Navsource Online: Destroyer Escort Photo Archive
Left ship's patch courtesy of James M. Strong, remainder from Mike Smolinski
USS Kretchmer (DE-329)
Flag Hoist / Radio Call Sign:
N - T - E - E
Tactical Voice Radio Call: "Mystic Isle"
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons
Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row: American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal - European-Africa-Middle East Campaign Medal
Second Row: World War II Victory Medal - National Defense Service Medal w/ 1 star - Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Third Row: Vietnam Service Medal w/ 5 stars- Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation w/ 1 star - Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
Class: Edsall Type: FMR (geared diesel, Fairbanks-Morse reverse gear drive, 3" guns)
Displacement: 1,200 tons (std) 1,590 tons (full) Dimensions: 306' (oa), 300' (wl) x 36' 10" x 12' 3" (max)
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
Machinery: 4 Fairbanks-Morse Mod. 38d81/8 geared diesel engines, 4 diesel-generators, 6000 shp, 2 screws
Speed: 21 knots Range: 9,100 nm @ 12 knots Crew: 8 / 201
Operational and Building Data
Laid down by Consolidated Steel, Orange TX on 28 June 1943, Launched 31 August 1943
Commissioned 13 December 1943, Decommissioned 20 September 1946
Loaned to USCG and Recommissioned WDE-429, 20 June 1951
Returned USN and Decommissioned 12 August 1954
Reclassified and converted DER-328, 21 October 1955
Recommissioned 22 September 1956, Decommissioned 1 October 1973 at the Key West Naval Station
Stricken 30 September 1973
Fate: Sold for scrapping 14 May 1974
