Laid down 7 December 1942 Decommissioned 19 December 1944 Construction started 7 December 1942 Length 93 m | Commissioned 23 October 1943 Struck 20 July 1953 Launched 19 June 1943 Builder Dravo Corporation | |
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Namesake Harold Jensen Christopher Fate Transferred to Brazil, 19 December 1944 | ||
USS Christopher (DE-100) was a Cannon class destroyer escort built for the U.S. Navy during World War II. She served in the Atlantic Ocean and provided escort service against submarine and air attack for Navy vessels and convoys. She was named for a Navy Cross recipient, Harold Jensen Christopher, who was killed at Pearl Harbor aboard USS Nevada (BB-36) on 7 December 1941.
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She was launched 19 June 1943 by Dravo Corp., Wilmington, Delaware; sponsored by Mrs. Carl Christopher, mother of Ensign Christopher. D100 commissioned 23 October 1943, Lt. A. W. P. Trench in command.
World War II Atlantic Ocean operations
Christopher sailed from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 25 December 1943 for duty off Brazil and to Trinidad on training exercises in convoys and on screening cruisers during their shakedown and training periods. Between 16 January and 11 February, she sailed off Montevideo, screening the British cable ship Cambria as she repaired broken cables.
Transfer of Vessel to Brazil
Similar duty continued until Christopher was decommissioned at Natal, Brazil, 19 December 1944, and loaned to Brazil under lend-lease. She was renamed Benevente (D-20) in Brazilian service. On 30 June 1953, when the loan ended, she was stricken from the U.S Navy List and transferred to Brazil under the Mutual Assistance Program.
She was stricken and scrapped in 1964.