Bangust DE-739

Bangust

(DE~739: dp. 1240; 1. 30'6'; b. 36'8", dr. 11~8~', s. 21 k.
CPL 186; a. 3 3", 3 21'' TT, cl. Cannon)

Bangust (DE-73!3) was launched 6 June 1943 by Western Pipe and Steel Co., Los Angeles Calif.. sponsored by Jlre. Stephen W. Gerber; commissioned 30 October 1943. Lieutenant Commander C. F. MacNish, USNR, in command; and reported to the Pacific Fleet.

Between February 1944 and August 1945 Bangust escorted various logistic groups during the occupation of Kwajalein and MaJuro Atolls (~8 February 1944);Palau-Yap-Ulithi-Woleal raid (8 March-1 April); occupation of Saipan, Guam and Tinian (18 June~11 August) Battle of Philippine Sea(19-20 June)
occupation of the southern Palau Islands and the assault on the Philippine Islands (11 September-13 October); Leyte operation (18 October-25 December); 3rd Fleet raids on Formosa, China coast, and the Nunsei Shoto In support of the Luzon operation (1~25 January 1945)occupation of Iwo Jima (18 February-6 March); 5th and 3rd Fleet raids in support of the Okinawa operation (20 March 10 June ); and 3rd Fleet raids against Japan (1~18 July and 29 July-15 August).

At 2314 on 10 June 1944, Bangust, proceeding independently from Pearl Harbor to Kwajalein, made radar contact with what upon closer investigation proved to be a surfaced Japanese submarine. The submarine quickly dove but between 0001 and 0152, 11 June Bangust made tour hedgehog attacks, the last of which sank the Japanese submarine RO-'8, in 10°05' N., 168° 22' E.

Bangust returned to the United States in the fall of 1945; was decommissioned 17 November 1946, and on 21 February 1952 was transferred to Peru under the Mutual Defense Assistance Program.

Bangust received 11 battle stars for her World War II service.

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