Skip to main content
Naval History and Heritage Command

Naval History and Heritage Command

Tags
Related Content
Topic
Document Type
  • Themed Collection
Wars & Conflicts
File Formats
  • Image (gif, jpg, tiff)
Location of Archival Materials
  • NHHC

USS Frederick C. Davis (DE-136)

Please see below for item level images and donated collections containing photographs of USS Frederick C. Davis (DE-136)

USS Frederick C. Davis (DE-136) was laid down on 9 November 1942, at Orange, Texas, by Consolidated Steel Corp.; launched on 24 January 1943 and sponsored by Mrs. Dorothy Robins, sister of Frederick C. Davis; and commissioned on 14 July 1943, Lt. Cmdr. Oscar W. Goepner in command.

USS Frederick C. Davis (DE-136) got underway at 0932 on 19 July 1943, steaming down the Sabine River for U.S. Naval Section Base, Sabine Pass, Texas. Upon arrival the next day, the escort ship quickly prepared to get underway, doing so at 1306 on 21 July. At 1551 the next day, USS Frederick C. Davis (DE-136) stood in to Dock A, Todd Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Co., Galveston, Texas. On 17 January 1944, USS Frederick C. Davis (DE-136) got underway for an amphibious landing exercise with Herbert C. Jones and destroyer Mayo (DD-422) off Salerno, Italy (17-18 January). On 17 January, after anchoring in the Bay of Naples (15-16 January), USS Frederick C. Davis (DE-136) received orders from TF 81 to conduct further amphibious landing operation exercises in the Gulf of Salerno.

D-Day for the Anzio beachhead, set for 22 January 1944, began with H-hour at 0200. USS Frederick C. Davis (DE-136) observed gunfire in the direction of the beachhead from 0150-0155. The escort ship, designated as a relief flagship, received orders to take on board Force Command if necessary. During early February 1944, USS Frederick C. Davis (DE-136) and USS Herbert C. Jones received assignments to combat German Henschel Hs 293 anti-ship radio controlled glide bombs with special equipment brought on board for that purpose. During the week of operations off Anzio, the only serious enemy operations against ships in the task force came from aircraft and mines. USS Frederick C. Davis (DE-136) remained at Naples, taking on fuel and provisions (24-28 February 1944). Getting underway on 29 February for Anzio, she relieved USS Herbert C. Jones and commenced patrol duties in the anchorage area.

USS Frederick C. Davis (DE-136), relieved of patrol duties on 19 September 1944, steamed en route for Naples before receiving orders to return to Oran in preparation for an ultimate return to the United States. The escort ship entered the New York Navy Yard on 24 October for a 30-day overhaul that extended through the rest of the year. USS Frederick C. Davis (DE-136) was stricken from the Navy List on 2 June 1945.

For a complete history of USS Frederick C. Davis (DE-136) please see its DANFS page.