View source for USS Inch

{{no footnotes|date=January 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2021}}
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{{Infobox ship image
|Ship image=USS Inch (DE-146) off New York City (USA) on 21 March 1944 (L45-133.02.01).jpg
|Ship caption=
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{{Infobox ship career
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|Ship country=United States
|Ship flag={{USN flag|1946}}
|Ship name=''Inch''
|Ship namesake=Richard Inch
|Ship ordered=
|Ship builder=[[Consolidated Steel Corporation]], [[Orange, Texas]]
|Ship laid down=19 January 1943
|Ship launched=4 April 1943
|Ship acquired=
|Ship commissioned=8 September 1943
|Ship decommissioned=17 May 1946
|Ship in service=
|Ship out of service=
|Ship struck=1 October 1972
|Ship reinstated=
|Ship honours=
|Ship fate=Sold for scrap, 21 March 1974
|Ship notes=
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{{Infobox ship characteristics
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|Header caption=
|Ship class={{sclass|Edsall|destroyer escort}}
|Ship displacement=*1,253&nbsp;tons standard
* 1,590&nbsp;tons full load
|Ship length= {{convert|306|ft|m|abbr=on}}
|Ship beam= {{convert|36.58|ft|m|abbr=on}}
|Ship draft={{convert|10.42|ft|m|abbr=on}} full load
|Ship propulsion=* 4&nbsp;[[Fairbanks-Morse|FM]] [[diesel engine]]s,
* 4&nbsp;diesel-[[Engine-generator|generators]],
* {{convert|6000|shp|lk=in|abbr=on}}
* 2&nbsp;screws
|Ship speed={{convert|21|kn|kph|lk=in}}
|Ship range=* {{convert|9100|nmi|lk=in|abbr=on}} at {{convert|12|kn}}
|Ship complement=8 officers, 201 enlisted
|Ship sensors=
|Ship EW=
|Ship armament= {{Edsall class destroyer escort armament}}
|Ship armor=
|Ship aircraft=
|Ship aircraft facilities=
|Ship notes=
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|}

'''USS ''Inch'' (DE-146)''' was an {{sclass|Edsall|destroyer escort}} in service with the [[United States Navy]] from 1943 to 1946. She was scrapped in 1974.

==Namesake==
Richard Inch was born on 29 June 1843 at [[Washington, D.C.]] He was warranted Third Assistant Engineer on 13 September 1863. He served on {{USS|Lancaster|1858|6}} and other ships during the [[American Civil War]]. During his long career Inch served as special assistant at the [[White House]], as Inspector of [[Coal]], and as an officer in many of the ships of the fleet. He was at [[Mare Island Navy Yard]] during the [[Spanish–American War]], but was assigned to Naval Station [[Cavite]] in March 1899. Inch served with distinction during this tumultuous time in the [[Philippines]], and was later advanced three numbers in grade for his performance. He retired as a [[Rear admiral (United States)|Rear Admiral]] in 1905, and died on 21 April 1911 at Washington, D.C.. He is buried at [[Arlington National Cemetery]]. He was a companion of the Pennsylvania Commandery of the [[Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States]].

==History==
''Inch'' was [[Keel laying|laid down]] on 19 January 1943 by Consolidated Steel Corp, [[Orange, Texas]]. The ship was [[Ceremonial ship launching|launched]] on 4 April 1943, [[Ship sponsor|sponsored]] by Mrs. Philip L. Inch, the daughter-in-law of Admiral Inch. ''Inch'' was [[Ship commissioning|commissioned]] on 8 September 1943.

===Battle of the Atlantic===
Following shakedown off [[Bermuda]], ''Inch'' began [[convoy]] escort operations from [[New York City|New York]] to [[Norfolk, Virginia|Norfolk]]. Early in 1944 she joined a special [[hunter-killer group]] in the [[Atlantic]], built around the escort carrier {{USS|Croatan|CVE-25|6}}. The ships sailed on 24 March for the convoy lanes to search for German [[U-boat]]s. During the months that followed, ''Inch'' took part in many attacks on [[submarine]]s.

On the evening of 11 June the ship, in company with {{USS|Frost|DE-144|6}} and {{USS|Huse|DE-145|6}}, the three ships made contact with a submarine and proceeded to attack. After over 40 [[depth charge]]s, the submarine surfaced, signaling [[SOS]]. Suspecting a ruse, ''Inch'' and her companions opened fire and destroyed {{GS|U-490}}. The entire crew of 60 German sailors was rescued by the escorts. Soon after the attack on ''U-490'', the escort vessels, operating as usual in concert with aircraft from ''Croatan'', detected another submarine. They attacked 3 July and scored another kill, this time on {{GS|U-154|1941|2}}. ''Inch'' remained on this duty until reaching New York on 14 May 1945.

=== Pacific War ===
''Inch'' had had only brief in-port periods the preceding year, and after repairs conducted her second shakedown out of [[Guantanamo Bay, Cuba]]. With the submarine war in the Atlantic won, ''Inch'' sailed to the [[Pacific]], departing the [[Panama Canal Zone|Canal Zone]] 23 July. She touched at [[San Diego]], California, and [[Pearl Harbor]], and remained in [[Hawaii]]an waters for exercises designed to train her for the planned invasion of [[Japan]]. Soon after her arrival 12 August, however, the capitulation was announced. After completing training and readiness exercises, ''Inch'' sailed 5 September for Norfolk, Virginia, via the [[Panama Canal]], and arrived 28 September 1945.

===Decommissioning and fate===
She [[Ship decommissioning|decommissioned]] on 17 May 1946, entered the [[Atlantic Reserve Fleet]], and was berthed at [[Norfolk, Virginia|Norfolk]]. She was sold for scrapping to the Southern Scrap Materials Company, [[New Orleans]], [[Louisiana]], on 26 February 1974.

== Awards ==
* [[American Campaign Medal]] with two [[battle stars]]
* [[European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal]] with two battle stars
* [[Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal]]
* [[World War II Victory Medal]]

== References ==
* {{DANFS|https://www.history.navy.mil/content/history/nhhc/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/i/inch.html}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|USS Inch (DE-146)}}
* [http://www.desausa.org/images2/uss_inch_de_146.htm USS ''Inch'' (DE-146) commissioning ceremony]
* [http://www.desausa.org/images2/u_490_pows_aboard_uss_inch_de146_3.htm U-490 POWs aboard USS ''Inch'' (DE-146)]
* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/06/146.htm NavSource Online: Destroyer Escort Photo Archive USS ''Inch'' (DE-146)]

{{Edsall class destroyer escort}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Inch (DE-146)}}
[[Category:Edsall-class destroyer escorts]]
[[Category:Ships built in Orange, Texas]]
[[Category:1943 ships]]
[[Category:World War II frigates and destroyer escorts of the United States]]