From the "Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships," (1968) Vol. 3, pp.532-533.

JOHN J. POWERS

DE-528

 Displacement:  1,140 t.
Length:  289'5"
Beam:  35'1"
Draft:  8'3"
Speed:  21 k.
Complement:  186
Armament:  3 3"; 4 1.1"; 9 20mm;
        2 depth charge tracks;
        8 depth charge projectors;
        1 hedge hog
Class:  EVARTS

JOHN J. POWERS (DE-528) was laid down 25 September 1943 by Boston Navy Yard; launched 2 November 1943; sponsored by Mrs. John J. Powers, mother of Lt. Powers; and commissioned 29 February 1944, Lt. Comdr. E. W. Loew in command.

After shakedown training off Bermuda, JOHN J. POWERS returned to Boston 19 April for antisubmarine exercises. She then steamed to New York to join a convoy for northern Europe, departing 2 May. The ship returned with another convoy 28 May 1944. With American troops and equipment building up in England for the cross-channel invasion, JOHN J. POWERS made a second convoy voyage, arriving Boston 2 August l944. She then engaged in training, followed by a coastal run from New York to Halifax and back.

The escort vessel got underway for Atlantic convoy duty again 19 September 1944, escorting a convoy of tankers and barges to England. Seven days later the alert ship rescued four crewmen from capsized Army tug ST-719. JOHN J. POWERS returned to New York 20 November and in December conducted special depth charge tests for the Bureau of Ordnance off New York and in Chesapeake Bay. In the months that followed, the ship made three more escort voyages to Casablanca, departing Mers-el- Kebir 7 May 1945, the day of the German surrender.

JOHN J. POWERS returned to New York 23 May l945 and, after maneuvers in Casco Bay, Maine, arrived Miami 21 July for duty as a training ship. During August, she provided tactical training for student officers in the Straits of Florida. The war over, JOHN J. POWERS sailed 8 September 1945 for Charleston, where she decommissioned 16 October 1945.

The ship was scrapped by Charleston Navy Yard in February 1946.

Transcribed by Michael Hansen
mhansen2@attbi.com