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USS Oberrender (DE-344) |
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| 15 July 1944 outside New York/Boston Harbor. Unfortunately, this photograph has suffered at the hand of the censor, but the photographs below are intact. The ship is carrying the 3.5 meter optical rangefinder on the bridge and the triple torpedo launcher amidships. She is painted in the Measure 31 2-tone camouflage. National Archives #80G179802 | |
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Operational and Building Data |
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The USS Oberrender (DE-344) was sponsored by
Mrs. Thomas Olin Oberrender, Jr., widow of Lt. Comdr. Oberrender, and
commissioned with LCDR Samuel Spencer in command. Following commissioning and fitting out, the USS Oberrender sailed 28 May 1944 for Bermuda, where she conducted shakedown until early July. She steamed via Norfolk and Aruba for the Panama Canal, which she passed through on 1 August 1944. Assigned to protect convoys plying between Pearl Harbor and Eniwetok, the new destroyer escort completed two runs to the Marshalls by 30 September. After a stop at Manus, Admiralties, the USS Oberrender escorted Rear Admiral Sprague's jeep carriers to the Philippines for the invasion of Leyte. A brief trip to Morotai, however, caused her to miss the epic Battle of Leyte Gulf. The ship was in Seeadler Harbor, Manus, 10 November only 1,100 yards from Mount Hood (AE-11) when that ammunition ship blew up. Damages incurred from flying debris and exploding ammunition forced the Oberrender to remain at Manus for the rest of November. The next month found her back in fighting trim, and for three more months she conducted escort and patrol duties in the Dutch East Indies and Philippines areas. As United States forces pushed closer to the Japanese home islands, the USS Oberrender moved along with the fleet. Through April and into May, Okinawa was the focus of attention. There, on 9 May 1945, a Japanese suicide plane crashed into the ship on her starboard side. A bomb carried by the plane penetrated the forward fire room, where it exploded and caused extensive heavy damage. Twenty-four sailors were killed, wounded, or listed as missing as a result of the blast. Towed to Kerama Retto, the USS Oberrender was beyond repair. She was decommissioned was struck from the Navy List. Stripped of all worthwhile equipment, her hulk was sunk by gunfire on 6 November of that year. The USS Oberrender earned 3 battle stars for World War II |
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15 July 1944
National Archives #80G382879 |
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15 July 1944
National Archives #BS132048 |
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