USS Carter (DE-112)

USS Carter (DE-112) was a Cannon-class destroyer escort built for the United States Navy during World War II. She served in the Atlantic Ocean and provided escort service against submarine and air attack for Navy vessels and convoys. At war's end, she returned Stateside with one battle star.

She was launched on 29 February 1944 by the Dravo Corporation, Wilmington, Delaware; sponsored by Mrs. E. C. Patterson; commissioned on 3 May 1944, Lieutenant Commander F. J. T. Baker, USNR, in command; and reported to the Atlantic Fleet.

World War II Atlantic Ocean operations
Carter sailed from New York on 21 July 1944 escorting a convoy bound for Bizerte, Tunisia, from which she returned to New York 18 September. Training at Casco Bay, a run to Jamaica to join French transport Cuba whom she guarded to New York, and a period training pre-commissioning crews for other escort vessels preceded her next convoy assignment. This crossing took her to Oran, from which she returned to Boston, Massachusetts, on 20 January 1945.

Sinking of German U-518
Anti-submarine patrol from Casco Bay was Carter's assignment for the remainder of the war. Her constant vigilance was rewarded on 22 April, when she picked up GERMAN SUBMARINE U-518 as a sound contact. In mountainous seas, she and USS Neal A. Scott (DE-769) joined in a hedgehog attack which sank the U-boat in 43°26' N., 38°23' W. On 9 May she made rendezvous at sea with GERMAN SUBMARINE U-858 whom she escorted to the designated surrender area. After her group captured GERMAN SUBMARINE U-284 attempting an escape to Japan with a German major general, Japanese officials, and important cargo on board, Carter brought the captive in to Portsmouth, New Hampshire, on 17 May.

End-of-War decommissioning
At New York City from 20 May to 10 June 1945, Carter next sailed to act as plane guard during carrier qualification flights off Florida. She arrived at Green Cove Springs, Florida on 8 November 1945, and was placed out of commission in reserve there on 10 April 1946.

On 14 December 1948, she was transferred to Nationalist China, with whom she served as Tai Chao (DE-26). When China was taken over by the Communists, Taizhao escaped with Nationalist Forces to Taiwan in 1949. She was stricken from the Navy List in December 1973, and scrapped.

Awards
Carter received one battle star for World War II service.