USS Neunzer ( DE - 150 ) USS " Neunzer " ( DE - 150 ) was an Edsall - class destroyer escort built for the U . S . Navy during World War II . She served in the Atlantic Ocean and provided destroyer escort protection against submarine and air attack for Navy vessels and convoys . She was named in honor of Machinist Weimar Edmund Neunzer , who was killed in action 2 July 1942 during the Aleutian Islands Campaign and was posthumously awarded the Air Medal . She was laid down by the Consolidated Steel Corp . , Orange , Texas , 29 January 1943 ; launched 1 June 1943 ; sponsored by Mrs . Weimar E . Neunzer , widow of " Machinist Neunzer " ; and commissioned 27 September 1943 , Lt . John E . Greenbacker in command . Designed to take the place of fleet destroyers on convoy duty , the destroyer escorts proved their worth in long miles of steaming on escort and antisubmarine duties . Their efforts played a major role in defeating German submarine depredations at a time when the U - boats were threatening to cut Allied supply lines . World War II North Atlantic operations . " Neunzer " steamed to Galveston , Texas , and then to New Orleans , Louisiana , for fitting out . During October and November 1943 she went through shakedown off Bermuda . The new destroyer escort next visited Charleston , South Carolina , en route Quonset Point , Rhode Island . For 4 weeks she operated with an Atlantic Fleet research group , developing new equipment for antisubmarine warfare . After escorting a group of troop transports from Boston , Massachusetts , to join a large convoy bound for England from New York " Neunzer " proceeded to Norfolk , Virginia , joining TF 62 on 1 January 1944 . With this group she escorted a large convoy to the Mediterranean , spending 8 days at Gibraltar before sailing for home . Escorting Italian Submarines . On her homeward voyage , she shepherded five Italian submarines to Bermuda for training purposes . During this trip , " Neunzer " carried out an operation which is believed to be unique for a destroyer escort . She refueled two Italian subs at sea , pumping 12 , 000 gallons of fuel through a fire plug and 200 feet of fire hose to the submarine . In May 1944 Lt . Commander Virgil E . Gex became the skipper of the " Neunzer " . After two more voyages escorting convoys to the Mediterranean , " Neunzer " was detached from TF 62 to join escort aircraft carrier in a hunter - killer group . Following training at Casco Bay , Maine , and Bermuda , the task group made two search patrols for submarines in the Middle Atlantic , refueling in Bermuda . Neither of these patrols uncovered any submarines , and " Neunzer " returned to New York in late August . During October the group put to sea again , this time searching for submarines in the North Atlantic . Although no submarines were discovered , the force ran through a very severe storm which damaged some of the ships . The patrol was finally broken off ; the task group refueled at Ponta Delgada , Azores , before returning home early in November . The antisubmarine group sailed from Norfolk 1 December for brief training in Bermuda en route Jacksonville , Florida , where for 5 weeks the carrier trained student pilots . The group proceeded to Guantanamo Bay , Cuba , late in January 1945 for 2 weeks of exercises ; then " Neunzer " returned to New York for a brief overhaul . After returning to Cuba for exercises in early March , the destroyer escort went to Miami , Florida , for 3 weeks as training ship for student officers of the Naval Training Center there . But now the Germans were ready for their final push , sending their new snorkel - equipped subs across the Atlantic to attack the east coast . " Neunzer " suddenly received a message at midnight 8 April to get underway 6 hours later for Newfoundland . After refueling and provisioning in Argentia , she left on the 19th and rendezvoused in mid - ocean with one of several carrier task groups strung out across the Atlantic between St . John ’ s , Newfoundland , and Fayal in the Azores as a net to trap the snorkels . Battling German Submarine U - 546 . made contact with U - 546 on 24 April and was proceeding to attack when the submarine fired a stern shot which tore the DE apart and sent her down with heavy loss of life . Eight destroyer escorts immediately joined the action . " Neunzer " and conducted a search while circled the area and picked up survivors . " Flaherty " made contact in less than an hour and with " Pillsbury " proceeded to attack . The U - boat went to 600 feet . Contact was lost from 1045 until 1201 when , , and began another attack . " Neunzer " got into the fight after several attacks by the other DE ’ s , delivering a creeping attack with Varian and Hubbard while directed . Contact was lost once more at about 1600 , and " Chatelain " and " Neunzer " were ordered to return to the scouting line . The line was expanded , and the ships began a sweep through the area , determined to prevent the submarine ’ s escape . " Varian " made contact once more at 1731 and " Flaherty " was ordered to attack . She fired at 1810 . Four minutes later a small oil slick began coming to the surface . " Flaherty " made another hedgehog attack at 1828 , and at 1838 the U - boat broke surface . Every ship in the line within range began firing . At 1844 , after more than ten and a half hours of attacks , U - 546 rolled under for her last dive . Thirty - three of her crew , including the captain , were taken prisoner . V - E Day . After V - E Day , " Neunzer " returned to New York for 2 weeks and left on 25 May to escort the last Atlantic convoy of World War II from New York to Southampton , England . She returned without a convoy , and remained in New York harbor from 15 June until 6 July . In July the ship trained at Casco Bay , Maine , and served as target for the Motor Torpedo Boat Training Center , Melville , Rhode Island . On 1 August she sailed to New London , Connecticut , to escort German submarine U - 505 , captured by Guadalcanal ’ s task group in June 1944 . The sub was exhibited along the east coast and the Gulf Coast throughout the end of 1945 in a drive to sell War Bonds . Post - War Decommissioning . After operations along the Atlantic coast , " Neunzer " decommissioned in January 1947 and entered the Atlantic Reserve Fleet . Into 1970 she remained berthed at Philadelphia , Pennsylvania . On 1 July 1972 she was struck from the Navy list , and she was sold 1 November 1973 , and scrapped . Awards . " Neunzer " received one battle star for World War II service .