For other ships with the same name, see USS Branch.
USS Branch (DD-197) was a Clemson-classdestroyer in the United States Navy that entered service in 1920. After a short active life, Branch was placed in reserve in 1922. The ship was activated again for World War II before being transferred to the Royal Navy in 1940. Renamed HMS Beverley, the destroyer served in the Battle of the Atlantic as a convoy escort and was torpedoed and sunk on 11 April 1943.
Branch was fitted out at Norfolk Navy Yard and in October cruised to Annapolis, Maryland, for a test of her engineering performance. Before the end of 1920 she joined Destroyer Squadron 3, Atlantic Fleet. The next year she maneuvered with the Squadron and engaged in tactical exercises on the Atlantic coast, sometimes operating in reduced commission with half her usual complement of crew. After 6 January 1922 she operated in the vicinity of Charleston, South Carolina, and Hampton Roads. Arriving at Philadelphia Navy Yard in June, she was placed out of commission 11 August 1922.
HMS Beverley arrived at Belfast 24 October and was modified for trade convoy escort service by removal of three of the original 4"/50 caliber guns and three of the triple torpedo tube mounts to reduce topside weight for additional depth charge stowage and installation of hedgehog.[2] In April 1942 she was an escort for Convoy PQ 14 en route to North Russia. En route the convoy was attacked by a superior force of enemy destroyers, which had approached unobserved during a snow storm and fired several torpedoes at a range of 9,000 yards (8,200 m). One merchant ship was sunk. The enemy returned four times and took part in short gunnery duels, but did not close the range below 8,000 yards (7,300 m).
Beverley was assigned to Escort Group B-4 of the Mid-Ocean Escort Force for convoys ON 140, ON 161, ON 169, HX 229 and ON 176.[3] On 9 April while escorting Convoy ON 176, she collided with the steamship Cairnvolona in bad weather and had her anti-submarine and degaussing gear put out of action. Two days later she was torpedoed by U-188 commanded by KapitänleutnantSiegfried Lüdden at 52°19′N40°28′W / 52.317°N 40.467°W / 52.317; -40.467, and sank with the loss of 139 members of her crew, including her commanding officer.
Notesedit
^"Table 21 – Ships on Navy List June 30, 1919". Congressional Serial Set. U.S. Government Printing Office: 762. 1921.
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For other ships with the same name see USS Branch USS Branch DD 197 was a Clemson class destroyer in the United States Navy that entered service in 1920 After a short active life Branch was placed in reserve in 1922 The ship was activated again for World War II before being transferred to the Royal Navy in 1940 Renamed HMS Beverley the destroyer served in the Battle of the Atlantic as a convoy escort and was torpedoed and sunk on 11 April 1943 USS Branch underway ca 1920 HistoryUnited StatesNamesakeJohn BranchBuilderNewport News Shipbuilding amp Dry Dock CompanyCost 1 143 689 68 hull amp machinery 1 Laid down25 October 1918Launched19 April 1919Commissioned26 July 1920Decommissioned11 August 1922Recommissioned4 December 1939Decommissioned8 October 1940Stricken8 January 1941FateTransferred to United Kingdom 8 October 1940United KingdomNameHMS BeverleyAcquired8 October 1940Commissioned8 October 1940IdentificationPennant number H64FateTorpedoed and sunk by U 188 11 April 1943General characteristicsClass and typeClemson class destroyerDisplacement1 215 tonsLength314 ft 4 in 95 81 m Beam31 ft 9 in 9 68 m Draft9 ft 10 in 3 00 m Propulsion26 500 shp 19 800 kW geared turbines 2 screwsSpeed35 kn 65 km h 40 mph Range4 900 nmi 9 100 km 5 600 mi at 15 kn 28 km h 17 mph Complement122 officers and enlistedArmament4 4 in 102 mm 50 guns 1 3 in 76 mm 23 gun 12 21 inch 533 mm torpedo tubes Contents 1 Construction and commissioning 2 Service history 2 1 United States Navy service 2 2 Royal Navy service 3 Notes 4 References 5 External linksConstruction and commissioning editThe second Navy ship was named for Secretary of the Navy John Branch 1782 1863 Branch was launched on 19 April 1919 by Newport News Shipbuilding amp Dry Dock Company sponsored by Miss Laurie O Brien Branch grandniece of Secretary Branch The destroyer was commissioned on 26 July 1920 Service history editUnited States Navy service edit Branch was fitted out at Norfolk Navy Yard and in October cruised to Annapolis Maryland for a test of her engineering performance Before the end of 1920 she joined Destroyer Squadron 3 Atlantic Fleet The next year she maneuvered with the Squadron and engaged in tactical exercises on the Atlantic coast sometimes operating in reduced commission with half her usual complement of crew After 6 January 1922 she operated in the vicinity of Charleston South Carolina and Hampton Roads Arriving at Philadelphia Navy Yard in June she was placed out of commission 11 August 1922 Branch remained inactive at Philadelphia until recommissioned 4 December 1939 for service with the Scouting Force As flagship of Destroyer Division 68 she participated in the Neutrality Patrol In the summer of 1940 she operated along the United States East Coast and trained reserves Early in October 1940 she departed Newport Rhode Island for Halifax Nova Scotia where on 8 October 1940 Branch was decommissioned and transferred under the Destroyers for Bases Agreement to the United Kingdom for service in the Royal Navy and renamed HMS Beverley Royal Navy service edit nbsp HMS Beverley underwayHMS Beverley arrived at Belfast 24 October and was modified for trade convoy escort service by removal of three of the original 4 50 caliber guns and three of the triple torpedo tube mounts to reduce topside weight for additional depth charge stowage and installation of hedgehog 2 In April 1942 she was an escort for Convoy PQ 14 en route to North Russia En route the convoy was attacked by a superior force of enemy destroyers which had approached unobserved during a snow storm and fired several torpedoes at a range of 9 000 yards 8 200 m One merchant ship was sunk The enemy returned four times and took part in short gunnery duels but did not close the range below 8 000 yards 7 300 m On 4 February 1943 while escorting Atlantic Convoy SC 118 with Escort Group B 2 Beverley sighted the German submarine U 187 later sunk by HMS Vimy southeast of Cape Farewell Greenland She also took part in attacks on other U boats the next day Beverley was assigned to Escort Group B 4 of the Mid Ocean Escort Force for convoys ON 140 ON 161 ON 169 HX 229 and ON 176 3 On 9 April while escorting Convoy ON 176 she collided with the steamship Cairnvolona in bad weather and had her anti submarine and degaussing gear put out of action Two days later she was torpedoed by U 188 commanded by Kapitanleutnant Siegfried Ludden at 52 19 N 40 28 W 52 317 N 40 467 W 52 317 40 467 and sank with the loss of 139 members of her crew including her commanding officer Notes edit Table 21 Ships on Navy List June 30 1919 Congressional Serial Set U S Government Printing Office 762 1921 Lenton amp Colledge 1968 pp 92 94 Rohwer amp Hummelchen 1992 pp 170 185 188 199 200 amp 205References editBlewitt Geoffrey HMS Beverley A Town Afloat 1940 43 amp The Town Ashore Alan Twiddle Publishing ISBN 1 902508 01 7 Lenton H T amp Colledge J J 1968 British and Dominion Warships of World War II Doubleday and Company Rohwer J amp Hummelchen G 1992 Chronology of the War at Sea 1939 1945 Naval Institute Press ISBN 1 55750 105 X This article incorporates text from the public domainDictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships The entry can be found here External links editnavsource org USS Branch hazegray org USS Branch52 19 N 40 28 W 52 317 N 40 467 W 52 317 40 467 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title USS Branch DD 197 amp oldid 1182951182 Royal Navy service, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
