USS Carlson (DE-9)

USS Carlson (BDE-9/DE-9) was an Evarts-class short-hull destroyer escort in the service of the United States Navy. It was named after Chief Daniel William Carlson who was killed during the Battle of Midway when the USS Hammann (DD-412) was sunk.

Carlson was originally scheduled for transfer to Britain as BDE-9. It was launched on May 10, 1943 by Boston Navy Yard, sponsored by Mrs. D. W. Carlson, and commissioned May 10, 1943, Lieutenant H. E. Purdy, USNR, in command.

Carlson sailed from Norfolk, Virginia, July 23, 1943 for Espiritu Santo, where she arrived on August 31. For seven months she was at sea almost constantly, aiding in the Guadalcanal and northern Solomon Islands operations with convoy escort and antisubmarine patrol services. Returning to San Francisco, California for overhaul in May 1944, Carlson trained with submarines and acted as target ship and plane guard for aircraft in the Hawaiian area from June through September 1944.

The escort vessel arrived at Eniwetok on October 6, 1944 to begin escort duty between that atoll and Ulithi, guarding convoys comprised mainly of tankers. She thus contributed to the success of operations in the Philippines, and later at Iwo Jima, until March 21, 1945, when she sailed from Ulithi for Leyte. Here she was assigned to the screen of the Southern Attack Force for the assault on Okinawa.

Carlson's task unit arrived off Okinawa to launch the initial assault waves on the morning of April 1, 1945. During that day, and the five that followed, she conducted anti-submarine patrols during the daylight hours and retired to seaward guarding the transports at night. From April 6–17, she sailed to Saipan and back, escorting transports and cargo ships with reinforcements, then took up a screening station between Okinawa and Kerama Retto. On her first night, a Japanese plane launched a torpedo which passed harmlessly under Carlson's bow. Three more times during the next two weeks Japanese planes were driven off by the escort vessel's gunners. After another voyage to Saipan, Carlson screened on various stations off Okinawa, during a period of heavy kamikaze attacks.

A kamikaze fighter struck the Carlson on one occasion but the plane hit the water and lost all momentum before striking the ship, and did not explode. The dead Japanese pilot was retrieved by Carlson 's crew.

Clearing Okinawa June 29, 1945, she sailed to Leyte to join the screen for the replenishment group serving TF 38. With this group she aided the Third Fleet in maintaining a constant offensive on Japan proper through the close of the war.

On September 16, she got underway for San Pedro, California, where she was decommissioned December 10, 1945. Carlson was sold on October 17, 1946.

Carlson received two battle stars for World War II service.