USS Casper

USS Casper (PF-12)
History
United States
Name	Casper
Namesake	City of Casper, Wyoming
Reclassified	Patrol Frigate (PF), 15 April 1943
Ordered	as a Type S2-S2-AQ1 hull, MCE hull 1430[1]
Builder	Permanente Metals Richmond Shipyard #4, Richmond, California
Yard number	55[1]
Laid down	17 October 1943
Launched	27 December 1943
Commissioned	31 March 1944
Decommissioned	16 May 1946
Identification	Hull symbol: PG-120 Hull symbol: PF-12 Call sign: NYXV
Fate	Sold for scrap, 20 May 1947
General characteristics [2]
Class and type	Tacoma-class frigate patrol frigate
Displacement	1,430 long tons (1,450 t) (light load) 2,415 long tons (2,454 t) (full load)
Length	303 ft 11 in (92.63 m)
Beam	37 ft 6 in (11.43 m)
Draft	13 ft 8 in (4.17 m)
Installed power	2 × 3-Drum express boilers , 240 psi (1,700 kPa) 5,500 ihp (4,100 kW)
Propulsion	2 × Vertical triple-expansion steam engine 2 × shafts
Speed	20.3 kn (37.6 km/h; 23.4 mph)
Complement	190
Armament	3 × 3 in (76 mm)/50 caliber dual-purpose (DP) gun 2 × twin 40 mm (1.57 in) Bofors anti-aircraft (AA) gun mounts 9 × 20 mm (0.79 in) Oerlikon cannon AA gun mounts 2 × Depth charge tracks 8 × Depth charge projectors 1 × Hedgehog

USS Casper (PG-120/PF-12), a Tacoma-class patrol frigate, was the only ship of the United States Navy to be named for Casper, Wyoming.

Casper, originally classified as patrol gunboat, PG-120, was reclassified as a patrol frigate, PF-12, on 15 April 1943. She was laid down on 17 October 1943, under a Maritime Commission (MARCOM) contract, MC hull 1430, at the Permanente Metals Richmond Shipyard #4, Richmond, California.^[2] Casper (PF-12) was launched on 27 December 1943, sponsored by Mrs. E. J. Spaulding. She was commissioned on 31 March 1944.^[3]

Casper sailed from San Francisco, California, on 30 September 1944, for a weather patrol out of Seattle, Washington, returning to San Francisco, 6 November. From this base, she operated as plane guard, and on weather patrol, performing these vital functions between the mainland and Pearl Harbor. During the organizing conference of the United Nations at San Francisco, which began 25 April 1945, Casper made two security patrols off the Farallon Islands.^[3]

Casper cleared San Francisco, on 4 April 1946, for Charleston, South Carolina, where she was decommissioned on 16 May 1946. The patrol frigate was sold 20 May 1947.^[3]

• Photo gallery of USS Casper at NavSource Naval History
• hazegray.org: USS Casper