Robert E Peary (FF 1073) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 17 text:

USS Robert E. Pear DE12 The second ship named in honor of Rear Admiral Peary was the ocean escort USS Robert E. Peary IDE 1321. Launched on January 3, l943, she was commissioned on May 3l, 1943. With an overall length of 306 feet and a designed speed of 24 knots, this 1200 ton escort drew an eight foot draft, carried six officers and l80 men. She was armed with three 3-inch 50 caliber guns, two 40mm guns in a single mount and eight 20mm guns. Her antisubmarine warfare capability was provided by two roll type depth charge racks, eight single depth charge projectors and one hedgehog type multiple depth charge projector. Operating in the North Atlantic theater during World War Two, Robert E, Peary served escort duty for over twenty transoceanic missions for merchant vessels, aircraft carriers and troop transports. Decommissioned on June l3, I947, Robert E. Peary was attached to the Atlantic Reserve Fleet until her namc was strickcn from the Naval Vessel Register on July l, l966. She was sold for scrap on September 6, I967. USS Robert E. Pear FF 107 35 i l USS Robert E. Pear IFF 10732 was launched June 23, l97l and commissioned September 23, 1972. The twenty-second Y . ship in the Knox frigate class, she is designed to operate as a conglomerate ant1a1r,antisurface and antisubmarine warfare platform. T0 accomplish her missions, this 438 foot, 4200 ton ship is equipped with the best hull mounted and variable depth sonar systems in the fleet today, as well as highly sophisticated air, surface search and fire control radars, a satellite communications system and a wide array of other passive and active electronic sensors. Peary carries the LAMPS helicopter, which is capable of delivering an antisubmarine torpedo, the ASROC launching . . . . . . -. l.b d the group, which fires rocket assisted torpedoes and the antiship Harpoon cruise missile, a single 5 inch 54 ca 1 er gun an Basic Point Defense antiair missile system. ' fr - - ,- tt . ,- t.-JL i -.. w...,2,l. ', ..- 13

Page 16 text:

USS Pear DD 226 The first ship named in honor of the arctic explorer, Rear Admiral Robert E. Peary, was the four piper destroyer, USS Peary IDD 2261. Her keel was laid on September 9, l9l9, she was launched on April 6, l920, and was commissioned on October 20, I920. Peary had an overall length of 314 feet 5 inches, a designed speed of 35 knots and a complement of six officers and 95 men. She carried four 4-inch 50 caliber guns, one 3-inch 23 caliber gun, two,.50 caliber machine guns, and twelve 2l-inch torpedo tubes in four triple mounts. Often serving as a destroyer division flagship, Peary spent most of her twenty-two years of fleet service cruising between ports of the Philippines and along the coast of China. The outbreak of World War Two saw Peary conducting coastal defense and antisubmarine patrols near the Great Barrier Reef. The l200 ton vessel was returning to Port Darwin, Aus, tralia from a patrol on the morning of Febru- ary l9, 1942, when a formation of Japanese bombers appeared on the horizon. Gunner Harry Kopp, Australian Army, describes Peary's heroic last moments: 'For an hour Peary assisted to fight off the air attack. The enemy aircraft first attacked tankers in the harbor and burning oil from one of them slowly spread towards Peary. She was badly damaged in the superstructure, part of it demolished and the remainder in flames. The Peary was struck forward and gradually began to sink by the bows. As the bows sub- merged three sailors were manning a .50 inch gun aft and they continued firing as the water surged to their chests. Other guns were firing on the ship as well. The ship was fought while barrels were exposed above water. One gun could no longer be supplied with regular am- munition and finally fired flare starshell at the aircraft overhead' Eighty of Peary's crew died, thirteen were injured, and only one officer survived. ac..-sf ...t as J iv rv'-fc. . ak X - ' ,M-. 4-K sm A . .X sv ea, X X 3 - .aus f . . L ,S fL?.4.-alia' 0 ,QY I ww 4' ,V K . wife 1 Awww- - ...L -. ' g HW: T Q X I Q t ef--' 1 gs is . fA.i'1Q ' 5 ri vt f if' te . ' ' ' . ct at 5 c..,. . V . , , . - K- ' .. f Fi lfif. it X it ' Y + 'NW -'-213 . w is f X 4 U . - 2 -- 1 A , t. - 51 iff S55 1-.sg f , V , - , - - T2 -is -f wie -rfvsi:p 'fse,ssc' - Sits. if 'i . . ' . J . . Q 5 Q 21-'X ff.-1' - i 'fasasagfs-f beg 'sa-sw-s,f:Xg..zv XM-vs 4 r.Q'vs'. Taft - ' 'Es,sfg..: -.ar--as ' J, ik 'v W hsiogwpsaki .25 sseSe3wK'fs swiss. S' X es ' 1' ' , ' ,1. c s ' jigs ' L' .1 f ss - X. .- YY , :xt vw Us ,Ma L. , 'E .4 air 5 ' sk yi'-s'w,sQ. 3 f C15-f'gfgg .fag , , --Q-L4 ,f .s ., :'j.1'ss .1 .... f ss. we X 5- , 1 g . ,, -' - s wf- .... , - - - N fg - .5 1 X- 'fzisfsisevsf-rf' T - is vw-1' v 5 .4 :sig sl Muir.. .. fs--L I: . f f sei? 'N -2 t r '

Page 18 text:

Anzac Day 'Lest We Forget' The reverent motto signifying Anzac Day - a national holiday in remembrance of Australian soldiers and sailors killed during the battle of Gallipoli in 1915. ln typical 'Down Under, fashion the day is both somber and festive. lt begins early in the morning with parades, wreath laying ceremonies and emotional speeches to remind the veterans and reiterate to the young that the country's security has always depended on the sacrifice of a few. Once respect has been given its proper due, the afternoon and evening see the day end with glasses held high in pub or home rendering a proper Australian salute to those lost in battle Peary was honored to participate and witness this articularly memorable day and we all were impressed with P the sense of unity, free spirit, and zest for life which has made Australia special and forged some of the best fighting men and women in the world. From the Bob E, we salute you and say 'sleep proudly, your bravery has not been forgotten., mt? CDR Mathis presents a wreath in Geraldton ceremony A rlfle Salute IS med from pearys famall Peary honor guard in Geraldton