Today in U.S. Naval History 11 March

USS Bayntun (DE-1) was the first of the lend lease destroyer escorts in the United States Navy. She served in the Royal Navy as HMS Bayntun (K.310). She was named for Admiral Sir Henry William Bayntun, RN.

Evarts class destroyer escort.
Displacement: l,400 tons
Lenght: 289'6"
Beam: 35'
Draft: 10'
Speed: 19 knots
Complement: 175
Armament: 3 3", 2 40mm., 6 20mm., 1 dcp (hh.); 4 dcp., 2 dct.

The final great Seabee effort in the European Theater took place during the crossing of the Rhine River in March 1945. Many times during the Second World War the Seabees had been called upon to do odd jobs of an urgent nature, but this particular odd job was of special significance. The U.S. Army, concerned about the Rhine River's swift and tricky currents, called upon the Seabees to operate many of the landing craft that were to be used in breaking Germany's Rhine River barrier. The Seabees' first successful probe across the treacherous river was at Bad Neuenahr near Remagen. Further crossings followed in rapid succession as the Seabees made their task appear to be little more difficult than a sightseeing cruise.

During March, an average of 34 U. S. ships were on daily MARKET TIME patrol. In addition, 9 Vietnamese Sea Force ships and 189 junks were underway daily. Coordination between the United States and Vietnamese forces was exercised by jointly manned Coastal Surveillance Centers at Danang, Qui Nhon, Nha Trang, Vung Tau and An Thoi. In addition, U. S. naval advisors were assigned to Vietnamese junk divisions and sea force ships.

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