>From the “Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships,” 

(1969) Vol. 2, p.322.





EBERT





	Hilan Ebert, born 21 March 1903 in Alliance, Ohio, 

graduated from the Naval Academy in 1926 and served in 

various billets afloat and ashore until assigned to heavy 

cruiser NORTHAMPTON (CA-26) 29 April 1942.  Lieutenant 

Commander Ebert was killed 30 November 1942 when his ship 

was torpedoed in the Battle of Tassafaronga off Guadalcanal.  

He was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross for his courage 

and disregard for his own safety beyond the call of duty 

until his ship was lost.





DE-768

Displacement:  1,240 t.

Length:  306’

Beam:  36’8”

Draft:  8’9”

Speed:  21 k.

Complement:  186

Armament:  3 3”; 3 21” torpedo tubes; 

	2 depth charge tracks;

	8 depth charge projectors;

	1 hedge hog

Class:  CANNON



	EBERT (DE-768) was launched 11 May 1944 by Tampa 

Shipbuilding Co., Inc., Tampa, Fla., sponsored by Mrs. Hilan 

Ebert, widow of Lieutenant Commander Ebert and commissioned 

12 July 1944, Lieutenant Commander F. Gibbs, USNR, in 

command.



	EBERT guarded the passage of convoys carrying men and 

supplies vital to victory in Europe, to ports in Britain and 

France, between 6 October 1944 and 14 May 1945, then 

returned to New York to prepare for duty in the Pacific.  

She sailed on 8 June for Pearl Harbor, Eniwetok, and the 

Philippines.  She escorted convoys carrying occupation 

troops to Japan, until 30 November when she left Manila for 

the States.  EBERT was placed out of commission in reserve 

at Green Cove Springs Fla., 14 June 1946.  Towed to Boston 

in November 1950, EBERT was transferred to Greece 1 March 

1951 under the Mutual Defense Assistance Program.  She 

serves in the Greek navy as IERAX.



	[Destroyer escort IERAX (D-31) was thoroughly obsolete 

by the 1980s, but retained in close to World War II 

configuration as an economical patrol ship.  She was 

stricken from the Greek Navy in 1991, but retained as a 

training hulk.



“Conway’s All The World’s Fighting Ships, 1947-1995,” p.161. 

“The Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World, 

1993,” p.232; “1995,” p.248.

“Conway’s” and “The Guide” spell the ship HIERAX.]  





Transcribed by Michael Hansen

mhansen2@home.com