USS Waterman  USS "Waterman" (DE-740) was a in service with the United States Navy from 1943 to 1946. She was sold to Peru in 1952, where she served as BAP "Aguirre" (D-2/DE-62) until being sunk as a target, in 1974. She was named after Andrew Kenneth Waterman, who was awarded a Navy Cross posthumously in 1941 for his action against Japanese ships and aircraft. The ship was laid down on 24 February 1943 at San Pedro, California, by the Western Pipe and Steel Company; launched on 20 June 1943; sponsored by Mrs. June M. Waterman, the widow of Aviation Machinist's Mate 1st Class Waterman; and commissioned on 30 November 1943, Lt. Comdr. W. B. Hinds, USNR, in command. After shakedown out of San Diego, California, and post-shakedown availability at her builder's yard, "Waterman" departed San Pedro, California, on 12 February 1944 and proceeded independently to Pearl Harbor, where she arrived six days later. Once in Hawaiian waters, the new escort vessel underwent further training in anti-submarine warfare and gunnery. "Waterman" departed Pearl Harbor on 6 March and screened the escort carrier as she ferried replacement aircraft, passengers, and cargo to Kwajalein, Majuro, Tarawa, and Makin in the Marshalls and Gilberts. The destroyer escort returned to Pearl Harbor on 24 March. Continuing in her role as an escort vessel, "Waterman" sailed from Hawaiian waters on 9 April, bound again for the Marshalls in company with and escorting Convoy 4152-A which was made up of merchant tankers. "Waterman" arrived at Majuro one week later and then performed local escort missions out of that base through May. On 1 June, "Waterman" joined Task Group (TG) 50.17, a fleet service group made up of vital support ships — particularly fleet oilers, tugs, ammunition ships, supply ships, and the like — that allowed the fast carrier task forces to remain at sea for prolonged periods of time. Those ships provided the carriers and their escorts with the vital necessities of life — food, fuel, ammunition, mail, etc. — anything the fleet needed to keep up the pressure on the Japanese. "Waterman's" first assignment in that role was operating in support of the Marianas operation. She departed Majuro on 6 June and protected the task group for a fortnight before completing her mission at Eniwetok on the 20th.