USS Evans (DE-1023)

History
Name	USS Evans
Namesake	Ernest E. Evans
Builder	Puget Sound Bridge and Dredging Company
Laid down	8 April 1955
Launched	14 September 1955
Commissioned	14 June 1957
Decommissioned	September 1968
Stricken	3 December 1973
Homeport	San Diego, California
Fate	Sold for scrapping 16 August 1974
General characteristics
Class and type	Dealey-class destroyer escort
Displacement	1,270 long tons (1,290 t)
Length	314 ft 6 in (95.86 m)
Beam	36 ft 9 in (11.20 m)
Draft	18 ft (5.5 m)
Propulsion	list error: <br /> list (help); 2 × Foster-Wheeler boilers; 1 × De Laval geared turbine; 20,000 shp (15 MW); 1 shaft
Speed	25 knots (29 mph; 46 km/h)
Complement	170
Armament	list error: <br /> list (help); • 4 × 3"/50 caliber guns; • 1 × Mk 108 ASW rocket launcher; • 6 × 324 mm (12.8 in) Mark 32 torpedo tubes (3×2); • Mark 46 torpedoes

USS Evans (DE-1023), a Dealey-class destroyer escort, was the third ship of the United States Navy to have the name Evans. However it is the only ship to be named for Ernest E. Evans, a naval officer and recipient of the Medal of Honor.

The third Evans (DE-1023) was launched 14 September 1955 by Puget Sound Bridge and Dredging Company, Seattle, Washington; sponsored by Mrs. H. Hendrickson; and commissioned 14 June 1957, Lieutenant Commander H. F. Wiley in command.

Operational service

Evans arrived at San Diego, her home port, 4 August 1957, and began shakedown operations along the west coast. Her first lengthy deployment, from 21 January 1958 to 27 June, found her serving with Commander, Naval Forces Marianas, for duty in the administration of Pacific territories held by the United States in trust under the United Nations. She proceeded to visit Japan, Hong Kong, and the Philippines, and to train with ships of the navy of the Republic of Korea.

During her second tour of duty in the Far East, from 8 January 1959 to 13 June, Evans was in Leyte Gulf 7 February to conduct memorial services for her namesake, Commander Ernest Evans. She exercised with the navy of the Republic of the Philippines, patrolled the Taiwan Straits, served briefly as station ship at Hong Kong, and joined in exercises off Okinawa during the remainder of her tour. On 14 April 1960, Evans again climaxed a west coast training period by sailing for the western Pacific on a tour of duty which continued until 21 July 1960. She then returned to operations off the coast for the remainder of the year.

The USS Evans decommissioned in September 1968 and entered the Reserve Fleet. She was eventually struck from the Navy list on 3 December 1973 and was sold for scrap in 1974.

Unit awards

USS Evans received five Armed Forces Expeditionary Medals and seven Vietnam Service Medals.

Armed Forces Expeditionary Medals

18 June 1960—24 June 1960 G Quemoy Matsu
29 June 1960—30 June 1960 G
23 July 1961—24 July 1961 G
2 May 1963—4 May 1963 I Vietnam
11 August 1964—22 September 1964 I

Vietnam Service Medals

20 March 1966—24 March 1966
12 April 1966—27 April 1966
1 July 1966—2 July 1966
24 May 1967—5 June 1967
18 June 1967—27 June 1967
2 August 1967—14 August 1967
10 September 1967—6 October 1967

References

This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.

External links