"I obtained this photo from the National Archives. It shows the USS
Andres DE-45, off the bow of an unidentified DE with five inch gun turret,
shown with Measure 22 Camoflage (Haze Gray and Navy Blue).
This is one of the few color photos taken of DE's during WW II. Because of
the configuration shown, I suspect that the photo was taken some time in
1945. The configuration changed every time we went into a Navy Yard for
periodic attention."
Photo submitted by Ed Eastman, EM2c, USN
"According to the information I had at the time I
joined the ship in 1944 as Supply officer, it was built
as an escort frigate for the British, but was not
delivered because it was only completed after Pearl
Harbor and we were
at war. Despite repeated attempts, both at Charleston
and Brooklyn Navy Yards, I was never able to get an ice
cream making machine installed, nor improved
refrigeration space - butter generally spoiled before
the end of a convoy round trip.
When I joined the Andres in 1944, it was one of the DEs
in the Submarine Chaser Training School based in Miami,
Florida. In January 1945 the ship was assigned to
convoy duty - US Gib, Norfolk - Oran. We were in Oran
for VE Day, May 9, and made a return trip to New York.
We were then sent to Casco Bay, New Hampshire, and
there was talk about our being sent to Japan. The
grapevine said that we were too slow and lacked fire
power (three 3" guns on open deck) and ended up back in
Miami for submarine training.
We made a few training runs, open ports and movies on
the afterdeck, before we were sent to the Charleston
Navy Yard for mothballing . Andres was berthed there
when VJ Day occurred August 14, 1945.
Decommissioning soon followed."
Information
submitted by
M. J. Rice ( formerly Lt (jg), USNR)
Photo 1 | Photo 2 |
Photo 3 | Photo 4 | Photo 5
Named for Ensign Eric Theodore
Andres, b. 12 May 1915, Flint, MI; KIA 9 August 1942
aboard ASTORIA (CA-34), Battle of Savo Island
Type: GMT
Builder: PNY
Laid down as CAPEL for Great Britain (BDE)
Keel laid 02/12/42
Launched 07/24/42
Commissioned 03/15/43
First CO: Lt Cdr Clayton R. Simmers (1)
Served as school ship at SCTS Miami
Decommissioned 10/18/45
Stricken 11/01/45
Scrapped February 1946
Unit of CortDiv 80, Atlantic
