USS Cross (DE-448)

History
United States
Laid down: 19 March 1944
Launched: 4 July 1944
Commissioned: 8 January 1945
Decommissioned: 14 June 1946
In service: 1st Naval District, 6 June 1951
Out of service: 2 January 1958
Struck: 1 July 1966
Fate: sold for scrapping 5 March 1968
General characteristics
Displacement: 1,350/1,745 tons
Length: 306 ft (93 m) overall
Beam: 36 ft 10 in (11.23 m)
Draft: 13 ft 4 in (4.06 m) maximum
Propulsion: 2 boilers, 2 geared turbine engines, 12,000 shp, 2 screws
Speed: 24 knots (44 km/h)
Range: 6,000 nmi at 12 knots (22 km/h)
Complement: 14 officers, 201 enlisted
Armament:
  • 2 × 5"/38
  • 4 × 40 mm AA (2 × 2)
  • 10 × 20 mm AA
  • 3 × 21" torpedo tubes
  • 1 × Hedgehog
  • 8 × depth charge projectors
  • 2 × depth charge tracks

USS Cross (DE-448) was a John C. Butler-class destroyer escort acquired by the U.S. Navy during World War II. The primary purpose of the destroyer escort was to escort and protect ships in convoy, in addition to other tasks as assigned, such as patrol or radar picket. Post-war she proudly returned home with one battle star to her credit.

Cross (DE-448) was named in honor of Frederick Cushing Cross, Jr. who was awarded the Navy Cross for his attack on an enemy submarine and, mortally wounded, water-landing his plane, which allowed his crew to survive.

Cross was launched 4 July 1944 by Federal Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., Kearny, New Jersey; sponsored by Mrs. D. F. Cross, mother of the late Lieutenant (junior grade) Cross, USNR; and commissioned 8 January 1945, Lieutenant H. L. Minshall, Jr., USNR, in command.

World War II Pacific Theatre operations

Departing New York 22 March 1945, Cross called at San Diego, California, before arriving at Pearl Harbor for additional training. She sailed on 8 May escorting a convoy for Ulithi, and from 29 May to 11 September Cross continued to escort vital supply-laden convoys from Ulithi to Okinawa. After repairs at Okinawa, she called at San Diego and Boston, Massachusetts, then put in at Green Cove Springs, Florida, where she was placed out of commission in reserve 14 June 1946.

Recommissioned as a training ship

Recommissioned 6 June 1951, Cross was assigned to the 1st Naval District to serve as a training ship for New England Naval Reservists. She remained in this employment until placed in reserve again 2 January 1958. She was struck from the Navy list on 1 July 1966, and, on 5 March 1968, she was sold for scrapping.

Military awards

Cross was awarded one battle star for World War II service.

References

This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.

External links

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