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NavSource Online: Destroyer Escort Photo Archive

DE- 221 USS SOLAR

CLASS - Buckley
Displacement 1,400 Tons, Dimensions, 306' (oa) x 37' x 13' 6" (Max)
Armament 3 x 3"/50, 4 x 1.1" AA, 8 x 20 mmAA, 3 x 21"TT (1x3) 1 Hedgehog, 8 DCT, 2racks.
Machinery, 12,000 SHP; G. E. Turbines with electric drive, 2 screws
Speed, 24 Knots, Range 6,000 NM @ 12 Knts. Crew 186.

Operational and Building Data
Laid down by Philadelphia Navy Yard on February 22 1943.
Launched May 29 1943.
Commissioned February 15 1944.
Fate Exploded at her berth in Earle N.J. while unloading ammunition on April 30 1946.
165 members of her crew and dock workers were killed in the explosion and 65 injured.
Solars name was stricken June 5 1946
Her hulk was towed 100 miles out to sea and scuttled in 700 fathoms of water on June 9 1946.

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Size Image Description Contributed
By And/Or Copyright
SOLAR 54k July 22, 1944 - In New York harbor with a barge and harbor tug alongside. Photographed from a 300-foot altitude by Naval Air Station New York aircraft. USN
SOLAR 46k April 30, 1946 - SOLAR was pulls into Leonardo Pier I of the Naval Ammunition Depot at Earle, N.J. to discharge ammunition J. D. Reed,
Fireman First Class
SOLAR 63k April 30, 1946 - Crew of USS SOLAR. J. D. Reed,
Fireman First Class
SOLAR 44k April 30, 1946 - shortly after 1130, three explosions blasted the ship near her number 2 upper handling room. J. D. Reed,
Fireman First Class
SOLAR 47k April 30, 1946 - Salvage work on SOLAR was begun by 1500, and her wrecked superstructure was cut off to prevent her capsizing. J. D. Reed,
Fireman First Class
SOLAR 49k April 30, 1946 - Her number 2 gun was demolished and the bridge, main battery director, and mast were all blown aft and to starboard. Both sides of the ship were torn open J. D. Reed,
Fireman First Class

USS SOLAR DE- 221 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

NONE LOCATED
Contact Name: NONE
Address: NONE
Phone:NONE
E-mail:NONE


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
Destroyer Escort Sailors Association

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