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Navsource Online: Destroyer Escort Photo Archive

USS Slater (DE 766)

Flag Hoist / Radio Call Sign:
N - Z - Y - F

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row: American Campaign Medal
Second Row: Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal - European-Africa-Middle East Campaign Medal - World War II Victory Medal

Specifications:
Class: Cannon
Type: DET (diesel-electric tandem motor drive, long hull, 3" guns)
Displacement: 1240 tons (light), 1620 tons (full)
Length: 300' (wl), 306' (oa)
Beam: 36' 10" (extreme)
Draft: 10' 6" (draft limit)
Propulsion: 4 GM Mod. 16-278A diesel engines with electric drive, 6000 shp, 2 screws
Speed: 21 kts
Range: 10,800 nm @ 12 knots
Armament: 3 x 3"/50 Mk22 (1x3), 1 twin 40mm Mk1 AA, 8 x 20mm Mk 4 AA, 3 x 21" Mk15 TT (3x1), 1 Hedgehog Projector Mk10 (144 rounds), 8 Mk6 depth charge projectors, 2 Mk9 depth charge tracks
Complement: 15 / 201

Slater (DE 766) Building and Operational Data:

09 March 1943: Keel laid at the Tampa Shipbuilding Co., Inc., Tampa, Fla.

13 February 1944: Launched and christened, sponsored by Mrs. James L. Slater, mother of Seaman Slater

01 May 1944: Commissioned, Lcdr. M. J. Blancq, in command

24 June 1946: Decommissioned at Green Cove Springs, Fla. after 2 years and 1¾ months of service

.. November 1950: Towed to the Boston Naval Shipyard in preparation for foreign transfer

01 March 1951: Transferred to Greece under the Mutual Defense Assistance Program, renamed HNS Aetos (D-01)

07 March 1951: Struck from the NVR

05 July 1991: Decommissioned at Souda Bay, Crete, struck from Greek service

27 August 1993: Arrived at New York City, N.Y. after being towed from Greece, custody transferred to the Destroyer Escort Sailors Association

Presently preserved as a memorial at Albany, N.Y.

Click On Image For Full Size Image	Size	Image Description	Contributed By And/Or Copyright
Slater 0676601 Slater	23k	Frank Olga Slater was born to James Lafayette and Beulah Lenora "Nora" (Morgan) Slater in Kennamer's Cove, Ala. on 19 December 1920. The family later moved to Fyffe, Ala. where his father worked as a sharecropper to support the family of ten children. Frank was a straight "A" student in elementary school, but due to the depression he never had the opportunity to go to high school. When the war started this American patriot saw his duty and enlisted in the United States Naval Reserve on 10 February 1942. Upon completion of basic training, Seaman Second Class Slater was transferred to the Receiving Station at Pearl Harbor, where he was subsequently assigned to USS *San Francisco* (CA 38) on 12 April 1942. On 12 November 1942, during the Naval Battle off Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands, Frank was killed when a Japanese torpedo bomber he had shot down crashed into his gun position aboard *San Francisco. Instead of leaving his gun and trying to find somewhere safe, he remained at his position, firing until the plane crashed his gun mount. He was buried at sea. He is memorialized with a marker at Arlington National Cemetery. Seaman Slater was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross for gallantry in action. USS Slater* (DE 766) (1944-1947) was the first ship to be named in his honor. (Photo Courtesy of the USS Slater (DE 766) thanks to Tim Rizzuto, Executive Director)	Bill Gonyo Downey, Cal. Assoc. Researcher Navsource
Slater 0676613	72k	13 February 1944: Tampa Shipbuilding, Tampa, Fla. - From the Tampa Tribune newspaper, "When Mrs. James L. Slater, of Crossville, Ala., christens the USS Frank O. Slater this afternoon at the Tampa Shipbuilding company yard, the big destroyer escort will take with it the blessings of its sponsor, her husband and their six sons, three daughters, one son-in-law, two daughters-in-law and six grandchildren. Fourteen members of the family, plus three men - neighbors who drove them down in three different automobiles, will witness the launching of the ship, named after Mr. and Mrs. Slater's son, Seaman Frank O. Slater."	Tim Rizzuto Ship's Superintendent DE Historical Museum USS Slater at Albany, N.Y.
Slater 0676614	73k	13 February 1944: Tampa Shipbuilding, Tampa, Fla. - Mrs. James L. Slater christens the USS *Slater*.
Slater 0676615	96k	13 February 1944: Tampa Shipbuilding, Tampa, Fla. - USS *Slater* slides into the water for the first time.
Slater 0676616	72k	13 February 1944: Tampa Shipbuilding, Tampa, Fla. - The newly launched USS *Slater*.
Slater 109k Slater 227k Slater 205k Slater 236k Slater 77k May - June 1944: A five photo series of *Slater* in her "as built" configuration. 0676622 - 0676623 - 0676624 - 0676625 - 0676626
Slater 0676649	307k	03 January 1945: the Atlantic Ocean - USS *Slater, photographed from a blimp of Airship Patrol Squadron 11 (ZP-11) at Casco Bay, Maine for routine refresher training. She had been undergoing routine repairs and overhaul at the Brooklyn Navy Yard in New York from 23 December 1944 to 01 January 1945, and was preparing for her next convoy assignment, Boston to Cardiff, Wales on 10 January. (U.S. Navy photo #*80-G-301386 from the National Archives and Records Administration, College Park, Md.; courtesy of Rick E. Davis)	Rick E. Davis Springfield, Oh.
Slater 340k Slater 464k Slater 234k Slater 557k Slater 206k Slater 243k April 1945: A six photo series of *Slater* in her "mid-war" rig. These photos were taken off the New York Navy Yard. In a couple of the photos you can see buildings in the mist. 0676627 - 0676628 - 0676629 - 0676630 - 0676631 - 0676637			Tim Rizzuto Ship's Superintendent DE Historical Museum USS Slater at Albany, N.Y.
Slater 340k Slater 464k Slater 234k Slater 557k Slater 206k Slater 243k April 1945: A six photo series of *Slater* at war's end. She is in her final configuration with added anti-aircraft weapons. 0676632 - 0676633 - 0676634 - 0676635 - 0676636 - 0676638
Slater 0676639	368k	undated wartime image: *Slater* crewmen enjoy "swim call" in the South Pacific. Note the sailor just beginning his dive off the starboard bridge wing.
Slater 0676602	51k	undated wartime image	Bob Hurst Worksop, Nottinghamshire, England, United Kingdom
Slater 0676603	44k	circa 1952: HS *Aetos*
Slater 0676617	64k	circa 1959: Valletta, Malta - HNS *Aetos* underway in Valletta Harbour. (Photo A. & J. Pavia, Malta; From "Jane's Fighting Ships, 1959-60")
Slater 0676604	107k	HNS *Aetos* (D-1), mid 1960's	Tony Vrailas
Slater 0676605	42k	circa 1968: HNS *Aetos*	Bob Hurst Worksop, Nottinghamshire, England, United Kingdom
Slater 0676610	76k	18 March 1995: New York City - USS *Growler* (SSG 577), USS *Edson* (DD 946), and *Slater* shot from the quay at the USS Intrepid Air-Sea-Space Center. *Edson* and *Slater* are no longer part of the exhibit.	Larry Backus
Slater 0676611	137k	18 March 1995: New York City - USS *Growler* (SSG 577), USS *Edson* (DD 946), and *Slater* shot from the river end of the pier at the USS Intrepid Air-Sea-Space Center.	Larry Backus
Slater 0676606	27k	undated	-
Slater 0676607	54k	March 2002: Approaching Snow Dock	Tim Rizzuto Ship's Superintendent USS Slater
Slater 0676608	100k	March 2002: starboard side superstructure	Tim Rizzuto Ship's Superintendent USS Slater
Slater 0676609	117k	03 March 2003: Albany, N.Y. - moored on the Hudson River	Fred Weiss
Slater 0676612	173k	06 April 2008: *Slater* moving from her Snow Dock at Rensselaer, N.Y. to her summer mooring in Albany. (Photo courtesy of Richard Andrian)	Tim Rizzuto Ship's Superintendent DE Historical Museum USS Slater at Albany, N.Y.
Slater 272k Slater 274k Slater 490k Slater 196k 16 April 2014: Staten Island, N.Y. - *Slater* arrives at and is drydocked at Caddell Dry Dock and Repair in Staten Island. The ship is usually opened to the public in Albany near the beginning of April. This season, after several years of fundraising, the ship has been taken to drydock for repairs to her hull. It’s been over 20 years since the ship has been in drydock, so this project is due. Drydocking is being funded by private individuals and foundations as no government funding is being used for this project. During the drydock period, *Slater*’s hull will be cleaned and a reinforcing band of steel will be welded around the ship at the waterline. Then, the entire hull will be primed and painted. The budget for the project is 1ƒhƒ‹.2 million. The Museum has raised just over 1ƒhƒ‹ million specifically for drydocking so far. 0676618 - 0676619 - 0676620 - 0676621
Slater 535k Slater 213k Slater 190k Slater 238k Slater 279k Summer 2014: Staten Island, N.Y. - *Slater* in the process of having her hull scraped, cleaned, primed, and repainted. 1.) *Slater* in drydock with a coat of green primer. 2.) Receiving her second coat of black primer. 3.) Topcoat of pale gray being placed on *Slater* 4.) Launch day, camouflage coat completed. 5.) Stern view of *Slater* on launch day. 0676640 - 0676641 - 0676642 - 0676643 - 0676644
Slater 0676646	115k	01 July 2014: Albany, N.Y. - *Slater* returns to her berth in Albany following her yard period. (Photo by ussslater.dehm [real name unknown])	Bob Hurst Worksop, Nottinghamshire, England, United Kingdom
Slater 0676645	186k	unknown date 2015: Albany, N.Y. - *Slater* at her berth and looking good!	Tim Rizzuto Ship's Superintendent DE Historical Museum USS Slater at Albany, N.Y.
Slater 0676648	234k	early March 2017: Albany, N.Y. - *Slater* at her berth waiting for the ice to melt, time to prepare for the tour seasons.
Slater 0676647	186k	December 2017: Albany, N.Y. - A beautiful night shot of *Slater* at her berth awaiting Santa's arrival. (Photo by Kris Denkers Photography)

Slater History View the USS Slater (DE 766) DANFS history entry located on the Naval History and Heritage Command web site. View the official War History of USS Slater as submitted by the ship at war's end.

Slater's Commanding Officers
Thanks to Tim Rizzuto, Superindent, USS Slater Memorial

Dates of Command	Commanding Officers
1.) 01 May 1944 - 24 Nov. 1945	Lcdr. Marcel Jacques Blanq, USNR (New Orleans, La.)
2.) 24 Nov. 1945 - 24 Jun. 1946	Lt. William James Martin, USNR (Bloomington, Ill.)

Crew Contact And Reunion Information

Contact Name: Tim Rizzuto, Ship's Superintendent
Address: USS Slater, PO Box 1926, Albany NY 12201-1926
Phone: (518) 431-1943 FAX (518) 432-1123
E-mail: shipsde766@aol.com

Note About Contacts

Contact information is compiled from various sources over a period of time and may, or may not, be correct. Every effort has been
made to list the newest contact. However, our entry is only as good as the latest information that's been sent to us. We list only
a contact for the ship if one has been sent to us. We do NOT have crew lists, rosters, or deck logs available. Please see the
Frequently Asked Questions section on NavSource's Main Page for that information.

Additional Resources

The Destroyer Escort Historical Museum
USS Slater Facebook Page
Destroyer Escort Sailors Association
Tin Can Sailors
The U.S. Navy Memorial
The Destroyer History Foundation

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