Like and Follow us on Facebook!

Tin Can Sailors logo
Tin Can Sailors logo

USS MARTS DE-174

Home » Ships » DE-174

Hull Number: DE-174

Launch Date: 08/08/1943

Commissioned Date: 09/03/1943

Decommissioned Date: 03/20/1945

Call Sign: NZFF


Class: CANNON

CANNON Class

Namesake: ALVIN LEE MARTS

ALVIN LEE MARTS

Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, April 2016

Alvin Lee Marts, born 4 August 1923 at Wilsonville, Nebr., enlisted in the Navy at Denver, Colo., 2 July 1941. He served on Yorktown (CV‑ 5) and survived her loss following the Battle of Midway. Transferred to New Orleans (CA‑32), Marts served in the heavy cruiser as a firemen, second class. During the protracted struggle for control of southern Solomon Islands, an American cruiser and destroyer force, including New Orleans, fought Japanese destroyers in Iron-bottom Sound late 30 November 1942. Early in the Battle of Tassafaronga, New Orleans took a torpedo hit in her port bow which exploded two magazines and blew off the forward part of the ship back to No. 2 turret. Assigned to the forward battle repair party, Marts was gravely injured by the blast and fires. However, in complete disregard for his own safety, he assisted in carrying an injured medical officer to the battle dressing station amidships where he collapsed from loss of blood and exhaustion. He died from his wounds shortly afterward. For extreme gallantry and self‑sacrificing devotion to a stricken comrade, Marts was awarded the Navy Cross posthumously.


Disposition:

Scheduled for transfer under lend lease to the Brazilian government, she steamed to the Brazilian naval base at Natal on 2 March, and there trained Brazilian sailors. Recommissioned 20 March 1945 in the Brazilian Navy as Bocaina (D-22). On 30 June 1953, she was returned to the United States and simultaneously transferred outright to Brazil under terms of the Mutual Defense Assistance Program. She continued to serve in the Brazilian Navy until struck and scrapped in 1975.


Ship History

USS MARTS DE-174 Ship History

Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, April 2016

Marts (DE‑174) was laid down by Federal Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Co., Newark, N.J., 26 April 1943; launched 8 August 1943; sponsored by Miss Betty Marts; and commissioned 3 September 1943. Lt. Carl M. Fellows in command.

After shakedown off Bermuda, Marts departed New York 4 November for convoy escort duty off the Atlantic coast of South America. She reached Trinidad, British West Indies, 9 November, and during the next 5 months operated in the 4th Fleet escorting ships between Trinidad and Recife, Brazil. As escort for Omaha (CL‑4),she departed Bahia, Brazil, 23 May 1944 and patrolled the mid‑Atlantic, south of the Equator, in search of German U‑boats, until returning to Bahia, 5 June. She made two more patrols during the next month; and, after escorting Omaha to Gibraltar 13 July, she returned to Recife the 23d.

Between 24 July and 3 August Marts screened the British cable repair ship SS Cambria during repairs on communications cables off the Brazilian coast. Thence, she joined Escort Division 24 on hunter‑killer patrols in the Atlantic. Operating with Tripoli (CVE‑64), she made four offensive ASW patrols out of Recife between 22 August and 12 November. After completing sonar repairs at Bahia, Brazil, she sailed to Trinidad, where she arrived 5 December to resume convoy escort duty. From 6 to 18 December she screened a merchant convoy to Recife; thence, she continued escort duty between Brazilian Ports and Trinidad until the end of January 1945.

Marts joined Cincinnati (CL‑6) at Bahia 1 February and escorted the cruiser on patrol in the South Atlantic until returning to Recife 10 February. Scheduled for transfer under lend lease to the Brazilian Government, she steamed to the Brazilian Naval Base at Natal 2 March, and there trained Brazilian sailors. Marts decommissioned 20 March 1945 and recommissioned the same day in the Brazilian Navy as Bocaina (D‑22). On 30 June 1953 she was returned to the United States and simultaneously transferred outright to Brazil under terms of the Mutual Defense Assistance Program. She continues to serve in the Brazilian Navy into 1969.