USS Eldridge History
From the "Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships,"
(1963) Vol. 2, p.336.

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ELDRIDGE

DE-173
Displacement: 1,240 t.
Length: 306’
Beam: 36’8"
Draft: 8’9"
Speed: 21 k.
Complement: 186
Armament: 3 3"; 3 21" torpedo tubes;
8 depth charge projectors;
2 depth charge tracks;
1 hedge hog
Class: CANNON

ELDRIDGE (DE-173) was launched 25 July 1943 by Federal Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., Newark, N.J.; sponsored by Mrs. John Eldridge, Jr., widow of Lieutenant Commander Eldridge; and commissioned 27 August 1943, Lieutenant C. R. Hamilton, USNR, in command. 

Between 4 January 1944 and 9 May 1945, ELDRIDGE sailed on the vital task of escorting to the Mediterranean men and materials to support Allied operations in north Africa and on into southern Europe. She made nine voyages to deliver convoys safely to Casablanca, Bizerte, and Oran. ELDRIDGE departed New York 28 May 1945 for service in the Pacific. 

En route to Saipan in July, she made contact with an underwater object and immediately attacked but no results were observed. She arrived at Okinawa 7 August for local escort and patrol, and with the end of hostilities a week later, continued to serve as escort on the Saipan-Ulithi-Okinawa routes until November. ELDRIDGE was placed out of commission, in reserve, 17 June 1946. On 15 January 1951, she was transferred under the Mutual Defense Assistance program to Greece, with whom she serves as destroyer escort LEON (D-54).

LEON was disposed of by the Greek Navy in 1991, but she was retained as a training hulk. "Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World, 1995," p.248 (The "Guide" says the ex-ELDRIDGE became the Greek destroyer escort PANTHIR (D-67), various "Jane’s Fighting Ships" and "Conway’s All The World’s Fighting Ships, 1947-1995" agree with the "Dictionary".)

USS Eldridge
USS Eldridge History | USS Eldridge Log