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USS REUBEN JAMES DE-153

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Hull Number: DE-153

Launch Date: 02/06/1943

Commissioned Date: 04/01/1943

Decommissioned Date: 10/11/1947

Call Sign: NWXN

Other Designations: DER-153


Class: BUCKLEY

BUCKLEY Class

Namesake: REUBEN JAMES

REUBEN JAMES

Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, October 2019

Reuben James was born in Delaware about 1776. During the Quasi-War with France, Boatswain’s Mate James participated in Constellation’s victories over the French ships L’Insurgente, 9 February 1799, and La Vengeance.

During the Barbary Wars, James served in Enterprise and accompanied Stephen Decatur into the harbor at Tripoli on 16 February 1804, as Decatur and his men burned the captured American frigate Philadelphia to prevent the Tripolitans from using her in battle. In the ensuing skirmish, an American seaman positioned himself between Decatur and an enemy blade, an act of bravery attributed to Reuben James and to Daniel Frazier.

For the rest of the war, James continued to serve Decatur on board Constitution and Congress. During the War of 1812, he served in United States, under Decatur, and in President. On 15 January 1815, however, President was defeated by the British and James was taken prisoner.

After the war, he resumed service with Decatur, on board Guerriere, and participated in the capture of the 46-gun Algerian flagship Mashouda on 17 June 1815. After peace was made with the Barbary states, James continued his service in the Navy until declining health brought about his retirement in January 1836. He died on 3 December 1838 at the U.S. Naval Hospital in Washington, D.C.


Disposition:

Stricken 30 June 1968. Her hulk was sunk as a target on 1 March 1971.


Ship History

USS REUBEN JAMES DE-153 Ship History

Wikipedia as of 2024

USS Reuben James (DE-153) was a Buckley-class destroyer escort in the United States Navy. She was the second ship named for Reuben James, a Boatswain’s Mate who distinguished himself fighting the Barbary pirates.

Reuben James was laid down on 7 September 1942 at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard, Portsmouth, Virginia, launched on 6 February 1943, sponsored by Mrs. Oliver Hiram Ward, and commissioned on 1 April 1943.

First based in Miami, Florida, she conducted anti-submarine patrols and provided training in convoy escort and anti-submarine warfare. In March 1944, she shifted homeport from Miami to Norfolk, Virginia. In June 1944, she escorted a convoy from New York to Norfolk. Between 13 July and 7 November 1944, Reuben James successfully escorted two convoys to the Mediterranean, returning with westbound convoys. During the ship’s first eastbound voyage, nine German bomber aircraft attacked its convoy off Algeria on 1 August 1944. Reuben James shot down one enemy bomber. Returning to Boston on 7 November 1944, she joined an anti-submarine group operation in the North Atlantic. Operating south of Newfoundland, Reuben James was present when USS Buckley sank the German submarine U-548 on 19 April 1945.

Arriving at Houston, Texas, on 4 July 1945, Reuben James completed conversion to a radar picket ship on 25 November 1945, and was subsequently employed in the Atlantic and the Caribbean while being stationed in Norfolk, Virginia. She was decommissioned on 11 October 1947.

In 1949, she was designated DER, but was reclassified DE in 1954. She remained in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet until struck from the Navy List on 30 June 1968. Her hulk was sunk as a target on 1 March 1971.