn NY from 28 July to 25 October 1944
Redesignated (APD-48) 31 July 1944
Decommissioned 15 January 1947, Stricken 1 June 1967
Fate: to Taiwan 3 July 1967, renamed Chung Shan (PF-44)
Stricken (Taiwan) May 1995, broken up for scrap.
