ROPER APD 20

Ship Name and Designation History

This section lists the names and designations that the ship had during its lifetime. The list is in chronological order.

Wickes Class Destroyer
Keel Laid 19 March 1918 - Launched 17 August 1918


1. USS ROPER Destroyer No. 147
   Commissioned 15 February 1919
   
   
2. USS ROPER DD-147
   Designated (DD) 17 July 1920 - Decommissioned 14 December 1922
   Recommissioned 18 March 1930
   
   
3. USS ROPER APD-20
   Reclassified High-speed Transport (APD) 20 October 1943
   Struck by Kamikaze 25 May 1945
   Decommissioned 15 September 1945
   
   Stricken 11 October 1945
   Sold 31 March 1946 and broken up for scrap

 

Naval Covers

This section lists active links to the pages displaying covers associated with the ship. There should be a separate set of pages for each incarnation of the ship (ie, for each entry in the "Ship Name and Designation History" section). Covers should be presented in chronological order (or as best as can be determined).

Since a ship may have many covers, they may be split among many pages so it doesn't take forever for the pages to load. Each page link should be accompanied by a date range for covers on that page.

1. USS Roper DD-147 Covers Page 1    (1932-1941)
2. USS Roper APD-20 Covers Page 1    (1932-41)

 

Postmarks

This section lists examples of the postmarks used by the ship. There should be a separate set of postmarks for each incarnation of the ship (ie, for each entry in the "Ship Name and Designation History" section). Within each set, the postmarks should be listed in order of their classification type. If more than one postmark has the same classification, then they should be further sorted by date of earliest known usage.

A postmark should not be included unless accompanied by a close-up image and/or an image of a cover showing that postmark. Date ranges MUST be based ONLY ON COVERS IN THE MUSEUM and are expected to change as more covers are added.
 
>>> If you have a better example for any of the postmarks, please feel free to replace the existing example.

 

Postmark Type --- Killer Bar Text	Postmark Date	Thumbnail Link To Postmark Image	Thumbnail Link To Cover Image

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2nd Commissioning 18 March 1930 to 15 September 1945

 

Locy Type 3 (BC-BTT) "DEFEND / AMERICA"

1934-10-12

Columbus Day, cachet by Leonard Rogers

 

Locy Type 3 (BC-BTT) "DEFEND / AMERICA"

1934-10-12

Columbus Day, cachet by Leonard Rogers

 

Locy Type 3 (BC-BTT) "SAN DIEGO / CAL"

1936-11-11

Armistice Day, Cachet by Fred Wayman

 

Locy Type 3b (BC-BXT) "PORTSMOUTH / VIRGINIA"

1937-12-25

Christmas Day, serviced by Tazewell G. Nicholson
This cover has has a Type P postmark from USS Nokomis PY-6 and three different straight-line markings from USS Decatur DD-341

 

Locy Type 3r (AC-BBT) "ENROUTE / NORFOLK VA"

1939-03-17

St. Patrick's Day. Cachet by John H. Brandt

 

Locy Type 3s (A) "SAN DIEGO / CALIFORNIA"

1932-11-11

Armistice Day, printed envelope by Conrath Printery

 

Locy Type 3s (A)

1934-07-04

Notes:

 

Locy Type Fz USCS Postmark Catalog Illus. CD-Z3

1941-08-08

Notes:

 

Locy Type SLKbs

1939-07-04

As DD-147

 

Other Information

USS ROPER earned the Combat Action Ribbon, the American Defense Service Medal (w/ bronze star in lieu of Fleet clasp), the American Campaign Medal (w/ 1 Battle star), the Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign Medal (w/ 2 Battle stars), the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (w/ 1 Battle star) and the World War II Victory Medal during her Naval career.

NAMESAKE - Lieutenant Commander Jesse M. Roper, USN (29 October 1851 - 31 March 1901)
Roper was appointed Midshipman in June 1868 and graduated from the Naval Academy in 1872. Commissioned Lieutenant Commander in 1899, he assumed command of USS PETREL PG-2 shortly thereafter. On 31 March 1901, while PETREL was moored at Cavite, Philippine Islands, fire broke out in the sail room, adjacent to the magazines. Lieutenant Commander Roper went down into the burning area twice. Overcome by smoke on his last descent; to rescue a trapped seaman, Lieutenant Commander Roper suffocated before help could reach him.

The ships sponsor was Mrs. Jesse M. Roper, widow of Lieutenant Commander Roper.

 

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