Perkins Mahan-class destroyer

perkins steaming through heavy seas, august 1937

uss perkins commissioned in september 1936 , san diego, california, became homeport. operated in eastern pacific prior world war ii, , @ mare island navy yard when japanese struck pearl harbor. in mid-december, escorted convoy pearl harbor, returned mare island new radar gear, , sailed pearl harbor latter part of january 1942. following month, perkins departed pearl harbor , joined australian, new zealand, , other ships in anzac squadron, charged protecting eastern approaches australia , new zealand. continued operations anzac until april. in may 1942, perkins participated in battle of coral sea. after that, propeller problems took new zealand , pearl harbor, repairs completed. while @ pearl harbor, additional radar gear , 40 mm guns installed.

by november 1942 perkins task force 67, led rear admiral carleton h. wright. in nighttime battle of tassafaronga, force intercepted japanese stop them supplying guadalcanal. undamaged in encounter, perkins headed tulagi bombarded guadalcanal coast , served on escort assignments until january 1943. joined task force 76, amphibious group, in march. in september 1943, perkins bombarded lae, new guinea, , supported landings there. took part in successful landings @ finschhafen, new guinea. late in november, ship bound milne bay buna, steaming independently, when duntroon, australian troopship, accidentally collided her. perkins broke in 2 , sank; 9 of crew went down her. perkins received 4 battle stars world war ii service.