The USS Eldridge (DE-173) was a World War II-era destroyer escort of the United States Navy. Launched in 1943, it served primarily in the Atlantic Theater, providing anti-submarine warfare and convoy escort duties. The ship was named after Lieutenant Commander John Eldridge, who was killed in action during World War II. The USS Eldridge is often associated with the urban legend of the Philadelphia Experiment, a supposed military project that claimed the ship was rendered invisible and teleported. However, there is no credible evidence supporting these claims, and the story is widely regarded as a hoax.