USS Chauncey (DD-3)

The first USS Chauncey was a Bainbridge-class destroyer, also referred to as a "Torpedo-boat destroyer", in the United States Navy named for Commodore Isaac Chauncey. She was launched in 1901 and sunk in 1917.

For other ships with the same name, see USS Chauncey.

USS Chauncey photographed prior to World War I.
History
United States
NameChauncey
NamesakeCommedore Isaac Chauncey
Ordered4 May 1898
Awarded1 October 1898
BuilderNeafie and Levy Ship and Engine Building Company of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Laid down2 December 1899
Launched26 October 1901
Commissioned20 November 1902 (reduced commission)
Decommissioned2 December 1902 (placed in reserve)
Commissioned21 February 1903
Decommissioned3 December 1905
Commissioned12 January 1907
Out of service19 November 1917
Stricken17 December 1917
FateSunk in collision with cargo ship SS Rose 110 miles (180 kilometres) west of Gibraltar 19 November 1917
General characteristics [1]
Class and typeBainbridge-class destroyer
Displacement
  • 420 long tons (430 t) (standard)
  • 592 long tons (601 t) (full load)
Length
  • 245 ft (74.7 m) (pp)
  • 250 ft (76.2 m) (oa)
Beam23 ft 7 in (7.2 m)
Draft6 ft 6 in (2.0 m) (mean)
Installed power
Propulsion
Speed29 kn (54 km/h; 33 mph) (designed speed)
Complement
  • 3 officers
  • 72 enlisted men
Armament

Construction and design

Chauncey was laid down at Neafie and Levy Ship and Engine Building Company of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on 2 December 1899 as a member of the Bainbridge class,[lower-alpha 1] and was launched on 26 October 1901.[5]

Chauncey was 249 ft 9+7⁄8 in (76.15 m) long overall and 244 ft 2+7⁄8 in (74.44 m) at the waterline, with a beam of 23 ft 5 in (7.14 m) and a draft of 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m).[5][6] As the Bainbridge class was intended to be more seaworthy than the US Navy's torpedo boats, the ship had a raised forecastle instead of the "turtleback" forecastle common in European designs.[7] Design displacement was 420 long tons (430 t) and 631 long tons (641 t) full load,[6] although all ships of the class were overweight.[4] Four Thornycroft boilers fed steam at 250 psi (1,700 kPa) to triple expansion steam engines rated at 8,000 ihp (6,000 kW) driving two shafts for a design speed of 28 kn (52 km/h; 32 mph). Four funnels were fitted.[5][6] Armament consisted of two 3-inch (76 mm)/50 caliber guns, five 6-pounder (57 millimetres (2.2 in)) guns and two 18-inch (457 mm) torpedo tubes.[5]

Chauncey was placed in reduced commission on 20 November 1902, then placed in reserve on 2 December 1902 and received full commission on 21 February 1903. Lieutenant Stanford Elwood Moses was placed in command and Chauncey reported to the Atlantic Fleet.[8]

Pre-World War I

Chauncey served with the Coast Squadron until 20 September 1903, when she was transferred to the Asiatic Fleet and left Key West for the Orient on 18 December. After sailing by way of the Suez Canal, she arrived at Cavite to join the force representing US interest in the Far East as it cruised in the Philippines during winters and off China during summers. Aside from the period of 3 December 1905 – 12 January 1907, when she was in reserve at Cavite, Chauncey continued this service until the entrance of America into World War I.[8]

Sinking

The destroyer sailed from Cavite on 1 August 1917 for convoy escort duty in the eastern Atlantic, based at St. Nazaire, France. On 19 November, while about 110 mi (180 km) west of Gibraltar on escort duty, Chauncey was rammed by the British merchantman SS Rose as both ships steamed in war-imposed darkness. At 03:17, Chauncey sank in 1,500 fathoms (9,000 ft; 2,700 m) of water, taking to their death 21 men including her captain, Lieutenant Commander Walter E. Reno, the namesake of the Clemson-class destroyer Reno,[9] and LTJG Charles F. Wedderburn, the namesake of the Fletcher-class destroyer Wedderburn.[10] Seventy survivors were picked up by Rose, and carried to port.[8]

Chauncey in literature

The novel Delilah was written by a survivor of Chauncey, Marcus Goodrich, and is a fictional account based on his experience serving aboard Chauncey as an enlisted man.

Noteworthy commanding officers

Notes
  1. Some sources state that Torpedo Boat Destroyers 1–5 comprised the Bainbridge class,[2][3] while other sources state that four more very similar ships (Torpedo Boat Destroyers 10–13) were also part of the same class.[4]

Citations
  1. Willshaw.
  2. Chesneau & Kolesnik 1979, pp. 157–158.
  3. Osborne 2005, p. 45.
  4. Friedman 1982, p. 17.
  5. Chesneau & Kolesnik 1979, p. 157.
  6. Friedman 1982, p. 392.
  7. Friedman 1982, pp. 14–15.
  8. DANFS 2015.
  9. DANFS DD-303 2016.
  10. DANFS DD-684 2016.

Bibliography

Books
  • Chesneau, Roger; Kolesnik, Eugene M. (1979). Conway's All The World's Fighting Ships 1860–1905. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-133-5.
  • Friedman, Norman (1982). U.S. Destroyers: An Illustrated History. Annapolis, Maryland, USA: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-87021-733-X.
  • Osborne, Eric W. (2005). Destroyers: An Illustrated History of their Impact. Santa Barbara, California, USA: ABC-Clio. ISBN 1-85109-484-9.

Online sources
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