USS Christopher

History
US
Namesake	Harald Jensen Christopher
Builder	Dravo Corporation, Wilmington, Delaware
Laid down	7 December 1942
Launched	19 June 1943
Commissioned	23 October 1943
Decommissioned	19 December 1944
Stricken	20 July 1953
Fate	Transferred to Brazil, 19 December 1944
History
Brazil
Name	NAe Benevente (D-20)
Acquired	19 December 1944
Out of service	1964
General characteristics
Class and type	Cannon-class destroyer escort
Displacement	1,240 tons
Length	306 ft (93 m)
Beam	36 ft 8 in (11.2 m)
Draft	8 ft 9 in (2.7 m)
Propulsion	4 GM Mod. 16-278A diesel engines with electric drive 4.5 MW (6,000 shp), 2 screws
Speed	21 knots (39 km/h)
Range	10,800 nmi. at 12 knots
Complement	15 officers, 201 enlisted
Armament	3 × 3 in (76 mm)/50 guns (3×1) 2 × 40 mm Bofors AA guns (1x2) 8 × 20 mm Oerlikon AA guns (8×1) 3 × Torpedo tubes for 21-inch Mark 15 torpedo (1×3) 8 × depth charge projectors 1 × Hedgehog anti-submarine mortar 2 x depth charge tracks

USS Christopher (DE-100) was a Cannon class destroyer escort built for the U.S. 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. Named for Navy Cross recipient, Harald Jensen Christopher, who was killed at Pearl Harbor aboard USS Nevada (BB-36) on 7 December 1941.

She was launched 19 June 1943 by Dravo Corp., Wilmington, Delaware; sponsored by Mrs. Carl Christopher, mother of Ensign Christopher. D100 commissioned 23 October 1943, Lt. A. W. P. Trench in command.

World War II Atlantic Ocean operations

Christopher sailed from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 25 December 1943 for duty off Brazil and to Trinidad on training exercises in convoys and on screening cruisers during their shakedown and training periods. Between 16 January and 11 February, she sailed off Montevideo, screening the British cable ship Cambria as she repaired broken cables.

Transfer of Vessel to Brazil

Similar duty continued until Christopher was decommissioned at Natal, Brazil, 19 December 1944, and loaned to Brazil under lend-lease. She was renamed Benevente (D-20) in Brazilian service. On 30 June 1953, when the loan ended, she was stricken from the U.S Navy List and transferred to Brazil under the Mutual Assistance Program.

She was stricken and scrapped in 1964.

Awards

• American Campaign Medal
• WWII Victory Medal

See also

• List of United States Navy ships
• World War II
• Destroyer escort

References

 This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.

External links

• Photo gallery of Christopher at NavSource Naval History