Breeman DE-104

Breeman

(DE-104: dp. 1240, 1. 306'; b. 36'8", dr. 11'8"; s. 21 k.;
cpl. 186; a. 3 3", 3 21" ~., cl. Cannon)

Breeman (DE-104) was launched 4 September 1943 by Dravo Corp., Wilmington, Del.; sponsored by Mrs. Marie Breeman Schellgell, niece of Chief Breeman; completed by Norfolk Navy Yard; and commissioned 12 December 1943, Lieutenant Commander N. W. Hunter, USNR, in command.

On 16 February 1944 Breeman, as part of hunter-killer TF 21.16, sailed for anti-submarine sweeps of the Atlantic convoy routes. During this trip the Group made numerous attacks on enemy submarines. On 12 March, they departed Casablanca to search for submarines In the vicinity of the Cape Verde Islands. On 16 March the Group sank the German submarine U~01 in 16°42' N, 30926' W. Breeman together with Bronstein (Dw189), was detached 24 March and sailed to Dakar, French West Africa where they picked up a cargo of gold and transported to New York, arriving 3 April. She departed New York for Bizerte, Tunisia, 12 April as part of hunter-killer TF 60.

Freeman returned to the United States in May and underwent overhaul and training before steaming to Bermuda where she joined TG 22.10. She remained at sea until 25 August, making a number of attacks on submarines. After availability in New York the ship carried out training exercises off Bermuda. During this trip she sustained propeller damage and returned to New York for repairs. On 23 October she proceeded to the New London Submarine Base for torpedo training and exercise . During November and December 1044 she operated with TG 22.2 on another hunter~killer operation. Between 1G February and 17 March 1946 she operated as part of' TC' 23.4 and carried out an unsuccessful search for enemy weather reporting submarines in the North Atlantic.

Between 9 May and 17 August she operated as a plane guard and escort vessel for carrier training operations off New London, Conn., and Quonset Point, R. I. From 11 August until 2 October she provided the same services to Mission Bay (CVE-59) off Port Everglades, Fla. Breeman was detached from her duties 2 October 1945 and proceeded to New York Navy Yard where she commenced her pre-inactivation overhaul.

Breeman remained at New York until 13 November 1945 when she got underway for Green Cove Springs, Fla.

She arrived 16 November and was subsequently placed out of commission in reserve 26 April 1946. She was transferred to China 29 October 1948.

Breeman received one battle star for her World War II service.