Name Rolf Laid down 20 March 1944 Decommissioned 3 June 1946 Construction started 20 March 1944 Length 93 m | Namesake Robert Walter Rolf Commissioned 7 September 1944 Struck 1 December 1972 Launched 23 May 1944 | |
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Builder Consolidated Steel Corporation | ||
USS Rolf (DE-362) was a John C. Butler-class destroyer escort acquired by the U.S. Navy during World War II. The primary purpose of the destroyer escort was to escort and protect ships in convoy, in addition to other tasks as assigned, such as patrol or radar picket.
USS Rolf was named in honor of Robert Walter Rolf who was awarded the Navy Cross for his actions at New Guinea. The ship's keel was laid down on 20 March 1944 by Consolidated Steel Corp. at their yard in Orange, Texas. The ship was launched on 23 May 1944, sponsored by Mrs. Martha M. Rolf, mother of Lieutenant (Junior grade) Rolf. The warship was commissioned on 7 September 1944, Lt. Comdr. Lester E. Hubbell, USNR, in command.
Operational history
Following shakedown off Bermuda, she departed Norfolk, Virginia on 30 November and reached San Diego, California on 5 December. Rolf then sailed for the southwest Pacific Ocean and escorted a convoy from Hollandia, New Guinea, to Leyte Gulf. The ship subsequently operated under the Philippine Sea Frontier, and from May to August was part of a hunter-killer group at Subic Bay, Philippine Islands. Just prior to the close of hostilities, Rolf participated in a search for enemy midget submarines believed to be operating northeast of Casiguran Bay, Luzon.
Following the Japanese surrender, the destroyer escort sailed with a task group via Okinawa to Jinsen, Korea, for operations in support of the Korean occupation. She later took part in the occupation of China. Rolf decommissioned on 3 June 1946 and entered the Pacific Reserve Fleet at San Diego, California, where she remained until stricken from the Navy list 1 December 1972. She was sold for scrap on 11 September 1973 and broken up.