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Navsource Online: Destroyer Escort Photo Archive
Ship's patch courtesy of Nick Tiberio

USS Francis M. Robinson (DE 220)


Flag Hoist / Radio Call Sign:
N - X - A - W
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row: Combat Action Ribbon (retroactive) - Presidential Unit Citation - American Campaign Medal
Second Row: European-Africa-Middle East Campaign Medal w/ 1 star - WWII Victory Medal - National Defense Service Medal
Specifications:
Class: Buckley
Type: TE (turbine-electric drive, 3" guns)
Displacement: 1400 tons (light), 1740 tons (full)
Length: 300' (wl), 306' (oa)
Beam: 36' 9" (extreme)
Draft: 10' 6" (draft limit)
Propulsion: 2 "D" Express boilers, G.E. turbines with electric drive, 12000 shp, 2 screws
Speed: 24 kts
Range: 6,000 nm @ 12 knots
Armament: 3 x 3"/50 Mk22 (1x3), 1 twin 40mm Mk1 AA, 8 x 20mm Mk 4 AA, 3 x 21" Mk15 TT (3x1), 1 Hedgehog Projector Mk10 (144 rounds), 8 Mk6 depth charge projectors, 2 Mk9 depth charge tracks
Complement: 15 / 198
Francis M. Robinson (DE 220) Building and Operational Data:
  • 22 February 1943: Keel laid by the Philadelphia Navy Yard, Philadelphia, Pa.
  • 29 May 1943: Launched and christened, sponsored by Mrs. Francis M. Robinson, widow of Commander Robinson
  • 15 January 1944: Commissioned at Philadelphia, Lt. J. E. Johansen, USNR, in command
  • 27 October 1945: Celebrated Navy Day at Miami, Fla. in company with Richmond (CL 9), Newman K. Perry (DD 883), Cod (SS 224), and Cochino (SS 345)
  • 06 February 1947: Arrived at her new homeport, Key West, Fla., assigned to Destroyer Division 601
  • 20 June 1960: Decommissioned at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard after 16 years and 5 months of service, custody transferred to Commanding Officer, Philadelphia Group, U.S. Atlantic Reserve Fleet
  • 01 July 1972: Struck from the NVR
  • 12 July 1973: Sold for scrapping to the Northern Metals Corp., Philadelphia, Pa.
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By And/Or Copyright
    Francis M. Robinson
    0622001

    Francis M. Robinson

    		 58k Francis Martin Robinson was born 28 October 1883 in Philadelphia, Pa. He was a member of the Naval Academy class of 1906. His varied career of distinguished service to his country through the Navy included shipboard assignments, and duty ashore in recruiting and with the Naval Reserve. He was awarded the Navy Cross for his outstanding work as executive officer in Baltimore laying the North Sea Mine Barrage in World War I. Commander Robinson retired 30 June 1934, but returned to active duty 10 September 1940 as Civilian Personnel Officer for the Fourth Naval District. He thus served until his death 03 November 1942.

    USS Francis M. Robinson (DE 220) (1944-1960) was the first ship to be named in his honor.

    (Photo courtesy of the U.S. Naval Academy)    		 Bill Gonyo
    Downey, Cal.

    Assoc. Researcher
    Navsource
    ***Enright / Robinson***
    0621602    		 82k 29 May 1943: Philadelphia Navy Yard - The christening of six destroyer escorts in a dry-dock at the Philadelphia Navy Yard. The three ships in the foreground are (from left): USS Enright (DE 216), USS Coolbaugh (DE 217) and USS Darby (DE 218). Those in the background are (from left), USS J. Douglas Blackwood (DE 219), USS Francis M. Robinson (DE 220) and USS Solar (DE 221).

    (U.S. Navy Photo #NH 75610 from the Naval History and Heritage Command, Courtesy of James Russell, 1972)
    Francis M. Robinson
    0622002    		 42k undated wartime image -
    Francis M. Robinson
    0622009    		 151k undated wartime image, Francis M. Robinson coming alongside USS Denebola (AD 12).

    (U.S. Navy photo #80-G-372210 from the National Archives and Records Administration, College Park, Md.)    		 Ed Zajkowski
    Narvon, Pa.
    Francis M. Robinson
    0622003    		 100k 02 February 1944: USS Francis M. Robinson (DE 220) underway.

    (U.S. Navy photo #80-G-215506 from the National Archives and Records Administration, College Park, Md.)    		 Nick Tiberio
    Shelton, Conn.
    Francis M. Robinson
    0622011    		 148k undated wartime image
    Francis M. Robinson
    0622004    		 106k 1948: USS Greenwood (DE 679) and Francis M. Robinson moored at Key West, Fla.

    (Notice difference in hull number style, Robinson remains with WWII style numbers, while Greenwood has been repainted to modern numbers.)
    Francis M. Robinson
    0622005    		 158k 29 March 1949: Francis M. Robinson (DE 220) underway off Key West.

    (U.S. Navy photo #80-G-444114 from the National Archives and Records Administration, College Park, Md.)
    Francis M. Robinson
    0622013    		 412k 29 March 1949: Key West, Fla. - USS Francis M. Robinson (DE 220) in the Key West operating area.

    (U.S. Navy photo #80-G-444113 from the National Archives and Records Administration, College Park, Md.)
    		 Rick E. Davis
    Springfield, Oh.
    Francis M. Robinson
    0622006    		 42k 1949 (Photo from Mr. Paul Burke) Nick Tiberio
    Shelton, Conn.
    Francis M. Robinson
    0622007    		 54k
    Francis M. Robinson
    0622012    		 477k 06 December 1950: Starboard quarter view of the destroyer escort USS Francis M. Robinson (DE 220).

    (U.S. Navy photo #L45-102.03.03 from the Naval History and Heritage Command)    		 Mike Smolinski
    Clifton, N.J.

    Navsource Archive Manager
    DE / FF / LCS Archive
    Francis M. Robinson
    0622014    		 184k 29 March 1949: Key West, Fla. - USS Francis M. Robinson (DE 220) in the Key West operating area.

    (U.S. Navy photo #80-G-443398 from the National Archives and Records Administration, College Park, Md.)
    		 Rick E. Davis
    Springfield, Oh.
    Francis M. Robinson
    0622008    		 42k circa 1953 Bob Hurst
    Worksop, Nottinghamshire,
    England, United Kingdom
    Francis M. Robinson
    0622010    		 54k circa 1960: Francis M. Robinson underway.

    (U.S. Navy Photo, from "Jane's Fighting Ships" 1961-62)
    F.M. Robinson
    Memorabilia
    Ship's Lighter
    F.M. Robinson
    Courtesy of
    Nick Tiberio
    Francis M. Robinson History
    View the USS Francis M. Robinson (DE 220) DANFS history entry located on the Naval History and Heritage Command web site.
    View the official War History of USS Francis M. Robinson as submitted by the ship at war's end.
    Francis M. Robinson's Commanding Officers
    Thanks to Wolfgang Hechler & Ron Reeves
    Dates of Command Commanding Officers
    1.)  15 Jan. 1944 - 20 Sep. 1944Lcdr. John Edwin Johansen, USNR (Comm. CO) (Mobile, Ala.)
    2.)  20 Sep. 1944 - 18 Sep. 1945Lcdr. Paul Campbell Jr., USNR (Greenwich, Conn.)
    3.)  18 Sep. 1945 - 30 Nov. 1945Lt. Parkman Dexter Howe Jr., USNR (Needham, Mass.)
    4.)  01 Jan. 1946 - 02 Jul. 1946Lcdr. Raymond E. Kuntz, USNR
    5.)  02 Jul. 1946 - 01 Feb. 1947Lcdr. William Davis Craig 
    6.)  01 Feb. 1947 - .. .... 1948Lt. Raymond Edward Bock (USNA '44) (Wadpole, Mass.)
    7.)  .. .... 1948 - .. Jul. 1949Lcdr. Adalbert Ray Evers (OCS, V7, '41) (Los Angeles, Cal.)
    8.)  .. Jul. 49 - 19 Jun. 1951Lcdr. Joseph Henry Rayburn Jr. (OCS, V7, '41) (Kansas City, Mo.)
    9.)  no date - .. 10 Aug. 1954Lcdr. Bernard Gregory Fold
    10.) 10 Aug. 1954 - 01 Aug. 1956Cmdr. Albert Wesley Cox (USNA '53) (Peoria, Ill.)
    11.) 01 Aug. 1956 - 21 Mar. 1958Lcdr. Charles Kittelle Moore (USNA '44) (Vallejo, Cal.)
    12.) 21 Mar. 1958 - 11 Apr. 1959Lcdr. William Jerome Hess, USN
    13.) 11 Apr. 1959 - 20 Jun. 1960Lcdr. Reul Herbert Bentley, USN
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    Contact Name: Robert M. Wilson
    Address: 5280 Balfor Drive
    City/State: Virginia Beach VA 23464
    Phone: (757) 420-7611 or Fax: (757) 420-6658
    E-mail: R. Wilson
    Note About Contacts

    Contact information is compiled from various sources over a period of time and may, or may not, be correct. Every effort has
    been made to list the newest contact. However, our entry is only as good as the latest information that's been sent to us. We list
    only a contact for the ship if one has been sent to us. We do NOT have crew lists, rosters, or deck logs available. Please see the
    Frequently Asked Questions section on NavSource's Main Page for that information.

    Additional Resources
    Tin Can Sailors
    The U.S. Navy Memorial
    The Destroyer Escort Historical Museum
    The Destroyer History Foundation
    Tin Can Sailors Shipmate Registry - USS Francis M. Robinson
    To The DE, FF, LCS Photo Index Page
    Back To The Main Photo Index

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    This Page Created And Maintained By Mike Smolinski
    All pages copyright Navsource Naval History
    by Paul R. Yarnall, All Rights Reserved.
    Page Last Updated: 30 May 2024