USS John C. Butler (DE-339)

USS John C. Butler
History
United States
Name:	USS John C. Butler
Namesake:	John Clarence Butler
Builder:	Consolidated Steel Corporation
Laid down:	5 October 1943
Launched:	12 November 1943
Commissioned:	31 March 1944 to 26 June 1946 27 December 1950 to 18 December 1957
Struck:	1 June 1970
Fate:	Sunk as target, 1971
General characteristics
Class and type:	John C. Butler-class destroyer escort
Displacement:	1,350 long tons (1,370 t)
Length:	306 ft (93 m)
Beam:	36 ft 8 in (11.18 m)
Draft:	9 ft 5 in (2.87 m)
Installed power:	12,000 shp (8,900 kW)
Propulsion:	2 × geared steam turbines 2 × boilers 2 × shafts
Speed:	24 kn (28 mph; 44 km/h)
Range:	6,000 nmi (6,900 mi; 11,000 km) at 12 kn (14 mph; 22 km/h)
Complement:	186
Sensors and processing systems:	SF multi-use radar
Armament:	2 × 5 in (127 mm)/38 caliber guns 2 × twin 40 mm (1.6 in) Bofors AA guns 10 × 20 mm (0.79 in) Oerlikon AA cannons 3 × 21 in (533 mm) torpedo tubes 8 × depth charge projectors 1 × depth charge projector (Hedgehog) 2 × depth charge tracks

USS John C. Butler (DE-339) was the lead ship of her class of destroyer escorts (DEs) in the service of the United States Navy, named after Ensign John C. Butler (1921–1942), who was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross for his actions in the Battle of Midway.

John C. Butler was laid down by Consolidated Steel Corporation, Ltd., in Orange, Texas, on 5 October 1943; launched on 12 November 1943, sponsored by Mrs. Walter C. Butler, mother of Ensign Butler; and commissioned on 31 March 1944, with Lieutenant Commander John E. Pace in command.

The new destroyer escort conducted shakedown training off Bermuda before departing Hampton Roads on 5 June 1944 for the Pacific. Sailing via the Panama Canal, she arrived Pearl Harbor on 26 June and engaged in convoy and training operations in July. John C. Butler then departed Pearl Harbor on 9 August screening transports bound for the invasion of the Palau Islands. After seeing them safely to Tulagi, the ship operated with escort carriers out of Manus Island on pre-invasion strikes. Two islands wanted as advance bases for the long-awaited move into the Philippines, Morotai and Peleliu, were stormed on 15 September; and John C. Butler provided anti-submarine and anti-aircraft protection for the supporting carriers. Returning to Manus on 30 September, she replenished in preparation for the Leyte operation in October.

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