CORTRON CORTDIV Destroyer Escort Squadrons & Divisions

[Salvage Sailor]

We have a specific topic on the many Destroyer Squadrons but not for the Destroyer Escort CORTRON and RESCORTRON Squadrons

 

After the Korean War, most of the DE Squadrons were reorganized for DEWLINE, radar picket, convoy escort (polar ops) and overseas deployments primarily in WESTPAC and the MED. As with most everything in the USN, Escort Squadrons (CORTRON) were odd numbered on the Pacific coast and even numbered on the Atlantic coast. From the mid 1950's to the mid 1960's there were around 18 squadrons, further broken down into Destroyer Escort Divisions (CORTDIV). Some were short lived, tasked with the DEWLINE program or specific ops. These were mostly the high number CORTRON. The first four CORTRON established were training and reserve training ASW squadrons (1,2,3,&4) although CORTRON 3 was later operational and deployed to the far east. The others were activated by President Kennedy to establish a radar picket line and ASW escort force in the Atlantic and Mediterranean. To this end, CORTRON 6, 8, 10, & 14 were homeported at Newport, R.I. In the Pacific were CORTRON 3, 5, 9, & 11 on the Westcoast and CORTRON 7 at Pearl Harbor. These were among the first USN surface forces deployed to Vietnam in 1962 to train the VNN.

[Salvage Sailor]

I don't have anything for RESCORTRON 1 on hand, so please post one for us.....

 

This is the Cannon class destroyer escort USS KYNE (DE-744), ASW Escort Training ship for RESCORTRON 2

 

[Salvage Sailor]

I've misplaced my large CORTRON 3 patch, but it's the typical trident and crook symbology seen on many Destroyer Escort (and Fast Frigate) crests throughout the fleet

 

 

Two DE's from CORTRON 3, CORTDIV 31 deployed to the Far East

Taiwan Straits Patrol, Market Time and the Gunline

USS HOOPER (DE-1026) & USS EVANS (DE-1023)

[Salvage Sailor]

RESCORTRON 4 - Reserve Destroyer Escort Squadron 4

ASW training for the Atlantic Fleet Reservists

[Salvage Sailor]

CORTRON 5

Market Time - Destroyer Escort Squadron 5

 

[Salvage Sailor]

CORTRON 6

Atlantic Fleet - Destroyer Escort Squadron 6

 

[Salvage Sailor]

CORTRON 7

The Pearl Harbor based DE Squadron - Guardians of the Western Pacific

 

[topdcnut]

RESCORTRON 4 - Reserve Destroyer Escort Squadron 4, ASW training for the Atlantic Fleet Reservists

This would be pre 1964ish?

[Salvage Sailor]

I'd say right in that time frame, 1958-1964

[Salvage Sailor]

USS ALVIN C. COCKRELL (DE-366), Flagship of CORTRON 7, CORTDIV 72

John C. Butler class Escort Destroyer, Homeport Pearl Harbor, Hawaii

Far East Cruise 1962 and her DE-366 Supply Division patch

 

[Salvage Sailor]

CORTRON 8 - Destroyer Escort Squadron 8, Newport, R.I.

 

[Salvage Sailor]

CORTRON 10 - Destroyer Escort Squadron 10, Newport, R.I.

USS COURTNEY (DE-1021) Flagship

 

USS COURTNEY (DE-1021) Flagship CORTRON 10

[Salvage Sailor]

Any other CORTRON items in your collections?

[Salvage Sailor]

Reserve Escort Squadron Two, Atlantic Fleet USNR training ship for Third Naval District

 

Cannon class USS SNYDER (DE-745) In service 1944 to 1960

 

[Salvage Sailor]

RESCORTRON ONE

Reserve Destroyer Escort Squadron 1, Seattle/Tacoma, Washington

 

[Salvage Sailor]

On 3/28/2017 at 1:46 PM, Salvage Sailor said:

The Pearl Harbor based DE Squadron - CORTRON 7 - Guardians of the Western Pacific

 

Hard to find crest version of

CORTRON 7

Pearl Harbor based Escort Squadron Seven, made in Japan late 1950's to early 1960's

 

[Salvage Sailor]

On 3/28/2017 at 1:56 PM, Salvage Sailor said:

CORTRON 10 - Destroyer Escort Squadron 10, Newport, R.I

 

CORTRON 10 - Different version

 

[Salvage Sailor]

USS EDMONDS (DE-406) Three war John C. Butler class in service 1944 to 1964

 

Morotai, Leyte, Samar, Iwo Jima, Okinawa - Rescued the crew of the USS BISMARCK SEA (CVE-95)

 

Joining the U.S. 5th Fleet at Ulithi in January 1945, Edmonds screened escort carriers in the Iwo Jima operation in February. On 21 January Bismarck Sea was sunk after the crash of a Japanese kamikaze detonated the escort carrier's ammunition. Edmonds directed the rescue operations, saving 378 of the carrier's crew including the commanding officer, in spite of darkness, heavy seas, and continuing air attacks. Thirty of her own crew went over the side to bring the wounded and exhausted carrier men to safety.

 

 

 

CRUDESPAC - RESDESRON ONE - Cruisers-Destroyers Pacific Reserve Destroyer Squadron 1

 

EDMONDS arrived at Portland, Oregon, in March 1959 for duty in the reserve training program. In September 1961, the warship began preparations for an overseas cruise with her reserve crew, ultimately sailing for the Far East on 22 January 1962. Arriving in Da Nang, South Vietnam on 18 February, the destroyer escort conducted training operations with the South Vietnamese Navy through 10 April, including exercises in the Gulf of Siam. After port visits to Hong Kong and Yokosuka and Sasebo, Japan, she steamed east to her new home port of Treasure Island, California, arriving there on 17 July. EDMONDS spent the next two years conducting training cruises north to Canada and south to Mexico, with the occasional voyage to Pearl Harbor, until December 1964 when she began inactivation procedures.

 

[Salvage Sailor]

CORTRON EIGHTEEN

Newport, Rhode Island

 

The DERs were organized into four escort squadrons, two on each coast. In the Atlantic Fleet, CORTRONs 16 and 18 were homeported in Newport. They patrolled the Atlantic Contiguous Barrier from 1954 until relieved of that duty by the AGRs in the late 1950s. These DERs patrolled the Atlantic Barrier from July 1956 until July 1961, and the GIUK Barrier from August 1961 to September 1965. They also patrolled the SOUTHERN TIP station from April 1961 to June 1965. A total of twenty-two DERs served in the Atlantic, although the maximum number in Newport at any one time peaked at nineteen, in July 1957. Atlantic Fleet DER strength declined to seventeen in 1957, due to transfers to the Pacific Fleet, and it remained at that level for almost three years. The next decline occurred in 1960, when nine Newport DERs were decommissioned as part of Navywide cost cutting. In January 1962, the remaining eight DERs were consolidated into CORTRON 16, and CORTRON 18 was disestablished.