USS Charrette (DD-581) was a of the United States Navy, named for Lieutenant George Charrette (1867–1938), who was awarded the Medal of Honor for heroism during the Spanish–American War. Entering service during World War II, she spent her career in the Pacific theatre. Placed in reserve following the war, Charette was transferred to the Kingdom of Greece in 1959 and renamed Velos (D16), remaining in service till 1991 before being preserved as a museum ship at Palaio Faliro, Athens. Service history United States Navy Charrette was launched on 3 June 1942 by the Boston Navy Yard, sponsored by Mrs G. Charrette. The ship was commissioned on 18 May 1943. Charrette sailed from New York on 20 September 1943 to escort the aircraft carrier to Pacific service. Arriving at Pearl Harbor 9 October, Charrette took part in training exercises until 10 November, when she put to sea with Task Force 50 (TF 50), for air raids on Japanese bases in the Marshalls. These strikes neutralized enemy air opposition to the landings at Makin and on Tarawa which followed. On 26 November, Charrette joined the screen of the task group assigned to air-cover operations over Makin and Tarawa, providing protection for the transports and supplying Naval Gunfire Support (NGS). Twelve days later, the destroyer screened battleships in a shore bombardment on Nauru, before rejoining the fast carrier task force sailing on to Efate. Charrette sailed on 21 December to screen the carriers as they launched strikes against Kavieng, New Ireland, during the three days preceding the assault on Cape Gloucester 26 December. Continuing north, the group arrived at Funafuti 21 January 1944 to prepare for the operations against the Marshall Islands. 1944 From 23 January to 5 February 1944, Charrette screened the carriers in a series of strikes on Kwajalein and Eniwetok. On the night of 4–5 February, Charrette left her station to investigate a radar contact reported by one of the battleships. After tracking the contact to , she opened fire on a submarine which crash dived. Charrette attempted a depth charge attack, then used her radar to guide the destroyer escort to sink possibly , the first Japanese submarine to be sunk by the Hedgehog, anti-submarine weapon. The next day, Charrette moored in Majuro Lagoon. The destroyer sailed 12 February 1944 for the first of the series of raids sealing off the Japanese base at Truk from being an effective