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  USS Kephart DE-207/APD-61 (Kyong Puk PF-82/APD-85/APD-826/DE-826)
USN
(As Built)
Buckley-class
Destroyer Escort

(Conversion 1944)
Charles Lawrence-class
high speed transport

1,400 Tons
306' x 36' 10" x 9' 5"
(As Built)
3 x 3"/50 guns (3 × 1)
4 x 1.1" guns (1 × 4)
8 x 20 mm guns (8×1)
3 x 21" Torpedo tubes
8 x Depth charge projectors
1 x Hedgehog projector
2 depth charge tracks

Ship History
Built by Charleston Navy Yard in Charleston, SC. Laid down May 12, 1943 as Buckley-class destroyer escort. Launched September 6, 1943 as USS Kephart (DE-207) named for U.S. Navy Lt. William P. Kephart, USNR an aviator Killed In Action (KIA) October 14, 1942 over Guadalcanal and sponsored by his mother Mrs. A. P. Kephart. The ship's construction was made possible through the purchases of War Bonds by citizens of his hometown of Greensboro, NC. Commissioned January 7, 1944 in the U.S. Navy (USN) with with Lieutenant Commander I. H. Cammarn in command. Afterwards, conducted a shakedown cruise off Bermuda.

Wartime History
On March 23, 1944 departs New York for escort duty in the Atlantic and for three months escorted convoys from New York to Gibraltar and Tunisia. On June 30, 1944 returns to New York and converted into a Charles Lawrence-class high speed transport. On July 5, 1944 reclassified as USS Kephart (APD-61).

PARTIAL HISTORY

Postwar
On November 22, 1945 returned to Okinawa and embarked 147 personnel and departed four days later across the Pacific via Pearl Harbor then onward to San Diego arriving December 16, 1945. Two days later, departed via the Panama Canal to New York arriving January 1, 1946 and underwent an overhaul.

On February 8, 1946 departs for Green Cove Springs, Florida arriving three days later. On June 21, 1946 decommissioned and became part of the Atlantic Reserve Fleet at Orange, Texas. On May 16, 1967 struck from the Navy List for transfer under a Military Assistance Program for the Republic of Korea (South Korea).

Assigned to the Republic of Korea Navy and renamed Kyong Puk (PF-82). In 1972, reclassified as Kyong Puk APD-85. On November 15, 1974 purchased by South Korea. In 1980 reclassified as Kyong Puk APD-826. In 1982, redesignated as Kyong Puk DE-826.

Fate
On April 30, 1985 struck from the Republic of Korea Navy and afterwards broken up for scrap.

Awards
Kephart earned five battle stars during World War II.

References
NARA History of U.S.S. Kephart (APD-61) 29 September 1945
NavSource - USS Kephart (DE 207 / APD 61)

FindAGrave - Lieut William Perry Kephart (photo, grave photos)
Preludes to Victory - The Battle of Ormoc Bay in WWII

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Last Updated
September 3, 2022

 

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