_underway_at_sea%2c_circa_in_1943.jpg) | |
| History | |
|---|---|
 United States | |
| Name | USSBaron |
| Namesake | Richard S. Baron |
| Builder | Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Company,Newark, New Jersey |
| Laid down | 30 November 1942 |
| Launched | 9 May 1943 |
| Commissioned | 5 July 1943 |
| Decommissioned | 26 April 1946 |
| Stricken | 14 May 1952 |
| Honors & awards | 3battle stars (World War II) |
| Fate | Transferred toUruguay, 3 May 1952 |
 Uruguay | |
| Name | ROUUruguay |
| Acquired | 3 May 1952 |
| Stricken | 1990 |
| Identification | DE-1 |
| Fate | Sunk as Target in 1995 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type | Cannon-classdestroyer escort |
| Displacement |
|
| Length | |
| Beam | 36 ft 10 in (11.23 m) |
| Draft | 11 ft 8 in (3.56 m) |
| Propulsion | 4 × GM Mod. 16-278Adiesel engines with electric drive, 6,000 shp (4,474 kW), 2screws |
| Speed | 21knots (39 km/h; 24 mph) |
| Range | 10,800 nmi (20,000 km) at 12 kn (22 km/h; 14 mph) |
| Complement | 15 officers and 201 enlisted |
| Armament |
|
USSBaron (DE-166) was aCannon-classdestroyer escort in service with theUnited States Navy from 1943 to 1946. In 1952, she was transferred toUruguay where she served asROUUruguay (DE-1) until 1990.
Baron was launched on 9 May 1943 byFederal Shipbuilding and Drydock Company,Newark, New Jersey; sponsored by Mrs. Anne Pl. Baron, widow of Lieutenant Commander Richard S. Baron for whom the ship was named; and, commissioned on 5 July 1943. Baron had been awarded theNavy Cross for risking his life to recover classified documents during the bombardment ofCavite,Philippines.[1] He was killed on 15 March 1942 during the bombing ofCebu City,Philippines.
Baron departedNew York on 8 September 1943 for the Pacific. Between October 1943 and August 1944 she escortedconvoys among the island groups of the South Central Pacific Ocean. She also acted as a screen and fire-support ship during the following operations:Hollandia landings (21–24 April 1944);Truk-Satawan-Ponape raid (29 April – 1 May);Saipan invasion (20 June – 11 July); and capture ofGuam (22–29 July). On 7 September 1944 she arrived atMare Island Navy Yard for an overhaul.
Returning to the Pacific early in November 1944,Baron reported toCommander, Submarine Training, Pacific. Until the end of May 1945 she conducted training exercises with friendly submarines offPearl Harbor and Guam. For the remainder of the war she operated in the vicinity of theMarshall Islands engaged inhunter-killer, air-sea rescue, patrol, and escort duties.
On 27 August 1945Baron was ordered toMaloelap,Wotje, andJaluit Atolls for the surrender of their Japanesegarrisons. The surrender was completed by 6 September andBaron remained at Wotje Atoll until 18 September supervising the disarmament of the Japanese fortifications. She then steamed toSan Diego, California, arriving on 29 September. Departing the next day, she proceeded to New York, where she arrived on 14 October.Baron went out of commission in reserve on 26 April 1946 atGreen Cove Springs, Florida.
Baron was the first of twoCannon-class destroyers transferred toUruguay under theMutual Defense Assistance Program on 3 May 1952 and commissioned as ROUUruguay (DE-1).[2] The20 mm Mk.4 AA guns and torpedo tubes were removed.[3] In 1969, both destroyers participated inUNITAS X joint exercises with the U.S. and other South American navies.[4]
She was decommissioned in 1980, and sunk as atarget ship in 1995.[5][6]
In 2025 the wreck was located by Uruguay Sub-200 expedition. Upright and apparently in good condition.[1]
Baron received three battle stars for her World War II service in the Pacific.
DE-166 appears in the fictional novelThin Air as theUSS Sturman.[7]
This article incorporates text from thepublic domainDictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be foundhere.
