The USS Sutton (DE-771) was a Cannon-class destroyer escort constructed by the Tampa Shipbuilding Co. in Tampa, Florida. Laid down on August 23, 1943, and launched on August 6, 1944, she was commissioned into the U.S. Navy on December 22, 1944. Designed as a anti-submarine warfare vessel, she measured approximately 306 feet in length with a beam of about 36 feet, and displaced around 1,240 tons standard. Her armament included guns and torpedoes suitable for escort and patrol duties during World War II. Following her commissioning, USS Sutton conducted shakedown training in Bermuda before heading to Boston for yard work. She was assigned to Escort Division 79, attached to Task Group 22.13, and participated in anti-submarine patrols off Newfoundland in early 1945. A notable event in her service was her involvement in intercepting and accepting the surrender of German U-boats, including U-1228 and U-234. In May 1945, Sutton boarded and escorted U-234 to the United States, where she transferred 37 prisoners and a cargo that included disassembled aircraft, Japanese scientists, German officers, and notably, uranium oxide intended for the Manhattan Project, marking her role in significant wartime intelligence and atomic research efforts. After the war, Sutton operated along the U.S. East Coast and in the Gulf of Mexico, undergoing yard overhaul in Charleston and Norfolk. She was decommissioned in September 1947, placed in reserve, and mothballed at Green Cove Springs, Florida. In 1956, she was transferred to South Korea under the Grant Aid Program and served as ROKS Kang Won (F-72) until 1977. Following her decommissioning from Korean service, the vessel was cannibalized for spare parts in the Philippines, ending her maritime service life. The USS Sutton’s service highlights her role in anti-submarine warfare, post-war operations, and Cold War aid programs, reflecting her significance as a wartime escort vessel and a component of U.S. naval legacy.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.