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Navsource Online: Destroyer Escort Photo Archive
Ship's patch courtesy of Nick Tiberio

USS Francis M. Robinson (DE 220)


Flag Hoist / Radio Call Sign:
N - X - A - W
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row: Combat Action Ribbon (retroactive) - Presidential Unit Citation - American Campaign Medal
Second Row: European-Africa-Middle East Campaign Medal w/ 1 star - WWII Victory Medal - National Defense Service 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
Francis M. Robinson (DE 220) Building and Operational Data:
  • 22 February 1943: Keel laid by the Philadelphia Navy Yard, Philadelphia, Pa.
  • 29 May 1943: Launched and christened, sponsored by Mrs. Francis M. Robinson, widow of Commander Robinson
  • 15 January 1944: Commissioned, Lt. J. E. Johansen, USNR, in command
  • 20 June 1960: Decommissioned at Philadelphia, Pa.
  • 1 July 1972: Stricken from the NVR
  • 12 July 1973: Sold, scrapped
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By And/Or Copyright
    Francis M. Robinson 58k Francis Martin Robinson was born 28 October 1883 in Philadelphia, Pa. He was a member of the Naval Academy class of 1906. His varied career of distinguished service to his country through the Navy included shipboard assignments, and duty ashore in recruiting and with the Naval Reserve. He was awarded the Navy Cross for his outstanding work as executive officer in Baltimore laying the North Sea Mine Barrage in World War I. Commander Robinson retired 30 June 1934, but returned to active duty 10 September 1940 as Civilian Personnel Officer for the Fourth Naval District. He thus served until his death 3 November 1942.

    USS Francis M. Robinson (DE 220) (1944-1960) was the first ship to be named in his honor.

    (Photo courtesy of the U.S. Naval Academy)    		 Bill Gonyo
    ***Enright / Robinson*** 82k 29 May 1943: Philadelphia Navy Yard - The christening of six destroyer escorts in a dry-dock at the Philadelphia Navy Yard. The three ships in the foreground are (from left): USS Enright (DE 216), USS Coolbaugh (DE 217) and USS Darby (DE 218). Those in the background are (from left), USS J. Douglas Blackwood (DE 219), USS Francis M. Robinson (DE 220) and USS Solar (DE 221). (U.S. Navy Photo #NH 75610 from the Naval History and Heritage Command, Courtesy of James Russell, 1972)
    Francis M. Robinson 42k undated wartime image -
    Francis M. Robinson 151k undated wartime image, Francis M. Robinsoncoming alongside USS Denebola (AD 12). (Archives photo 80-G-372210) Ed Zajkowski
    Francis M. Robinson 100k 2 February 1944: USS Francis M. Robinson (DE 220) underway. (U.S. Navy Photo, National Archives #80-G-215506) Nick Tiberio
    Francis M. Robinson 106k 1948: USS Greenwood (DE 679) and Francis M. Robinson moored at Key West, Fla.. (Notice difference in hull number style, Robinson
    remains with WWII style numbers, while Greenwood has been repainted to modern numbers.)
    Francis M. Robinson 158k 29 March 1949: Francis M. Robinson (DE 220) underway off Key West. (U.S. Navy Photo, National Archives #80-G-444114)
    Francis M. Robinson 42k 1949 (Photo from Mr. Paul Burke)
    Francis M. Robinson 54k
    Francis M. Robinson 42k circa 1953 Robert Hurst
    Francis M. Robinson 54k circa 1960: Francis M. Robinson underway. (U.S. Navy Photo, from "Jane's Fighting Ships" 1961-62)
    View the USS Francis M. Robinson (DE 220) DANFS history entry
    located on the Naval History and Heritage Command web site.
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    Contact Name: Robert M. Wilson
    Address: 5280 Balfor Drive / Virginia Beach VA 23464
    Phone: (757) 420-7611 or Fax: (757) 420-6658
    E-mail: R. Wilson
    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 Shipmate Registry - USS Francis M. Robinson
    The Destroyer History Foundation
    To The DE Photo Index Page Back To The Main Photo Index

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    This Page Created And Maintained by Mike Smolinski
    All pages copyright NavSource Naval History
    by Paul R. Yarnall, All Rights Reserved.
    Page Last Updated 22 May 2011