View source for USS Neunzer

{{Short description|WWII US naval vessel}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2021}}
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{{Infobox ship image
|Ship image=USS Neunzer (DE-150) underway in the Atlantic Ocean, in October 1944.jpg
|Ship caption=
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{{Infobox ship career
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|Ship country=United States
|Ship flag={{USN flag|1947}}
|Ship name=
|Ship namesake=Weimar Edmund Neunzer
|Ship ordered=
|Ship builder=[[Consolidated Steel Corporation]], [[Orange, Texas]]
|Ship laid down= 29 January 1943
|Ship launched=27 April 1943
|Ship acquired=
|Ship commissioned=27 September 1943
|Ship decommissioned=January 1947
|Ship in service=
|Ship out of service=
|Ship struck=1 July 1972
|Ship reinstated=
|Ship honours=
|Ship fate=Sold 1 November 1973, scrapped
|Ship notes=
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{{Infobox ship characteristics
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|Ship class={{sclass|Edsall|destroyer escort}}
|Ship displacement=*1,253&nbsp;tons standard
*1,590&nbsp;tons full load
|Ship length=306&nbsp;feet (93.27&nbsp;m)
|Ship beam=36.58&nbsp;feet (11.15&nbsp;m)
|Ship draft=10.42 full load&nbsp;feet (3.18&nbsp;m)
|Ship propulsion=*4&nbsp;[[Fairbanks-Morse|FM]]&nbsp;[[diesel engine]]s,
*4&nbsp;diesel-[[Engine-generator|generator]]s,
*6,000&nbsp;shp (4.5&nbsp;MW),
*2&nbsp;screws
|Ship speed=21&nbsp;[[knot (unit)|knot]]s (39&nbsp;km/h)
|Ship range=*9,100&nbsp;[[nautical mile|nmi.]] at 12&nbsp;knots
*(17,000&nbsp;km at 22&nbsp;km/h)
|Ship complement=8 officers, 201 enlisted
|Ship sensors=
|Ship EW=
|Ship armament= {{Edsall class destroyer escort armament}}
|Ship armour=
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|Ship aircraft=
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'''USS ''Neunzer'' (DE-150)''' was an [[Edsall-class]] [[destroyer escort]] in service with the [[United States Navy]] from 1943 to 1947. After spending several decades in reserve, she was sold for scrap in 1973.
==Namesake==
Weimar Edmund Neunzer was born on 31 July 1912 in [[Lynn, Massachusetts]]. He enlisted in the Navy on 24 February 1934. In the ensuing years he rose in rank while on {{USS|Portland|CA-33|6}}, {{USS|Chaumont|AP-5|6}}, {{USS|Shaw|DD-373|6}} and {{USS|Reina Mercedes|IX-25|6}} as well as several shore stations. Appointed Machinist 22 April 1942, he served in [[VPB-43|Patrol Squadron 43]] during action against the [[Empire of Japan|Japanese]] in the [[Aleutian Islands Campaign]]. He was killed in action on 2 July 1942 and posthumously awarded the [[Air Medal]].
==History==
''Neunzer'' was laid down by the [[Consolidated Steel]] Corp., [[Orange, Texas]], 29 January 1943; launched 1 June 1943; sponsored by Mrs. Weimar E. Neunzer, widow of the ship's namesake; and commissioned 27 September 1943.
===North Atlantic operations===
''Neunzer'' steamed to [[Galveston, Texas]], and then to [[New Orleans]], Louisiana, for fitting out. During October and November 1943 she went through shakedown off [[Bermuda]]. The new destroyer escort next visited [[Charleston, South Carolina]], en route [[Quonset Point, Rhode Island]]. For 4 weeks she operated with an Atlantic Fleet research group, developing new equipment for antisubmarine warfare.
After escorting a group of troop transports from [[Boston, Massachusetts]], to join a large convoy bound for [[England]] from [[New York City]] ''Neunzer'' proceeded to [[Norfolk, Virginia]], joining TF 62 on 1 January 1944. With this group she escorted a large convoy to the [[Mediterranean]], spending 8 days at [[Gibraltar]] before sailing for home.
=== Escorting Italian submarines ===
On her homeward voyage, she shepherded five [[Italy|Italian]] submarines to [[Bermuda]] for training purposes. During this trip, ''Neunzer'' carried out an operation which is believed to be unique for a destroyer escort. She refueled two Italian subs at sea, pumping 12,000 gallons of fuel through a fire plug and 200 feet of fire hose to the submarine.
In May 1944 Lt. Commander Virgil E. Gex became the skipper of the ''Neunzer''.
After two more voyages escorting convoys to the Mediterranean, ''Neunzer'' was detached from TF 62 to join escort aircraft carrier {{USS|Guadalcanal|CVE-60}} in a [[Hunter-killer Group|hunter-killer]] group. Following training at [[Casco Bay]], [[Maine]], and Bermuda, the task group made two search patrols for submarines in the Middle Atlantic, refueling in Bermuda. Neither of these patrols uncovered any submarines, and ''Neunzer'' returned to New York in late August.
During October the group put to sea again, this time searching for submarines in the North Atlantic. Although no submarines were discovered, the force ran through a very severe storm which damaged some of the ships. The patrol was finally broken off; the task group refueled at [[Ponta Delgada]], [[Azores]], before returning home early in November.
The antisubmarine group sailed from Norfolk 1 December for brief training in Bermuda en route [[Jacksonville, Florida]], where for 5 weeks the carrier trained student pilots. The group proceeded to [[Guantanamo Bay, Cuba]], late in January 1945 for 2 weeks of exercises; then ''Neunzer'' returned to New York for a brief overhaul.
After returning to [[Cuba]] for exercises in early March, the destroyer escort went to [[Miami]], Florida, for 3 weeks as training ship for student officers of the Naval Training Center there.
But now the Germans were ready for their final push, sending their new [[Submarine snorkel|snorkel]]-equipped subs across the Atlantic to attack the east coast. ''Neunzer'' suddenly received a message at midnight 8 April to get underway 6 hours later for [[Dominion of Newfoundland|Newfoundland]]. After refueling and provisioning in [[Argentia]], she left on the 19th and rendezvoused in mid-ocean with one of several carrier task groups strung out across the Atlantic between [[St. John’s, Newfoundland]], and [[Fayal]] in the [[Azores]] as a net to trap the snorkels.
=== Battling German submarine ''U-546'' ===
{{USS|Frederick C. Davis|DE-136}} made contact with {{GS|U-546||2}} on 24 April and was proceeding to attack when the submarine fired a stern shot which tore the DE apart and sent her down with heavy loss of life.
Eight destroyer escorts immediately joined the action. ''Neunzer'' and {{USS|Hayter|DE-212}} conducted a search while {{USS|Pillsbury|DE-133}} circled the area and {{USS|Flaherty|DE-135}} picked up survivors. ''Flaherty'' made contact in less than an hour and with ''Pillsbury'' proceeded to attack. The U-boat went to 600 feet. Contact was lost from 1045 until 1201 when {{USS|Varian|DE-798}}, {{USS|Janssen|DE-396}}, and {{USS|Hubbard|DE-211}} began another attack.
''Neunzer'' got into the fight after several attacks by the other DE’s, delivering a creeping attack with ''Varian'' and ''Hubbard'' while {{USS|Chatelain|DE-149}} directed. Contact was lost once more at about 1600, and ''Chatelain'' and ''Neunzer'' were ordered to return to the scouting line.
The line was expanded, and the ships began a sweep through the area, determined to prevent the submarine’s escape. ''Varian'' made contact once more at 1731 and ''Flaherty'' was ordered to attack. She fired at 1810. Four minutes later a small oil slick began coming to the surface. ''Flaherty'' made another [[Hedgehog (weapon)|hedgehog]] attack at 1828, and at 1838 the U-boat broke surface.
Every ship in the line within range began firing. At 1844, after more than ten and a half hours of attacks, {{GS|U-546||2}} rolled under for her last dive. Thirty-three of her crew, including the captain, were taken prisoner.
=== V-E Day ===
After [[V-E Day]], ''Neunzer'' returned to New York for 2 weeks and left on 25 May to escort the last Atlantic convoy of World War II from New York to [[Southampton, England]]. She returned without a convoy, and remained in New York harbor from 15 June until 6 July.
In July the ship trained at [[Casco Bay]], [[Maine]], and served as target for the Motor Torpedo Boat Training Center, [[Melville, Rhode Island]]. On 1 August she sailed to [[New London, Connecticut]], to escort {{GS|U-505||2}}, captured by Guadalcanal’s task group in June 1944. The sub was exhibited along the east coast and the [[Gulf Coast]] throughout the end of 1945 in a drive to sell [[War Bonds]].
=== Post-War decommissioning ===
After operations along the Atlantic coast, ''Neunzer'' decommissioned in January 1947 and entered the [[Atlantic Reserve Fleet]]. Into 1970 she remained berthed at [[Philadelphia, Pennsylvania]]. On 1 July 1972 she was struck from the [[Navy list]], and she was sold 1 November 1973, and scrapped.
== Awards ==
''Neunzer'' received one [[battle star]] for World War II service.
== References ==
*{{DANFS|https://www.history.navy.mil/content/history/nhhc/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/n/neunzer.html}}
== External links ==
{{Commons category|USS Neunzer (DE-150)}}
* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/06/150.htm NavSource Online: Destroyer Escort Photo Archive - USS ''Neunzer'' (DE-150)]
{{Edsall class destroyer escort}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Neunzer (DE-150)}}
[[Category:Edsall-class destroyer escorts]]
[[Category:Ships built in Orange, Texas]]
[[Category:1943 ships]]
[[Category:World War II frigates and destroyer escorts of the United States]]