About this Unit
USS Brister (DE/DER-327) was an Edsall-class destroyer escort commissioned by the United States Navy in 1943. During World War II, she served primarily in the Atlantic, providing convoy escort and anti-submarine warfare protection. After the war, Brister was decommissioned, but later recommissioned during the Cold War and converted to a radar picket ship (DER-327) in 1956 to enhance early warning capabilities. She continued service until 1968, when she was decommissioned and eventually sunk as a target.
Historical Facts
• Namesake: USS Brister (DE/DER-327) was named in honor of Ensign Robert E. Brister, a naval aviator who was killed in action during the Battle of Midway in June 1942.
• Class: Brister was an Edsall-class destroyer escort, a class designed for anti-submarine warfare and convoy escort duties during World War II.
• Commissioning: She was commissioned on 30 October 1943, serving prominently in the Atlantic theater during World War II.
• Convoy Escort Duties: During WWII, USS Brister escorted numerous convoys across the Atlantic, protecting them from German U-boat attacks and ensuring vital supplies reached Allied forces in Europe.
• Rescue Operations: On 5 April 1944, Brister participated in rescue operations for survivors of torpedoed ships, demonstrating the vital secondary roles destroyer escorts often played.
• Kamikaze Threats: After conversion to a radar picket ship (DER-327), Brister was equipped to detect and warn of kamikaze and other air threats, particularly towards the end of WWII and during the early Cold War period.
• Conversion: In 1955, Brister was converted from a destroyer escort (DE) to a radar picket ship (DER), reflecting evolving naval technology and the increasing threat of Soviet air and missile attacks.
• Operation Market Time: During the Vietnam War, USS Brister participated in Operation Market Time, conducting coastal patrol and interdiction operations to stop the flow of supplies to North Vietnamese forces by sea.
• Notable Engagement: In 1967, Brister played a key role in the capture of a North Vietnamese trawler attempting to deliver arms to Viet Cong forces, a significant success of Operation Market Time.
• Decommissioning: USS Brister was decommissioned on 21 September 1968 and later sold for scrap, concluding a distinguished career spanning both WWII and the Vietnam War.
