USS Ahrens

USS Ahrens (DE-575) in the Atlantic Ocean
History
United States
NameUSS Ahrens
NamesakeEdward H. Ahrens
Ordered1942
BuilderBethlehem Steel Corporation, Hingham, Massachusetts
Laid down5 November 1943
Launched21 December 1943
Commissioned12 February 1944
Decommissioned24 June 1946
Stricken1 April 1965
Honors &
awards
2 battle stars (World War II)
FateSold for scrap, 20 January 1967
General characteristics
Class & typeBuckley-class destroyer escort
Displacement
  • 1,400 long tons (1,422 t) standard
  • 1,740 long tons (1,768 t) full load
Length306 ft (93 m)
Beam37 ft (11 m)
Draft
  • 9 ft 6 in (2.90 m) standard
  • 11 ft 3 in (3.43 m) full load
Propulsion
  • 2 × boilers
  • General Electric turbo-electric drive
  • 12,000 shp (8.9 MW)
  • 2 × solid manganese-bronze 3,600 lb (1,600 kg) 3-bladed propellers, 8 ft 6 in (2.59 m) diameter, 7 ft 7 in (2.31 m) pitch
  • 2 × rudders
  • 359 tons fuel oil
Speed23 knots (43 km/h; 26 mph)
Range
  • 3,700 nmi (6,900 km) at 15 kn (28 km/h; 17 mph)
  • 6,000 nmi (11,000 km) at 12 kn (22 km/h; 14 mph)
Complement15 officers, 198 men
Armament

USS Ahrens (DE-575), a Buckley-class destroyer escort of the United States Navy, was named in honor of Private Edward H. Ahrens (1919–1942), who was killed during the Battle of Tulagi and Gavutu–Tanambogo on 8 August 1942. He was posthumously awarded a Navy Cross.

Ahrens was laid down on 5 November 1943 at Hingham, Massachusetts, by the Bethlehem Steel Corporation; launched on 21 December 1943; sponsored by Mrs. Marie Ahrens, the mother of Private First Class Ahrens; and commissioned on 12 February 1944, Lieutenant Commander Morgan H. Hains in command.