USS Rupertus
DD 851 (Gearing Class)

USS Rupertus DD 851
Photo courtesy Steve Beban

Builder:       Bethlehem Steel, Quincy (Fore River)
Laid Down:     May 2, 1945
Launched:      September 21, 1945
Commissioned:  March 8, 1946
Fate:          To Greece July 10, 1973 as Kontouriotis

We are seeking information on the USS Rupertus and her crews. Files and photos may be emailed to us and we will incorporate them into this page. When enough information has been assembled we will then build the ship her own section.

The Gearing Class as Constructed

          Displacement:  2,616 tons (3,460 tons full load)
          Length:        390 feet 6 inches
          Beam:          40 feet 10 inches
          Draught:       14 feet 4 inches (mean)
          Machinery:     four Babcock & Wilcox boilers;
                         2-shaft G.E.C. geared turbines
          Performance:   60,000 shp for 36.8 knots
          Bunkerage:     740 tons
          Range:         4,500 nautical miles at 20 knots
          Guns:          six 5 inch DP; twelve 40 mm;
                         eleven 20 mm
          Torpedoes:     ten 21 inch in two mounts

USS Rupertus DD 851
Photo courtesy Steve Beban From: Steve Beban [email protected]
Date: Mon, 14 Jul 1997 02:33:35 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: USS Rupertus DD 851

Richard:

I'm Steve Beban and I served aboard the USS Rupertus, a Gearing Class DD from August, 1966 through June 1968, while we were home ported at Long Beach Calif. I have recently received some scans from a BTC that served aboard her after I was detached.

The Rupertus while I was assigned to her as a Radioman Seaman was mostly used for "Sea-Dragon" missions along the North Vietnamese coast line interdicting munitions supplies to the south. We received the Meritorious Unit Citation for these patrols and for a tragic but shining moment in our history when we were the "Plane Guard" ship assigned to duties of support for the USS Forrestal on that fateful day in July, (29th), 1967 when we came along side the Forrestal to help fight the tragic fire that engulfed the (CV 59) at 10:52 am that morning.

I hope you can attach this pic of her along side her name in your listing. I'd really appreciate it.

Thanks

Steve Beban http://members.aol.com/Sbeban/sbeban.html

From: [email protected]
Date: Mon, 14 Jul 1997 23:11:09 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: Re: USS Rupertus DD 851

Rich:

I got one shot looking aft from the 03 level (Signal Bridge) where a couple of 105 rockets are hitting the water just off the port rear quarter. The shots are not uncommon what we experience from time to time while doing "Sea Dragon'" coastal arms interdiction along the North Vietnamese coast. Most of the action during these missions in 1967-68 were experienced between Dong Hoi northward to an area not too far from what we called Tiger Island. During one of our Westpac tours in 1967 we were known as the "fastest gun in the west" as we had expended over 6500 rounds of 5 inch 38 caliber HT, HD and "WP" type shot from our guns.

USS Rupertus DD 851 under fire
Photo courtesy Steve Beban

From: [email protected]
Date: Tue, 15 Jul 1997 22:43:40 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: Re: USS Rupertus DD 851

Rich:

I'm glad you like the pics. At this time I only have one more to send. It is an excellent pic of the Rupertus. The shot is jpg and is best viewed with 1024x768 res. I hope you can convert the pic to put in the page. I think this pic is the best as it shows the Rupe from stem to stern on the port side while underway somewhere. This picture may be the best for the lead pic of her for the page. If get a color shot I will foward that.

The pic of the rockets being fired on us was taken sometime in 1968. It is from our Cruise Book that came out in 1969 or 70. I don't know if I have any more of those types but I am in the process of looking for a close personal friend of mine that served aboard here with me - not after me. If I can fnd and make contact with him, he was a photo buff and may have some excellent color shots of his own that were taken while we were under fire during the Viet Nam war. I'm also looking for some history on her to add for the page.

I'll keep you posted.. Thanks

Steve Beban

From: [email protected] (RONALD STEPHENS)
Date: Wed, 15 Oct 1997 12:13:18 -0700
Subject: U.S.S. RUPERTUS DD-851

I served aboard her as a Sonar Technician. She had the AN/SQS-23 sonar, the MK114 underwater battery fire control system, She carried the ASROC (ANTI-SUBMARINE ROCKET) launcher, the MK 32 torpedo tubes. She could deliver the Mk 44, or the Mk 46 torpedo, or the nuclear depth charge. I also served onboard the USS COONTZ DLG-9 USS TOWERS DDG-9 and USS PARSONS DDG-33.