USS Slater (DE-766) (Albany, New York)

 destroyer (ship), United States Navy, museum ship, Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America

Built in 1944 as a Canon Class Destoryer Escort, the Slater served in both the Atlantic & Pacific theatre in WWII as a convoy escort before she was decomissioned and placed in reserve in 1947. In 1951, the shipwas transferred to the Greek (Hellenic) Navy where she served with distinction in numerous roles until she was decomissioned in 1990.

The Greek Navy decided to donate the vessels to the Destroyer Escort Sailors Association in 1991 and after a combined effort from DE Sailors Associations across the US, financing was secured for the towing of the 46-year old ship across the Atlantic to New York City in 1993. The Slater berthed alongside the USS Intrepid while she was restored to her WWII appearance and while a final docking site was researched for her.

Finally in 1997, the Slater arrived in Albany NY at her final home as the centerpiece of the revitalized Albany waterfront.

The Slater is the only floating Destroyer Escort in existence and 1 of 2 Destroyer Escorts out of nearly 800 that survived the scrapyard after WWII. As such, she was included on the National Register of Historic Places on May 7, 1998 and continues to serve as a museum ship.

www.ussslater.org/

www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVZsiWPpHxg
www.navsource.org/archives/06/766.htm