USS Richard W. Suesens (DE-342) was a in service with the United States Navy from 1944 to 1947. She was finally sold for scrap in 1973.
Namesake
Richard Wayne Suesens was born 30 April 1915 at Burlington, Iowa. He enlisted in the Naval Reserve on 31 May 1938. Appointed Aviation Cadet on 4 October 1938 and commissioned ensign on 15 October 1939, he reported for duty with Torpedo Squadron 3, on board on 20 November 1939.
Promoted to lieutenant (junior grade) on 1 November 1941, he was killed in action during the Battle of Midway, June 1942. He was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross.
History
Richard W. Suesenss keel was laid down 1 November 1943 by the Consolidated Steel Corporation of Orange, Texas. The destroyer escort was launched on 11 January 1944, sponsored by Mrs. R. W. Suesens, widow of the ship's namesake; and commissioned on 26 April 1944.
Completing shakedown off Bermuda and post-shakedown availability at Boston, Richard W. Suesens sailed for Long Island Sound on 29 June 1944. That night, in Buzzard's Bay, she collided with the minesweeper . The coastal minesweeper sank and the destroyer escort transported survivors to Newport, Rhode Island. Then she continued on, reported for duty at New York City, thence, on 4 July, proceeded south. A unit of CortDiv 69, she served as escort for ships en route to Mayport, then steamed on through the Panama Canal, reporting to the Pacific Fleet 23 July. On 2 August she arrived at San Diego, whence she sailed with TransDiv 10 to Hawaii. Arriving on 19 August, she trained there until mid-September, then headed west with convoy PD-89-T, bound for Eniwetok. There, on 22 September, she joined TF 33 and 8 days later sailed for Manus and duty with the 7th Fleet.
Assigned to TU 77.4.24, an escort carrier unit, Richard W. Suesens sailed for the Philippines 14 October. On 16 October, TG 77.4 rendezvoused with TG 78.6 to provide air coverage for transports en route from Hollandia to Leyte. Through the landings on 20 October and the covering operations which followed, the DE, alternating plane guard and screening duties continued to operate with the "jeep" carriers. On 22 October TU 77.4.24 was dissolved. Richard W. Suesens with six escort carriers, three destroyers, and four other destroyer escorts formed TU 77.4.2 and with TU 77.4.1 and TU 77.4.3 took up patrol duties to the east of Leyte Gulf whence their planes could provide air support for the amphibious forces, fly CAP and ASP for the Leyte areas, interdict Japanese supply movements, and drop supplies to Army units inland. Called "Taffy 1", "Taffy 2", and "Taffy 3" from the radio call sign used by each unit commander, the units proceeded to their operational areas: Taffy 1 off northern Mindanao, Taffy 2 off the entrance to Leyte Gulf, Taffy 3 off Samar.
During the early morning hours of 25 October, the Battle of Surigao Strait was fought and daybreak searches were ordered flown to hunt down the retiring Japanese ships. Planes from Taffy 1 were designated to fly the searches while other units continued air support and patrol operations. At dawn the planes were launched on their missions. At 0645 Richard W. Suesens intercepted ship plane traffic on VHF reporting an enemy battleship and cruiser force closing on Taffy 3 as its carriers made every effort to get torpedo planes airborne along with fighters to drive off the enemy ships. All available planes from Taffy 2 were dispatched to join those of Taffy 3. The Battle off Samar had begun. By 0720 the enemy force had closed to within of Taffy 2. The destroyers formed a line between the carriers' circular disposition and the approaching enemy. The escorts remained with the carriers as they continued to rearm returning planes and send them northward into the now visible gunsmoke clouds over Taffy 3.
Through the morning Richard W. Suesens, screening Taffy 2, listened as torpedo planes and fighters conducted aerial attacks and Taffy 3's destroyers and escorts challenged the enemy's larger ships on the surface. By 0920 the latter were only from Taffy 2 and their shells splashed among the destroyers, but the battle was turning. The Japanese now so close to their objective-entrance into Leyte Gulf-were no longer on the offensive. TG 77.4, despite staggering losses while protecting shipping in the Gulf, now commenced the pursuit, which, taken up by others, continued until 29 October. Rescue operations and logistic resupply followed on 26 October. On the night of 27 – 28 October, Richard W. Suesens resumed screening and plane guard duties and at the end of the month she headed south.