USS Swenning (DE-394)

History
United States
Namesake:	Gust J. Swenning
Builder:	Brown Shipbuilding, Houston, Texas
Laid down:	17 July 1943
Launched:	13 September 1943
Commissioned:	1 December 1943
Decommissioned:	25 September 1947
Struck:	1 July 1972
Fate:	Sold for scrapping 17 January 1974
General characteristics
Class and type:	Edsall-class destroyer escort
Displacement:	1,253 tons standard 1,590 tons full load
Length:	306 feet (93.27 m)
Beam:	36.58 feet (11.15 m)
Draft:	10.42 full load feet (3.18 m)
Propulsion:	4 FM diesel engines, 4 diesel-generators, 6,000 shp (4.5 MW), 2 screws
Speed:	21 knots (39 km/h)
Range:	9,100 nmi. at 12 knots (17,000 km at 22 km/h)
Complement:	8 officers, 201 enlisted
Armament:	3 × 3 in (76 mm)/50 guns (3 × 1) 2 × 40 mm AA guns (1 × 2) 8 × 20 mm AA guns (8 × 1) 3 × 21 in (530 mm) torpedo tubes (1 × 3) 8 × depth charge projectors 1 × depth charge projector (hedgehog) 2 × depth charge tracks

USS Swenning (DE-394) was an Edsall-class destroyer escort built for the U.S. Navy during World War II. She served in the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean and provided destroyer escort protection against submarine and air attack for Navy vessels and convoys.

She was named in honor of Gust J. Swenning. Swenning was a member of the Forward Repair Party of the USS New Orleans (CA-32), when struck by a torpedo during the Battle of Tassafaronga 30 November 1942 which detonated the forward magazines, Swenning unhesitatingly dove through the oil and water in a flooded compartment to close a watertight door, in further efforts to assist in bringing the damaged ship to port he labored tirelessly and continuously for twelve hours after the cessation of the action. His courageous devotion to duty was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. Swenning died just a few days later on 1 December 1942 and was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross for his valiant efforts during the Battle of Tassafaronga.

She was laid down on 17 July 1943 by the Brown Shipbuilding Co., Houston, Texas; launched on 13 September 1943; sponsored by Miss Hertha Rhode; and commissioned on 1 December 1943, LT Richard E. Peek, Jr., USNR, in command.

Swenning moved to Galveston, Texas, to complete fitting out and sailed from there on the 28th en route to Bermuda on her shakedown cruise. The cruise ended at Charleston, South Carolina, where the ship entered the navy yard for a post-shakedown availability period.

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