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Navsource Online: Destroyer Escort Photo Archive
Ship's patches courtesy of Mike Smolinski

USS Vance (DE-387)


Flag Hoist / Radio Call Sign:
N - T - H - E
Tactical Voice Radio Call: "Eagle Rock"
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons




Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row: Combat Action Ribbon
Second Row: American Campaign Medal - European-Africa-Middle East Campaign Medal - World War II Victory Medal
Third Row: National Defense Service Medal w/ 1 star - Antarctica Service Ribbon - Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Fourth Row: Vietnam Service Medal w/ 7 stars - Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation w/ 3 stars - 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 Brown Shipbuilding, Houston TX on 30 April 1943, Launched 16 July 1943
Commissioned 1 November 1943, Decommissioned 27 February 1946
Loaned to USCG and Recommissioned WDE-487, 15 May 1952
Returned USN and Decommissioned 16 June 1954
Reclassified and converted DER-387, 21 October 1955
Recommissioned 5 October 1956, Decommissioned 10 October 1969
Stricken 1 June 1975
Fate: sunk as target in 1985
Click On Image
For Full Size Image		 Size Image Description Contributed
By And/Or Copyright
Vance 93k 1944: at Palermo, Sicily - USS Vance (DE-387) in her second camouflage paint scheme. Joseph Betters (photo caption)
Vance 93k From Destroyer Escorts In The Atlantic: "This trim craft is a Coast Guard-manned DE (Destroyer Escort) USS Vance (DE-387) on convoy duty in the Atlantic Ocean during WW2. The guns of the DEs have given protection to the streams of merchant ships and transports carrying troops and supplies for the Allied lines in Europe;" no date; Photo No. 4450; photographer unknown. Mike Green
Vance 37k Vance's re-commissioning ceremony as a Coast Guard Cutter in the Philadelphia Navy Yard spring/early summer 1952. Note that Vance is still sporting a "gray" hull but is showing her new Coast Guard hull number - (W-487). In the background the stack and bridge of another WDE is visible -- I believe it's the Coast Guard Cutter Durant (WDE-489) which was also in the Philadelphia Navy Yard for overhaul and recommissioning as a Coast Guard Cutter. James R. Kelly
Capt., USCG (ret.)
Vance 95k 1 November 1956: San Francisco Bay off Vallejo CA - Broadside view of Vance off Mare Island. She was converted to DER configuration at the yard from 1 November 1955 to 30 November 1956 (US Navy photo #DER-387-31989-11-56) Darryl Baker
Vance 95k March 1966: Manila Bay Larry Backus
Vance 141k December 1968: Pearl Harbor Hawaii - Vance tied up outboard of Charles Berry (DE-1035) and Forster (DER-334). © Richard Leonhardt
Vance Memorabilia
Decal
Vance
Courtesy of
Mike Smolinski		 Plaque
Vance
Courtesy of
Mike Smolinski		 Plaque
Vance
Courtesy of
Mike Smolinski		 Deepfreeze Patch
Vance
Courtesy of
Mike Smolinski		 Decommissioning Book
Vance
Courtesy of
Robert M. Cieri
View the USS Vance (DE-387), DANFS history entry
located on the US Naval Historical Center web site.
Crew Contact And Reunion Information
Next Reunion: 21 to 26 September 2008
The Commodore Hotel at Galveston, Texas

USS Vance Reunion Information Page

Contact Name: Joseph Betters, Vance Association Webmaster
E-mail: Joseph Betters
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
USS Vance Web Site
DER Group on MSN
Destroyer Escort Sailors Association
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This Page Is Created And Maintained by Mike Smolinski
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Page Last Updated 21 April 2008