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History of USS Samuel B. Roberts (DE-413)

USS **Samuel B. Roberts (DE-413)** was a John C. Butler-class destroyer escort commissioned by the United States Navy in April 1944. The ship gained legendary status during the Battle off Samar on October 25, 1944, when her crew bravely engaged a vastly superior Japanese fleet to protect American escort carriers. Despite being heavily outgunned and eventually sunk, Samuel B. Roberts inflicted significant damage on enemy ships and bought crucial time for the American task force to escape. The ship's extraordinary courage earned her and her crew the nickname "the destroyer escort that fought like a battleship" and a lasting place in naval history.

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ABOUT USS Samuel B. Roberts (DE-413)

  • Named After a Hero: USS Samuel B. Roberts (DE-413) was named in honor of Coxswain Samuel Booker Roberts, Jr., a Navy hero who died in the Battle of Guadalcanal in 1942 while rescuing Marines under fire.
  • John C. Butler-class Destroyer Escort: The ship was a John C. Butler-class destroyer escort, commissioned on April 28, 1944, and primarily designed for anti-submarine and convoy escort duties.
  • The "Destroyer Escort That Fought Like a Battleship": The USS Samuel B. Roberts earned this nickname for its legendary performance in the Battle off Samar, where it took on much larger Japanese warships.
  • Battle off Samar: On October 25, 1944, in the Battle off Samar (part of the larger Battle of Leyte Gulf), the ship played a pivotal role in defending escort carriers against a vastly superior Japanese force.
  • David vs. Goliath Moment: The Roberts and other small ships charged Japanese battleships and cruisers, launching torpedoes and laying smoke to protect the carriers, despite being outgunned and out-armored.
  • Incredible Heroism: The crew fought valiantly, scoring a torpedo hit on the heavy cruiser Chōkai and damaging other ships with gunfire, despite sustaining heavy damage themselves.
  • Ultimate Sacrifice: After being hit multiple times by enemy shells, the Roberts eventually sank. Out of 224 crew, 89 were lost, but their actions were credited with saving countless lives and ships.
  • Presidential Unit Citation: The ship and her crew were awarded the Presidential Unit Citation for extraordinary heroism and outstanding performance of duty.
  • Legacy and Inspiration: The story of the USS Samuel B. Roberts has inspired books, documentaries, and even a later frigate (FFG-58) to carry the same name and legacy.
  • Wreck Found in 2022: The wreck of the Samuel B. Roberts was discovered in June 2022 at a depth of over 22,600 feet (6,895 meters) in the Philippine Sea, making it the deepest shipwreck ever found.

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