U S NAVY 4th FLEET AT RECIFE - SHIP INDEX DD

26)DD 430 EBERLE

Photo www.navsource.org   By  Anthony J. Vrailas

CLASS - GLEAVES

Displacement 2395 Tons (Full)

Launched September 14 1940 and commissioned December 4 1940.

Decommissioned June 3 1946, Stricken January 24 1951.

To Greece January 22 1951, renamed Niki.

Fate: Stricken and scrapped in 1972.

Dimensions, 348' 4"(oa) x 36' 1" x 13' 2" (Max)

Armament 4 x 5"/38AA, 6 x 0.5" MG, 10 x 21" tt.(2x5).

Machinery, 50,000 SHP; Westinghouse Geared Turbines, 2 screws.

Speed, 35 Knots.

Range 6500 NM@ 12 Knots.

Crew 208.

DD 430 Eberle sortied from Norfolk 25 October 1942 for the invasion of North Africa, and gave bombardment and fire support for the landings at Mehedia, French Morocco 8 November. Returning to Norfolk 27 November, she sailed 26 December for South Atlantic patrol, based on Recife, Brazil. On 10 March 1943 she intercepted the German blockade runner Karin.

When Eberle boarded, demolition charges set by the Germans exploded, killing half the 14-man boarding party outright. The remaining seven persisted in their heroic efforts to save the Karin and obtain information until fire and further explosions forced them to abandon ship. They and 72 prisoners were picked up from the water by Eberle.

USS Eberle in New York harbor June 1945. By  Robert Hurst. Photo. www.navsource.org By Robert Hurst. 

Circa january 1943 Location unknown. By Joe Radigan Photo. www.navsource.org By Robert Hurst. 

Portrait on launching ceremony. Photo www.navsource.org

FOLLOWING PAGES ON THE SAME ARTICLE

24)DD 418 ROE

25)DD 429 LIVERMORE

27)DD 432 KEARNY

28)DD 440 ERICSSON