USS Piedmont
| History | |
|---|---|
| United States | |
| Name | USS Piedmont |
| Namesake | The Piedmont, a plateau region in the eastern United States |
| Builder | Tampa Shipbuilding Company, Tampa, Florida, U.S. |
| Laid down | 1 December 1941 |
| Launched | 7 December 1942 |
| Sponsored by | Mrs. Elsa Kauffman |
| Commissioned | 5 January 1944 |
| Decommissioned | 30 September 1982 |
| Stricken | 6 August 1987 |
| Fate |
|
| Notes | Served in Turkish Navy as TCG Derya 1982–1994 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type | Dixie-class destroyer tender |
| Type | Destroyer tender |
| Displacement | 17,176 tons (full load) |
| Length | 530 ft 6 in (161.70 m) |
| Beam | 73 ft 3 in (22.33 m) |
| Draft | 25 ft (7.6 m) |
| Propulsion | Geared turbine engines; twin screws; 11,300 h.p. |
| Speed | 18.5 knots (max); 12 knots (econ) |
| Complement | 1,181 |
| Armament |
|
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USS Piedmont (AD–17) was a Dixie-class destroyer tender built during World War II for the United States Navy. Her task was to service destroyers in, or near, battle areas and to keep them fit for duty. She served in the Pacific Ocean during World War II, the Cold War, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. For her work in battle areas, the ship was awarded four battle stars for her Korean War efforts and one for Vietnam War service.
She was laid down by the Tampa Shipbuilding Company, Inc., in Tampa, Florida, on 1 December 1941; launched 7 December 1942; sponsored by Mrs. Elsa Kauffman; and, commissioned 5 January 1944.
The ship's mascot was the Doc, one of the dwarfs in Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Due to the mascot being a male character, Piedmont was officially referred to as "He", rather than "She", as are other ships.
After being decommissioned from the U.S. Navy, Piedmont was transferred to the Turkish Navy, where she served from 1982 to 1994 as TCG Derya. The ship was decommissioned from the Turkish Navy in 1994 and scrapped the following year.