United States Navy — Destroyer escort
USS Roberts (DE-749) — service history
This is the full service history. For the vessel's particulars, photograph and specifications, see the entry.
In the words of the US Navy. The account below is reproduced verbatim from the Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, compiled by the Naval History and Heritage Command — a work of the United States Government, in the public domain, and the only text on this site not written here.
Before commissioning
Arthur John Roberts, Jr., born 14 January 1920 in Chicago, Ill., was commissioned ensign in the U.S. Naval Reserve 20 July 1942 and, after instruction at the Midshipmen's School Northwestern University, he was assigned to Pensacola (CA-24) then operating in the Solomons. Ensign Roberts was killed in the Battle of Tassafaronga, Guadalcanal, 30 November-1 December 1942.
Second World War 1939–1945
1943
Roberts (DE-749) was laid down 11 February 1943 by the Western Pipe & Steel Co., San Pedro, Calif.; launched 14 November 1943; sponsored by Mrs. Ruth Marohn; and commissioned 2 September 1944, Lt. Comdr. Robert M. Catharine, Jr., USNR, in command.
1945
Following shakedown off southern California, Roberts sailed for Pearl Harbor on 30 November. On her arrival 10 December, she joined a hunter-killer (HUK) group operating with Corregidor (CVE-58); and, for the next 3 weeks, patrolled to the north and east of Hawaii. During January and early February 1945, her group operated to the west, primarily in the Marshalls, then returned to Pearl Harbor. From 1 to 18 March, the group searched, unsuccessfully, between Johnston Island and Kwajalein for an overdue Army Air Corps transport carrying Lt. Gen. M. F. Harmon, USA. Toward the end of the month the ships replenished at Majuro, then resumed HUK operations, this time in the Marshalls.
Detached at the end of April, Roberts proceeded to Ulithi, whence she departed 12 May for Okinawa. Screening Nehenta Bay (CVE-74) en route, she arrived at midmonth. On the 16th she joined Natoma Bay (CVE-62) and screened her until the 31st. On the 31st she escorted Gilbert Islands (CVE-107), then, on 1 June, departed the Ryukyus to escort Makin Island (CVE-93) to Guam.
Roberts arrived at Guam on the 5th, steamed to Eniwetok, and, on the 27th, resumed HUK operations with Kasaan Bay (CVE-69). Into July the group patrolled the shipping lanes of Micronesia, then, toward the end of the month, shifted to the Philippine Sea.
In early August Roberts returned to Guam for repairs. On the 15th, hostilities ceased and Roberts was assigned to duty in the western Pacific.
During September, she escorted landing craft of the 5th Fleet's amphibious force from Saipan to Nagasaki; then, in October, screened transports from Luzon to Sasebo. On 18 October, she departed Japan for the United States.
Post-war 1946–1949
1946
The destroyer escort arrived at San Diego 10 November, then continued on to the Atlantic coast for preinactivation overhaul. In January 1946 she moved from Norfolk to Green Cove Springs, Fla., where she joined other ships waiting to berth with the "mothball fleet." In January 1947, however, she was ordered to the 5th Naval District for reserve training duty.
On 2 March Roberts arrived at Norfolk and on the 3d, she was decommissioned and placed "in service, in reserve." For the remainder of the decade she served in that capacity and conducted reserve training cruises along the Atlantic coast and in the Caribbean.
Korean War period 1950–1953
1950
In June 1950, war broke out in Korea. On 13 August, Roberts was recommissioned, in reserve, and 1 December she was placed in commission, active. Continuing her training duties, she expanded her operations, including fleet maneuvers on a large scale, in her cruises. In June 1952 she extended her training cruises to the Mediterranean, and, in 1953, she participated in NATO exercises. In the summer of 1954, an extended cruise took her to South American ports, while her 2-week cruises ranged from Nova Scotia to Florida, and in the Caribbean.
Cold War 1954–1963
1961
Until October 1961, Roberts continued her reserve training duty. Then, with the Berlin Crisis, the Selected Reserve was called to active duty and Roberts was assigned to the newly formed escort squadron CortRon 12, based at Norfolk. On 1 August 1962, after the release of her reserve crew, she returned to Reserve Destroyer Squadron 34 and resumed Naval Reserve training.
Vietnam War period 1964–1975
1964
Decommissioned and placed in service once again on 1 October 1964, Roberts continued her reserve training work, limiting her cruises to weekends and 2 weeks, until she was placed out of service on 21 September 1968. Her name was struck from the Navy list 2 days later.
Other photographs
Held for this vessel, and not tied to any part of the account above.
References
Every work this entry draws on. There are no numbered markers in the text above: what we hold is the provenance of the page — this history, this article, these photographs.
- History Roberts (DE-749) Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, Naval History and Heritage Command. A work of the United States Government, in the public domain — the only text on this site reproduced verbatim.
- Facts USS Roberts (DE-749) Structured facts only — dates, dimensions, armament and fate. No wording is taken from it. Harvested 1 August 2026.
- Photograph USS Roberts (DE-749) underway on 28 September 1944 (NH 107524) Unknown author — U.S. Navy photo NH 107524 — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
- Photograph USS Roberts (DE-749) at anchor off Grand Cayman island, in 1962 EM3 Jay Jones, U.S. Navy — U.S. Navy photo [1] from Navsource.org — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
- Photograph USS Roberts (DE-749) underway at sea, circa in the 1950s (80-G-1028016) U.S. Navy — U.S. Navy photo 80-G-1028016 from Navsource.org — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons