Conversion To Radar Picket Ship
After World War II most, if not all, early warning networks had been dismantled. At the height of the Cold War, paranoia ran deep within the halls of the United States military establishment. By 1949, the USSR had developed the atomic bomb and the capacity to deliver it by air. The USA considered that it needed to protect itself from the Russians, formerly allies.
To this end, the US constructed early-warning stations. This system was called the Distant Early Warning system or the DEW Line, which was a state of the art product.
There were 22 stations and the line spanned approximately 3,693 miles. The DEW Line's radar stations could chart the path of the Russian air bombers toward the North American continent. It was hailed as "a bulwark" against the forces of communism. Radar Picket Escort Destroyers were employed to detect these aircraft moving toward North America on a Polar route.
The Savage was redesignated a Radar Picket Escort Destroyer (DER-386) on 3 September 1954 and recommissioned on 18 February 1955 in Boston, Massachusetts; with Lt. Cmdr. R. E. Davis, USN as commanding officer. Distinguished guests included Walter S. Savage, Sr., father of Walter S. Savage, Jr., USNR, and Captain Oscar C. Rohnke, USCG.
In July 1955, she was transferred to the Pacific Fleet with her home port being Seattle, Washington. She arrived in Seattle on 6 August 1955. Savage served in this capacity until December 1958, when her home port was changed to Pearl Harbor. She operated as a radar picket ship of the mid-Pacific barrier from 12 January 1959 until March 1960.
She then served as a search and rescue navigation aid ship until May 1965.
Read more about this topic: USS Savage (DE-386)
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