Known as "corvettes" or "destroyer
escorts" in the WW II era, modern Frigates were built in large numbers to counter the Soviet
submarine threat. These highly specialized ships proved quite capable in
anti-submarine warfare, and several carried weapons systems that allowed them to
become effective anti-ship combatants.
Browse the
artwork available on the
Oliver Hazard Perry Class by clicking the navigation
button on the left. Or scroll down to see the artwork available on retired
Frigates and Destroyer Escorts of old.
Commemorative Drawing of the USS Samuel B. Roberts
DE 413 by George Bieda
This
print commemorates the efforts of the USS Samuel B. Roberts DE 413 and the crew
that manned her during the Battle Off Samar. On October 25, 1944,
USS
Samuel B. Roberts DE-413 was part of a light force of destroyers, destroyer
escorts, and escort carriers (Taffy III) protecting the amphibious assault fleet
off Samar Island in the Philippines during the invasion of the large island of
Leyte. Shortly after dawn, the Japanese Center Force — a 23-ship task force
suddenly appeared on the horizon and opened fire. At 07:35, ROBERTS turned and
headed toward the battle. Though heavily out gunned by the much larger Japanese
ships, the commanding officer, Copeland, ordered a torpedo attack against the
heavy cruiser CHOKAI. His words to the crew were "We're making a torpedo run.
The outcome is doubtful, but we will do our duty." With smoke as cover, ROBERTS
steamed to within 2.5 miles of CHOKAI, coming under fire from the cruiser's
forward 8 in guns. Once within torpedo range, she launched three MARK 15
torpedoes, one of which blew off CHOKAI’S bow. ROBERTS then fought with the
Japanese ships for a further hour, firing more than six hundred 5 in. shells
while maneuvering at very close range. She mauled CHOKAI’S superstructure with
her 40 mm and 20 mm anti-aircraft guns. At 08:51, the Japanese landed two hits,
the second of which destroyed the aft gun turret, commanded by Gunner's mate
Paul H. Carr. Carr was found dying at his station, begging for help loading the
last round he was holding into the breech. He was awarded a Silver Star for his
actions, and a the guided missile frigate USS Paul H. Carr FFG 52 was later
named for him.
Continuing with the fight, ROBERTS set the bridge of the heavy cruiser CHIKUMA
on fire, and destroyed her Number Three gun turret before being hit by three 14
in shells from the battleship KONGO. The shells tore a hole 40 ft. long and 10
ft. wide in the port side of her second engine room. . At 09:35, the order was
given to abandon ship. She sank 30 minutes later, with 89 of her sailors. The
120 survivors of the crew clung to three life rafts for 50 hours before being
rescued. You can click on the thumbnail image for a larger view, then click your
browser's BACK button to return here.
Shown
here is the USS Julius A. Furer (DEG-6), the last of the Brooke
class, before she was re-classified as a guided-missile frigate (FFG).
Click on the thumbnail for a larger view, then click your browser's BACK
button to return here. Be sure to select a specific ship and print options
when ordering!
Shown
here is the USS Roark (FF-1053), in her post-Vietnam configuration
and already re-classified as a Fast Frigate (FF). Click on the thumbnail
image for a larger view, then click on your browser's BACK button to
return here. Be sure to select a ship and print options when ordering!
Garcia Class Destroyer Escorts/Fast Frigates
There were 10 ships built as Destroyer
Escorts in this ship class with a final ship, USS Glover, built as a research
ship. These ships were commissioned between 1964 - 1968, and remained in
service until 1988 - 1990. The 10 original ships were reclassified Fast
Frigates (FF) in 1975. The designation of USS Glover was not changed to FF
until 1979. Shown
below are 3 examples of the Garcia Class in their original designation, and 2 as
Fast Frigates. We can produce drawings of any of these ships at any point
in their lives. Click on the thumbnail
image for a larger view, then click your browser's BACK button to return
here. Be sure to select a ship and framing options when ordering!
USS Garcia DE 1040
USS Brumby DE 1044
USS Koelsch DE 1049
USS Koelsch FF 1049
USS Albert David FF 1050
Shown
here is a profile drawing of the USS Cromwell (DE-1014).
Click on the thumbnail image for a larger view, then click your browser's
BACK button to return here. Be sure to select a specific ship and
print options when ordering!
Shown
here is the USS McCloy (DE-1038) as she was configured in the
mid-1960s. Click on the thumbnail image for a larger view, then click your
browser's BACK button to return here. Be sure to select a ship and
framing options when ordering!
Shown
here is the USS Charles Berry (DE-1035). Click on the
thumbnail image for a larger view, then click your browser's BACK button
to return here. Be sure to select a ship and framing options when
ordering!
Shown
here is the USS Naifeh (DE-352). Click on the thumbnail
image for a larger view, then click your browser's BACK button to return
here. Be sure to select a specific ship and framing options when ordering!
Show
here is the USS Finch (DER-328), an Edsall class destroyer escort,
after she was recommissioned as a DER.
Click on the the thumbnail
image to see a larger view, then click your browser's BACK button to
return here. Be sure to choose a ship and print options when ordering!
Shown
here is the USS Earl K. Olsen (DE-765), one of the last Cannon
class destroyer escorts to be built. This is how she was configured in
1944. Click on the thumbnail image for a larger view, then click your
browser's BACK button to return here. Be sure to select a ship and
framing options when ordering!
Shown
here is the USS Wyffels (DE-6), one of the earlier Evarts class
destroyer escorts built during World War II. Several from this class were
part of the Lend-Lease program with Great Britain.
Click on the thumbnail image for a
larger view, then click your browser's BACK button to return here. Be sure
to select a ship and framing options when ordering!
All images of artists represented
on this website are copyrighted; those images of works from the Coast Guard Art
Program (COGAP) are copyrighted by, and provided courtesy of the U.S. Coast
Guard and its art program artists.
All
orders for Limited Edition Prints subject to availability.
