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Navsource Online: Destroyer Escort Photo Archive

USS Rolf (DE 362)


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


Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row: China Service Medal - American Campaign Medal -
Second Row: Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal - World War II Victory Medal - Philippine Liberation Ribbon


Specifications:
Class: John C. Butler
Type: WGT (geared-turbine drive, 5" guns)
Displacement: 1350 tons (light), 1745 tons (full)
Length: 300' (wl), 306' (oa)
Beam: 36' 10" (extreme)
Draft: 11' 0" (draft limit)
Propulsion: 2 "D" Express boilers, 2 geared turbine engines, 12,000 shp, 2 screws
Speed: 24 kts
Range: 6,000 nm @ 12 knots
Armament: 2 - 5"/38 cal. DP guns (2x1), 4 - 40mm AA (2x2), 10 - 20mm AA, 3 - 21" TT, 1 Mk10 Hedgehog, 8 Mk6 Depth Charge Projectors, 2 Mk9 Depth Charge Stern Racks
Complement: 14 / 201
Rolf (DE 362) Building and Operational Data:
  • 20 March 1944: Keel laid at the Consolidated Steel Corp., Orange, Tex.
  • 23 May 1944: Launched and christened, sponsored by Mrs. Martha Rolf, mother of Lieutenant (Junior grade) Rolf
  • 07 September 1944: Commissioned, Lcdr. Lester E. Hubbell, USNR, in command
  • 03 June 1946: Decommissioned at San Diego, Cal. after 1 year and 9 months of service
  • 01 December 1972: Struck from the NVR
  • 11 September 1973: Sold for scrapping
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    Rolf

    Rolf
    135k Robert Walter Rolf was born 26 August 1914 in Rock Island, III. He attended Augustana College in his hometown before enlisting in the U.S. Naval Reserve at Chicago on 05 August 1941. Rolf began his training at the U.S. Naval Academy on 09 January 1942, accepted appointment as midshipman, USNR, 09 February, and was promoted to ensign on 05 May. After duty at San Diego, further training at Purdue University, Lafayette, Ind., and assignments at the Norfolk Naval Base and Consolidated Steel Corp., Orange, Tex., he was promoted to lieutenant (junior grade). Rolf was appointed commanding officer of an LCI(L) effective 12 June 1942. He was killed in a Japanese bombing raid on 06 September 1942 and was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross for his outstanding behavior as commanding officer of a disabled landing craft which he skillfully beached at enemy-occupied Lae on New Guinea. Lieutenant (junior grade) Rolf " ... personally led a party in extinguishing the numerous fires aboard, carrying on his dangerous task under repeated enemy bombing and strafing attacks until he was killed by Japanese fire. As a result ... his ship was saved for further active service."

    USS Rolf (DE 362) (1944-1946) was the first ship to be named in his honor.

    Jerry Gilmartin
    Rolf 107k 23 May 1944: Orange, Tex. - Mrs. Martha Eiffert Rolf mother of Lt. (j.g.) Rolf at the christening of USS Rolf.
    Rolf 193k 23 May 1944: Orange, Tex. - Christening party of USS Rolf. The lady with flowers in the first row is Robert Rolf's mother.
    Rolf 161k 23 May 1944: Orange, Tex. - Mrs. Rolf and family friend Mr. Hodgeman watch the USS Rolf, named after her son who was killed in action, slip into the waters of the Sabine River.
    Rolf 174k 23 May 1944: Orange, Tex. - The destroyer escort USS Rolf plunges into the waters of Orange, Texas.
    Rolf 168k 07 September 1944: Orange, Tex. - Lt. Norman Wallin, CO of LCI (L)-341 stands to left of officer at the microphone. Wallin had been on the 341 when its CO, Robert Rolf was killed.
    Rolf 80k 07 September 1944: Orange, Tex. - Lt. Norman Wallin speks during the commissioning ceremony of USS Rolf. He had been aboard LCI (L)-341, and succeeded Lt.(jg) Rolf as CO when it was bombed.
    Rolf 47k 07 September 1944: Orange, Tex. - Taken on commissioning day. John San Marco
    Rolf 33k 31 January 1945: The Philippines
    Rolf 64k December 1945: After having just returned from 12 months duty in the Pacific.
    Rolf 173k 05 June 1972: San Diego, Cal. - USS Rolf (DE 362) laid up at San Diego. The bow of Leland E. Thomas (DE 420) is visible at left.

    (U.S. Naval Historical Center photo #NH 79836, Courtesy of Donald M. McPherson (1974) from the Naval History and Heritage Command)
    Mike Green
    Port Angeles, Wash.

    Rolf Memorabilia
    News Article
    Rolf
    Courtesy of
    Jerry Gilmartin
    News Article
    Rolf
    Courtesy of
    Jerry Gilmartin

    Rolf History
    View the USS Rolf (DE 362) DANFS history entry located on the Naval History and Heritage Command web site.

    Rolf's Commanding Officers
    Thanks to Wolfgang Hechler
    Dates of Command Commanding Officers
    1.) 07 Sep. 1944 – 12 Nov. 1945Lcdr. Lester Earle Hubbell, USN (Comm. CO) (Hackensack, N.J.) (ret. as Radm.)
    2.) 12 Nov. 1945 – 03 Jun. 1946Lt.(jg) Alfred Freeman Norwood, USN (Decomm. CO) (Davenport, Ia.)

    Crew Contact And Reunion Information

    Contact Name: John San Marco
    Address: 411 W. Clary Ave. #A
    City/State: San Gabriel CA 91776-1230
    E-mail: John San Marco
    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

    Tin Can Sailors
    The U.S. Navy Memorial
    Destroyer Escort Sailors Association
    The Destroyer Escort Historical Museum
    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: 07 March 2019