USS Kenneth M. Willett (DE-354)
| Career (US) | |
|---|---|
| Namesake: | Kenneth Martin Willett |
| Builder: | Consolidated Steel Corporation, Orange, Texas |
| Laid down: | 10 January 1944 |
| Launched: | 7 March 1944 |
| Commissioned: | 19 July 1944 to 24 October 1946 25 May 1951 to 26 February 1959 |
| Struck: | 1 July 1972 |
| Fate: | sunk as target off Puerto Rico 6 March 1974 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type: | John C. Butler-class destroyer escort |
| Displacement: | 1,350 tons |
| Length: | 306 ft (93 m) |
| Beam: | 36 ft 8 in (11 m) |
| Draft: | 9 ft 5 in (3 m) |
| Propulsion: | two boilers, two geared turbine engines, 12,000 shp; two propellers |
| Speed: | 24 knots (44 km/h) |
| Range: | 6,000 nmi. (12,000 km) @ 12 kt |
| Complement: | 14 officers, 201 enlisted |
| Armament: | 2 × 5 in (127 mm)/38 guns (2×1) 4 × 40 mm AA guns (2×2) 10 × 20 mm AA guns (10×1) 3 × 21 in. torpedo tubes (1×3) 8 × depth charge projectors 1 × depth charge projector (hedgehog) 2 × depth charge tracks |
USS Kenneth M. Willett (DE-354) 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.
Kenneth M. Willett was named in honor of Kenneth Martin Willett who was awarded the Navy Cross for his brave actions in the South Atlantic Ocean. She was launched 7 March 1944 by Consolidated Steel Corp., Orange, Texas; sponsored by Mrs. D. C. Willett, mother of Lt. (j.g.) Willett; and commissioned 19 July 1944 at Orange, Lt. Comdr. J. M. Stuart in command.
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