About this Unit
USS Haverfield (DER-393) was an Edsall-class destroyer escort commissioned by the United States Navy in 1943. Initially serving during World War II, Haverfield conducted convoy escort and antisubmarine operations in the Atlantic and Pacific theaters. After the war, she was decommissioned, but later recommissioned and converted to a radar picket ship during the Cold War, enhancing the nation's early warning defense system. Haverfield was decommissioned for the final time in 1968 and ultimately struck from the Naval Vessel Register, concluding a distinguished career in both wartime and peacetime service.
Historical Facts
• Namesake: USS Haverfield (DER-393) was named in honor of Ensign James Wallace Haverfield, a U.S. Navy officer killed in action during the Battle of Midway in 1942.
• Class: She was an Edsall-class destroyer escort, a group of ships built primarily for anti-submarine warfare and convoy escort duties during World War II.
• World War II Service: Commissioned in 1943, USS Haverfield operated in the Atlantic, escorting convoys between the United States, North Africa, and the Mediterranean, protecting them from German U-boat attacks.
• Post-War Decommissioning: After World War II, Haverfield was decommissioned in 1946 and placed in reserve, reflecting the post-war drawdown of naval forces.
• Radar Picket Ship Conversion: In the 1950s, she was converted into a radar picket ship (DER), equipped with advanced radar systems to serve as part of the Distant Early Warning Line against potential Soviet air attacks during the Cold War.
• Cuban Missile Crisis: Haverfield played a role during the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962, serving on the blockade line and helping to enforce the quarantine of Cuba.
• Vietnam War Service: The ship was deployed to the Western Pacific and participated in Operation Market Time, patrolling the coast of Vietnam to intercept North Vietnamese supply vessels.
• Rescue Operations: While off the coast of Vietnam, USS Haverfield was involved in the rescue of South Vietnamese refugees fleeing the conflict, showcasing her humanitarian role.
• Decommissioning and Fate: She was decommissioned for the final time in 1969 and eventually scrapped, marking the end of her long and varied career.
• Battle Honors: Haverfield received two battle stars for her service during World War II and additional awards for her Vietnam War operations, reflecting her distinguished history.
