# USS Savage > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/USS_Savage > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/USS_Savage.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Savage > Source revision: 1334728740 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) 1943 Edsall-class destroyer escort This article needs more citations. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "USS Savage" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (December 2010) (Learn how and when to remove this message) USS Savage (DER-386) History United States Name USS Savage Namesake Walter Samuel Savage Jr. Builder Brown Shipbuilding, Houston, Texas Laid down 30 April 1943 Launched 15 July 1943 Commissioned 29 October 1943 Decommissioned 17 October 1969 Reclassified DER-386, 28 October 1954 Stricken 1 June 1975 Fate Sunk as target off California on 25 October 1982 General characteristics Class & type Edsall-class destroyer escort Displacement 1,253 tons standard 1,590 tons full load Length 306 ft (93 m) Beam 36.5 ft (11.1 m) Draft 10.42 ft (3.18 m) full load Propulsion 4 FM diesel engines, 4 diesel-generators, 6,000 shp (4,500 kW), 2 screws Speed 21 kn (39 km/h; 24 mph) Range 9,100 nmi (16,900 km; 10,500 mi) at 12 kn (22 km/h; 14 mph) Complement 8 officers, 201 enlisted Armament 3 × single 3 in (76 mm)/50 guns 1 × twin 40 mm AA guns 8 × single 20 mm AA guns 1 × triple 21 in (533 mm) torpedo tubes 8 × depth charge projectors 1 × depth charge projector (hedgehog) 2 × depth charge tracks **USS *Savage* (DE-386)** was an [*Edsall*-class](/source/Edsall-class_destroyer_escort) [destroyer escort](/source/Destroyer_escort) built for the [United States Navy](/source/United_States_Navy) during [World War II](/source/World_War_II). ## Namesake Walter Samuel Savage Jr. was born on 26 April 1919 in [New Orleans](/source/New_Orleans), Louisiana. He was commissioned [Ensign](/source/Ensign_(rank)), [United States Naval Reserve](/source/United_States_Naval_Reserve), on 10 June 1941. After instruction at the Navy Supply Corps School, [Harvard University](/source/Harvard_University), Ensign Savage reported to the [USS *Arizona*](/source/USS_Arizona) for duty as Assistant Paymaster. He died on the *Arizona* during the [Japanese](/source/Empire_of_Japan) [attack on Pearl Harbor](/source/Attack_on_Pearl_Harbor) on 7 December 1941. ## Construction and commissioning She was [laid down](/source/Keel#Structural_keels) 30 April 1943 by [Brown Shipbuilding](/source/Brown_Shipbuilding) Co., [Houston](/source/Houston), Texas and [launched](/source/Ship_naming_and_launching) on 15 July 1943. The ship was [commissioned](/source/Ship_commissioning) on 29 October 1943[1] manned by a Coast Guard crew[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*].[1] On 18 November 1943, she was underway for [Bermuda](/source/Bermuda), British West Indies, for her [shakedown cruise](/source/Shakedown_cruise).[1] Commencing Thanksgiving Day of 1943, the ship was subjected to a rigorous training schedule including gunnery practice, submarine warfare tactics, maneuvering, and the hundreds of other tasks demanded of a [man-o-war](/source/Man-of-war).[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] On 23 December 1943 she departed for the U.S. Navy Yard in [Charleston, South Carolina](/source/Charleston%2C_South_Carolina) for post-shakedown repairs.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] ## World War II North Atlantic operations On Christmas Day, *Savage* completed her training and ship and crew reported to [Norfolk, Virginia](/source/Norfolk%2C_Virginia) as members of the [Atlantic Fleet](/source/United_States_Fleet_Forces_Command). In January 1944 the ship was assigned as one of six vessels composing Escort Division 23[1] of Task Force 63. This task force was engaged in escorting convoys of 60 to 80 merchant ships from United States ports to the Mediterranean Theatre.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] During the operations, lasting approximately seven weeks for each convoy, *Savage* and her [sister ships](/source/Sister_ship) safely escorted hundreds of ships loaded with vital war materials safely past the heavy enemy submarine and air concentrations in the Atlantic and Mediterranean.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] On 1 April 1944, Convoy UGS 36, whose escort included USS *Savage*, was attacked by thirty enemy aircraft north of [Algiers](/source/Algiers), Algeria. So intense was the gunfire of the escorting ships that the attack was repelled without a single allied vessel lost. Her only casualty during the action was a member of the [depth charge](/source/Depth_charge) crew who was struck in the ankle by shell fragments.[1] During the latter half of 1944 and the first six months of 1945, USS *Savage* escorted high-speed troop convoys between New York and the British Isles to support the final assault on Nazi Germany.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] During eighteen crossings of the Atlantic, *Savage* and her sister ships safely brought through over 1,000 loaded troop and supply ships without a single loss despite the persistent threat of enemy vessels and treacherous weather conditions.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] Following the defeat of Nazi Germany, *Savage* sailed to the [Brooklyn Navy Yard](/source/Brooklyn_Navy_Yard), where she was fitted with more anti-aircraft guns. She then sailed on 30 May 1945 for an intensive period of operational and gunnery training in the Caribbean off [Culebra, Puerto Rico](/source/Culebra%2C_Puerto_Rico).[1] ## Transferred to the Pacific theater After transiting the [Panama Canal](/source/Panama_Canal) on 18 June 1945, she proceeded from San Francisco to the [Aleutian Islands](/source/Aleutian_Islands) and arrived at [Adak](/source/Adak_Island) on 8 July 1945.[1] The ship and her crew reported to the Commander of North Pacific Fleets for escort duty. ## End-of-war activity After the hostilities in the Pacific ended, *Savage* escorted two convoys from [Cold Bay](/source/Cold_Bay), Alaska to Russian waters where the American escort ships were dismissed. One convoy departed Cold Harbor on 23 July 1945 and the other on 25 August 1945. During the interim, she escorted [oilers](/source/Oiler_(ship)) to refuel Task Force 92, which had been bombarding shore installations in the [Kuril Islands](/source/Kuril_Islands)[1] of Russia; then occupied by Japanese forces. On 27 September 1945 *Savage* departed [Attu](/source/Attu_Island) for [Petropavlovsk](/source/Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky), USSR, and arrived there on the morning of 2 October 1945. She delivered supplies and mail to [USS *Harry L. Corl*](/source/USS_Harry_L._Corl) then departed for Attu.[1] At the end of hostilities with Japan, *Savage* was assigned liaison duty in the Far East. She shuttled between [Okinawa](/source/Okinawa_Island), and [Qingdao](/source/Qingdao), China from December 1945 until February 1946 when she sailed for [Pearl Harbor](/source/Pearl_Harbor).[1] In April 1946, she sailed for [Green Cove Springs](/source/Green_Cove_Springs), [Florida](/source/Florida). She was decommissioned there on 13 June 1946;[1] with her CO Captain John M. Waters, USCG in attendance.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] Also decommissioned at this location in June 1946 were the other five Coast Guard manned ships comprising CortDiv23. [*Sellstrom*](/source/USS_Sellstrom), [*Ramsden*](/source/USS_Ramsden), [*Mills*](/source/USS_Mills), and [*Richey*](/source/USS_Richey). With the exception of *Richey*, all were recommissioned as Navy manned destroyer escort radar picket ships.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] ## Conversion to radar picket ship After World War II most, if not all, early warning networks had been dismantled. At the height of the [Cold War](/source/Cold_War), paranoia ran deep within the halls of the United States military establishment. By 1949, the USSR had developed the atomic bomb and the capacity to deliver it by air. The United States considered that it needed to protect itself from the Soviets, formerly allies. To this end, the US constructed early-warning stations. This system was called the Distant Early Warning system or the [DEW Line](/source/Distant_Early_Warning_Line), which was a state of the art product.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] There were 22 stations and the line spanned approximately 3,693 miles (5,943 km). The DEW Line's radar stations could chart the path of the Soviet bombers toward the North American continent. It was hailed as "a bulwark" against the forces of communism. Radar picket escort destroyers were employed to detect these aircraft moving toward North America on a polar route.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] *Savage* was redesignated a radar picket escort destroyer (DER-386) on 3 September 1954 and recommissioned on 18 February 1955 in [Boston](/source/Boston), Massachusetts;[1] with Lt. Cmdr. R. E. Davis, USN as commanding officer.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] Distinguished guests included Walter S. Savage Sr., father of Walter S. Savage Jr., USNR, and Captain Oscar C. Rohnke, USCG.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] In July 1955, she was transferred to the Pacific Fleet with her home port being [Seattle](/source/Seattle), Washington. She arrived in Seattle on 6 August 1955. *Savage* served in this capacity until December 1958, when her home port was changed to Pearl Harbor. She operated as a radar picket ship of the mid-Pacific barrier from 12 January 1959 until March 1960.[1] She then served as a search and rescue navigation aid ship until May 1965.[1] ## Vietnam operations On 17 May 1965, *Savage* sailed for South Vietnam where she spent more time on station in [Operation Market Time](/source/Operation_Market_Time) than any other DER. She guarded against sea infiltration by North Vietnamese and assisted land forces by providing naval gunfire support. She had no periods out of Vietnam service until October when she made a five-day visit to [Hong Kong](/source/Hong_Kong).[1] From October 1965 through October 1968 the ship made five more tours off Vietnam on [Operation Market Time](/source/Operation_Market_Time),[1] operating 50–100 yards (46–91 m) offshore, searching [junks](/source/Junk_(ship)) and small fishing boats for [Viet Cong](/source/Viet_Cong) weapons and infrequently providing naval gunfire support with her two 3-inch (76 mm) guns [*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] from 1 to 15 January, 12 June to 16 September 1966, 24 August to 8 September 1967, 16 September to 12 October and 2 to 18 December 1968. She made [Taiwan Strait](/source/Taiwan_Strait) patrols in June, September, and December 1967; and in July and October 1968.[1] During her 1967 and 1968 Market Time patrols, she also served as "mother ship" to 5 – 6 U.S. Navy [PCF's](/source/Patrol_Craft_Fast) (swift boats). All of *Savage*'s officers (except for the Executive Officer and Commanding Officer) functioned as additional officers to the two crews per Swift Boat (daytime and nighttime) covering the [Mekong River](/source/Mekong_River) Delta and the Mekong River in the "brown water navy".[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] On 1 February 1969 she arrived back in Pearl Harbor and entered the naval shipyard for restricted availability and upkeep. On 7 July 1969 she departed for [San Francisco](/source/San_Francisco) and deactivation at Mare Island Naval Shipyard in [Vallejo, California](/source/Vallejo%2C_California). On 17 October 1969, she was [decommissioned](/source/Ship_decommissioning) for the last time and joined the inactive reserve fleet.[1] ## Post-war decommissioning Explosion of an AGM-88A HARM missile on *Savage* in 1982 She was stricken on 1 June 1975 and sunk as a target off [California](/source/California) on 25 October 1982. ## Awards USS *Savage* earned one battle star in World War II[1] (Convoy UGS 36, 1 April 1944). - [American Campaign Medal](/source/American_Campaign_Medal) - [European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal](/source/European-African-Middle_Eastern_Campaign_Medal) with one [battle star](/source/Battle_star) - [Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal](/source/Asiatic-Pacific_Campaign_Medal) - [World War II Victory Medal](/source/World_War_II_Victory_Medal_(United_States)) - [Navy Occupation Service Medal](/source/Navy_Occupation_Service_Medal) with "ASIA" clasp - [China Service Medal](/source/China_Service_Medal) - [National Defense Service Medal](/source/National_Defense_Service_Medal) - [Vietnam Service Medal](/source/Vietnam_Service_Medal) with six campaign stars - [Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal](/source/Republic_of_Vietnam_Campaign_Medal)[1] ## References - *This article incorporates text from the [public domain](/source/Public_domain)*[Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships](/source/Dictionary_of_American_Naval_Fighting_Ships)*. The entry can be found [here](http://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/s/savage.html).* 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-DANFS_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-DANFS_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-DANFS_1-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-DANFS_1-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-DANFS_1-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-DANFS_1-5) [***g***](#cite_ref-DANFS_1-6) [***h***](#cite_ref-DANFS_1-7) [***i***](#cite_ref-DANFS_1-8) [***j***](#cite_ref-DANFS_1-9) [***k***](#cite_ref-DANFS_1-10) [***l***](#cite_ref-DANFS_1-11) [***m***](#cite_ref-DANFS_1-12) [***n***](#cite_ref-DANFS_1-13) [***o***](#cite_ref-DANFS_1-14) [***p***](#cite_ref-DANFS_1-15) [***q***](#cite_ref-DANFS_1-16) [***r***](#cite_ref-DANFS_1-17) [***s***](#cite_ref-DANFS_1-18) [***t***](#cite_ref-DANFS_1-19) ["*USS Savage*"](http://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/s/savage.html). *[Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships](/source/Dictionary_of_American_Naval_Fighting_Ships)*. [Navy Department](/source/United_States_Department_of_the_Navy), [Naval History and Heritage Command](/source/Naval_History_and_Heritage_Command). ## External links - [Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships](https://archive.today/20011005083318/http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/#Anchor-Editoria-14954) - [Photo gallery](http://www.navsource.net/archives/06/386.htm) of USS *Savage* at NavSource Naval History v t e Edsall-class destroyer escorts Edsall Jacob Jones Langley / Hammann Robert E. Peary Pillsbury Pope Flaherty Frederick C. Davis Herbert C. Jones Douglas L. Howard Farquhar J.R.Y. Blakely Hill Fessenden Fiske Frost Huse Inch Blair Brough Chatelain Neunzer Poole Peterson Stewart Sturtevant Moore Scott / Keith Tomich James R. Ward / J. Richard Ward Otterstetter Sloat Snowden Stanton Swasey Marchand Hurst Camp Howard D. Crow Pettit Ricketts Sellstrom Harveson Joyce Kirkpatrick Leopold Menges Mosley Newell Pride Falgout Lowe Gary / Thomas J. Gary Brister Finch Kretchmer O'Reilly Koiner Price Strickland Forster Daniel Roy O. Hale Dale W. Peterson Martin H. Ray Ramsden Mills Rhodes Richey Savage Vance Lansing Durant Calcaterra Chambers Merrill Haverfield Swenning Willis Janssen Wilhoite Cockrill Stockdale Hissem Holder Post-World War II operators United States Coast Guard Newell Pride Falgout Lowe Finch Kretchmer Koiner Forster Ramsden Richey Vance Lansing Durant Chambers Mexican Navy Commodore Manuel Azueta / Commodore Manuel Azueta Perillos (ex-Hurst) Philippine Navy Rajah Lakandula (ex-Trần Hưng Đạo) Tunisian National Navy|Tunisian Navy President Bourguiba / Indakh (ex-Thomas J. Gary) Republic of Vietnam Navy Trần Hưng Đạo (ex-Camp) Trần Khánh Dư (ex-Forster) Vietnam People's Navy Dai Ky (ex-Trần Khánh Dư) Preceded by: Cannon class Followed by: Rudderow class List of destroyer escorts of the United States Navy v t e Shipwrecks and maritime incidents in 1982 Shipwrecks 5 Jan: Akebono Maru No. 28 15 Feb: Ocean Ranger 16 Feb: MV Mekhanik Tarasov 18 Feb: SAS President Kruger 23 Feb: St. Bedan 26 Feb: Craigantlet 11 Mar: Ranga 9 Apr: USS Basilone 13 Apr: USS Robinson 26 Apr: ARA Santa Fe 2 May: ARA General Belgrano 4 May: HMS Sheffield 10 May: ARA Narwal 11 May: ARA Isla de los Estados 22 May: HMS Ardent 24 May: HMS Antelope 25 May: HMS Coventry 30 May: Atlantic Conveyor 21 Jun: RFA Sir Galahad 18 Jul: USS Agerholm, USS Porterfield 16 Oct: Island Cement 21 Oct: ARA Bahía Buen Suceso 24 Oct: Poet 25 Oct: USS Savage 19 Dec: European Gateway December (unknown date): Unirea Unknown date: Mahi, Temehani Other incidents 4 Mar: Vortigern 22 Mar: USS Jacksonville 6 Apr: ARA Guerrico 3 May: ARA Alferez Sobral 21 May: HMS Argonaut 25 May: HMS Broadsword 26 May: Bowbelle 8 Jun: RFA Sir Tristram 12 Jun: HMS Glamorgan 15 Jun: ARA Bahía Buen Suceso 18 Sep: Armorique 19 Dec: Speedlink Vanguard Unknown date: HMS Onyx, HMS Valiant 1981 1983 --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [USS Savage](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Savage) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Savage?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.