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

(1968) Vol. 3, p.384.





HUBBARD





	Joseph Charles Hubbard was born 24 January 1900 in 

Danbury, Conn., and graduated from the Naval Academy in 

1920.  After serving in various ships during his early 

career, Hubbard underwent submarine training in 1924-25 and 

reported on board his first command, submarine O-7 (SS-68), 

in 1930.  Following other assignments ashore and afloat, he 

reported to heavy cruiser SAN FRANCISCO (CA-38) in November 

1939 as Damage Control Officer and First Lieutenant.  

Hubbard was appointed Commander in 1942 and died 13 

November 1942 on board SAN FRANCISCO.  His ship, flagship 

for Admiral Callaghan, was crashed by a Japanese plane 12 

November.  Hubbard relieved the critically wounded 

executive officer, and it was in this post that he was 

killed next day during the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, as 

American ships prevented a Japanese bombardment of the 

island.





DE-211

Displacement:  1,400 t.

Length:  306’

Beam:  36’10”

Draft:  9’5”

Speed:  24 k.

Complement:  186

Armament:  3 3”; 4 1.1”; 8 20mm; 3 21” torpedo tubes;

	2 depth charge tracks;

	8 hedge charge projectors;

	1 hedge hog

Class:  BUCKLEY



	HUBBARD (DE-211) was launched by Charleston Navy Yard, 

11 November 1943; sponsored by Mrs. Helen L. Hubbard, widow 

of Commander Hubbard; and commissioned 6 March 1944, Lt. 

Comdr. L. C. Mabley in command.



	Following shakedown training out of Bermuda, the new 

destroyer escort returned to Norfolk 7 May 1944.  She then 

escorted oiler MANATEE (AO-58) to the Caribbean, returning 

to Norfolk 23 May for armament changes.  Armed with 40mm 

guns in lieu of torpedo tubes, HUBBARD sailed with her first 

convoy 1 June, seeing the transports safely to Bizerte, 

Tunisia and returning to New York 19 July 1944.  She 

subsequently made two more convoy crossings in 1944, and 

underwent antisubmarine training at Casco Bay, Maine, 

between voyages.



	HUBBARD sailed 26 December 1944 with other destroyer 

escorts to hunt down weather-reporting U-boats in the 

Atlantic.  Equipped with the latest direction-finding gear, 

the ships scouted the suspected area until they came upon 

U-248 16 January 1945.  Depth charge attacks sank the German 

marauder late that morning.  The ships arrived New York 6 

February and, after additional training in Casco Bay, sailed 

again to search for submarines 4 April from Argentia.  As 

part of Operation Teardrop, she took part in the destruction 

of the last desperate U-boat group to sortie, with escort 

carriers BOGUE (CVE-9), CORE (CVE-13), and many sister 

ships.  FREDERICK C. DAVIS (DE-136) was torpedoed and sunk 

suddenly 24 April, and HUBBARD joined in hunting the 

attacker.  After many depth charge attacks, four by HUBBARD 

alone, U-546 surfaced.  The destroyer escorts' guns blazed 

away and the submarine quickly sank.



	HUBBARD returned to Boston 10 May 1945 and began her 

conversion to a fast transport, suitable for the still-hot 

Pacific war.  She was reclassified APD-53 1 June 1945 and 

emerged from Sullivans Dry Dock, Brooklyn, 14 August, the 

day before the surrender of Japan.



	Following 3 months of training operations in the 

Caribbean and Casco Bay, HUBBARD arrived Green Cove Springs, 

Fla., 12 November 1945.  She decommissioned 15 March 1946 

and entered the Reserve Fleet, where she remained until she 

was struck from the Navy List 1 May 1966 and scrapped.



	HUBBARD received two battle stars for World War II 

service.





Transcribed by Michael Hansen

mhansen2@home.com