>From the “Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships,” 

(1970) Vol. 5, p.188.





OTTER





	Born 12 September 1914 at Louisville, Ky., Bethel Veech 

Otter reported to the Naval Academy, Annapolis, Md., as 

Midshipman from Kentucky, 12 June 1933.  He received his 

commission as an Ensign 3 June 1937 and served in connection 

with the fitting out of aircraft carrier YORKTOWN (CV-5) and 

at the Submarine Base, New London, Conn., before reporting 

to CANOPUS (AS-9), a submarine tender, 6 February 1940.  He 

was promoted to Lieutenant (junior grade) 3 June 1940 and to 

Lieutenant 2 January 1942.  He received the Silver Star 

Medal for gallantry in action and distinguished service as 

Fire Control Officer of CANOPUS during an attack by Japanese 

heavy bombers, Mariveles Harbor, Bataan, Philippine Islands, 

5 January 1942.  He was killed in action on Corregidor, 

6 May 1942.





DE-210

Displacement:  1,200 t.

Length:  306’

Beam:  37’

Draft:  12’3”

Speed:  24 k.

Complement:  216

Armament:  3 3”; 3 21” torpedo tubes;

	2 depth charge tracks;

	8 depth charge projectors;

	1 hedge hog

Class:  EDSALL



	The second OTTER was laid down 26 July 1943 by the 

Charleston Navy Yard; launched 23 October 1943; sponsored by 

Mrs. William M. Otter, the mother of Lt. Otter; commissioned 

21 February 1944, Lt. Comdr. D. M. Kerr, USNR, in command.



	Following a Bermuda shakedown, OTTER joined the 

Atlantic Fleet and escorted two carriers to Casablanca, 

then, for the remainder of the year, she helped protect 

convoys shuttling from the United States to various 

Mediterranean ports.  Throughout these operations not a 

single ship was lost.



	In December 1944, OTTER and three of her sister ships 

formed a task group to hunt and destroy German U-Boats in 

the middle and north Atlantic.  On 16 January 1945, without 

assistance from aircraft, the group located and sank German 

submarine U-248.  OTTER, after playing a crucial role in the 

depth charge attack, proudly displayed a sub silhouette on 

her bridge.



	In April, this task group joined a large task force of 

DE's and escort carriers patrolling the shipping lanes of 

the North Atlantic and searching for subs.  During these 

operations, destroyer escort FREDERICK C. DAVIS (DE-136) was 

torpedoed and sunk, and while other ships of the group 

engaged and sank U-546, OTTER assisted in the rescue of 

survivors.



	Upon the end of the European war, OTTER was one of the 

ships assigned to accept the surrender of German subs.  She 

intercepted a U-boat east of Newfoundland, put a boarding 

party on board, and escorted the sub, the second to 

surrender, over a thousand miles to the East Coast of the 

United States.



	OTTER then began to refit for the Pacific War.  The end 

of hostilities changed plans and OTTER was assigned to the 

Submarine Base, New London, Conn., to assist in submarine 

training.



	By directive dated January 1947, OTTER was placed out 

of commission, in reserve, attached to the U.S. Atlantic 

Reserve Fleet and berthed in Florida.



	OTTER received one battle star for service in World War 

II.



	[Stricken from the Navy Register on 1 November 1969, 

OTTER was sunk as a target off Puerto Rico on 10 July 1970.



K. Jack Bauer and Stephen S. Roberts, “Register of Ships of 

the U. S. Navy, 1775-1990,” p.228.]





Transcribed by Michael Hansen

mhansen2@home.com