From: Dictionary of American Fighting Ships, Vol. III, 1968, Navy  
Department, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Naval History  
Division, Washington, D.C. 
 
HUBBARD (DE-211) 
 
Joseph Charles Hubbard was born 24 January 1900 in Danbury, Conn., and 
graduated from the Naval Academy in 1920. After serving in various ships 
during his early career, Hubbard underwent submarine training in 1924-25 
and reported on board his first command, O-7, in 1930. Following other 
assignments ashore and afloat, he reported to cruiser SAN FRANCISCO in 
November 1939 as Damage Control Officer and First Lieutenant. Hubbard 
was appointed Commander in 1942 and died 13 November 1942 on board SAN 
FRANCICO. This ship, flagship for Admiral Callaghan, was crashed by a 
Japanese plane 12 November. Hubbard relieved the critically wounded 
executive officer, and it was in this post that he was killed next day 
during the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, as American ships prevented a 
Japanese bombardment of the island. 
 
dp. 1,400; 
l. 306'; 
b. 36' 10"; 
dr. 9' 5"; 
s. 24 k.; 
cpl.186; 
a. 3 3",8 20-mm., 4 1.1", 2 dct., 8 dcp., 1 dcp. (h.h.), 3 21" tt.; 
cl. BUCKLEY 
 
HUBBARD (DE-211) was launched by Charleston Navy Yard, 11 November 1943; 
sponsored by Mrs. Helen L. Hubbard, widow of Commander Hubbard; and 
commissioned 6 March 1944, Lt. Comdr. L. C. Mabley in command. 
 
Following shakedown training out of Bermuda, the new destroyer escort 
returned to Norfolk 7 May 1944. She then escorted oiler MANATEE to the 
Caribbean, returning to Norfolk 23 May for armament changes. Armed with 
40-mm. guns in lieu of torpedo tubes, HUBBARD sailed with her first 
convoy 1 June, seeing the transports safely to Bizerte, Tunisia, and 
returning to New York 19 July 1944. She subsequently made two more 
convoy crossings in 1944, and underwent antisubmarine training at Casco 
Bay, Maine, between voyages. 
 
HUBBARD sailed 26 December 1944 with other destroyer escorts to hunt 
down weather-reporting U-boats in the Atlantic. Equipped with the latest 
direction-finding gear, the ships scouted the suspected area until they 
came upon U-248 16 January 1945. Depth charge attacks sank the German 
marauder late that morning. The ships arrived New York 6 February and 
after additional training in Casco Bay sailed again to search for 
submarines 4 April from Argentia. As part of Operation Teardrop, she 
took part in the destruction of the last desperate U-boat group to 
sortie, with escort carriers BOGUE, CORE, and many sister ships. 
FREDERICK C. DAVIS (DE-136) was torpedoed and sunk suddenly 4 April, and 
HUBBARD joined in hunting the attacker. After many depth charge attacks, 
four by HUBBARD alone, U-546 surfaced. The destroyer escorts' guns 
blazed away and the submarine quickly sank. 
 
HUBBARD returned to Boston 10 May 1945 and began her conversion to a 
fast transport, suit the still-hot Pacific war. She was reclassifie APD-
53, 1 June 1945 and emerged from Sullivans Dry Dock, Brooklyn, 14 
August, the day before the surrender of Japan. 
 
Following 3 months of training operations in the Caribbean and Casco 
Bay, HUBBARD arrived Green Cove Springs, Fla., 12 November i945. She 
decommissioned 15 March 1946 and entered the Reserve Fleet, where she 
remained until she was struck from the Navy List 1 May 1966 and 
scrapped. 
 
HUBBARD received two battle stars for World War II service.