USS Leopold (DE-319)

The USS "Leopold" (DE-319) was an sclass|Edsall|destroyer escort built for the United States Navy during World War II. Named for Ensign Robert Lawrence Leopold (who served aboard the USS "Arizona" (BB-39) and was killed during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor), she was the only U.S. Naval vessel to bear the name. "Leopold" was laid down 24 March 1943 by the Consolidated Steel Corporation of Orange, Texas; launched 12 June 1943; sponsored by Miss Helen S. Leopold, sister of Ensign Leopold; and commissioned 18 October 1943 with Lieutenant Commander Kenneth C. Phillips, USCG, in command. After structural firing tests at Galveston, Texas she departed for New Orleans. On 7 November she proceeded to Great Sound, Bermuda where shakedown exercises were begun. On 9 December she left for Charleston, South Carolina and eleven days of post-shakedown availability.

After four days of training exercises for officers and her nucleus crew for new destroyer escorts in the Chesapeake Bay area, "Leopold" stood out of Thimble Shoal Channel on 24 December 1943 as part of Task Force 61, escorting convoy UGS-68 to the Mediterranean. On the 30th the "Leopold" was directed to go to the rear of the convoy and search for a seaman reported lost overboard from of the convoy ships. It was very dark and fairly rough, so, unless the seaman had on a life jacket with a light, the chances of finding him were slight. After 45 minutes she discontinued the search. The convoy reached the Straits of Gibraltar on 10 January and was turned over to British escorts. "Leopold" moored at Casablanca on the 11th. On the 13th she commenced patrolling as anti-submarine screen across the Atlantic side of the Straits of Gibraltar, the Task Force forming a line to prevent U-boats from entering the Mediterranean. On the 15th she moored at Gibraltar and on the l6th proceeded out of the inner harbor to close up the stragglers on west-bound convoy GUS-27. On 1 February a northwesterly gale caused the convoy to scatter and much time was consumed rounding up stragglers. "Leopold" arrived at New York on the 4th for ten days availability at the Navy Yard. From 14 to 27 February "Leopold", with other escorts of Escort Division 22, underwent training exercises at Casco Bay, Maine.

Departing New York 1 March on her second voyage, the "Leopold" took her screening station, as part of Escort Division 22, with the 27-ship convoy CU-16 bound for the British Isles. On the 8th she reported an HF/DF intercept which indicated an enemy submarine on the route of the convoy. The route was consequently altered. On 9 March, while south of Iceland, she reported a radar contact at 1950 at 8,000 yards, which placed it seven miles south of the convoy at coord|57|37|0|N|26|30|0|W. Assisted by the USS "Joyce" (DE-317), the "Leopold" was ordered to intercept. General Quarters was sounded and orders were issued to "fire on sight." A flare was released and gun crew strained to sight the submarine in the lighted area. The U-boat was almost submerged when spotted and the gun crews had to work blind. "Leopold" was struck by an acoustic torpedo fired from the German U-boat U-255. Badly damaged, she was abandoned.

The "Joyce" rescued 28 survivors at the close of the action; 171 others were lost through explosion on board or drowning after abandoning. "Leopold" remained afloat until early the next morning, then sank just south of Iceland.

References

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* cite web|title=USS "Leopold" (DE-319)|work=Destroyer Escort Photo Archive
url=http://www.navsource.org/archives/06/319.htm|accessdate=March 23|accessyear=2007
* cite web|title=USS "Leopold" (DE-319)|work=U. S. Coast Guard Historian's Office
url=http://www.uscg.mil/history/WEBCUTTERS/Leopold.html|accessdate=March 23|accessyear=2007