Ocean escort


Ocean escort was a type of warship used by the United States Navy. They were an evolution of the destroyer escort types used during World War II. The ocean escorts were intended as convoy escorts and were designed for mobilization production in wartime or low-cost mass production in peacetime. They were commissioned from 1954 through 1974, serving in the Cold War and the Vietnam War.

Designation

The ocean escorts' hull classification symbol was DE, a carryover from the World War II era when vessels of similar size and role were classified as destroyer escorts. DEs were ASW vessels; DEGs were ASW and AAW vessels with the short-range Tartar guided missile added. Ships similar or identical to the World War II destroyer escorts and the Cold War ocean escorts were called "frigates" in most other navies.
Outside the US Navy, no other navy appears to have used the ship type of "ocean escort". The closest equivalents in type name are the Soviet and classes, built circa 1954–65. These classes' Russian designation of storozhevoi korabi translates to "escort ship", "sentry ship", or "guard ship". These were smaller than any of the US ocean escorts, at 1,416 tons and 1,150 tons full load, compared with at 1,877 tons full load. Many USN ocean escorts were transferred to foreign navies following USN service; they received pennant numbers beginning with "D", "DE", "F", or "E". The "E" designator was also used for ex-USN s in that navy.

Ocean escort classes

  • total

    1975 reclassification

The ocean escort type corresponded to other nations' frigates. Until 1975, the US Navy used the term "frigate" for destroyer leaders.
The 1975 ship reclassification changed the ocean escorts to frigates to be in line with other nations' classifications. The DLG-type "frigates" became either destroyers or cruisers, depending on tonnage.