USS Emporia (PF-28), a Tacoma-class frigate, was the only ship of the United States Navy to be named for the city of Emporia, Kansas.

History
United States
NameEmporia
NamesakeCity of Emporia, Kansas
ReclassifiedPF-28, 15 April 1943
BuilderWalter Butler Shipbuilding Company, Superior, Wisconsin
Launched30 August 1943
Sponsored byMrs. George M. Barnaby
Commissioned7 October 1944
Decommissioned14 March 1946
FateSold to French Navy, 26 March 1947
France
NameLe Verrier
Acquired26 March 1947
ReclassifiedF716, c. 1952
FateScrapped, 1958
General characteristics
Class and typeTacoma-class frigate
Displacement
  • 1,430 long tons (1,453 t) light
  • 2,415 long tons (2,454 t) full
Length303 ft 11 in (92.63 m)
Beam37 ft 6 in (11.43 m)
Draft13 ft 8 in (4.17 m)
Propulsion
  • 2 × 5,500 shp (4,101 kW) turbines
  • 3 boilers
  • 2 shafts
Speed20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph)
Complement190
Armament

Construction

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Emporia (PF-28) was launched on 30 August 1943, at the Walter Butler Shipbuilding Company in Superior, Wisconsin, sponsored by Mrs. George M. Barnaby; placed in service between 12 and 22 June 1944, for passage to Houston, Texas; and commissioned on 7 October 1944.

Service history

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Emporia arrived at NS Argentia, Newfoundland, on 3 December 1944, to begin the vitally important duty of relaying weather reports from stations at sea between Newfoundland and Bermuda. Operating primarily in northern latitudes, she accumulated data essential to planning the movement of ships and aircraft throughout the Atlantic. After the close of the war, she continued this duty to aid the movement of troops home from Europe.

On 22 August 1946, Emporia arrived at New Orleans, Louisiana, where on 14 March 1946 she was decommissioned, and immediately recommissioned as a ship of the United States Coast Guard. She was again decommissioned on 28 August 1946, and sold to France on 26 March 1947 for continued weather patrol service. Renamed Le Verrier, she was scrapped in 1958.

See also

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References

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

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