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Launch Date edit
There are two launch dates available on the web: that given by the DANFS (28 April 1943) and that given by NavSource Naval History (9 January 1943).
Examination of the "laid down" and "commission" dates of Griswold (DE-7) and the various other vessels of the Evarts class suggests that the date given by the DANFS is incorrect.
DANFS states that Griswold was launched 5 months after it was laid down, and that it was commissioned on the same day it was launched. Stranger things have happened, but given the existence of an alternative "launch" date, I felt it warranted further investigation.
Destroyed Escorts DE-1 through DE-7 were all built at the Boston Navy Shipyard, in numeric order, and in batches - pairs through DE-6, and then a batch of four from DE-7 to DE-10.
Time Between "Laid Down" and "Launched"
DE-1 & DE-2 were laid down on the same day, and launched on the same day 2.7 months later.
DE-3 & DE-4 were both laid down on the same day, and launched on the same day 2 months later.
DE-5 & DE-6 were both laid down on the same day, and launched on the same day 1.7 months later.
DE-7 to DE-10 were all laid down on the same day, and DE-8 to DE-10 were all launched on the same day 1.4 months later.
Time Between "Launched" and "Commissioned"
DE-1 & DE-2 They were both commissioned between 7 and 8 months after launch.
DE-3 & DE-4 were both commissioned between 3.7 and 4.1 months after launch.
DE-5 & DE-6 were both commissioned 4.3 months after launch.
DE-8 to DE-10 were all commissioned between 3.8 and 4.2 months after launch.
So what happened to the Griswold (DE-7)? According to DANFS, it took an unusually long 5 months to launch the ship - almost twice as long as DE-1, and more than 3 times as long as it took to construct Griwold's sister ships. And then, instead of the 4 months it took on average to outfit the ship between launch and commissioning, DANFS says that it was commissioned on the same day it was launched.
As I've said before, this is possible. Perhaps some extreme delay in construction, and then a rush to get it into commission? The alternative launch date for the Griswold is 9 Jan 1943, which would put its construction exactly in line with its sister ships. I believe this is the more likely scenario.
On the other hand, an unexpected construction delay causing the Griswold to get commissioned alongside its sister ships without being finished would make for a great story, and a fascinating historical detail, so I encourage anyone with information about Griswold's construction to post it.