_off_the_Mare_Island_Naval_Shipyard_on_16_May_1945_(19-N-84878).jpg) Canfield on 16 May 1945 | |
| History | |
|---|---|
 United States | |
| Name | USSCanfield (DE-262) |
| Builder | Boston Navy Yard |
| Laid down | 23 February 1943 |
| Launched | 6 April 1943 |
| Commissioned | 22 July 1943 |
| Decommissioned | 21 December 1945 |
| Stricken | 8 January 1946 |
| Honours & awards | 4Battle Stars |
| Fate | Sold for scrap, 12 June 1947 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type | Evarts class destroyer escort |
| Displacement | 1,140 (std), 1,430 tons (full) |
| Length | 289 ft 5 in (88.21 m) (oa), 283 ft 6 in (86.41 m) (wl) |
| Beam | 35 ft 2 in (10.72 m) |
| Draft | 11 ft 0 in (3.35 m) (max) |
| Propulsion | 4GM Model 16-278Adiesel engines with electric drive, 6000 shp, 2screws |
| Speed | 19 knots |
| Range | 4,150 nm |
| Complement | 15 officers / 183 enlisted |
| Armament |
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USSCanfield (DE-262) was anEvarts-classdestroyer escort constructed for theUnited States Navy duringWorld War II. She was sent off into thePacific Ocean to protectconvoys and other ships fromJapanesesubmarines and fighteraircraft. She performed escort andantisubmarine operations in dangerous battle areas and returned home with fourbattle stars.
Leon William Canfield was born on 9 November 1915 inNew York City. On 13 May 1940 he enlisted in theUnited States Naval Reserve and after aviation training, was discharged on 4 March 1941. He reenlisted on 25 July 1941 and attended the U.S. Navy Midshipmen's School,Fort Schuyler, New York. He was appointedEnsign on 16 January 1942.
In November 1942, he was serving on board the battleshipUSS South Dakota in theNaval Battle of Guadalcanal. At about 00:57 on 15 November a 6-inchImperial Japanese Navy shell penetrated into the radar plot on the port side of theSouth Dakota and demolished it killing him.
She was launched on 6 April 1943 byBoston Navy Yard; sponsored by Mrs. L. W. Canfield; and commissioned on 22 July 1943.
Canfield sailed fromBoston, Massachusetts on 13 October 1943 forPearl Harbor, arriving on 17 November. From 25 November – 10 December, she screened the vital but vulnerable tankers supporting air strikes on theMarshall Islands. In January,Canfield sailed toMajuro, from which base she continued to operate onconvoy escort, patrol, and plane guard in the Marshalls operation.
Returning to Pearl Harbor in April 1944,Canfield got underway on 6 May escorting a tanker convoy bound for Majuro. Here she resumed escort duties, now supporting the Marianas operation. In September, the escort vessel arrived atEniwetok, and until December, guarded convoys to the forward base atUlithi. These convoys carried the men and supplies essential to thePhilippines operation.
Early in March 1945, after a visit to Pearl Harbor,Canfield arrived offIwo Jima, and served on patrol during the assault and capture of the northern part of the island. On 20 March, she embarked men of the veteran 4th Marines for transportation to Pearl Harbor.
Canfield continued toSan Francisco, California, for overhaul, andSan Diego, California, for refresher training, returning to Pearl Harbor on 7 June. After a month ofantisubmarine and plane guard duty, she sailed forSan Pedro Bay,Philippine Islands, where she joined a Japan-bound occupation convoy.Canfield anchored inTokyo Bay on 20 September.
On 6 October,Canfield was underway for San Francisco. Here, she was decommissioned on 21 December 1945, and sold for scrap on 12 June 1947.
Canfield received fourbattle stars for World War II service.
This article incorporates text from thepublic domainDictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be foundhere.
