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USS BOOTH DE 170 (aka RPS Datu Kalantiaw), Navy Day, Full Dress, 1945, in Truk (Photo From The DESA Archives. Property of DESAUSA.org)

Booth (DE-170) was laid down on 30 January 1943 at Newark, N.J., by the Federal Shipbuilding & Drydock Co.; launched on 21 June 1943; sponsored by Mrs. Annie L. Booth; completed at the Norfolk Navy Yard; and commissioned there on 18 September 1943, Lt. Comdr. Donald W. Todd in command.

After outfitting, Booth put to sea from Hampton Roads, Va., on 14 October for her shakedown voyage. Returned to Norfolk from the Bermuda 13 November. From 1 December to the 17th, she was at Washington, D.C., doing experimental work at the Naval Research Laboratory. During the latter part of the month, Booth helped to train prospective destroyer escort crewmen in the Hampton Roads area. At the beginning of 1944, Booth and her division mates completed eight round-trip voyages to the Mediterranean region and back escorting convoys in both directions. Her only verifiable scrape with the Germans came from the air when planes attacked Convoy UGS-48 off Cape Bengut, Algeria, on the night of 1 August 1944. The convoy’s antiaircraft gunners repulsed the attack quickly, and none of the ships in the convoy suffered any damage.

With the end of the war in Europe in May 1945, the destroyer escort set a course for the Panama Canal. The warship escorted SS Permanente to Pearl Harbor, arriving there on 2 July. On the 15th via Eniwetok in the Marshall Islands for the Mariana Islands. Arrived at Saipan on 26 July. Booth put to sea on 9 August for Ulithi Atoll in the Caroline Islands. Embarked upon the first of two convoy runs to Okinawa. While the surrender document was being executed on board Missouri (BB-63) in Tokyo Bay on 2 September, Booth was getting underway at Okinawa to return to Ulithi.

During the fall of 1945, the destroyer escort assisted occupation forces in accepting the surrender of bypassed islands and in the repatriation their garrisons. On 8 September, she set out from Ulithi to investigate three island groups in the Western Carolines—Sorol, Eauripik, and Ifalik. On 12 September, she returned to Ulithi with a single Japanese civilian, found in the Sorol group. On 11 October, Booth put to sea on a four-week assignment evacuating Japanese forces from the Truk, Nomoi, and Puluwat atolls. The warship arrived at Guam on 7 November but returned to sea the following day bound for the United States. Steaming via Pearl Harbor, San Diego, and the Panama Canal, the destroyer escort arrived in Green Cove Springs, Fla., near the end of 1945. Booth was decommissioned there on 4 March 1946.

She remained in reserve for over 20 years. On 15 December 1967, Booth was transferred to the Republic of the Philippines on loan under the Military Assistance Program. The Philippine Navy put her in service as Datu Kalantiaw (PS-76). On 30 June 1975, while she still served in the Philippine Navy, the destroyer escort was redesignated a frigate FF-170. Three years later, the decision was made to sell her to the Philippines, and her name was struck from the Navy list in July of 1978. She continued to serve the Philippine Navy until September 1981 when she was wrecked by a typhoon on the rocky northern beach of Calayan Island.

(from us naval historical center archives)



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Mount Hood (AE-29) anchored off Cayalan Island, Philippines, 22 September 1981. Mount Hood participated in search and rescue (SAR) operations for the beached and overturned frigate RPS Datu Kalantiaw (PS-76). Photo from the Department of Defense Visual Imaging web site


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22 Sep. 1981, Cayalan Island, Philippines. An aerial view of the capsized Philippine destroyer escort Datu Kalantiaw PS-76 (originally the USS Booth DE-170) during the Military Airlift Command`s Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Service (ARRS) rescue operations.



Her nemesis: Typhoon Clara

The monsoon trough spawned a tropical depression on September 13 well east of the Philippines. The depression moved to the west-northwest, strengthening into a tropical storm on the 16th and a typhoon on the 18th. Clara rapidly intensified to a peak of 140 mph winds on the 19th before brushing northern Luzon on the 19th. Its circulation disrupted, Clara steadily weakened as it continued to the northwest, hitting southeast China on the 21st as an 80 mph typhoon. Clara caused extensive damage and loss of life, leaving thousands homeless from the heavy rains.

(from wikipedia)

I remember seeing a photo of it in a newspaper magazine with a close-up shot of a sailor crossing a rope away from the ship which was on its side.

RIP

The captain of the ship was our kapitbahay a long time ago. I remember the vigil they held in front of their house when the ship capsized.

My brother was lost with that ship. It was the PN flagship at that time but it only had one running engine during its last sortie. Its boliers were in danger of exploding the whole boat anytime. The captain decided to sail anyway, knowing that if a storm hit them and the one engine should go out then it would be their doom; which is exactly what happened.

They tried to beat the storm but failed so they tried to anchor. The ship did not exactly sink. The storm broke their anchor chains and so it drifted until it hit a reef on Camiguin island around Batanes. Giant waves lashed at the ship until it capsized.

Out of a crew of two hundred, only fourteen survived. Many bodies were never recovered. I don't think there is any marker or monument to mark their passing.


My brother as a midshipman at Annapolis, USNA 79'

http://timawa.net/forum/index.php?topic=8648.0

check this out...

Just a question, was the crew really 200? Or 10 Officers + 87 EP as per newpaper clipping (http://timawa.net/forum/index.php?topic=8648.0)

This was a real tragedy. My father then was assigned as POIC, OF3 Naval Defense Forces he never got a good sleep the whole week after the incident.

:salute:

My name is Keven Walters. I was a member of the crew on board the USS MOUNT HOOD (AE 29). The Good Hood, as we called her, was first to arrive on seen to try and rescue the crew of the BRP DATU KALANTIAW. I believe there were 18 survivors, that had already been rescued by our arrival. My ship was dispatched from Subic Bay as she was approaching her birth, and there fore the most ready of all ships to be able to steam towards the KALANTIAW. But I believe it was still the better part of three days before we arrived on seen and started operations.
I want to say that til this day my heart goes out to the men of the Kalantiaw, and their families. I was 19 at the time, of the wreck, and 46 now, but I have to say that this is the one incident, of which I have been personally involved with, that continues to sadden me til this day.
At the time when collecting the dead and returning them to the families through Manila, I felt glad to be able to be there to help in the recovery. But I still did not understand what It meant to be a part of it. I was just doing as I believed anyone would have done, and most likely would have if in my position. But the thankfulness of the families and of your countries navy was overwhelming. My ship, The MOUNT HOOD, was later invited to CEBU, where we spent five days. It was a very somber five days, as we were there to receive thanks for our efforts during this terrible loss of life and families. All I could think was that it did not feel right to celebrate. But Now I Understand why it was so important for the families and the navy to thank us. And I thank you so very much for your appreciation.
I never have been back to Cebu since then. In fact I have not been back to your country since 1983, But I hope to be back sometime in 2009. Thank you so much for this opportunity to write this post. Ingats, paalam.

:P So even back then we already have problems on the maintenance of our vessels (and replacing those that need replacing) - sana hindi ganun mangyari sa mga natitira nating "classics."

RIP and our prayers to the men who lost their lives aboard this fine ship. Does anyone know (kung declassified na ha) why the vessel braved the journey despite the potential risks? The reason why I'm asking this is that lumalakas even more ang mga storms natin and if something like the M/V Princess of the Stars sank after a bad decision sana hindi ganun rin mangyari sa Navy vessels natin.

Thank you very much for sharing Sir Walters and until now the philippines appreciate what you did that time, again thank you very much sir.