View source for USS Rizzi

{{Short description|John C. Butler-class destroyer escort of the United States Navy}}
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|Ship image=USS Rizzi (DE-537) off Boston in June 1945.jpg
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|Ship country=United States
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|Ship laid down=3 November 1943
|Ship launched=7 December 1943
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|Ship commissioned=26 June 1945
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|Ship decommissioned=18 June 1946
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|Ship in service=NRT, [[3rd Naval District]], 28 March 1951
|Ship out of service=28 February 1958
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|Ship fate=Sold for scrapping 5 February 1974
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|Ship displacement=1,350/1,745 tons
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|Ship complement=14 officers, 201 enlisted
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*10 × [[Oerlikon 20 mm cannon|20 mm]] AA guns
*3 × [[American 21-inch torpedo|21-inch (533 mm)]] [[torpedo tube]]s
*1 × [[Hedgehog (weapon)|Hedgehog]]
*8 × [[depth charge thrower]]s
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'''USS Rizzi (DE-537)''' was a [[John C. Butler class destroyer escort|''John C. Butler''-class]] [[destroyer escort]] in service with the [[United States Navy]] from 1945 to 1946 and from 1951 to 1958. She was sold for scrapping in 1974.

==History==
''Rizzi'' was named in honor of Rosalio Mario Rizzi who was posthumously awarded the [[Navy and Marine Corps Medal]] for his heroism during rescue operations for [[USS Wasp (CV-7)|''Wasp'']] (CV-7) survivors. The ship was laid down on 3 November 1943 by the [[Boston Navy Yard]], [[Boston]], Massachusetts; launched on 7 December 1943; and christened by Mrs. Theresa Rizzi, mother of ''Seaman First Class Rizzi'' and commissioned on 26 June 1945 with LCdr. E. K. Winn assuming command.

=== World War II ===

Completing [[shakedown cruise|shakedown]] the day following the cessation of [[World War II]] hostilities, ''Rizzi'' departed Boston after availability and instead of heading for the [[Pacific Ocean]], steamed to [[Norfolk, Virginia]], for duty as [[training ship]] for student officers of the Destroyer School. Transferred in mid-November, she headed back to [[New England]] waters only to receive orders directing her to prepare for inactivation. A visit to [[New York City]] followed and with the new year, 1946, she sailed south to [[Green Cove Springs, Florida]], and on 23 January reported to Commander, [[16th Fleet|16th (inactive) Fleet]].

[[File:USS Rizzi (DE-537) underway in 1954.jpg|thumb|left|''Rizzi'' in 1954.]]

=== Naval Reserve training ship ===

Decommissioned on 18 June 1946, ''Rizzi'' remained at Green Cove Springs in the [[Atlantic Reserve Fleet]] until ordered activated and assigned to the [[3rd Naval District]] as a reserve training ship in January 1951. Recommissioned on 28 March 1951, she proceeded to New York whence she conducted training cruises-weekend and 2-week cruises along the [[U.S. East Coast]] and in the [[Caribbean]], and summer cruises to [[Europe]] in 1953 and 1955 and to [[South America]] in 1954 for reservists in the New York City area.

=== Decommissioning and fate=== 
In November 1957, ''Rizzi'' again prepared for inactivation. Decommissioned 28 February 1958, she remained in the [[Atlantic Reserve Fleet]], berthed at [[Philadelphia, Pennsylvania]], until the spring of 1972. At that time, she was surveyed and found to be unfit for further service. Consequently, ''Rizzi'' was stricken from the [[Navy list]] 1 August 1972. She was sold for scrapping 5 February 1974.

== References ==
{{DANFS|https://www.history.navy.mil/content/history/nhhc/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/r/rizzi.html}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|USS Rizzi (DE-537)}}
* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/06/537.htm NavSource Online: Destroyer Escort Photo Archive - USS Rizzi (DE 537)]

{{John C. Butler class destroyer escort}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rizzi}}
[[Category:John C. Butler-class destroyer escorts]]
[[Category:Ships built in Boston]]
[[Category:1943 ships]]
[[Category:World War II frigates and destroyer escorts of the United States]]