Misplaced Pages

USS Kephart: Difference between revisions

Article snapshot taken from Wikipedia with creative commons attribution-sharealike license. Give it a read and then ask your questions in the chat. We can research this topic together.
Browse history interactively← Previous editContent deleted Content addedVisualWikitext
Revision as of 10:50, 10 January 2007 editCarcharoth (talk | contribs)Administrators73,550 edits reorganise location of information← Previous edit Latest revision as of 09:58, 30 August 2024 edit undoOnel5969 (talk | contribs)Autopatrolled, Extended confirmed users, Page movers, New page reviewers, Pending changes reviewers, Rollbackers935,704 editsm Disambiguating links to Okinawa (link changed to Okinawa Prefecture) using DisamAssist. 
(48 intermediate revisions by 31 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Short description|Buckley-class destroyer escort}}
{| border="1" align="right" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" width="300" style="margin-left:5px"
{{other ships|ROKS Gyeongbuk}}
|align="center" colspan="2"| ]
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2021}}
|-
{|{{Infobox ship begin}}
! style="color: white; height: 30px; background: navy"| Career (U.S.)
{{Infobox ship image
! style="color: white; height: 30px; background: navy"| {{USN flag|1946}}
|Ship image= USS Kephart (DE-207) underway at sea, circa in early 1944.jpg
|-
|Ship caption=
|Ordered:
}}
|1942
{{Infobox ship career
|-
|Hide header=
|Laid down:
|Ship country= United States
|
|Ship flag= {{USN flag|1946}}
|-
|Ship name=USS ''Kephart''
|Launched:
|Ship namesake= William P. Kephart
|] ]
|Ship ordered= 1942
|-
|Ship builder=]
|Commissioned:
|Ship laid down=
|] ]
|Ship launched= 6 September 1943
|-
|Ship acquired=
|Decommissioned:
|Ship commissioned= 7 January 1944
|] ]
|Ship decommissioned= 21 June 1946
|-
|Ship struck= 1 May 1967
|Struck:
|Ship honors=
| ] ]
|Ship fate= Transferred to ], 16 May 1967
|-
|Ship notes=
|Fate:
}}
|transferred to ], <br/>] ]
{{Infobox ship career
|-
|Hide header=title
! style="color: white; height: 30px; background: navy"| Career (ROK)
|Ship country= South Korea
! style="color: white; height: 30px; background: navy"| ]
|Ship flag={{Shipboxflag|South Korea|1984}}
|-
|Ship name= ''Gyeongbuk''
|Commissioned:
|Ship acquired= 16 May 1967
|1967
|Ship commissioned= 1967
|-
|Ship decommissioned=
|Decommissioned:
|Ship in service=
|
|Ship out of service=
|-
|Ship struck= 30 April 1985
|Fate:
|Ship reinstated=
|
|Ship honours=
|-
|Ship fate=
|Struck:
|Ship status=
|] ]
|Ship notes=
|-
}}
!colspan="2" style="color: white; height: 30px; background: navy"| General characteristics
{{Infobox ship characteristics
|-
|Hide header=
|Displacement:
|Header caption=
|1,400&nbsp;tons
|Ship class={{sclass|Buckley|destroyer escort}}
|-
|Ship displacement= {{convert|1400|LT|t|lk=in}}
|Length:
|Ship length= {{convert|306|ft|m|abbr=on}}
|306&nbsp;ft
|Ship beam= {{convert|36|ft|10|in|m|abbr=on}}
|-
|Ship draft= {{convert|9|ft|5|in|m|abbr=on}}
|Beam:
|Ship propulsion=*2 boilers, ] Turbo-electric drive
|36&nbsp;ft 10&nbsp;in
*2 solid manganese-bronze
|-
*{{convert|3600|lb|abbr=on}} 3-bladed ]s,
|Draft:
*{{convert|8|ft|6|in|abbr=on}} diameter,
|9&nbsp;ft 5&nbsp;in
*{{convert|7|ft|7|in|abbr=on}} pitch
|-
*12,000 hp (8.9 MW)
|Propulsion:
*2 rudders
|2 boilers, ] Turbo-electric drive<br> 2 solid manganese-bronze 3600&nbsp;lb 3-bladed ]s, <br>8.5&nbsp;ft. diameter, 7&nbsp;ft. 7&nbsp;inch pitch <br>12,000&nbsp;hp (8.9&nbsp;MW) <br> 2 rudders
|Ship speed= {{convert|24|kn|km/h|lk=in}}
|-
|Ship range=
|Speed:
|Ship complement= 186 officers and enlisted
|24&nbsp;knots
|Ship sensors=
|-
|Ship EW=
|Range:
|Ship armament=*3 × ] (3×1)
|
*4 × ] (1×4)
|-
*8 × ] (8×1)
|Complement:
*3 × ] ]s (1×3)
|186 officers and enlisted
*8 ] projectors (8×1)
|-
*1 ] depth charge projector
|Armament:
*2 depth charge tracks
|3 × 3"/50 (3 × 1)<br>4 × 1.1" (1 × 4)<br>8 × 20&nbsp;mm (8 × 1)<br>3 × 21" ]s (1 × 3)<br>8 ] projectors (8 × 1)<br>1 ] depth charge projector<br>2 depth charge tracks
|Ship armor=
|Ship notes=
}}
|} |}
'''USS ''Kephart'' (DE-207/APD-61)''' was a ] ] in the ]. She was named in honor of ] ]. '''USS ''Kephart'' (DE-207/APD-61)''' was a {{sclass|Buckley|destroyer escort}} in service with the ] from 1944 to 1947. After spending 20 years in reserve, she was transferred to ] and served another 18 years as ''Kyong Puk'' (PF-82) until she was struck in 1985.


==Namesake==
==Launch and initial operations==


]
''Kephart'' was ] on ] ] at the ], ], sponsored by Mrs. A. P. Kephart, Lt. Kephart's mother, and ] on ] ], with ] ] in command.


William Perry Kephart was born on 9 September 1915 in ]. He enlisted in the ] on 15 August 1937 and was appointed Aviation Cadet 3 months later. After flight training at ], ]. He was commissioned ] on 1 December 1938.
After shakedown off ], ''Kephart'' departed ] ] for ] escort duty in the ]. During the next 3 months, she made three runs from New York to ] and ], ]. Returning to New York ] for conversion to a ] ], she was reclassified '''APD-61''' on ].


Kephart served with air groups on the {{USS|Saratoga|CV-3|6}} and {{USS|Wasp|CV-7|6}}, and in May 1940 returned to Pensacola as a flight instructor. Six months later he rejoined ] (VS-71) on board ''Wasp''. Promoted to ] 15 June 1942 and ] (temporary) 1 October.
==] Operations==


His squadron was performing a scouting mission on 15 September when the Wasp was hit. Finding it ablaze upon returning, he and the remainder of his squadron landed on the {{USS|Hornet|CV-8|6}}. Kephart and six other pilots were sent to ] on 4 October. In the early morning of 14 October, the dugout he was sheltering in received a direct hit during a heavy ] naval bombardment and he lost his life along with his Squadron Commander, Executive Officer, and a recently arrived Flight Officer of a Marine squadron.
''Kephart'' departed New York ] and joined the ] at ], ], on ]. As a unit of TransDiv 103, she departed in ] ] and arrived at ], ], ]. After a run to the ], she embarked troops of the ] at ], and steamed ] with Task Group 78.3 for ] at ]. During landing operations on ], ''Kephart'''s guns splashed two ]ese planes in a fierce raid. Returning to Leyte on ], she embarked soldiers of the ]; she sailed on ] for ], and landed assault troops at ] on ], again under heavy enemy air attack. Returning to Leyte on ], she continued on ] to Hollandia to prepare for ] and amphibious operations.


==History==
Carrying men of the ], ''Kephart'' departed Noemfoor, ], on ] ] to rejoin the fight to liberate the Philippines. Steaming to ], she arrived at ], ], on ], and landed reinforcements, despite constant harassment from enemy planes emerging from the heavy air attack unscathed. Returning to Leyte on ] for 3 months of anti-submarine patrol, ''Kephart'' took part in scattered landing operations in the Philippines: at ], ] (]); ], ] (]); ], ] (]); ], ] (]); and ], Mindanao (]).
''Kephart'' was ] on 6 September 1943 at the ], sponsored by Mrs. A.&nbsp;P. Kephart, Lt. Kephart's mother, and ] on 7 January 1944.


===Battle of the Atlantic===
''Kephart'' departed Leyte Gulf on ] for escort and assault operations in the ], arriving ] on ]. After escorting a convoy to Mindanao (]–]), she returned to Morotai on ] and embarked troops of the ] for an amphibious assault at ], ]. Sailing on ], she landed troops on ] amid dwindling enemy resistance; then she patrolled the ], hunting ]s before returning Morotai on ]. She sailed on ] carrying ]n soldiers to the eastern coast of Borneo, arriving on ] for the final major amphibious operation of the war — the landing operations at ], Borneo.
After shakedown off ], ''Kephart'' departed ] on 23 March for ] escort duty in the ]. During the next three months, she made three runs from New York to ] and ], ]. Returning to New York on 30 June for conversion to a ] ], she was reclassified '''APD-61''' on 5 July.


=== Pacific War ===
Continuing escort and anti-submarine duty, ''Kephart'' departed Morotai ] and reached Leyte Gulf 2 days later. On ] she began amphibious training at ] and ]s, Luzon, in preparation for a possible invasion of Japan. After the fighting ended on ], she sailed from Leyte Gulf on ] to ] to embark occupation troops for ]. She reached ], Korea, on ]; and then shuttled between the Philippines and Korea. She steamed from Jinsen on ] via ], Japan, and Okinawa to ], China, arriving there on ] to support the ]s' effort to repel ] aggression on the Chinese mainland.
''Kephart'' departed New York on 30 September and joined the ] at ], ], on 10 November. As a unit of ] 103, she departed in ] on 17 November and arrived at ], ], on 24 November. After a run to the ], she embarked troops of the ] at ], and steamed on 6 December with Task Group 78.3 for ] at ]. During landing operations on 7 December, ''Kephart''{{'}}s guns splashed two ]ese planes in a fierce raid. Returning to Leyte on 8 December, she embarked soldiers of the ]; she sailed on 12 December for ], and landed assault troops at ] on 15 December, again under heavy enemy air attack. Returning to Leyte on 17 December, she continued on 20 December to Hollandia to prepare for ] and amphibious operations.


]
==Post-World War II Operations==


Carrying men of the ], ''Kephart'' departed Noemfoor, ], on 4 January 1945 to rejoin the fight to liberate the Philippines. Steaming to ], she arrived at ], ], on 11 January, and landed reinforcements, despite constant harassment from enemy planes emerging from the heavy air attack unscathed. Returning to Leyte on 15 January for three months of anti-submarine patrol, ''Kephart'' took part in scattered landing operations in the Philippines: at ], ] (30 January); ], ] (28 February); ], ] (10 March); ], ] (26 March); and ], Mindanao (17 April).
Returning to Okinawa on ], ''Kephart'' embarked 147 homebound veterans and departed ] for the ]. Steaming via ], she reached ] on ]. Two days after unloading her passengers, she sailed for the East Coast, and arrived at New York on ] 1946. Following overhaul, she departed on ] for ], arriving there on ]. ''Kephart'' was decommissioned on ], and entered the Atlantic Reserve Fleet at ]. She was struck from the Navy List on ] ] and transferred under the Military Assistance Program to the ] on ] ].


''Kephart'' departed Leyte Gulf on 4 May for escort and assault operations in the ], arriving ] on 7 May. After escorting a convoy to Mindanao (18–20 May), she returned to Morotai on 21 May and embarked troops of the ] for an amphibious assault at ], ]. Sailing on 4 June, she landed troops on 10 June amid dwindling enemy resistance; then she patrolled the ], hunting ]s before returning Morotai on 19 June. She sailed on 26 June carrying ]n soldiers to the eastern coast of Borneo, arriving on 1 July for the final major amphibious operation of the war – the landing operations at ], Borneo.
''Kephart'' received five ]s for World War II service.


Continuing escort and anti-submarine duty, ''Kephart'' departed Morotai on 16 July and reached Leyte Gulf two days later. On 4 August she began amphibious training at ] and ]s, Luzon, in preparation for a possible invasion of Japan. After the fighting ended on 15 August, she sailed from Leyte Gulf on 29 August to ] to embark occupation troops for ]. She reached ], Korea, on 8 September; and then shuttled between the Philippines and Korea. She steamed from Jinsen on 29 October via ], Japan, and Okinawa to ], China, arriving there on 14 November to support the ]s' effort to repel ] aggression on the Chinese mainland.
], no other ship has carried this name.

===Reserve Fleet===
Returning to Okinawa on 22 November, ''Kephart'' embarked 147 homebound veterans and departed on 26 November for the United States. Steaming via ], she reached ], California on 16 December. Two days after unloading her passengers, she sailed for the East Coast, and arrived at New York on ] 1946. Following overhaul, she departed on 8 February for ], arriving there on 11 February. ''Kephart'' was decommissioned on 21 June, and entered the ] at ]. She was struck from the ] on 1 May 1967 and transferred under the Military Assistance Program to the ] on 16 May 1967.

''Kephart'' received five ]s for World War II service.


== ''Kyong Puk'' (PF-82) == === Transfer to South Korea ===
''Kephart'' was renamed '''''Kyong Puk'' (PF-82)''' by the ]. She was redesignated '''APD-85''' in 1972, renumbered '''APD-826''' in 1980, redesignated '''DE-826''' in 1982. ''Kyong Puk'' was purchased outright by the Republic of Korea on ] ]. ''Kephart'' was renamed '''''Kyong Puk'' (PF-82)''' by the ]. She was redesignated '''APD-85''' in 1972, renumbered '''APD-826''' in 1980, redesignated '''DE-826''' in 1982. ''Kyong Puk'' was purchased outright by the Republic of Korea on 15 November 1974.


''Kyong Puk'' was struck by the ROK Navy on ] ]. ''Kyong Puk'' was struck on 30 April 1985.


== References == == References ==
{{DANFS|https://www.history.navy.mil/content/history/nhhc/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/k/kephart.html}}
{{DANFS}}


== External links == == External links ==
* {{navsource|06/207|USS Kephart}}
*
* *
*


{{Buckley class destroyer escort}} {{Buckley class destroyer escort}}
{{Charles Lawrence class transport}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Kephart (DE-207)}}
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]

Latest revision as of 09:58, 30 August 2024

Buckley-class destroyer escort For other ships with the same name, see ROKS Gyeongbuk.

History
United States
NameUSS Kephart
NamesakeWilliam P. Kephart
Ordered1942
BuilderCharleston Navy Yard
Launched6 September 1943
Commissioned7 January 1944
Decommissioned21 June 1946
Stricken1 May 1967
FateTransferred to South Korea, 16 May 1967
South Korea
NameGyeongbuk
Acquired16 May 1967
Commissioned1967
Stricken30 April 1985
General characteristics
Class and typeBuckley-class destroyer escort
Displacement1,400 long tons (1,400 t)
Length306 ft (93 m)
Beam36 ft 10 in (11.23 m)
Draft9 ft 5 in (2.87 m)
Propulsion
  • 2 boilers, General Electric Turbo-electric drive
  • 2 solid manganese-bronze
  • 3,600 lb (1,600 kg) 3-bladed propellers,
  • 8 ft 6 in (2.59 m) diameter,
  • 7 ft 7 in (2.31 m) pitch
  • 12,000 hp (8.9 MW)
  • 2 rudders
Speed24 knots (44 km/h)
Complement186 officers and enlisted
Armament

USS Kephart (DE-207/APD-61) was a Buckley-class destroyer escort in service with the United States Navy from 1944 to 1947. After spending 20 years in reserve, she was transferred to Republic of Korea Navy and served another 18 years as Kyong Puk (PF-82) until she was struck in 1985.

Namesake

Ensign William P. Kephart

William Perry Kephart was born on 9 September 1915 in Meyersdale, Pennsylvania. He enlisted in the United States Naval Reserve on 15 August 1937 and was appointed Aviation Cadet 3 months later. After flight training at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida. He was commissioned Ensign on 1 December 1938.

Kephart served with air groups on the USS Saratoga and USS Wasp, and in May 1940 returned to Pensacola as a flight instructor. Six months later he rejoined Scouting Squadron 71 (VS-71) on board Wasp. Promoted to Lieutenant (j.g.) 15 June 1942 and Lieutenant (temporary) 1 October.

His squadron was performing a scouting mission on 15 September when the Wasp was hit. Finding it ablaze upon returning, he and the remainder of his squadron landed on the USS Hornet. Kephart and six other pilots were sent to Guadalcanal on 4 October. In the early morning of 14 October, the dugout he was sheltering in received a direct hit during a heavy Japanese naval bombardment and he lost his life along with his Squadron Commander, Executive Officer, and a recently arrived Flight Officer of a Marine squadron.

History

Kephart was launched on 6 September 1943 at the Charleston Navy Yard, sponsored by Mrs. A. P. Kephart, Lt. Kephart's mother, and commissioned on 7 January 1944.

Battle of the Atlantic

After shakedown off Bermuda, Kephart departed New York on 23 March for convoy escort duty in the Atlantic. During the next three months, she made three runs from New York to Gibraltar and Bizerte, Tunisia. Returning to New York on 30 June for conversion to a Charles Lawrence-class high speed transport, she was reclassified APD-61 on 5 July.

Pacific War

Kephart departed New York on 30 September and joined the 7th Fleet at Hollandia, New Guinea, on 10 November. As a unit of TransDiv 103, she departed in convoy on 17 November and arrived at Leyte Gulf, Philippines, on 24 November. After a run to the Palaus, she embarked troops of the 77th Infantry Division at Leyte, and steamed on 6 December with Task Group 78.3 for amphibious assault at Ormoc Bay. During landing operations on 7 December, Kephart's guns splashed two Japanese planes in a fierce raid. Returning to Leyte on 8 December, she embarked soldiers of the 19th Infantry Regiment; she sailed on 12 December for Mindoro, and landed assault troops at San Jose on 15 December, again under heavy enemy air attack. Returning to Leyte on 17 December, she continued on 20 December to Hollandia to prepare for anti-submarine and amphibious operations.

Kephart after her conversion to a high-speed transport.

Carrying men of the 158th Regimental Combat Team, Kephart departed Noemfoor, Schouten Islands, on 4 January 1945 to rejoin the fight to liberate the Philippines. Steaming to Luzon, she arrived at San Fabien, Lingayen Gulf, on 11 January, and landed reinforcements, despite constant harassment from enemy planes emerging from the heavy air attack unscathed. Returning to Leyte on 15 January for three months of anti-submarine patrol, Kephart took part in scattered landing operations in the Philippines: at Grande Island, Subic Bay (30 January); Puerto Princesa, Palawan (28 February); Zamboanga, Mindanao (10 March); Cebu City, Cebu (26 March); and Cotabato, Mindanao (17 April).

Kephart departed Leyte Gulf on 4 May for escort and assault operations in the Dutch East Indies, arriving Morotai on 7 May. After escorting a convoy to Mindanao (18–20 May), she returned to Morotai on 21 May and embarked troops of the Australian Army for an amphibious assault at Brunei Bay, North Borneo. Sailing on 4 June, she landed troops on 10 June amid dwindling enemy resistance; then she patrolled the South China Sea, hunting submarines before returning Morotai on 19 June. She sailed on 26 June carrying Australian soldiers to the eastern coast of Borneo, arriving on 1 July for the final major amphibious operation of the war – the landing operations at Balikpapan, Borneo.

Continuing escort and anti-submarine duty, Kephart departed Morotai on 16 July and reached Leyte Gulf two days later. On 4 August she began amphibious training at Albay and Lagonoy Gulfs, Luzon, in preparation for a possible invasion of Japan. After the fighting ended on 15 August, she sailed from Leyte Gulf on 29 August to Okinawa to embark occupation troops for Korea. She reached Jinsen, Korea, on 8 September; and then shuttled between the Philippines and Korea. She steamed from Jinsen on 29 October via Sasebo, Japan, and Okinawa to Tsingtao, China, arriving there on 14 November to support the Chinese Nationalists' effort to repel Communist aggression on the Chinese mainland.

Reserve Fleet

Returning to Okinawa on 22 November, Kephart embarked 147 homebound veterans and departed on 26 November for the United States. Steaming via Pearl Harbor, she reached San Diego, California on 16 December. Two days after unloading her passengers, she sailed for the East Coast, and arrived at New York on New Year's Day 1946. Following overhaul, she departed on 8 February for Green Cove Springs, Florida, arriving there on 11 February. Kephart was decommissioned on 21 June, and entered the Atlantic Reserve Fleet at Orange, Texas. She was struck from the Navy List on 1 May 1967 and transferred under the Military Assistance Program to the Republic of Korea on 16 May 1967.

Kephart received five battle stars for World War II service.

Transfer to South Korea

Kephart was renamed Kyong Puk (PF-82) by the Republic of Korea Navy. She was redesignated APD-85 in 1972, renumbered APD-826 in 1980, redesignated DE-826 in 1982. Kyong Puk was purchased outright by the Republic of Korea on 15 November 1974.

Kyong Puk was struck on 30 April 1985.

References

Public Domain This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.

External links

Buckley-class destroyer escorts
 United States Navy
 Royal Navy
Part of Captain class
Post-World War II operators
 Chilean Navy
 Republic of China Navy
 Colombian National Navy
 Ecuadorian Navy
 Republic of Korea Navy
 Mexican Navy
 Philippine Navy
Charles Lawrence-class high speed transports
X
Planned conversion to high speed transport cancelled
Other operators
 Chilean Navy
 Republic of China Navy
 Colombian National Navy
 Ecuadorian Navy
 Republic of Korea Navy
 Mexican Navy
 Philippine Navy
Categories: