About this Unit
USS Vance (DER-387) was an Edsall-class destroyer escort commissioned by the United States Navy during World War II. Originally commissioned in 1943, she served primarily as a convoy escort in the Atlantic, protecting merchant ships from German U-boats. After the war, Vance was decommissioned but later recommissioned and converted to a radar picket ship (DER) during the Cold War, serving as part of the Distant Early Warning (DEW) line in the Pacific. The USS Vance also participated in Operation Market Time during the Vietnam War, conducting coastal surveillance and interdiction patrols before her final decommissioning in 1970.
Historical Facts
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USS Vance (DER-387) Namesake: The ship was named after Joseph Williams Vance Jr., a US Navy ensign who was killed in action during the Battle of Savo Island in World War II.
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World War II Service: Commissioned in 1944 as a destroyer escort (DE-387), USS Vance served in the Atlantic, escorting convoys and conducting anti-submarine patrols.
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Operation Teardrop: In 1945, USS Vance participated in Operation Teardrop, a major hunt for German U-boats suspected of carrying V-weapon technology to North America.
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Conversion to Radar Picket Ship: In 1955, the ship was converted to a DER (Destroyer Escort Radar picket) and redesignated DER-387, tasked with early warning radar duties during the Cold War.
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DEW Line Extension: USS Vance served as part of the Distant Early Warning (DEW) line extension at sea, acting as a radar picket in the Pacific to detect potential Soviet air attacks.
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Vietnam War Service: The ship was active during the Vietnam War, serving on "Yankee Station" and performing patrol and rescue missions in the South China Sea.
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Notable Rescue Mission: In April 1966, USS Vance rescued the crew of the burning merchant ship SS Excellency off the coast of Vietnam, earning commendations for bravery.
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Operation Market Time: USS Vance participated in "Operation Market Time," the US Navy's coastal interdiction effort to prevent North Vietnamese resupply by sea.
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Decommissioning and Fate: After a long career, the ship was decommissioned in 1973 and eventually sold for scrap in 1975.
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Legacy: The ship and her crew earned multiple awards, including the Navy Unit Commendation, and USS Vance's service is remembered for its contributions to both World War II and Cold War maritime security.
