USS Le Hardy (DE-20)

USS Le Hardy (DE-20)

For other ships of the same name, see USS LeHardy and HMS Duff.

Career
Name:	USS LeHardy
Laid down:	15 April 1942
Launched:	21 November 1942, as HMS Duff (BDE-20)
Commissioned:	15 May 1943
Decommissioned:	25 October 1945
Renamed:	USS LeHardy, 19 February 1943
Struck:	13 November 1945
Honors and awards:	2 battle stars (World War II)
Fate:	Sold for scrapping, 26 December 1946
General characteristics
Type:	Evarts-class destroyer escort
Displacement:	1,140 long tons (1,158 t) standard 1,430 long tons (1,453 t) full
Length:	289 ft 5 in (88.21 m) o/a 283 ft 6 in (86.41 m) w/l
Beam:	35 ft (11 m)
Draft:	11 ft (3.4 m) (max)
Propulsion:	4 × General Motors Model 16-278A diesel engines with electric drive, 6,000 shp (4,474 kW) 2 screws
Speed:	19 knots (35 km/h; 22 mph)
Range:	4,150 nmi (7,690 km)
Complement:	15 officers and 183 enlisted
Armament:	• 3 × single 3"/50 Mk.22 dual purpose guns • 1 × quad 1.1"/75 Mk.2 AA gun • 9 × 20 mm Mk.4 AA guns • 1 × Hedgehog Projector Mk.10 (144 rounds) • 8 × Mk.6 depth charge projectors • 2 × Mk.9 depth charge tracks

USS LeHardy (DE-20) was an Evarts-class destroyer escort constructed for the United States Navy during World War II. It was promptly sent off into the Pacific Ocean to protect convoys and other ships from Japanese submarines and fighter aircraft. At the end of the war, she had to honor of proceeding to Wake Island, as the Japanese commander surrendered, and raising a flagpole to fly the American flag once again.

She was laid down as HMS Duff (BDE-20) for the Royal Navy on 15 April 1942 by Mare Island Navy Yard; launched on 21 November 1942; sponsored by Mrs. Bert A. Barr; retained for use in the U.S. Navy and renamed LeHardy on 19 February 1943; and commissioned on 15 May 1943, Lt. Comdr. J. H. Prause in command.