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Navsource Online: Destroyer Escort Photo Archive

USS Coffman (DE 191)


Flag Hoist / Radio Call Sign:
N - D - N - N
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 - European-Africa-Middle East Campaign Medal - WWII Victory Medal
Specifications:
Class: Cannon
Type: DET (diesel-electric tandem motor drive, long hull, 3" guns)
Displacement: 1240 tons (light), 1620 tons (full)
Length: 300' (wl), 306' (oa)
Beam: 36' 10" (extreme)
Draft: 10' 6" (draft limit)
Propulsion: 4 GM Mod. 16-278A diesel engines with electric drive, 6000 shp, 2 screws
Speed: 21 kts
Range: 10,800 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 / 201
Coffman (DE 191) Building and Operational Data:
  • 9 September 1943: Keel laid at the Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Co., Port Newark, N.J.
  • 28 November 1943: Launched and christened, sponsored by Miss F. Liggett
  • 27 December 1943: Commissioned, Lcdr W. H. Putnam, USNR, in command
  • 30 April 1946: Decommissioned at Green Cove Springs, Fla.
  • 1 July 1972: Stricken from the NVR
  • 17 August 1973: Sold for scrapping
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By And/Or Copyright
    England 116k DeWitt Coffman was born at Mount Jackson, Va., 28 November 1854, and graduated from the Naval Academy in 1876. He served in Terror during the Spanish-American War and received the Distinguished Service Medal as Commander, Battleship Force 2, Atlantic Fleet, during World I. Rear Admiral Coffman retired 28 November 1918, and was advanced to Vice Admiral on the retired list 21 June 1930. He died at Jamestown, R.I., 27 June 1932.

    USS Coffman (DE 191) (1943-1946) was the first ship to be named in his honor.

    (U.S. Navy photo, Boston National Historical Park Collection, NPS Cat. No. BOSTS-7532)   (Incoming Commandant Capt. William R. Rush (1857-1940) (left) poses with his predecessor Capt. DeWitt Coffman (1854-1932) (center) in front of the Commandant's Offices (Building 39) of the Boston Navy Yard on 6 November 1914. Rush would serve as Commandant of the yard and the First Naval District throughout World War I. The officer at right is Capt. Raymond D. Hasbrouck, the Captain of the Yard (or executive officer of the yard).    		 Stephen P. Carlson
    Preservation Specialist, Boston NHP
    Charlestown (Boston) Navy Yard
    Coffman 154k undated wartime image John Klar
    Coffman 139k January 1944
    Coffman 269k Winter 1972 - Spring 1973: Philadelphia, Pa. - A view of the Inactive Ship Basin at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard. Looking south from the Langley Ave. side, we see Whitehall (PC-856) and another unidentified PC alongside the the Intrepid Ave. quay. Further to the right, at the Constitution Ave. quay we see Oswald (DE 767), Melvin R. Nawman (DE 416), Tabberer (DE 418), Coffman, Rizzi (DE 537), and Edward H. Allen (DE 531). Jim Cunliffe
    Coffman 287k Winter 1972 - Spring 1973: Philadelphia, Pa. - A closer view from the corner of Intrepid Ave. and S. 16th St. Again we see Oswald (DE 767), Melvin R. Nawman (DE 416), Tabberer (DE 418), and Coffman. In this view we also see an unidentified decommissioned AGSS and Raymond (DE 341).
    View the USS Coffman (DE 191) DANFS history entry
    located on the US Naval Historical Center web site.
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    Last Known Reunion
    September 2001
    Contact Name: John B. Naylor
    Address: 7401 NW 28th Terrace / Bethany OK 73008
    Phone: (405) 789-4507
    E-mail: jsnaylor93@aol.com
    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
    Destroyer Escort Sailors Association
    Tin Can Sailors
    The Destroyer History Foundation
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    Page Last Updated 21 September 2010