For other ships with the same name, see USS Hopewell.
The first USS Hopewell (DD–181) was a Wickes-classdestroyer in the United States Navy, entering service in 1919. After a brief active life, the ship was deactivated in 1922 and placed in reserve for 18 years before returning to service in 1940 during World War II. She was later transferred to the Royal Navy as HMS Bath (I17), as a Town-classdestroyer, and then to the Royal Norwegian Navy as HNoMS Bath. Bath was torpedoed while escorting a trans-Atlantic convoy on 19 August 1941.
Hopewell sailed from Norfolk on 19 April 1919 to join the 3rd Destroyer Squadron in New England waters, and in May was on observation station off the Azores during the historic crossing of the Atlantic by Navy seaplanes. The destroyer returned to New York City on 8 June to complete her interrupted fitting out, and rejoined her squadron in August for firing tests. The winter of 1920 was spent on intensive training and target practice in Caribbean waters.
The ship returned to New England in early May, where she remained until September training reservists and engaging in division maneuvers. Arriving at Charleston, South Carolina on 22 September, Hopewell carried out similar operations out of the South Carolina port, returning to New York in May 1921 for reserve training. Sailing from Newport, Rhode Island on 10 October, the destroyer was placed in reserve at Charleston until 10 April, when she departed for Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Hopewelldecommissioned there on 17 July 1922.
She recommissioned on 17 June 1940 as the United States prepared for World War II, and after operating with the Neutrality Patrol off New England arrived at Halifax on 18 September. She decommissioned on 23 September and was transferred to Great Britain as part of the Destroyers for Bases Agreement.
Royal Navy service
Renamed HMS Bath, she crossed the Atlantic and arrived at Devenport on 12 October 1940, and after a short refit, joined the 1st Minelaying Squadron based at the Kyle of Lochalsh. Bath was used to escort minesweeping operations by the squadron and for convoys.[1][2] At the end of January 1941, Bath went into refit at Chatham Dockyard to better suit her for escort duties.[1] The aft 4-inch and 3-inch guns were removed, and replaced by a single 12-pounder (76 mm) anti-aircraft gun. Two sets of torpedo tubes were removed, while one mast was removed and the foremast shortened to reduce topweight.[3][4]
Royal Norwegian Navy service
On 9 April 1941, following completion of the refit, Bath transferred to the exiledRoyal Norwegian Navy. As HNoMS Bath she began operation as part of the "Liverpool Escort Force" as a member of the 5th Escort Group early in June, escorting convoys between the United Kingdom and Gibraltar,[1][2] but had a very brief subsequent career, being sunk by the GermansubmarineU-204 on 19 August 1941, while escorting the convoy, Convoy OG 71, bound for Gibraltar. She was hit in the engine room on the starboard side by two torpedoes and broke in two, sinking in three minutes. As she sank two of her depth charges exploded killing some of the crew in the water. Of her 128 crew, only 42 were rescued by HMS Hydrangea and HMS Wanderer but two of those subsequently died aboard Hydrangea.[5]
^ abMason, Geoffry B. (6 June 2011). "HMS, later Norwegian HNorMS BATH (I 17) – ex-US Destroyer". Service Histories of Royal Navy Warships in World War 2. Naval-History.net. Retrieved 7 June 2014.
Edwards, Bernard (2009). The Cruel Sea Retold. South Yorkshire: Pen & Sword Military. ISBN978-1-84415-863-8.
Friedman, Norman (2009). British Destroyers: From Earliest Days to the Second World War. Barnsley, UK: Seaforth Publishing. ISBN978-1-84832-049-9.
Hague, Arnold (1988). The Towns: A history of the fifty destroyers transferred from the United States to Great Britain in 1940. Kendal, UK: World Ship Society. ISBN0-905617-48-7.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to USS Hopewell (DD-181).
hopewell, other, ships, with, same, name, hopewell, first, hopewell, wickes, class, destroyer, united, states, navy, entering, service, 1919, after, brief, active, life, ship, deactivated, 1922, placed, reserve, years, before, returning, service, 1940, during,. For other ships with the same name see USS Hopewell The first USS Hopewell DD 181 was a Wickes class destroyer in the United States Navy entering service in 1919 After a brief active life the ship was deactivated in 1922 and placed in reserve for 18 years before returning to service in 1940 during World War II She was later transferred to the Royal Navy as HMS Bath I17 as a Town class destroyer and then to the Royal Norwegian Navy as HNoMS Bath Bath was torpedoed while escorting a trans Atlantic convoy on 19 August 1941 USS Hopewell under steam HistoryUnited StatesNameUSS HopewellNamesakePollard HopewellBuilderNewport News ShipbuildingLaid down19 January 1918Launched8 June 1918Commissioned22 March 1919Decommissioned17 July 1922Recommissioned17 June 1940Decommissioned23 September 1940IdentificationDD 181FateTransferred to UK 23 September 1940United KingdomNameHMS BathCommissioned23 September 1940IdentificationPennant number I17FateTransferred to Norway 1941NorwayNameHNoMS BathAcquired9 April 1941FateSunk in battle 19 August 1941General characteristicsClass and typeWickes class destroyerDisplacement1 060 long tons 1 080 t Length314 ft 5 in 95 83 m Beam31 ft 8 in 9 65 m Draft9 ft 4 in 2 84 m Propulsion2 steam turbines 2 shaftsSpeed35 kn 40 mph 65 km h Complement101 officers and enlistedArmament4 4 in 100 mm guns 2 3 in 76 mm 4 21 inch 533 mm torpedo tubes Contents 1 Construction and career 1 1 United States Navy service 1 2 Royal Navy service 1 3 Royal Norwegian Navy service 2 References 3 Bibliography 4 External linksConstruction and career EditUnited States Navy service Edit Named for Pollard Hopewell she was launched by Newport News Shipbuilding Newport News Virginia on 8 June 1918 sponsored by Mrs Orote Hutcheson The destroyer was commissioned on 22 March 1919 at Portsmouth Virginia Hopewell sailed from Norfolk on 19 April 1919 to join the 3rd Destroyer Squadron in New England waters and in May was on observation station off the Azores during the historic crossing of the Atlantic by Navy seaplanes The destroyer returned to New York City on 8 June to complete her interrupted fitting out and rejoined her squadron in August for firing tests The winter of 1920 was spent on intensive training and target practice in Caribbean waters The ship returned to New England in early May where she remained until September training reservists and engaging in division maneuvers Arriving at Charleston South Carolina on 22 September Hopewell carried out similar operations out of the South Carolina port returning to New York in May 1921 for reserve training Sailing from Newport Rhode Island on 10 October the destroyer was placed in reserve at Charleston until 10 April when she departed for Philadelphia Pennsylvania Hopewell decommissioned there on 17 July 1922 She recommissioned on 17 June 1940 as the United States prepared for World War II and after operating with the Neutrality Patrol off New England arrived at Halifax on 18 September She decommissioned on 23 September and was transferred to Great Britain as part of the Destroyers for Bases Agreement Royal Navy service Edit Renamed HMS Bath she crossed the Atlantic and arrived at Devenport on 12 October 1940 and after a short refit joined the 1st Minelaying Squadron based at the Kyle of Lochalsh Bath was used to escort minesweeping operations by the squadron and for convoys 1 2 At the end of January 1941 Bath went into refit at Chatham Dockyard to better suit her for escort duties 1 The aft 4 inch and 3 inch guns were removed and replaced by a single 12 pounder 76 mm anti aircraft gun Two sets of torpedo tubes were removed while one mast was removed and the foremast shortened to reduce topweight 3 4 Royal Norwegian Navy service Edit On 9 April 1941 following completion of the refit Bath transferred to the exiled Royal Norwegian Navy As HNoMS Bath she began operation as part of the Liverpool Escort Force as a member of the 5th Escort Group early in June escorting convoys between the United Kingdom and Gibraltar 1 2 but had a very brief subsequent career being sunk by the German submarine U 204 on 19 August 1941 while escorting the convoy Convoy OG 71 bound for Gibraltar She was hit in the engine room on the starboard side by two torpedoes and broke in two sinking in three minutes As she sank two of her depth charges exploded killing some of the crew in the water Of her 128 crew only 42 were rescued by HMS Hydrangea and HMS Wanderer but two of those subsequently died aboard Hydrangea 5 References EditThis article incorporates text from the public domainDictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships The entry can be found here a b c Hague 1988 p 22 a b Mason Geoffry B 6 June 2011 HMS later Norwegian HNorMS BATH I 17 ex US Destroyer Service Histories of Royal Navy Warships in World War 2 Naval History net Retrieved 7 June 2014 Hague 1989 p 12 Friedman 2009 p 259 Edwards 2009 pp 21 23Bibliography EditEdwards Bernard 2009 The Cruel Sea Retold South Yorkshire Pen amp Sword Military ISBN 978 1 84415 863 8 Friedman Norman 2009 British Destroyers From Earliest Days to the Second World War Barnsley UK Seaforth Publishing ISBN 978 1 84832 049 9 Hague Arnold 1988 The Towns A history of the fifty destroyers transferred from the United States to Great Britain in 1940 Kendal UK World Ship Society ISBN 0 905617 48 7 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to USS Hopewell DD 181 HMS Bath Archived 30 November 2005 at the Wayback Machine Uboat net on HNoMS Bath I 17 NavSource Photos List of Bath casualties Information on Convoy OG 71Coordinates 49 0 N 17 0 W 49 000 N 17 000 W 49 000 17 000 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title USS Hopewell DD 181 amp oldid 1122620277, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
