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Hull Number: DE-145

Launch Date: 03/23/1943

Commissioned Date: 08/30/1943

Call Sign: NXRQ

Voice Call Sign: APPLEGATE


Class: EDSALL

EDSALL Class


Namesake: HARRY MCLAREN PINCKNEY HUSE

HARRY MCLAREN PINCKNEY HUSE

Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, April 2016

Harry McLaren Pinckney Huse was born at the Military Academy, West Point, N.Y., 8 December 1858 and graduated from the Naval Academy in 1878. During the Spanish-American War, he served as Executive Officer in Gloucester and under Richard Wainright, took part in the famous Battle of Santiago. The converted yacht, off the harbor entrance when the Spanish fleet sortied, engaged enemy destroyers Pluton and Furor, defeating both. Lieutenant Huse was advanced five numbers in grade for “eminent and conspicuous conduct in battle.” He later led a successful landing party at Guanica, Puerto Rico 25 July 1898. Following the war, Huse taught at the Naval Academy and commanded various ships, including Vermont and Nevada. He also took part in the landings at Vera Cruz 21-22 April 1914, and for his skillful direction and outstanding leadership received the Medal of Honor. In 1919 he went to France as a member of the Allied Naval Armistice Commission, and 24 June 1920 became Commander, U.S. Naval Forces in European Waters, with the rank of Vice Admiral. Admiral Huse’s last active assignment was as a member of the General Board. Retiring in December 1922, he died 14 May 1942 at the Naval Hospital, Bethesda, Md.


Disposition:

Sold for scrap in 1974 and broken up that year in Camden, New Jersey.


A Tin Can Sailors Destroyer History

USS HUSE DE-145

The Tin Can Sailor, May 1988

Harry McLaren Pinckney Huse was born at the Military Academy in West Point in 1858. He graduated from the Naval Academy in 1878 and was one of the outstanding leaders in the Spanish-American War. He was advanced five numbers in grade for his conduct in battle. He retired in 1922 as Vice Admiral and died in 1942 in Bethesda, Maryland.

USS HUSE was commissioned on 30 August 1943. After exhaustive training, HUSE joined the Atlantic fleet on convoy duty in November. She continued convoy and patrol work until called upon in March 1944 to the carrier CROATAN’s anti-sub group. HUSE did not wait long to do what she was built for. On 7 April, in company with USS CHAMPLIN, she sank U-856 with depth charges. On 26 April 1944 HUSE with 3 other DD’s sank U-486. Her C.O. at that time was Lt. Cdr. R. H. Wanless, USNR. On 1 1-12 June, HUSE with two other DE’s sank U-490, her C.O. at that time was Lt. J.H. Batcheller, Jr. HUSE continued patrols, training and pilot rescue until the war in Europe ended. In July 1945 HUSE sailed for the Pacific but that phase of the war ended and HUSE eventually ended up in Norfolk in September of 1945.

She decommissioned at Green Cove Springs, Fla. on 27 March 1946, but recommissioned on 3 August 1951. She spent some time in Key West as sonar training ship and was then based at Newport, R.I. DE-145 made midshipmen cruises, training cruises and overhaul until 1957 when she joined a Navy missile test group in conjunction with the launching of a Vanguard Satellite. During 1958 and 1959 HUSE participated in NATO exercises and on sonar training operations at Key West.

In July 1960 HUSE arrived in New Orleans to begin a new career as naval reserve ship. HUSE made many training cruises and won the battle efficiency “E” for her squadron in 1961. DE-145 was a member of the quarantine forces during the Cuban Blockade in October 1962. HUSE continued her vital reserve training from New Orleans until June of 1965 when she was decommissioned. USS HUSE received 5 battle stars for WW II duty. She was sold for scrap in 1974 and broken up that year in Camden, New Jersey.

USS HUSE DE-145 Ship History

Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, April 2016

Huse (DE-145) was launched by Consolidated Steel Corp., Orange, Tex. 23 March 1943; sponsored by Mrs. L. M. Humrichouse, daughter of Vice Admiral Huse; and commissioned 30 August 1943, Lt. Comdr. W. A. Sessions in command.

Following exhaustive shakedown cruise off Bermuda, Huse returned to Charleston 25 October 1943. She then moved to Norfolk for additional training before joining her first Atlantic convoy there 13 November. After seeing this convoy safely to Casablanca, she returned to New York Christmas Day 1943. Following training exercises off Norfolk, Huse escorted another convoy to Africa 25 Janu-ary-11 February 1944, then, before returning home, engaged in antisubmarine patrol work off Gibraltar with ships of the Royal Navy.

Returning to New York 8 March, the ship was given a new assignment: to join escort carrier Croatan’s antisubmarine group in the Atlantic. Sailing from Norfolk 24 March to search for U-boats, the ships were rewarded with contact 7 April. The escorts dogged U-856 until it surfaced and was destroyed by gunfire from Huse and Champlin. After a brief period at Bermuda, the group stood out to the search area again 12 April. Carrier aircraft and escort vessels came upon another submarine 26 April, and the DE’s sank U-boat U-488.

Huse spent the period 11 May-3 June at Brooklyn, departing the latter date with Croatan to search for submarines. They had not long to wait, beginning attacks on a submerged submarine the morning of 11 June. Six depth charge and two hedgehog runs brought no confirmation of a sinking, but the persistent ships remained in the area searching until just after midnight 12 June when, radar revealed a surfaced submarine. The badly damaged U-490 was finished off by gunfire. In the months that followed Huse continued to operate with the Croatan hunter-killer group that had much to do with keeping open the important supply lines to Europe. Replenishing as necessary at Norfolk, Bermuda, or Casablanca, they scoured the sea for enemy submarines. In addition, Huse rescued downed pilots from Croatan’s air group on three separate occasions. She arrived Brooklyn 2 October 1944 for repairs and training, after which she conducted exercises in Chesapeake Bay and the Caribbean.

Huse joined Croatan for hunter-killer operations again 25 March 1945, and two of her sister ships scored a kill on -7-880 on 16 April 1945 in the Atlantic. They continued to operate in northern waters out of Argentia until returning to New York 14 May 1945.

The war against Germany over, Huse prepared to join the Pacific Fleet for the final effort to defeat Japan. She sailed 10 July 1945 for training exercises in the Caribbean, passing through the Panama Canal and arriving San Diego 7 August 1945. During the voyage to Pearl Harbor, the ship learned of Japan’s collapse 15 August. After various exercises in Hawaiian waters, the veteran escort ship returned to Norfolk via San Diego and the Canal Zone 28 September 1945. She, subsequently, arrived Green Cove Springs, Fla., 19 January 1946; decommissioned 27 March ; and joined the Atlantic Reserve Fleet.

Huse recommissioned in response to the increased needs of the Navy during the Korean conflict 3 August 1951. After shakedown training in the Caribbean, she arrived Key West 15 January 1952 to act as sonar-training ship. In May she steamed northward to take part in a cold-weather operation off Labrador. The ship then ‘began regular training operations, based at Newport, R.I., taking her to the Caribbean and Key West. This antisubmarine readiness training was maintained until July 1955 when the ship sailed to Norfolk to embark NROTC Midshipmen on a training cruise to Northern Europe. Huse returned to Newport 3 September 1955 and resumed antisubmarine operations. This continued until early 1957 when she made preparations to join the crack Navy task group operating off the Atlantic Missile Test Range.

During May 1957 Huse operated off Puerto Rico in connection with the launching of a Vanguard satellite test vehicle, and the subsequent nose cone recovery efforts. After further tactical exercises at Key West, she sailed in September for important NATO exercises in Northern European waters, returning to Newport 21 October 1957. During 1958 and 1959, except for short cruises to the Caribbean and periodic overhaul, Ruse remained in the Key West area on sonar-training operations.

Huse was assigned to the Naval Reserve Training program in March 1960, and for the next three months carried out training cruises with reservists from New York and Norfolk. She arrived New Orleans, her new home port, 6 July 1960 to ‘begin reserve training cruises, designed to keep the Navy’s reserve officers and men at a peak of training and professional knowledge should expansion of the navy be required to protect and defend the United States. In October 1962, when the introduction of offensive missiles into Cuba brought on Just such a demand, Huse promptly steamed to Florida to bolster Naval strength in support of the quarantine operations. Through 1963 into 1965 she continued to operate out of New Orleans in the Gulf and the Caribbean performing her vital training function. In June 1965 Huse decommissioned and was placed in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet at Norfolk, Va., where she remains.

Huse received five battle stars for World War II service.