The USS Pillsbury (DE-133) was an Edsall-class destroyer escort constructed by the Consolidated Steel Corporation in Orange, Texas. Laid down on July 18, 1942, and launched on January 10, 1943, she was commissioned on June 7, 1943, under the command of Lt. Comdr. W. Parker. The vessel measured approximately 306 feet in length, with a beam of around 36 feet, and was powered by geared turbines capable of reaching speeds up to 21 knots, typical of her class. During World War II, USS Pillsbury primarily served as a convoy escort and hunter-killer vessel. Her early duties involved escorting convoys into Casablanca and Gibraltar, protecting them from enemy submarines. Notably, she participated in anti-submarine warfare operations, including the sinking of U-515 on April 8, 1944, after engaging with hedgehogs and depth charges. On June 4, 1944, she played a crucial role in the capture of U-505, a German U-boat, after her crew abandoned ship under attack. The USS Pillsbury boarded the deserted vessel, seizing critical German intelligence, including Enigma codes, charts, and documents—an act that earned her the Presidential Unit Citation. Lt. Albert David, who led the boarding party, was awarded the Medal of Honor for his gallantry, and other crew members received Navy Crosses. She also participated in sinking U-546 on April 24, 1945. Following the war, the USS Pillsbury helped escort the surrendered U-858 from mid-Atlantic to Cape May, New Jersey. She was decommissioned in 1947 but was later recommissioned in 1955 as a radar picket ship (DER-133) after modernization at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard. She served as part of the Atlantic Barrier, conducting patrols and visiting European ports until her final decommissioning on June 20, 1960. The vessel was struck from the Naval Vessel Register in 1965 and sold for scrapping in 1966. Throughout her service, USS Pillsbury earned five battle stars and the Presidential Unit Citation, marking her as a significant asset in both wartime and Cold War naval history.

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