John C. Butler-class destroyer escorts in World War II

The John C. Butler class—the Westinghouse Geared Turbine (WGT) type—featured a 12,000 shp Westinghouse steam turbine with double reduction gears. Gibbs and Cox prepared the detailed design and both Westinghouse and General Electric supplied machinery.
Length: “Long hull” 306' 0" x 300' 0"
Molded Beam: 37' 0"
Displacement: 1,350 long tons standard; 1,745 full load.
Draft: Light: 9' 4"; Deep: 13' 4"
Designed Complement: Officers, 15; Enlisted, 183.
Shaft Horsepower: 12,000.
Speed: Trial: 24.3 knots; Service: 24 knots.
Screws: Two
Rudders: Two
Bridge: Low, enclosed.
Stacks: One
Initial Armament: 2 x 5-inch/38 dual purpose guns.
2 x twin 40mm gun; later 1 x quad and 3 x twin.
10 x single 20mm guns.
2 x depth charge racks.
8 x depth charge projectors.
1 x Hedgehog.
In December 1942 before the first ship was laid down, the design was altered to include the low, closed bridge planned for the Rudderows.

BUILDERS
WGTs were built at Boston Navy Yard, Consolidated, Houston, and Federal-Port Newark.

LOSSES
   • Shelton was sunk by RO-41 off Morotai, 3 October 1944.
   • Samuel B. Roberts was sunk by Japanese surface ships off Samar, Philippine Islands, 25 October 1944.
   • Eversole was sunk by I-45 east of Leyte, Philippine Islands, 28 October 1944.
   • Oberrender was damaged by a suicide plane off Okinawa, 9 May 1945 and not repaired.

DECORATIONS
   • John C. Butler, Raymond, Dennis and Samuel B. Roberts received Presidential Unit Citations as part of Task Unit 77.4.3, Taffy III in the Battle off Samar, 25 October 1944.
   • Tabberer received a Navy Unit Commendation for rescue of survivors of the typhoon of 18 December 1944.
   • John C. Butler also received a Navy Unit Commendation for anti-aircraft action off Okinawa, 20 May, 1945.
   • Johnnie Hutchins received a Navy Unit Commendation for action against Japanese midget submarines, 8 August 1945.
   • Richard W. Suesens received a Navy Unit Commendation for action in the Leyte, Lingayen Gulf, Manila Bay-Bicol and Okinawa Gunto operations in 1944 and 1945.
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Sources: Bauer and Roberts, Friedman, Whitley, DESA, Global Security.