 three ships in the united states navy have been named uss perkins for george hamilton perkins (1836â1899). * the first uss perkins (dd-26) was a modified paulding-class destroyer launched in 1909, served in world war i and decommissioned in 1919. * the second uss perkins (dd-377) was a mahan-class destroyer launched in 1935, served in world war ii and sank following a collision with australian troopship duntroon in 1942. * the third uss perkins (dd-877) was a gearing-class destroyer launched in 1944 and sold to argentina in 1973.  
Set_indices_on_ships United_States_Navy_ship_names