USS Whitehurst DE 634 - WWII configuration

USS Whitehurst DE-634 Power Ship 

Image of the Plaque installed at the Navy Memorial in Washington DC

Story Behind the Plaque

Ship Specifications

A Buckley Class DE, typical of 154 GE Turbo-Electric Powered "TEs". Displacement-1400 Tons, Length-305', Width at Beam-37.5', Mean Draft-9.5'
Twin Propeller Shafts, Shaft HP-12000

Two Boilers,24 Knots Max Speed

Built in Bethlehem Ship Yard, San Francisco, Launched 5 Sept. 1943

Commissioned 19 November 1943

Sank as Target for the new Mark 46 Torpedo 28 April 1971

Armament    Surface and Antiaircraft Weapons    Anti Submarine Weapons Page

Whitehurst "Stars" in Film

The Movie, "The Enemy Below", made using the Whitehurst, is a WWII, DE versus U-Boat thriller. Robert Mitchum and Curt Jurgens play the leading roles as skippers of the opposing vessels. It was released in 1957 and took and academy award for special effects.
You can see several of your old shipmates playing bit parts, a few of whom speak a line or two. There are many good shots of the ship. The film is still available in the "War Section" at the major Movie Rental stores.  If it isn't on their shelves, they can order it.

The movie has been re-released twice recently.  In December of 2003 and in May of 2004.  The 2004 release is on DVD in Wide Screen & Surround Sound.  Both DVD & VHS versions were available for purchase for about $15. (May 2004)

In May of 2002, the readers of Sea Classics Magazine responded to a poll selecting their top 10 and personal favorite sea films.  The Enemy Below took second place, just slightly behind The Cane Mutiny and well ahead of Das Boot and Mister Roberts in the 3rd and 4th spots.  

Click Here for Still Pictures Taken During Filming