Free French DEs

Destroyer Escort Sailors Association - DESA

Compiled by Anne McCarthy and Pat Perrella

During World War II, under a Lend-Lease agreement with the US Navy, 6 CANNON Class Destroyer Escorts were built for the Free French Navy. Three of the DEs were named by the US Navy and these ship names were transferred to other US Navy DEs after the ship was transferred to the French Navy. Thus, the DE name was used a second time with another hull number.

After WW II, some DEs supplied under Lend-Lease were permanently transferred (PT) by the US Navy to the foreign country under the Mutual Defense Assistance Program.

Read President Franklin D. Roosevelt's address at the Washington Navy Yard transferring SÉNÉGALAIS To France.

Hull Number	Keel Laid	Launched	Commissioned	Transfer Date and Ship Name
DE 106 Named USS Corbesier until 24 Sep 1943; Name transferred to DE 438	24 Apr 1943	11 Nov 1943	2 Jan 1943	To France 2 Jan 1944 Renamed SÉNÉGALAIS PT To France 21 Apr 1952 Renamed YSER Returned to USN May 1964 Stricken 1965 sold for scrap 18 Oct 1965
DE 107 USS Cronin Commissioned 22 Jan 1944 Name transferred to DE 704	13 May 1943	27 Nov 1943	23 Jan 1944	To France 23 Jan 1944 Renamed ALGÉRIEN PT To France 21 Apr 1952 Renamed OISE Returned to USN May 1964 Stricken 1965 sold for scrap 11 Nov 1965
DE 108 USS Crosley Commissioned 10 Feb 1944 Name transferred to DE 226	23 Jun 1943	17 Dec 1943	11 Feb 1944	To France 11 Feb 1944 Renamed TUNISIEN PT To France 21 Apr 1952 Returned to USN May 1964 scrapped Photo
DE 109 Unnamed	7 Sep 1943	1 Jan 1944	29 Feb 1944	To France 29 Feb 1944 Named MAROCAIN Returned to USN May 1964 scrapped
DE 110 Unnamed	25 Sep 1943	22 Jan 1944	18 Mar 1944	To France 18 Mar 1944 Named HOVA Returned to USN May 1964 scrapped
DE 111 Unnamed	23 Oct 1943	12 Feb 1944	9 Apr 1944	To France 9 Apr 1944 Named SOMALI Disarmed 1956 and became experimental vessel and renumbered A-607. Renamed ARAGO in 1968

Sources: DANFS 1969 reprint with corrections, CONWAY 1922-46 and CONWAY 1947-95

Much gratitude is owed to Anne McCarthy and Pat Perrella, USS Slater volunteer, for their research and devotion to keeping alive the memories of the Destroyer Escort.
.