Office of Naval Records and History Ships! Histories Navy Department HISTORY OF USS BEBAS (DE 10) USS BEBAS (DE 10) was built in Charlestown Navy Yard, Boston, Massachusetts and commissioned there on 15 May 1943, During July of 1943 the ship went through its shakedown cruise in Bermuda, the month of August being spent in short cruises in Atlantic coastal waters. - On 1 September 1943 the ship passed through the Panama Canal and, in company with the USS SEID, USS PARKS and USS OSTERHAUS, pro- ceeded to Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides by way of the Galapagos Islands and the Society Islands. October and November were spent in routehe convoy and screening” duties between Noumea, Espiritu Santo and Guadalcanal. On October ll, 1943, while patrolling off Guadalcanal, this ship tied up alongside the torpedoed SS JOHN H, COUCH and attempted for four hours to stop gasoline and TNT fires. The effort was unsuccessful but much salvage work was accomplished. December 1943 and January 1944 were spent on hunter-killer operations in collaboration with Commanding General Fijis. In February and March the ship resumed routine convoy Work in the Solomons ~- New Hebrides - New Caledonia area. In April,the BEDAS returned to the United States for overhaul in Hunter's Point Naval Drydocks, San Francisco. June and July of 1944 were employed in taining exercises at Pearl Harbor and escor tduty between Hawaii and the Marshall Islands, In August the BEBAS was assigned to Task Group 30.7, operating with the USS HOGGATT BAY in air-search and anti-submarine operations in connection with the invasions of the Palaus and the Philippines. Upon completion of this assignment, late in Octcher, the ship was given miscellaneous screening and escort duties around the Palaus and Ulithi. ate November and the first half of December saw the BEBAS back in South Pacific waters while undergoing repairs at Espiritu Santo. January, February and March of 1945 were spent in escort work between the Palaus, Ulithi, and Eniwetok. On 3 February, approximately 400 miles west of Eniwetok, radar contact on a Jap submarine was established. An attack was made and several charges hit the submarine. No vessel of the conwy was attacked by the submarine, so, although not credited with a "kill", the BEBAS! record of successful escorting remained clear. In April and May the BEBAS. participated inthe invasion of Okinawa, first escorting the transport groups, then screening in the anti-submarine screen off Okinawa. While on this assignment, the ship rescued a Marine flier who had parachuted into the water. me USS BEBAS (DE 10) In July the BEB S was assigned to the refueling group in support of the attacks of Task Force 38 on Japan. In August the ship returned to Pearl Harbor for installation of ordnance and radar equipment. Upon the cessation of hostilities the ship was ordered to the United States for decommissioning; and on 18 October 1945 was placed out of commission in the Naval Drydocks, Terminal Island, San Pedro, California By Directive dated January 1947, the USS BEBAS (DE 10) was to be disposed of by sale through the Navy. &-%--% USS BEBAS earned three battle stars on the Asiatic-Pacific Area Service Medal, for participating in the following operations: 1 Star/Western Caroline Islands Speration Capture and Occupation of Southern Palau Islands -- 6 September to 14 October 1944 Assaults on the Philippine Islands -- 9 to 24 September 1944 1 Star/Okinawa Gunto Operation Assault and Occupation of Okinawa Gunto -- 24 March to 350 June 1945 1 Star/THIRD Fleet Operations against Japan -- 10 July to 15 August 1945 ¢ 2 ¢ &.¢F STATISTICS DISPLACEMENT 1,150 tons LENGTH OVERALL 289 ft. 5 in. BEAM 9S -TUs COMPLEMENT 200 SPEED 22 knots ARMAMENT: Three 3 inch 50 caliber guns plus 20 MM anti- air craft guns. Stencilled September 13, 1946 Restenciled June 1951 On 8 January 1947, USS BEBAS (DE-10) was sold to Pacific Bridge Company, 333 Kearny Street, San Francisco, California. She was scrapped in May of 1947.