About this Unit
USS Kretchmer (DE-329) was an Edsall-class destroyer escort commissioned by the United States Navy in 1943 during World War II. She served primarily in the Atlantic, escorting convoys and conducting anti-submarine patrols to protect Allied shipping from German U-boats. After World War II, Kretchmer was decommissioned but later recommissioned for service during the Cold War, including operations in the Atlantic and the Mediterranean. The ship was ultimately decommissioned in 1969 and struck from the Navy list, having earned distinction for her vital role in convoy protection and maritime security.
Historical Facts
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Namesake: USS Kretchmer (DE-329) was named in honor of Ensign Charles Kretchmer, a US Navy officer who was killed in action during the Japanese attack on Cavite Navy Yard, Philippines, on 10 December 1941.
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Class and Type: Kretchmer was an Edsall-class destroyer escort, designed primarily for anti-submarine warfare and convoy escort duties during World War II.
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Commissioning: The ship was commissioned on 13 December 1943 at Orange, Texas, and joined the Atlantic Fleet shortly thereafter.
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Convoy Escort Duties: During World War II, Kretchmer escorted numerous trans-Atlantic convoys to North Africa and the Mediterranean, providing vital protection from German U-boats.
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Rescue Operations: On 8 April 1944, Kretchmer rescued 70 survivors from the SS Paul Hamilton after the ship was torpedoed and exploded off the coast of Algeria.
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Post-War Reassignment: After World War II, Kretchmer served as a training ship for Naval Reservists and later was placed in reserve.
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Reactivation for the Cold War: With the outbreak of the Korean War, Kretchmer was recommissioned in 1956 and served in the Atlantic and Caribbean, focusing on anti-submarine warfare training.
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Vietnam War Service: Converted to a radar picket ship (DER-329), Kretchmer was deployed to the Pacific and participated in “Operation Market Time,” patrolling the coast of Vietnam to intercept North Vietnamese supply craft.
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Distinguished Deployments: She earned multiple campaign stars for her service off Vietnam and was involved in the rescue of Vietnamese refugees during the conflict.
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Decommissioning and Fate: USS Kretchmer was decommissioned for the final time in 1973 and struck from the Naval Vessel Register in 1974 before being sold for scrap in 1975.
