Although the ship wasn't commissioned
until March, 1944, the first launching took place on 17 November,
1943 at Pier 6, Boston Navy Yard.
Destroyer escorts were built for anti-submarine warfare, and
were designed
to sink or even ram enemy "u-boats." Their job was to protect the
larger more important ships at any cost, even taking a torpedo for a ship in
their care.
Technological advances were also evident on these ships. Radar and sonar were
key hi-tech breakthroughs that helped the Mason do its job. Mason's crew regularly
intercepted and worked at decoding German u-boat messages.
Winston Churchill's greatest fear was the German sub, as they could cut the Allied
supply lines to Europe. USS Mason successfully escorted six supply convoys across
the Atlantic, including one during the worst storm of the 20th century.
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| USS
Mason at sea |
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