The USS Major (DE-796) was a Buckley-class destroyer escort constructed by the Consolidated Steel Corporation in Orange, Texas. Laid down on 16 August 1943 and launched on 23 October 1943, she was commissioned into the United States Navy on 12 February 1944. The vessel was named in honor of Charles Nance Major, who died when the armed guard of the SS R. P. Resor was torpedoed by U-578 off Manasquan, New Jersey, in 1942. USS Major measured approximately 306 feet in length, with a beam of 35 feet, and displaced around 1,370 tons standard. Her armament included anti-submarine weapons, guns, and depth charges typical of Buckley-class escort ships, designed primarily for convoy protection and anti-submarine warfare. After her shakedown cruise near Bermuda, Major initially operated in the Caribbean, escorting convoys between Cuba and Trinidad. She then transitioned to Atlantic duty, escorting ships from Boston and Yorktown, Virginia, to various North African ports including Bizerte and Plymouth, England. During her service, she protected numerous convoys, including UGS-47 and UGS-54, and participated in patrols and escort missions across the Atlantic, North Africa, and Europe. In February 1945, USS Major transferred to the Pacific Theater, arriving at Manus, Admiralties, and later operating from Leyte Gulf, Philippines. Her duties included patrolling for submarines, escorting convoys, and providing logistical support to the island-hopping campaigns. Notably, she witnessed the Japanese surrender aboard the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay on 2 September 1945. Following the end of hostilities, Major continued to support post-war operations, including escorting LSTs to Japan. Decommissioned on 13 March 1948 at Long Beach, California, USS Major entered the Pacific Reserve Fleet and remained inactive until she was sold for scrapping in 1973. Her service history highlights her role in convoy escort, anti-submarine operations, and her participation in key moments of World War II naval history, including witnessing Japan’s surrender.

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