Fechtler DE 157

Navy US Navy

Type Destroyer

Pennant DE 157

Built by Norfolk Navy Yard (Portsmouth, Virginia, U.S.A.)

Laid down 7 Feb 1943

Launched 22 Apr 1943

Commissioned 1 Jul 1943

Lost 5 May 1944

Loss position 36.07N, 02.40W (120 miles northwest of Oran, Algeria)

History

At 03.54 hours on 5 May 1944, U-967 fired a Gnat at the convoy GUS-38 about and reported a hit on a medium-sized ship after 11 minutes 58 seconds, but this was probably an end-of-run detonation. The American destroyer escort USS Laning (DE 159) located the U-boat after the unsuccessful attack and started an attack run, but U-967 fired a Gnat at the escort ships at 04.41 hours, hitting the USS Fechteler amidships in position 36º07'N, 02º40'W. The explosion lifted the ship out of the water and broke her in two, most crew members abandoned ship before both parts sank. 29 crew members died and 26 were injured. USS Laning then picked up the survivors together with other escort ships.
Hit by U-boat
Sunk on 5 May 1944 by U-967 (Brandi).

Navy	US Navy
Type	Destroyer
Pennant	DE 157
Built by	Norfolk Navy Yard (Portsmouth, Virginia, U.S.A.)
Laid down	7 Feb 1943
Launched	22 Apr 1943
Commissioned	1 Jul 1943
Lost	5 May 1944
Loss position	36.07N, 02.40W (120 miles northwest of Oran, Algeria)
History
	At 03.54 hours on 5 May 1944, U-967 fired a Gnat at the convoy GUS-38 about and reported a hit on a medium-sized ship after 11 minutes 58 seconds, but this was probably an end-of-run detonation. The American destroyer escort USS Laning (DE 159) located the U-boat after the unsuccessful attack and started an attack run, but U-967 fired a Gnat at the escort ships at 04.41 hours, hitting the USS Fechteler amidships in position 36º07'N, 02º40'W. The explosion lifted the ship out of the water and broke her in two, most crew members abandoned ship before both parts sank. 29 crew members died and 26 were injured. USS Laning then picked up the survivors together with other escort ships. Hit by U-boat Sunk on 5 May 1944 by U-967 (Brandi).