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Navsource Online: Destroyer Escort Photo Archive

USS Martin H. Ray (DE 338)


Flag Hoist / Radio Call Sign:
N - T - N - G
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
American Campaign Medal - European-Africa-Middle East Campaign Medal - World War II Victory Medal
Specifications:
Class: Edsall
Type: FMR (geared diesel, Fairbanks-Morse reverse gear drive, 3" guns)
Displacement: 1200 tons (light), 1590 tons (full)
Length: 300' (wl), 306' (oa)
Beam: 36' 10" (extreme)
Draft: 20' 6" (draft limit)
Propulsion: 4 Fairbanks-Morse Mod. 38d81/8 geared diesel engines, 4 diesel-generators, 6000 shp, 2 screws
Speed: 21 kts
Range: 9,100 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: 8 / 201
Martin H. Ray (DE 338) Building and Operational Data:
  • 27 October 1943: Keel laid by the Consolidated Steel Corp., Orange, Tex.
  • 23 December 1943: Launched and christened, sponsored by Mrs. M. H. Ray, Jr., widow of Lt. Ray
  • 28 February 1944: Commissioned, Lt. H. V. Tucker, Jr., in command
  • March 1946: Decommissioned at Green Cove Springs, Fla.
  • 1 May 1966: Stricken from the NVR
  • 30 March 1967: Sold for scrapping
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By And/Or Copyright
    Martin H. Ray 45k Martin H. Ray, Jr., was born 9 August 1913, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and educated in Yonkers, New York. After one year at New York University he entered the U.S. Naval Academy, graduating with the class of 1934. Following five years service on battleship USS Pennsylvania (BB 38), he received orders to USS Hammann (DD 412) in 1939. While assisting the stricken USS Yorktown (CV 5) in the last stages of the Battle of Midway, 6 June 1942, Hammann took a torpedo. Lieutenant Ray as engineering officer was lost attempting to save the rapidly sinking vessel and evacuate the space below decks. The Navy Cross was awarded "For extraordinary heroism and extreme disregard of personal safety....".

    USS Martin H. Ray (DE 338) (1944-1946) was the first ship to be named in his honor.

    (Photo from the U.S. Naval Academy Yearbook; The Lucky Bag, Class of 1934.)    		 Bill Gonyo
    Martin H. Ray 102k undated wartime image [U.S. Navy photo, from the book "Allied Escort Ships of World War II (A Complete Survey)", by Peter Elliott] Edib Krlicbegovic,
    Bosnia - Hercegovina
    Martin H. Ray 133k undated wartime image Arnold Waxman
    Lcdr, USNR (Ret.)
    Ass't Eng. Officer
    August 1944 - July 1946
    Martin H. Ray 25k swim party off fantail - Italy
    Martin H. Ray 34k radar scope of convoy with 5 DE's in front screen and 1 in rear
    Martin H. Ray 82k forward 3" guns #1 and #2
    Martin H. Ray 36k fueling from astern
    Martin H. Ray 54k securing cable to fuel alongside
    Martin H. Ray 50k fueling alongside
    Martin H. Ray 49k evaporators
    Martin H. Ray 40k 20mm machine gun and crew
    Martin H. Ray 41k shipfitter working on the boat deck
    Martin H. Ray 37k #3 3" gun
    Martin H. Ray 48k Officer of the deck on the flying bridge
    Martin H. Ray 42k #1 engine control station
    Martin H. Ray 45k VJ Day in San Diego (flags in background spell out PEACE)
    Martin H. Ray 54k ship forward of mast from flying bridge to bow
    Martin H. Ray 66k ship aft of mast
    Martin H. Ray 53k straight down the mast looking forward
    Martin H. Ray 44k motor whaleboat along side to starboard
    Martin H. Ray 56k motor whaleboat in davits being readied for lowering
    Martin H. Ray 58k motor whaleboat underway
    Martin H. Ray 45k the "Oil King" at work
    View the USS Martin H. Ray (DE 338) DANFS history entry
    located on the Naval History and Heritage Command web site.
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    Last Known Reunion:
    September 2005 at Branson, Mo.
    Contact Name: Arnold L. Waxman, Lcdr, USNR (Ret.)
    Address: 11409 W. 112th Terrace / Overland Park KS 66210
    Phone: (913) 661-2966
    E-mail: Arnold Waxman
    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, rosters, or deck logs 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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    This Page Created And Maintained by Mike Smolinski
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    by Paul R. Yarnall, All Rights Reserved.
    Page Last Updated 15 May 2009