USS Epperson
 DD 719 (Gearing Class) 




Builder:       Federal Shipbuilding & D.D. Company
               Finished at Bath Iron Works
Laid Down:     June 20, 1945
Launched:      December 22, 1945
Commissioned:  March 18, 1949
Fate:          To Pakistan April 29, 1977; 
               (stricken & sunk?)

We are seeking information on the USS Epperson and her crews. Files and photos may be emailed to us and we will incorporate them into this page.

The Gearing Class as Constructed 

          Displacement:  2,425 tons (3,300 tons full load)
          Length:        390 feet 6 inches
          Beam:          40 feet 10 inches
          Draught:       14 feet 4 inches (mean)
          Machinery:     four Babcock & Wilcox boilers;
                         2-shaft G.E.C. geared turbines
          Performance:   60,000 shp for 35 knots
          Bunkerage:     740 tons
          Range:         4,500 nautical miles at 20 knots
          Guns:          six 5 inch DP; twelve 40 mm;
                         eleven 20 mm
          Torpedoes:     ten 21 inch in two mounts


USS Epperson DD 719
 Photo courtesy David Q. Sayer

Subject: Uss Epperson (DD-719)
Date: Mon, 16 Oct 2000
From: Frank Hartman
Rank: ET1
Reported: 1949
Departed: 1951

Dear Mark,

I was aboard the USS Epperson (DDE-719) from before it was commissioned to sometime in 1951.

Before commissioning, she was outfitted to be a DDE. (Originaly she must have been a DD since you folks state on your information page that the keel was laid down 20 June 1945. And she was launched 22 December 1945. The stuff in which she differed from that of other destroyers at the time was that one of the forward mounts (maybe mount 52?) was fitted with a rocket which was about 10-12 inches in diameter. Furthermore, I think she was one of the first destroyers to have fixed inboard torpedo ships amidships. We also had some pretty fancy electronics stuff for the time. There were about 20 to 30 of us who were part of that nucleus crew. We were assigned to the Bath Iron Works, Inc. in Bath, Maine where we worked with the shipyard people from December 1948 until commissioning. Commissioning was 19 March 1949 (not March 18th) at the South Boston Annex, U.S. Naval Base, Boston, Massachusetts. The captain was Terry O'Conner.

Mark, I have some other information including a very good picture of her soon after commissioning. It's only about 2 1/4" x 4 1/4", but it is a professional photo.

I have the names of some of the crew as of Christmas, 1949. (It's taken from the In-Port Watch and Duty List.) I also think I can remember some other names, primarily those of the Electronics People since at that time I was an ET2.

That's all for now. If you're interested you're welcome to whatever I have.

Thanks,

Frank Hartman
1624 N. Sawyer
Mesa, AZ 85207
480/396-4580
hartm08@attglobal.net

From: David Sayer
Subject: Uss Epperson (DD719)
Date: Fri, 29 Aug 1997

This is the Epperson anchored Hong Kong 1962 Autumn. I was heading for Shore Patrol duty in the Blue's Gig. This is dedicated to Thomas Pelton a crew member of the Epperson DD719. I understand the Epperson is still active in the far east (foreign country navy.) This ship may be available for a historic site. I would be happy to tend her boilers to bring her to a birth in the US. Anyone interested contact me. We will need a crew for 4 x 12 watches, a captain and a DFC. The USN should provide an escort (she probably burns that BUNKER C fuel oil.) I know of a good supply in Sasebo.

David Q Sayer uss blue dd744 oil king

From: Steve Reinoehl
Subject: USS EPPERSON DD 719
Date: Thu, 30 Oct 97 09:13:23 PST

Richard:

I served on the USS Epperson DD 719 in the late 1960's home port Pearl Harbor, 7th Fleet. Served on Viet Nam deployment. I have some good photos. Cannot scan right now. Willing to submit via snail mail. Would like to help out with whatever info I have.

Steven D. Reinoehl
RD 2 box 173-B Dogwood RD
Cherry Tree, Pa. 15724
(412) 254-4514

Subject: USS Epperson(DD719)
Date: Sat, 12 Feb 2000
From: "B. Peckat" ERWIN PECKAT JR
To: Destroyers Online

I SERVED ON THE USS EPPERSON DD719 IN THE LATE 1960'S OUT OF
PEARL HARBOR ,7TH FLEET. SERVED ON VIET NAM DEPLOYMENT.I HAVE
SOME PICTURES BUT NO SCAN AT THIS TIME.

ERWIN W PECKAT JR (BILL)
2155 BALLARD RD
CABOT AR. 72023
501-843-2208 HOME
501-373-2287 WORK UP RR

More Photo's:

Photo 003 Battle Damage [report] Contributed by: Thomas Lawson


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