USS Epperson

Career (U.S.)

Ordered:
Laid down:	20 June 1945
Launched:	22 December 1945
Commissioned:	19 March 1949
Decommissioned:
Struck:	30 January 1976
Fate:	transferred to Pakistan, 29 April 1977
Career (Pakistan)
Acquired:	29 April 1977
Commissioned:
Decommissioned:	1999
Struck:
Fate:	sunk as a target March 2000
General characteristics
Displacement:	2,425 long tons (2,464 t) (standard) 3,460 long tons (3,520 t) (full)
Length:	390 ft 6 in (119.0 m) (overall)
Beam:	40 ft 10 in (12.45 m)
Draft:	14 ft 4 in (4.37 m)
Propulsion:	2 × geared turbines 2 × propellers
Speed:	35 kn (65 km/h; 40 mph)
Range:	4,500 nmi (8,300 km; 5,200 mi) at 20 kn (37 km/h; 23 mph)
Complement:	336
Armament:	6 × 5 in.(127 mm)/38 guns, 12 × 40 mm AA guns, 11 × 20 mm AA guns, 5 × 21 in. torpedo tubes, 6 × depth charge projectors, 2 × depth charge tracks

USS Epperson (DD/DDE-719) was a Gearing-class destroyer of the United States Navy, named for United States Marine Corps Private Harold G. Epperson (1923–1944), who was postumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroism in the Battle of Saipan.

Epperson was launched 22 December 1945 by Federal Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., Kearny, New Jersey; sponsored by Mrs. J. B. Epperson, mother of Private Epperson; redesignated DDE-719 on 28 January 1948; completed by Bath Iron Works Corp., Bath, Maine; and commissioned 19 March 1949, Commander T. H. W. Connor in command.

Epperson conducted training along the east coast; on 10 December 1949 she arrived at Key West for intensive antisubmarine warfare exercises. On 22 August 1950 Epperson sailed for Pearl Harbor, her home port, arriving 10 September. She operated in the Hawaiian Islands with her squadron and ships of other types, and on 7 November 1950 became flagship of Commander, Escort Division 12.

Epperson sailed from Pearl Harbor 1 June 1951 for service in the Korean war. She screened the carrier task force off Korea, patrolled and bombarded the coast, and joined in hunter-killer exercises off Okinawa before returning to Pearl Harbor 14 November. Her second Korean tour, from 10 November 1952 to 29 May 1953, found her performing similar duty, as well as patrolling the Taiwan Straits, and entering the dangerous waters of Wonsan Harbor to bombard enemy shore batteries.

During the first 4½ months of 1954, Epperson patrolled in the Marshall Islands during thermonuclear weapons test, and in June sailed for duty in the Far East once more, an annual part of her employment schedule through 1962. In 1958 and 1959, her western Pacific cruises included visits to Manus, ports in Australia and New Zealand, and Pago Pago, American Samoa.

Epperson's classification reverted to DD-719 on 30 June 1962.

Epperson was stricken from the Naval Vessel Register on 30 January 1976.

PNS Taimur

The ship was transferred to Pakistan on 29 April 1977, and served in the Pakistani Navy as PNS Taimur. The first commanding officer for the newly named PNS Taimur DD-166 was Commander Syed Sajjad Haider. Under his command PNS Taimur was reconditioned at Naval Base San Diego and also underwent upgrading at Subic Bay Philippines.

Taimur was decommissioned in 1999, and sunk as a target in March 2000.

Awards

Epperson received five battle stars for Korean War service.

References

This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.

External links