War Veterans Saved This Destroyer Escort from Being Scrapped After Its Heroic WWII Service

USS Slater DE-766

The USS Slater isn’t the biggest warship you’ll ever see. But this scrappy Destroyer Escort watched over supply ships during World War II, chased U boats, and lived to tell about it. Now she floats on the Hudson, the last of her type still on the water.

Here’s the tale of a true naval survivor.

America’s Last Fighting Destroyer Escort

The USS Slater is America’s only floating destroyer escort, a ship class that helped win World War II. This National Historic Landmark looks exactly like it did in 1945, giving visitors a real taste of naval warfare.

The 306-foot Cannon-class vessel sits on the Hudson River in Albany since 1997. The Slater keeps alive the story of the 563 destroyer escorts that hunted Nazi U-boats and defended against Japanese attacks.

These small but mighty ships protected the convoys that carried victory to Europe and beyond.

A Warship Born in Tampa’s Yard

USS Slater took shape at Tampa Shipbuilding Company in 1943, when German submarines threatened Atlantic shipping lanes. The Cannon-class design used diesel-electric drive for long-range patrol capability.

The ship launched on February 13, 1944, with Lenora Slater, mother of its namesake hero, breaking the champagne bottle across its bow. Fourteen Slater family members watched as the Navy commissioned the ship on May 1, 1944, under Lieutenant Commander Blancq.

These specialized warships packed submarine-hunting weapons alongside advanced detection gear. Their all-welded hulls allowed quick construction, with 72 completed by war’s end.

First Test in Bermuda Waters

After joining the fleet, USS Slater sailed to Bermuda in June 1944 for shakedown training. Crews worked around the clock mastering their new ship.

During this period, Slater joined a top-secret mission. The new ship helped transfer torpedoes from the captured German submarine U-505, taken intact by American forces on June 4.

This prize gave Allied codebreakers priceless Enigma machines and codebooks. Slater then headed to Key West, serving as both a target ship for pilot training and a sonar school vessel.

Five Atlantic Convoy Crossings

Slater began real convoy duty from Brooklyn on October 3, 1944. For seven months, she switched between Atlantic crossings and training at Portland, Maine.

By war’s end in Europe, Slater had safely escorted five major convoys across the U-boat-filled Atlantic. Sailing with other escort ships, Slater formed a protective shield around valuable merchant vessels.

Storm-Battered in Winter Seas

The December 1944 crossing pushed Slater to her limits. Naval records show that on December 18, both USS Slater and USS Somers suffered damage from massive North Atlantic waves during a violent winter storm.

Sailing alongside escort ships Burrows, Kirkpatrick, Oswald, and Ebert, Slater fought waves that crashed repeatedly over her bow. The storm scattered their formation, forcing crews to struggle maintaining their protective screen around the merchant ships.

Two days later, USS Somers reported even more weather damage. Despite nature’s fury, every ship in the convoy reached New York safely on December 22 – proving these small escorts could overcome both enemy threats and raging seas.

Weapons That Hunt and Kill

Slater carried specialized weapons for finding and destroying submarines. Her main sub-killer was the Hedgehog Projector Mark 10, which fired 144 contact explosives ahead of the ship – much better than traditional depth charges that often missed.

For deeper attacks, she carried eight “K-gun” projectors and two stern racks. Against aircraft, she mounted three 3-inch/50 caliber guns, a twin 40mm Bofors gun, and eight 20mm guns.

Originally carrying three 21-inch torpedo tubes, these were removed before Pacific service to add more anti-aircraft protection. At 1,240 tons empty, Slater was much smaller than fleet destroyers but more nimble for hunting submarines.

Four Diesels Drive The Ship

Four General Motors 16-278A diesel engines powered Slater – the same tough engines used in American submarines. Unlike the fuel-hungry steam turbines in larger warships, this diesel-electric system was perfect for long escort missions.

The diesels generated electricity for two motors driving twin propellers, making 6,000 horsepower. This gave Slater a 21-knot top speed – enough for convoy work and submarine chasing.

Best of all, it provided an amazing 10,800-mile range at convoy speeds. This setup allowed running on fewer engines when cruising, saving fuel.

The system offered better reliability through backup engines and ran quieter – essential when hunting submarines with sonar.

Pacific Duty After Germany Falls

With victory in Europe secured, Slater headed to the Pacific in June 1945. She stopped at the Virgin Islands, Cuba, and Panama before crossing through the Panama Canal on June 28.

After visits to San Diego and Pearl Harbor, she joined Task Unit 33.2.4 at Manila in September 1945. Though Japan had surrendered earlier that month, Slater continued vital escort work during the occupation.

Her first Pacific mission protected a convoy from Manila to Yokohama, supporting Allied forces entering Japan. Throughout late 1945, she escorted ships between Japan, the Philippines, and Pacific islands, helping secure newly freed territories.

Two Brothers, One Fighting Ship

The ship has a unique personal connection – Elam Slater, younger brother of namesake Frank, requested assignment aboard after commissioning. The Navy granted his wish, placing him as a 40mm gunner – the same weapon his brother Frank had manned when killed in action.

This created a living memorial as Frank’s brother carried on the fight against those who had taken his sibling’s life. The family connection began at the christening with their mother Lenora breaking the ceremonial bottle.

A hometown Alabama newspaper noted that while Frank “never got leave to come home” before his death, his family found pride in the ship bearing his name and his brother’s service aboard her.

Greek Navy’s Eagle For Decades

When World War II ended, the Navy decommissioned Slater on June 24, 1946, after just two years of service. She sat in reserve until late 1950, when preparations began for transfer to an allied navy.

On March 1, 1951, under President Truman’s plan to strengthen allies against Communist threats, Slater joined Greece’s navy as “Aetos” (meaning “Eagle”). With three sister ships – Ierax, Panthir, and Leon – she formed the “Wild Beasts” patrol group.

For forty years, Aetos guarded the Aegean Sea and trained Greek sailors during the Cold War.

Film Star in Two Navies

Slater’s movie career began during Greek service with two 1961 films. In “The Guns of Navarone,” starring Gregory Peck and Anthony Quinn, she represented Allied warships in the Aegean setting.

That same year, she starred in the Greek comedy “I Aliki sto Naftiko” (Alice in the Navy), featuring beloved actress Aliki Vougiouklaki, with many scenes filmed aboard the actual ship.

After returning to America and restoration, Slater appeared in the 2009 Japanese film “Last Operations Under the Orion.”

American Veterans Save Their Ship

When Greece retired Aetos in 1991, she faced the scrapyard until the Destroyer Escort Sailors Association recognized her unique status as the last floating destroyer escort of her type.

American veterans raised over $250,000 to rescue the ship. In 1993, a Russian tugboat pulled her across the Atlantic to New York City, where she first docked beside the aircraft carrier USS Intrepid.

Volunteers immediately started restoration while hunting for a permanent home. Albany, New York offered both good dock space and strong community backing.

On October 26, 1997, Slater arrived at her Hudson River berth. By 1998, she earned National Historic Register status.

Restoring Every Inch By Hand

When Slater returned from Greece in 1993, forty years of changes had altered her from her wartime look. The Greeks had replaced single 20mm guns with twin mounts and added more 40mm Bofors guns.

For over 25 years, dedicated volunteers – many being veterans with personal connections to these ships – have worked to return her to 1945 condition. This meant extensive research, hunting for original parts, and thousands of hours stripping away changes and rebuilding missing features.

In 2006, a welding accident caused a fire with minor damage, but repairs finished quickly. Without government funding, the work continues through donations, ticket sales, and gift shop income.

Walk Through World War II

Today, guided tours take visitors back to 1945 naval warfare. Navy veteran guides lead groups through all three deck levels, explaining both the ship’s systems and the sailors’ everyday lives.

On the main deck, guests explore powerful weapons including 3-inch guns, 40mm Bofors mounts, and 20mm cannons. Visitors can actually turn the gun turrets and raise the barrels, feeling what combat stations were like.

Below decks, perfectly preserved spaces show how 216 men lived in tight quarters. Tours visit the sailors’ sleeping areas, kitchen, dining area, Combat Information Center, radio rooms, engine spaces, and bridge.

Throughout the ship, displays show Slater’s wartime role and daily sailor life.

Visit USS Slater In Albany

USS Slater welcomes visitors April through November, Wednesday through Sunday, 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM, with final tours starting at 3:30 PM. The 2025 season opens April 2.

Find the ship on Albany’s Hudson River at the corner of Broadway and Quay Street. Free parking sits right next to the vessel.

Admission costs $9 for adults, $8 for seniors (65+), $7 for children 6-14, and free for younger kids. Besides regular tours, Slater offers youth group overnight camping and hosts naval reunions.

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