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Hull Number: DE-749

Launch Date: 11/14/1943

Commissioned Date: 09/02/1944

Decommissioned Date: 09/21/1968

Call Sign: NZWX

Voice Call Sign: SHETLAND PONY


Class: CANNON

CANNON Class


Namesake: ARTHUR JOHN ROBERTS, JR

ARTHUR JOHN ROBERTS, JR

Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, April 2016

Arthur John Roberts, Jr., born 14 January 1920 in Chicago, Ill., was commissioned ensign in the U.S. Naval Reserve 20 July 1942 and, after instruction at the Midshipmen’s School Northwestern University, he was assigned to Pensacola (CA-24) then operating in the Solomons. Ensign Roberts was killed in the Battle of Tassafaronga, Guadalcanal, 30 November-1 December 1942.


Disposition:

Stricken 23 September 1968. She was finally sunk as a target in November 1971.


A Tin Can Sailors Destroyer History

USS ROBERTS DE-749

The Tin Can Sailor, January 2010

The CANNON-class destroyer escort ROBERTS (DE-749) was launched on 14 November 1943 by the Western Pipe & Steel Company of San Pedro, California, and commissioned on 2 September 1944. Following shakedown off southern California, the ROBERTS sailed for the Western Pacific on 30 November. At Pearl Harbor on 10 December, she joined a hunter‑killer (HUK) group operating with the CORREGIDOR (CVE‑58) patrolling north and east of Hawaii. During January and early February 1945, her group operated mainly in the Marshalls. From 1 to 18 March, she and her group searched unsuccessfully between Johnston Island and Kwajalein for an overdue Army Air Corps transport carrying Lt. Gen. M. F. Harmon. By the end of the month the ships were operating again in the Marshalls.

Detached at the end of April, the ROBERTS got underway for Ulithi and from there headed for Okinawa on 12 May, screening the NEHENTA BAY (CVE‑74) en route. She arrived at mid month and joined the NATOMA BAY (CVE‑62) and screened her until the 31st. On the 31st, she escorted the GILBERT ISLANDS (CVE‑107), then, on 1 June, left the Ryukyus to escort the MAKIN ISLAND (CVE‑93) to Guam.

By the end of June, the ROBERTS had resumed HUK operations with the KASAAN BAY (CVE‑69). The group patrolled the shipping lanes of Micronesia, but, toward the end of July, shifted to the Philippine Sea. In early August, the ROBERTS was at Guam for repairs when the hostilities ended and she was assigned to duty in the Western Pacific.

During September, she escorted landing craft of the Fifth Fleet’s amphibious force from Saipan to Nagasaki. In October, she went on to screen transports from Luzon to Sasebo. On 18 October, she departed Japan for the United States, stopping in San Diego before continuing on to the Atlantic coast for inactivation. In January 1946, she moved from Norfolk to Green Cove Springs, Florida, where she joined other ships waiting to berth with the mothball fleet. In January 1947, however, she was ordered to the Fifth Naval District for reserve training duty.

On 2 March, the ROBERTS arrived at Norfolk and on the 3rd, she was decommissioned and placed “in service, in reserve.” For the remainder of the decade, she served in that capacity and conducted reserve training cruises along the Atlantic coast and in the Caribbean. In June 1950, war broke out in Korea and by 1 December the ROBERTS had been placed back in commission. Continuing her training duties, she expanded her operations, including major fleet maneuvers in her cruises. In June 1952, she extended her training cruises to the Mediterranean, and, in 1953, she participated in NATO exercises. In the summer of 1954, an extended cruise took her to South American ports. Her two‑week reserve training cruises ranged from Nova Scotia to Florida and the Caribbean.

Until October 1961, the ROBERTS continued her reserve training duty. Then, with the Berlin Crisis, the selected reserve was called to active duty, and the ROBERTS was assigned to the newly formed escort squadron CortRon 12, based at Norfolk. On 1 August 1962, after the release of her reserve crew, she returned to Reserve Destroyer Squadron 34 and resumed naval reserve training. She was still engaged in reserve training work, with cruises limited to weekends and two weeks, until she was placed out of service on 21 September 1968. Her name was struck from the Navy list 2 days later.

USS ROBERTS DE-749 Ship History

Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, April 2016

Roberts (DE-749) was laid down 11 February 1943 by the Western Pipe & Steel Co., San Pedro, Calif.; launched 14 November 1943; sponsored by Mrs. Ruth Marohn; and commissioned 2 September 1944, Lt. Comdr. Robert M. Catharine, Jr., USNR, in command.

Following shakedown off southern California, Roberts sailed for Pearl Harbor on 30 November. On her arrival 10 December, she joined a hunter-killer (HUK) group operating with Corregidor (CVE-58); and, for the next 3 weeks, patrolled to the north and east of Hawaii. During January and early February 1945, her group operated to the west, primarily in the Marshalls, then returned to Pearl Harbor. From 1 to 18 March, the group searched, unsuccessfully, between Johnston Island and Kwajalein for an overdue Army Air Corps transport carrying Lt. Gen. M. F. Harmon, USA. Toward the end of the month the ships replenished at Majuro, then resumed HUK operations, this time in the Marshalls.

Detached at the end of April, Roberts proceeded to Ulithi, whence she departed 12 May for Okinawa. Screening Nehenta Bay (CVE-74) en route, she arrived at midmonth. On the 16th she joined Natoma Bay (CVE-62) and screened her until the 31st. On the 31st she escorted Gilbert Islands (CVE-107), then, on 1 June, departed the Ryukyus to escort Makin Island (CVE-93) to Guam.

Roberts arrived at Guam on the 5th, steamed to Eniwetok, and, on the 27th, resumed HUK operations with Kasaan Bay (CVE-69). Into July the group patrolled the shipping lanes of Micronesia, then, toward the end of the month, shifted to the Philippine Sea.

In early August Roberts returned to Guam for repairs. On the 15th, hostilities ceased and Roberts was assigned to duty in the western Pacific.

During September, she escorted landing craft of the 5th Fleet’s amphibious force from Saipan to Nagasaki; then, in October, screened transports from Luzon to Sasebo. On 18 October, she departed Japan for the United States.

The destroyer escort arrived at San Diego 10 November, then continued on to the Atlantic coast for preinactivation overhaul. In January 1946 she moved from Norfolk to Green Cove Springs, Fla., where she joined other ships waiting to berth with the “mothball fleet.” In January 1947, however, she was ordered to the 5th Naval District for reserve training duty.

On 2 March Roberts arrived at Norfolk and on the 3d, she was decommissioned and placed “in service, in reserve.” For the remainder of the decade she served in that capacity and conducted reserve training cruises along the Atlantic coast and in the Caribbean.

In June 1950, war broke out in Korea. On 13 August, Roberts was recommissioned, in reserve, and 1 December she was placed in commission, active. Continuing her training duties, she expanded her operations, including fleet maneuvers on a large scale, in her cruises. In June 1952 she extended her training cruises to the Mediterranean, and, in 1953, she participated in NATO exercises. In the summer of 1954, an extended cruise took her to South American ports, while her 2-week cruises ranged from Nova Scotia to Florida, and in the Caribbean.

Until October 1961, Roberts continued her reserve training duty. Then, with the Berlin Crisis, the Selected Reserve was called to active duty and Roberts was assigned to the newly formed escort squadron CortRon 12, based at Norfolk. On 1 August 1962, after the release of her reserve crew, she returned to Reserve Destroyer Squadron 34 and resumed Naval Reserve training.

Decommissioned and placed in service once again on 1 October 1964, Roberts continued her reserve training work, limiting her cruises to weekends and 2 weeks, until she was placed out of service on 21 September 1968. Her name was struck from the Navy list 2 days later.

Roberts earned one battle star during World War II.