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Navsource Online: Destroyer Escort Photo Archive

USS Chase (DE 158 / APD 54)


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


Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row: Combat Action Ribbon (retroactive) - American Campaign Medal
Second Row: Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal w/ 1 star - European-Africa-Middle East Campaign Medal w/ 1 star - WWII Victory Medal
Specifications:
Class: Buckley
Type: TE (turbine-electric drive, 3" guns)
Displacement: 1400 tons (light), 1740 tons (full)
Length: 300' (wl), 306' (oa)
Beam: 36' 9" (extreme)
Draft: 10' 6" (draft limit)
Propulsion: 2 "D" Express boilers, G.E. turbines with electric drive, 12000 shp, 2 screws
Speed: 24 kts
Range: 6,000 nm @ 12 knots
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
Complement: 15 / 198
Chase (DE 158) Building and Operational Data:
  • 16 March 1943: Keel laid at the Norfolk Navy Yard, Portsmouth, Va.
  • 24 April 1943: Launched and christened, sponsored by Mrs. J. V. Chase
  • 18 July 1943: Commissioned, Lcdr V. B. Staadecker, USNR, in command
  • 24 November 1944: Reclassified APD 54, converted at the Boston Navy Yard
  • 4 February 1945: Conversion completed, departed for the Pacific theater
  • 15 January 1946: Decommissioned at San Diego, Cal.
  • 7 February 1946: Stricken from the NVR
  • 13 November 1946: Sold, scrapped
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By And/Or Copyright
    Chase 48k Jehu Valentine Chase was born in Pattersonville, La. on 10 January 1869, and graduated from the Naval Academy 6 June 1890. As commanding officer of Minnesota when she was mined in September 1918, Chase was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal in recognition of his splendid seamanship and leadership in bringing his ship safely to port without loss of life. Admiral Chase was Commander in Chief, United States Fleet, from 17 September 1930 to 15 September 1931, and Chairman of the General Board from April 1932 until his retirement in February 1933. He died at Coronado, Calif., 24 May 1937.

    His Distinguished Service Medal citation reads: "For exceptionally meritorious service in a duty of great responsibility as commanding officer of the USS Minnesota and also for the splendid seamanship shown in bringing the Minnesota safely into port after being mined, with a hole in here underwater body approximately thirty feet long and extending afterward ships from port side of keel to starboard armor shelf and protective deck, without loss of life."

    USS Chase (DE 158) (1943-1946) was the first ship to be named in his honor.

    (Photo courtesy of the Library of Congress)    		 Bill Gonyo
    Chase 283k 24 April 1943: Portsmouth, Va. - Chase (DE 158) being launched into the Elizabeth River at the Norfolk Navy Yard. Richard F. Beto
    Chase 39k 24 April 1943: Portsmouth, Va. - Chase slides into the river. -
    Chase 519k undated wartime image Richard F. Beto
    Chase 269k undated wartime image
    Chase 278k undated wartime image (Photo courtesy of  Hulon Brown)
    Chase 261k Chase's wartime officer complement (Photo courtesy of  Hulon Brown)
    Chase 2.53m 20 January 1943: Boston, Mass. - Chase's crew holds a party at the Greater Boston USO.
    Chase 178k undated: Clarksburg, W.V. - Richard's Dad, Carpenter's Mate Second Class Frank Beto, at home on leave. He was promoted to PO1 shortly afterward.
    View the USS Chase (DE 158 / APD 54) DANFS history entry
    located on the Naval History and Heritage Command web site.
    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.

    Additional Resources
    Navsource APD Pages, USS Chase (APD 54)
    Destroyer Escort Sailors Association
    Tin Can Sailors Shipmate Registry - USS Chase
    The Destroyer History Foundation
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    This Page Created And Maintained by Mike Smolinski
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    by Paul R. Yarnall, All Rights Reserved.
    Page Last Updated 10 April 2011