USS Wiseman DE 667 - Misc 1

In 1944 the USS Wiseman DE 667 was sent to the Charleston Navy Yard to be converted to a Power Supply Ship. From Dec. 1944 to Jan. 1945 the ships torpedo tube’s would be removed and two large cable reels, an enclosed sub-station consisting of a transformer, switching gear, and water cooling equipment would be installed. With the exception of the torpedoes the Wiseman would still have all the armament it had as a conventional DE.This would take place on the 01 Deck between the stack and the gun mount.

Operating voltages would have six different settings, ranging from 2400 to 37,500 volts. Electrical system’s voltage would vary from country to country. The two large cable reels were able to wind and rewind automatically. The cable’s were designed to be laid on floats in the water, and strung to shore if the ship had no dock to tie to.

The first DE to be converted to a Power Supply Ship was the USS Donnell DE 56 in July of 1944. Four more US Destroyer Escort’s that would be converted to power supply ships would be designated as TEG ( Turbo-electric generator).They would be the USS Foss DE 59.USS Marsh DE 699. USS Wiseman DE 667, and the USS Whitehurst DE 634. Two converted DE.s the 563 and the 574 would be given to the British. Only the USS Wiseman would be in full operation before the end of WW2.