The Clemson class was a repeat of the preceding Wickes class although more fuel capacity was added.[1] The ships displaced 1,290 long tons (1,311 t) at standard load and 1,389 long tons (1,411 t) at deep load. They had an overall length of 314 feet 4 inches (95.8 m), a beam of 30 feet 11 inches (9.4 m) and a draught of 10 feet 3 inches (3.1 m). They had a crew of 6 officers and 108 enlisted men.[2]
Performance differed radically between the ships of the class, often due to poor workmanship. The Clemson class was powered by two steam turbines, each driving one propeller shaft, using steam provided by four water-tube boilers. The turbines were designed to produce a total of 27,000 shaft horsepower (20,000 kW) intended to reach a speed of 35 knots (65 km/h; 40 mph). The ships carried a maximum of 371 long tons (377 t) of fuel oil which was intended gave them a range of 2,500 nautical miles (4,600 km; 2,900 mi) at 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph).[3]
The ships were armed with four 4-inch (102 mm) guns in single mounts and were fitted with two 1-pounder guns for anti-aircraft defense. In many ships a shortage of 1-pounders caused them to be replaced by 3-inch (76 mm) guns. Their primary weapon, though, was their torpedo battery of a dozen 21 inch (533 mm)torpedo tubes in four triple mounts. They also carried a pair of depth charge rails. A "Y-gun" depth charge thrower was added to many ships.[4]
Construction and careeredit
Chauncey named for Isaac Chauncey, was launched 29 September 1918 by Union Iron Works, San Francisco, California; sponsored by Miss D. M. Todd; commissioned 25 June 1919 and reported to the Pacific Fleet. From the time of her commissioning, Chauncey sailed from San Diego and Mare Island to Hawaii and along the Pacific coast taking part in fleet exercises, gunnery practice, and other training activities. From 15 July 1920 to 14 October 1921, she was in ready reserve at San Diego and Mare Island, then returned to active duty as flagship of Destroyer Division 31.
On the evening of 8 September 1923, Chauncey in company with a large group of destroyers was sailing through a heavy fog from San Francisco to San Diego, when a navigational error on board the first ship in her column turned that destroyer and the six that followed toward the rocky California coast rather than on a reach down Santa Barbara Channel. All seven destroyers, including Chauncey, went aground on the jagged rocks off Point Pedernales, in what was called the Honda Point Disaster.
USS Chauncey aground at Honda Point.
Chauncey stranded upright, high on the rocks, near USS Young (DD-312), which had capsized. With none of her men lost, Chauncey at once went to the aid of Young, passing a line by which 70 of Young's crew clambered hand-over-hand to Chauncey. Swimmers from Chauncey then rigged a network of lifelines to the coastal cliffs, and both her men and Young's reached safety by this means. The abandoned Chauncey was wrecked by the surf, and was decommissioned 26 October 1923. All the hulks were sold for salvage and removal as of 25 September 1925.
Friedman, Norman (1982). U.S. Destroyers: An Illustrated Design History. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN0-87021-733-X.
Gardiner, Robert & Gray, Randal, eds. (1985). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN0-85177-245-5.
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For other ships with the same name see USS Chauncey USS Chauncey DD 296 was a Clemson class destroyer ship built for the United States Navy during World War I USS Chauncey Destroyer 296 Off the Mare Island Navy Yard 8 July 1919 History United States NameUSS Chauncey NamesakeIsaac Chauncey BuilderBethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation Union Iron Works San Francisco Laid down17 June 1918 Launched29 September 1918 Commissioned25 June 1919 Decommissioned26 October 1923 Stricken25 September 1925 FateWrecked in the Honda Point Disaster 8 September 1923 General characteristics Class and typeClemson class destroyer Displacement1 290 long tons 1 311 t standard 1 389 long tons 1 411 t deep load Length314 ft 4 in 95 8 m Beam30 ft 11 in 9 42 m Draught10 ft 3 in 3 1 m Installed power27 000 shp 20 000 kW 4 water tube boilers Propulsion2 shafts 2 steam turbines Speed35 knots 65 km h 40 mph design Range2 500 nautical miles 4 600 km 2 900 mi at 20 knots 37 km h 23 mph design Complement6 officers 108 enlisted men Armament4 single 4 inch 102 mm guns 2 single 1 pounder AA guns or 2 single 3 inch 76 mm guns 4 triple 21 inch 533 mm torpedo tubes 2 depth charge rails Contents 1 Description 2 Construction and career 3 Notes 4 References 5 External linksDescription editThe Clemson class was a repeat of the preceding Wickes class although more fuel capacity was added 1 The ships displaced 1 290 long tons 1 311 t at standard load and 1 389 long tons 1 411 t at deep load They had an overall length of 314 feet 4 inches 95 8 m a beam of 30 feet 11 inches 9 4 m and a draught of 10 feet 3 inches 3 1 m They had a crew of 6 officers and 108 enlisted men 2 Performance differed radically between the ships of the class often due to poor workmanship The Clemson class was powered by two steam turbines each driving one propeller shaft using steam provided by four water tube boilers The turbines were designed to produce a total of 27 000 shaft horsepower 20 000 kW intended to reach a speed of 35 knots 65 km h 40 mph The ships carried a maximum of 371 long tons 377 t of fuel oil which was intended gave them a range of 2 500 nautical miles 4 600 km 2 900 mi at 20 knots 37 km h 23 mph 3 The ships were armed with four 4 inch 102 mm guns in single mounts and were fitted with two 1 pounder guns for anti aircraft defense In many ships a shortage of 1 pounders caused them to be replaced by 3 inch 76 mm guns Their primary weapon though was their torpedo battery of a dozen 21 inch 533 mm torpedo tubes in four triple mounts They also carried a pair of depth charge rails A Y gun depth charge thrower was added to many ships 4 Construction and career editChauncey named for Isaac Chauncey was launched 29 September 1918 by Union Iron Works San Francisco California sponsored by Miss D M Todd commissioned 25 June 1919 and reported to the Pacific Fleet From the time of her commissioning Chauncey sailed from San Diego and Mare Island to Hawaii and along the Pacific coast taking part in fleet exercises gunnery practice and other training activities From 15 July 1920 to 14 October 1921 she was in ready reserve at San Diego and Mare Island then returned to active duty as flagship of Destroyer Division 31 On the evening of 8 September 1923 Chauncey in company with a large group of destroyers was sailing through a heavy fog from San Francisco to San Diego when a navigational error on board the first ship in her column turned that destroyer and the six that followed toward the rocky California coast rather than on a reach down Santa Barbara Channel All seven destroyers including Chauncey went aground on the jagged rocks off Point Pedernales in what was called the Honda Point Disaster nbsp USS Chauncey aground at Honda Point Chauncey stranded upright high on the rocks near USS Young DD 312 which had capsized With none of her men lost Chauncey at once went to the aid of Young passing a line by which 70 of Young s crew clambered hand over hand to Chauncey Swimmers from Chauncey then rigged a network of lifelines to the coastal cliffs and both her men and Young s reached safety by this means The abandoned Chauncey was wrecked by the surf and was decommissioned 26 October 1923 All the hulks were sold for salvage and removal as of 25 September 1925 Notes edit Gardiner amp Gray p 125 Friedman pp 402 03 Friedman pp 39 42 402 03 Friedman pp 44 45References editFriedman Norman 1982 U S Destroyers An Illustrated Design History Annapolis Maryland Naval Institute Press ISBN 0 87021 733 X Gardiner Robert amp Gray Randal eds 1985 Conway s All the World s Fighting Ships 1906 1921 Annapolis Maryland Naval Institute Press ISBN 0 85177 245 5 This article incorporates text from the public domainDictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships The entry can be found here External links edithttp www navsource org archives 05 296 htm Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title USS Chauncey DD 296 amp oldid 1209764981, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
