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| History | |
|---|---|
 United States | |
| Name | USSCoffman |
| Namesake | DeWitt Coffman |
| Builder | Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Company,Newark, New Jersey |
| Laid down | 9 September 1943 |
| Launched | 28 November 1943 |
| Commissioned | 27 December 1943 |
| Decommissioned | 30 April 1946 |
| Stricken | 1 July 1972 |
| Honors and awards | 1battle star (World War II) |
| Fate | Sold for scrap, 17 August 1973 |
| 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 |
|
USSCoffman (DE-191) was aCannon-classdestroyer escort in service with theUnited States Navy from 1943 to 1946. She was sold for scrap in 1973.
USSCoffman was named in honor ofDeWitt Coffman, veteran of theSpanish–American War who was awarded theNavy Distinguished Service Medal duringWorld War I. The ship was launched on 28 November 1943 byFederal Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co.,Newark, New Jersey; sponsored by Miss F. Liggett; and commissioned on 27 December 1943.
After oneconvoy escort voyage toBizerte,Tunisia between 12 April and 3 May 1944,Coffman served between 10 June and 10 July as a target forsubmarines in training. Assigned to thehunter-killer group formed around theescort carrierCard (CVE-11),Coffman joined in training patrols and a voyage toCasablanca during which the group covered the movement of several convoys. Alternate periods of exercises and patrols continued until early in February 1945, whenCoffman was ordered to join a group searching in stormy waters for a German weather ship reported south ofIceland.
She returned to screen carriers during air training operations out ofQuonset Point, Rhode Island, until April, when the GermanU-boats made their last great effort of the war, penetrating the eastern Atlantic in strength.Coffman and her division were ordered to a search along the coast ofVirginia, and on 30 April, she, withThomas (DE-102),Bostwick (DE-103) andNatchez (PF-2), sankU-879 in36°34′N74°00′W / 36.567°N 74.000°W /36.567; -74.000.
After continued service to carriers and submarines in training,Coffman reported toGreen Cove Springs, Florida, on 15 November 1945, and was decommissioned there on 30 April 1946 preparatory to disposal. Following the outbreak of theKorean War, she was removed from the sale list and placed in reserve. She was sold on 17 August 1973 and scrapped.
Coffman received one battle star for World War II service.
This article incorporates text from thepublic domainDictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be foundhere.
