USS Slater ( DE - 766 ) USS " Slater " ( DE - 766 ) is a that served in the United States Navy and later in the Hellenic ( Greek ) Navy . The ship was named for Frank O . Slater of Alabama , a sailor killed on the during the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal . He was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross for gallantry in action . The USS " Slater " is now a museum ship on the Hudson River in Albany , New York , the only one of its kind afloat in the United States . ( The is exhibited at Seawolf Park in Galveston , Texas , but located on dry land . ) The " Slater " was designated a National Historic Landmark on 2 March 2012 . Construction . USS " Slater " was laid down on 9 March 1943 ; launched on 13 February 1944 ; and commissioned on 1 May 1944 . She was built at the Tampa Shipbuilding Company in Tampa , Florida . War record . After a shakedown cruise near Bermuda in June 1944 , the " Slater " was sent to Key West where she served as a target ship and a sonar school ship . In the latter part of 1944 , the " Slater " escorted two convoys to the United Kingdom . She continued serving in this capacity from January 1945 until May 1945 . When the war in Europe ended , the " Slater " headed to the Pacific , stopping at Guantanamo Bay and Panama . She went through the Panama Canal on 28 June 1945 and stopped at San Diego before sailing to Pearl Harbor . From there she joined Task Unit 33 . 2 . 4 at Manila in September and escorted it to Yokohama . The " Slater " engaged in support operations in the Pacific through the remainder of the year . She made another passage through the Canal on her way to Norfolk for deactivation . The " Slater " was placed in the reserve fleet at Green Cove Springs , Florida in 1947 . Later service . On 1 March 1951 , the " Slater " was transferred to the Hellenic Navy under the Truman Doctrine , and renamed " Aetos " ( " Eagle " ) ( D - 01 ) . Along with three other " Cannon " - class ships , she made up what was known as the " Wild Beasts " Flotilla . The ship did patrol duty in the eastern Aegean and the Dodecanese and also served as a training vessel for naval cadets . The " Aetos " was decommissioned in 1991 , and Greece donated the ship to the Destroyer Escort Sailors Association . Destroyer escort sailors from around the nation donated more than a quarter of a million dollars to bring the " Slater " back to the United States as a museum ship . A Russian ocean - going tugboat towed the ship from Crete to New York City in 1993 , where it was docked next to the . Volunteers began restoring the ship and seeking a permanent home for her ; Albany , New York was decided upon . On Sunday , 26 October 1997 , the " Slater " arrived at the Port of Albany . In January 2006 , a welder accidentally started a fire aboard the " Slater " which caused some minor damage to the ship . Repairs were completed within a few months . Restoration of the ship remains an on - going project . On 7 May 1998 , the " Slater " was listed on the National Register of Historic Places . The " Slater " was refitted several times during her long service with two navies . All of her torpedo tubes , one of her depth - charge racks , and four " K - gun " depth charge launchers have been removed . Two twin Bofors 40mm guns have been added , and the ten single 20mm guns have been replaced with nine twin mounts . Appearances in film . The " Slater " has been featured in two motion pictures . The ship was seen in " The Guns of Navarone " ( 1961 ) and also in " I Aliki sto Naftiko " ( " Η Αλίκη στο Ναυτικό / Alice in the Navy " , filmed in 1961 ) while in Greek service . In August 2008 part of the Japanese film " Orion in Midsummer " ( scheduled for release in spring 2009 ) was filmed on board . History Channel documentaries have also featured the " Slater " .